Not only is there not any good evidence that the homemade formulas are
inferior to commercial formulas, there is no good evidence that plain
homogenized milk from the cow is inferior to commercial formulas. It's
all theory. Please digest that one for a minute.

Yet, if a mother came to a physician with her week old infant saying
that she was feeding the baby homogenized milk, the physician would
probably have a fit.  He might explain that the milk contained hard
curds, had too much protein and sodium... He would make the mother feel
guilty for using that stuff, would encourage her very strongly to use
infant formula (not try breastfeeding, of course), and if she didn't
change to formula might very well report her to children's aid.

Yet, if a mother came to a physician with her week old infant saying
that she was feeding the baby infant formula, the physician would likely
pass that without comment, despite compelling evidence of risks
associated with formula feeding compared to breastfeeding.  He would not
mention the profound differences between breastmilk and breastfeeding.

That same physician, if he is like most, when presented with pages of
references on the risk of formula feeding would probably brush off the
studies as "inadequate", faulty, not well done.  Indeed, in some cases
he would be quite correct.  He might brush off the biochemical
differences between breastmilk and formula as being of theoretical
importance only.

That same physician, asked to produce evidence that commercial formula
was less risky that plain ordinary cow's milk and not able to find it,
would still claim that formula is better than cow's milk for babies.

Don't come back to me about iron deficiency.  A baby started on iron
containing foods by 3 months will likely not become iron deficient.
Don't come back to me about hypernatremic dehydration.  That happened
only if the baby got gastro and the mother continued feeding cow's milk.
Indeed, that's why we took babies off milk when the got gastro.  And
we're still paying the price with physicians taking the baby off the
breast when he gets gastro, even though we forgot the rationale of why
we did it in the first place.

I am not saying that babies should use homemade formulas or cow's milk.
They should breastfeed.  I just wanted to point out some idiosyncracies
in how we view things.

Sorry for the length.  I just got off on a rant.  Aaaargh!

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC