Human babies need to have either their mother's breast milk, or a specially designed milk formula, as their main milk drink for the first 12 months of their life. While breast milk is always the best for babies, and will never be exactly emulated by artificially made formulas (because we cannot 'reproduce' the antiinfective and antiallergenic properties of human milk), companies who manufacture baby formulas have to carefully modify cows milk and soy bean products, so that they come as close as possible to what a baby would drink, if having breast milk.
There are many circumstances, or reasons why, women will choose to bottle feed their baby(s). The formula feeding may start from the time that the baby is born, or after
weaning the baby from the breast, before they are 12 months old. Formula milk is usually given to the baby with a bottle, but may be given with a cup if the baby is old enough, (usually after 6 to 9 months). Many women will combine breastfeeding and formula feeding for varying lengths of time, either for personal reasons or to facilitate returning to work.
If you are undecided about how you wish to feed your baby, or you want information on the different types of feeding equipment to buy, you can read
choosing how to feed your baby. If you want to know about giving the first formula feed after giving birth, what you may need at the hospital, how to hold your baby and place the teat into their mouth, you can read
The first bottle feed. Information about suppressing your milk supply and feeding your baby formula in the first 2 weeks after the birth is discussed in
bottle feeding, the early days. Information about weaning your baby from the breast, and introducing bottles is looked at in
lifestyle and breastfeeding.
In the last 50 years or so, formula feeding has become a much safer practise in countries with good public health facilities. However, it still remains one of the main causes of infant deaths in under-developed countries.