Does this genuinely constitute adapted infant formula – at what stage is it suitable for introduction and which variant represents the most appropriate selection?
Alicja Kowalska
2026-03-23
2 min. read
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Adapted infant formula represents cow’s milk that has undergone deliberate compositional adjustments to closely replicate the nutritional profile of human breast milk. These breast milk substitutes are subjected to a sequence of technological processing steps, including: the reduction of total protein content, the alteration of protein fraction ratios, the augmentation of unsaturated fatty acid proportions, the elevation of lactose concentration, the diminution of electrolyte levels—specifically potassium, sodium, and chlorides—as well as fortification with critical vitamins, such as retinol (vitamin A), tocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), cholecalciferol (vitamin D), and phylloquinone (vitamin K).
Since when is milk modified?
Depending on the age of the infant and the situation forcing the administration of modified milk, the following shall apply: initial milk (marked No 1) intended for infants 0 6 months of age, subsequent milk (from No 2) for infants 6 12 months of younger milk (numbers 3 and 4) children over 1 year of age.
Types of modified milk
Manufacturers of milk substitutes offer a wide range of formulae which are best suited to mimic a woman's diet and contain almost identical ingredients. In addition to the full range of substitute formulae, specialized milk is available, designed to meet the individual needs of infants. Hypoallergic milk (HA-Bebiko HA, NAN HA,NAN HA Sensitive), which contains hydrolysed proteins (to varying degrees, even containing free amino acids) intended for children at high risk of developing food allergies. It is important to be able to easily recognize the infant's allergy to milk substrates and react quickly.
What type of modified milk should you choose?
The correct choice of modified milk will be assisted by a pediatrician who will recommend a formula that is best suited to the needs of the baby. Depending on the baby's needs, health status and possible illnesses, suitable mixtures are selected to provide comfort, meet nutrient demand and be well tolerated by the child's body. Modified milk is similar in composition to mother's food, but is never 100% identical. It is not possible to perfectly reproduce a woman's diet as it is unique.