We Asked the Experts: Breastfeed or Formula-Feed?

Breastfeeding and formula feeding both come with their own pros and cons. We decided to speak to our lactation consultant and public health nurse Dawn Maddux to discuss the nuances and situational context for each.

With so much conflicting information online, parents are left asking: Is formula bad? What are the side effects of formula? And what if breastfeeding isn’t possible, or safe? This is a heavy loaded question since there are a lot of factors to consider, and ultimately, there is no fully right answer.

Is Formula Bad?

In short, no, baby formula isn’t bad.

Infant formula is a regulated, nutritionally complete alternative to breast milk. It's designed to support healthy growth in babies who are partially or fully formula-fed. While breast milk offers antibodies and some unique immunological benefits, formula feeding is not harmful. In fact, millions of babies thrive on formula every year.

“Formula isn’t failure, it’s food,” says Dawn Maddux, a public health nurse and lactation consultant. “We’ve stigmatized something that, for many families, is life-saving.”

The “breast is best” movement began with good intentions: to encourage breastfeeding in cultures where it had declined. But over time, that messaging evolved into moral judgment. And for parents struggling with supply issues, latch pain, trauma, or postpartum depression, this pressure often leads to guilt instead of guidance.

What Are the Side Effects of Formula?

A common question among new parents is: what are the side effects of formula? Here's what you need to know.

The side effects of baby formula are rare and usually minor. Some babies may experience:

• Constipation or firmer stools

• Mild gas or fussiness

• Allergic reactions (in rare cases, often related to cow’s milk protein)

These symptoms are usually temporary and can be addressed by switching formulas or adjusting feeding routines. Importantly, formula does not stunt development, reduce bonding, or cause emotional damage when given in a safe, loving environment.

One main difference Dawn stated is that contrary to formula, breast milk is alive and adaptable to the needs of the baby.

“Breast milk is a living food and it changes as the baby grows. So you've got different carbohydrate levels to protein to fat ratios in breast milk as the baby changes and grows and you need more or less” says Dawn.

Baby Formula is a Useful Tool

There are pros of using baby formula as opposed to traditional breastfeeding. Although it may not contain as many nutrients, it is designed to mimic human milk. Many times, for parents with lifestyle changes, this can be the most beneficial option.

“If mom has to go back to work three days after, and she works somewhere that she can't pump, unfortunately, and she says, I just can't, I just can't, I can't breastfeed, then you support that and you work with her to help her milk supply decrease in such a way that she doesn't go through pain and get plugged up.”

Whether you’re exclusively breastfeeding, combo feeding, pumping, using donor milk, or formula feeding from day one, your baby is loved, and your parenting is valid.

Dawn highlighted:

• Are parents getting the support they need?

• Are we providing real options, not rigid rules?

• Are we prioritizing both infant health and parent mental health?

Consider your Options

“It could be anything from mom having a substance abuse disorder and shouldn't be breastfeeding. But also there are moms [who] have substance disorders, and they were on certain substances while they were pregnant. And depending on what those are, it's actually recommended to breastfeed because the baby doesn't go through withdrawal at the same level.”

Some situations can feel jarring and parenthood doesn’t come with a manual. In some complex situations, options can get even more blurred but support is available.

Want to learn more? Listen to our full episode with public health nurse and lactation expert Dawn Maddux, MPH, BSN, RN, IBCLC, CLC, on The Art of Parenting by MissPoppins.

Want to speak directly with Dawn? Book directly through the MissPoppins App.