Breast milk is the most natural food for your baby, but if you can't breastfeed, or have chosen not to, then learning how to choose a baby formula is relatively simple.

You might try asking the pediatrician you have chosen to care for your baby, before the actual birth. See if they have a preference of brands or composition, since baby formula should be rich in protein, fats, sugars and sodium.

Most baby formula manufacturers try as hard as possible to mimic the mineral and other composition of natural breast milk. While that's not completely possible, forumulas have come a long way in the last few years, in meeting the nutritional needs of newborn and growing babies.

Once you choose a baby formula that is going to meet their food and calorie requirements, you'll need to decide what type of formula will work best for your lifestyle and your budget. Most formulas will come in powder, concentrate, or ready-to-serve.

Powder is the least expensive, but there is the extra work of having to mix it up prior to use. Concentrate is less cumbersome to mix, but does require that you add water. Ready to serve is there whenever you need it, but it is also the most expensive option.

If you would like to balance economy and convenience, try using the powdered form and mixing a small pitcher of it, to fill a small number of bottles. The stirring motions will help to disperse bubbles that may gather as you whip up one for a hasty feeding.

Just to make sure you're covered for emergencies, or when something happens that you don't have any powdered mixed, keep a couple of cans of either concentrate or ready to use on hand. That way, you can satisfy the baby as quickly as possible while eliminating some of the stress of trying to keep up with their appetite! Be sure to use these extra cans before their expiry dates.