This is probably the most controversial aspect of this preparation orientation. Babies under one year of age should be feeding formula with iron, either milk or soy. There are many opinions about whether babies from Asia should have soy or milk. Most babies living in orphanages in China are actually feeding on a very dilute version of milk-based formula with additional rice conge cereal, steamed eggs, and an occasional banana and orange. The controversy centers on lactose intolerance in Asian children; this condition actually does not appear to be a problem in infancy, but may develop over time and may become an issue in childhood, and usually develops in adults decades later. Lactose is the main sugar in milk-based formulas and the enzyme, lactase, which is necessary for its breakdown, may be missing from some individuals' intestinal tracts. Checking with the agency regarding what your baby has been eating is a good starting point. Most children are adopted late in the first year of life and can eat food in addition to their 28-32 ounces of formula each day. Baby food is heavy and inconvenient, but some families do like to take some along. Babies eat 3 meals and 2 snacks aside from their bottles. It is suggested that the infant can do fine just on the formula while you are traveling and food can be added on arrival at home. But…if the child has teeth and an appetite to match, table foods will be fine as long as you prepare the food as mashed or in small pieces. Any food will be fine, except for some obvious restrictions like nuts, chocolate, and peanut butter. As mentioned above, the formula should be iron containing. Development of intellect is based on good nutrition and iron is necessary for intellectual growth. Many people are convinced that iron causes constipation in infants; this may appear to be true for some infants although this has never been proven by medical studies. Introducing more fluids, fruits, and vegetables and having a handy supply of prune or fruit juice can prevent constipation.

Toddlers clearly can be fine on a regular assortment of table foods. Another controversy is how to transition babies from the formula in the country of origin to the formula in the U.S. There are as many ways to do this as there are parents adopting. As long as the baby appears to be getting enough calories, it doesn't matter how you transition the child. Most formulas from abroad are quite similar to American formulas. Nipples can differ so bring along a variety and you will find the magic nipple for your baby.

Beyond the scope of this discussion is oral motor dysfunction, which is quite common in babies adopted from orphanage due to a complex set of circumstances including bottle propping, malnutrition, rickets, and under stimulation. Your baby may have difficulty sucking and swallowing so be patient and feed the child slowly with a lot of close holding and attention to the body language of the baby. When you get home, consult with Early Intervention Services through your local department of health, which can provide a speech therapy evaluation to focus on feeding difficulties. Parents commonly report that the babies don't like water. This is a curiosity. It has been discussed that children with oral motor dysfunction cannot handle the slippery nature of water. Also some children appear to "know" instinctively, that drinking fluids like water, leads to increased urination and they don't want to be wet so they don't drink. They are used to not being changed for hours at a time in the orphanage so this is a practical response to a sad situation.