Tuesday, March 19, 2024

How To Know If Formula Is Hurting Baby Stomach

Best Formula For Gas Pain

Causes of stomach ache in infant who is on formula milk? – Dr. Sailaja Vummadi

When faced with gas, parents of formula-fed infants may first try changing to a different formula at the first sign that their baby is having any gas pain. Though many formulas are designed and marketed for babies with gas, it is not always necessary to make the switch. These types of sensitive, gentle, and/or comfort baby formula include:

  • Enfamil Gentlease
  • Similac Sensitive
  • Similac Soy Isomil
  • Similac Total Comfort

While changing from a milk-based, iron-fortified formula is sometimes recommended, it is necessary much less often than most parents realize. For example, congenital lactase deficiency, in which babies can’t digest the milk sugar lactose when they are born, is extremely rare.

Older children don’t usually develop symptoms of lactose intolerance until they are between 2 and 5 years old. So changing your baby to a lactose-free formula is often unnecessary. However, your baby might temporarily need a lactose-free formula if they recently had a viral infection that caused severe diarrhea, such as rotavirus.

Unlike lactose intolerance, newborns and infants can have true milk protein allergies. In this case, changing to a soy formula would likely seem to be a good idea. But since many of these babies can also have a soy allergy, a hypoallergenic formula such as Nutramigen or Alimentum is usually a better choice.

Is It Normal For My Baby To Spit Up After Feedings

Sometimes, babies spit up when they have eaten too much, burp, or drool.

Many infants will spit up a little after some or even all feedings or during burping because their digestive tracts are immature. That’s normal.

As long as your baby is growing and gaining weight and doesn’t seem uncomfortable with the spitting up, it’s OK. The amount of spit-up often looks like more than it actually is.

But spitting up isn’t the same as forcefully vomiting all or most of a feeding. Vomiting is a forceful ejection of stomach contents. Spitting up is a more gentle flow out the mouth or nose.

If you’re concerned that your baby is vomiting, call your doctor. Keep a record of exactly how often and how much your baby is vomiting or spitting up. In rare cases, there may be an allergy, digestive problem, or other problem that needs medical care. The doctor should be able to tell you if it’s normal or something of concern.

How Does A Babys Diet Affect Gas

Breast milk is the biologically normal food for babies and usually, the healthiest choice. There is no need to stop breastfeeding because a baby has gas. Try keeping a food log, which might help identify whether particular foods trigger gas in a baby.

Infant formula may also be a culprit. Mixing up infant formula can cause air bubbles to appear in a babys food, increasing the risk of gas. Try a pre-mixed liquid formula instead, or give formula a few minutes to settle before feeding the baby.

Some babies may be sensitive to formula ingredients, such as soy or lactose. A small-scale 2011 study suggested that feeding babies an easily digested low-lactose formula may ease gas and colic. Talk to your babys pediatrician before changing formulas.

When a baby starts eating solids, keep a food log. This can help with identifying food sensitivities that trigger gas.

found that women often needlessly restrict their diets. There is no need to avoid any specific food when breastfeeding because most babies get gas.

Some strategies that may help prevent gas include:

Also Check: What Foods Help With Stomach Pain

More Questions & More Answers

We know that between last week and this blog post weve barely scratched the surface when it comes to everything there is to know about baby formula. Thankfully, thats what BabyForumulaExpert.com is for! Here are some great resources Dr. Young has available, for free, on her site. Amazing information to bookmark for future reference.

The 5 Major Signs And Symptoms Of Lactose Intolerance In Infants Are:

Four Common Causes for Your Childs Tummy Ache

1. Loose stools

Sometimes your child might pass loose, watery, yellow and green coloured stools after two hours of consuming milk or any other dairy product. This could be a sign of lactose intolerance in the baby. However, it could also be a sign of other problems. So rule out other possibilities first and then get your child diagnosed for lactose intolerance.

Also read: Dairy Plus These 5 Foods Are Your Key To Stronger Bones

2. Diarrhea

When your body does not produce enough lactase, lactose remains undigested and starts accumulating in your intestines. This can result in diarrhea. If diarrhea takes place after the consumption of milk and is accompanied by other symptoms as well, get your child diagnosed for lactose intolerance.

3. Vomiting and nausea

If your baby feels sick all the time, is nauseous and vomits a lot, especially after the consumption of dairy, there is a chance that your child is lactose intolerant. Vomiting is usually followed by nausea. It could also take place due to other conditions. But if it happens too often and mostly after the consumption of dairy, you must get your child diagnosed for lactose intolerance.

Also read: 6 Best Non-Dairy Substitutes For Milk

4. Bloating and flatulence

Also read: 5 Non-Dairy Foods Rich In Calcium

5. Frequent crying

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How Is Formula Intolerance Diagnosed And Treated

  • Your baby’s pediatrician will examine your baby. He or she will ask about your baby’s reaction to formula and when it started. Tell him or her which formula you use. The pediatrician may take a sample of your baby’s bowel movement. The sample will be tested to rule out other health problems your baby may have. Your baby may also need tests to find if he or she has an allergy to a protein in the formula.
  • A change of formula may be the only treatment your baby needs. Signs of intolerance may go away on their own after the change. Your baby may need to have treatment for health problems caused by intolerance.

When To Speak With A Doctor

While most baby gas cases are fairly harmless, there are times when you should seek professional help.

If your baby exhibits excessive crying, has long crying bouts three or more times per day, or just recently began crying after reaching their first month, contact your pediatrician.

Also call the doctor or seek medical help if your little one isnt eating, peeing, or having regular bowel movements.

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Does Warming Baby Formula Help With Gas

The more shaking and blending involved, the more air bubbles get into the mix, which can then be swallowed by your baby and result in gas. Try using warm water compared to cold or room temperature water. This helps the formula dissolve more effectively, thus eliminating bubbles from tons of shaking.

Common Causes Of Stomach Pain In Babies And Their Solutions

How do I know if my baby needs Similac Sensitive

Stomach pain in babies is quite common. Almost 9 out of 10 parents come across this situation and remain tensed when babies cry with pain. An infant with stomach ache can have poor feeding, lethargy, irritability and fussiness. The reason of this pain can be colic, stomach infection, improper latching, constipation, food allergy, GERD, intestinal blockage, urinary infections and intestinal blockages.

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Keep Your Baby Upright

Let gravity do its thing by feeding at an angle. “Avoid feeding while the infant is lying down,” Dr. Loizides says. If you’re breastfeeding, try an upright football or laid-back hold. After your baby eats, don’t have them lie down right away. “It’s best to seat Baby upright for 20 to 30 minutes to ensure proper digestion,” Dr. Montague says.

What Are Some Baby Formula Options

When you make the decision to switch your baby to another formula, the most important thing is that you choose an option that you feel good about. Supporting brands you trust and ingredients youre comfortable with are big pieces to consider when youre comparing different formulas out there.

A few of the most common baby formula options, when it comes to ingredients, include:

  • Cows milk: This is the most common type and is generally iron-fortified. However, this option isnt appropriate for babies with a milk protein allergy or lactose intolerance.
  • Soy: This is a good option for plant-based families or for babies who have a cows milk allergy or intolerance.
  • Protein hydrolysate: This option is made with protein that has been more broken down than usual, to make it more digestible for babies.
  • Sensitive formulas: This is an option most commonly recommended for babies who are spitting up, have more gas than usual or are experiencing a lot of overall fussiness. These are generally milk-based, easily digested formulas that may have other ingredients, like omega-3s, that are designed to help support sensitive tummies.

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Complications Of Spitting Up

  • Most infants are “happy spitters.” Normal spitting up occurs in half of babies. It does not cause crying or colic.
  • Normal crying occurs in all babies. Frequent crying occurs in 15% of babies. Crying and colic are not helped by heartburn meds. These meds also have side effects.
  • If they develop complications, it’s called GERD . This occurs in less than 1% of babies.

Food Sensitivities In Babies And Children

Abdominal Bloating and Lower Abdominal Pain

In a young infant, food sensitivity may manifest itself through colicky symptomsanything from unnatural, persistent fussiness, to inconsolable, ear-piercing screams that may go on for hours at a time. The baby might develop unexplained rashesa possible giveaway that the breastfed infants gastric system is reacting to foods that his or her mother eats to ingredients in formula, in the case of a bottle-fed baby or to foods from a complementary diet, if the baby has begun eating solid foods.

In an older child, the list of possible indicators that the child has food sensitivities is quite a bit longer it includes such symptoms as headaches, stomach ache, runny nose, sneezing, loose stool, chronic cold, chronic ear infection, constipation, rash, asthma, irritability or lethargy.

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Formula Mob Family #: Goat

In the past few years, theres been a huge uptick in the number of parents turning to goats milk formula.

  • It tastes sweeter, more like breastmilk.
  • Goats milk makes a smaller curd in the stomach, so is much easier for small tummies to digest, lowering incidents of constipation and gas.
  • Studies like this one have shown goats milk is a good choice for children who struggle with eczema.
  • If your baby struggles with these things and you want to give goats milk formula a try, . The formula is sold as a toddler formula, but is appropriate for any child over 6 months who is also eating solid foods.

    For younger babies, or an organic goat milk option, try Holle Goat Milk formula. For more information about why parents are raving about European baby formulas, check out this article.

    What Causes Babies To Experience Gas Pain

    Gas is a natural by-product of digesting the nutrients in breast milk or formula and the digestive system normally expels it without any discomfort whatsoever. However, since gas is buoyant it creates pressure in the opposite direction of gastric flow. When gas becomes trapped in the intestines it causes a painful pressure build-up. There are several factors that contribute to this:

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    Cows Milk Infant Formula

    Cows milk formula is the most commonly used infant formula and is well tolerated by most babies. Lactose is the main carbohydrate used is cows milk formula.3

    Cows milk formula is usually iron-fortified, which is important to prevent anemia . However, some babies are allergic to cows milk protein, which is one reason a formula may seem like it doesnt agree with your baby .4

    Food Nuts Or Milk Allergies

    Infant Medical Care : Infant Abdominal Pain Relief

    Younger babies also get stomach pain. This is because of the food that the mother ate. Mothers diet also can be a reason for stomach pain in babies. This is called food intolerance. Foods that cause an allergic response in babies include cows milk, eggs, nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and fish. Some kids are lactose intolerant which means their body cant digest milk easily. This creates loose stools and pain in stomach.

    What Should You Do:

    • If your baby has a stomach problem after eating a particular food then he has a food allergy.
    • Talk to your paediatrician about this if you feel the child is fussy after a particular meal.
    • If you are breastfeeding, watch for mothers diet and eliminate the product accordingly.

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    One: Determine The Formula Mob Family

    A Formula Family is a group of formulas that are designed for a specific purpose or made with specific ingredients.

    The first step to ensure your switching will go down like a boss is to determine the type of formula youre using, and the type of formula you want to switch to.

    If they are in the same family, youre fine. Switch away. If theyre notyouve got a bit of work to do.

    Here are the main Formula Mob Families you need to know.

    What Else Can I Do To Prevent Gas When Bottle Feeding

    Burp baby during and after a feeding

    Take a break after every ounce or two to burp your baby in the middle of a feeding, as they may have swallowed too much air. Burp after the feed as well.

    Pediatricians recommend burping your baby while they are in a seated position, with their head supported by the cradle of your hand. You can also burp your baby in the typical position upright and over your shoulder.10

    Be patient while burping because it may take some time for the gas bubbles to surface. You can always try laying baby down for a moment or two to let the bubbles re-settle and then lifting baby up and trying again. If your little one doesnt burp after a few minutes, its ok to move on.

    Use tummy time

    Tummy time isnt just for your babys core and neck strength the gentle pressure of lying on their belly can help push out the trapped gas.11 Wait at least 30 minutes after a feeding to allow your babys belly to settle before starting tummy time.

    Or try a more advanced move use both hands and a lot of guided support to lay your baby tummy down on a large beach or exercise ball and gently roll baby on the ball in a circular motion.

    Hold and position your baby in different ways

    The colic curl position Place your babys head and back against your chest and encircle your arms under their bottom. Then, move your arms up gently to curl baby into a ball. Or, try reversing this position by placing your babys feet against your chest as you hold them.12

    Bicycle babys legs

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    Does Gripe Water Help Upset Stomach

    A baby is more likely to experience stomach discomfort when unable to pass gas. Some babies cry for several hours over days or weeks. Since the herbs in gripe water theoretically help with digestion, this remedy is thought to help with colic caused by gassiness. Gripe water is also used for teething pain and hiccups.

    When To Change Baby Formula

    Causes of stomach pain in an infant who is on formula milk ...

    If you think formula may be the cause your formula-fed babys symptoms, you may decide to switch to a new formula.

    Always speak to your babys healthcare provider before changing formula. They can help guide you on which formula is the best choice for your baby and talk with you about how best to go about changing formulas.

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    Formula Mob Family #: Bovine

    This formula family has the most members, because most of the standard baby formulas are based on cows milk .

    If your baby doesnt have any health issues and is drinking formula, hes most likely drinking a formula that is built around the cows milk dairy proteins.

    So if youre using Good Start and want to try switching to a baby formula like Similac, go for it. Watch your baby carefully for signs of fussiness the first day, but generally the transition is pretty easy.

    How Much Infant Formula

    Your doctor will give you an idea of how much to feed your baby when you first start using formula. Most babies need 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight each day. This means that an eight-pound baby may drink about 20 ounces of formula a day. However, this is just an estimate. The most important thing when feeding your baby is to pay attention to your babys cues. Other than crying, signs that your baby may be hungry include smacking his or her lips, sucking and rooting .

    Feed your baby as often as he or she wants to be fed. It could be more in the beginning. This may be 8 to 12 times a day. Your baby may want to be fed less often as he or she grows and can take more formula at each feeding. How often your baby wants to eat will change as he or she goes through growth spurts. Growth spurts typically occur at about 2 and 6 weeks of age. It can happen again at about 3 and 6 months of age.

    Your baby is probably getting enough formula if he or she:

    • Acts satisfied after each feeding.
    • Gains weight regularly after the first 3 to 7 days after birth. Your baby may lose a little weight during the first week after being born.
    • Has about 6 to 8 wet diapers a day.
    • Has about 2 to 5 or more stools a day at first. Then, he or she has two or less stools a day as your baby grows. Your babys stools will be runny when you start formula.

    Baby formula is sold in several forms:

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