Formula Advice

I guess my recommendation is a mix of several below. I don't think that changing brands every can is a good idea, but if you baby doesn't have problems, you can change from time to time.. and I did. I also had a coupon for one brand and used it to buy those single serving for on the road emergencies. It never seemed to be a problem. If cost is an issue, I agree with all the posts that say go generic. I did that at 6 months and wish I had done so earlier...you still save money over the name brands and the nutrients are essentially the same.

My daughter is 7 months old and what my doctor advised me was that it all depends on the child. I used the coupons I received in the mail and she did fine with whatever formula we gave her. But again it all depends on the child. Now that the coupons do not come in anymore I buy the generic brand from Sam's club and she does just fine. But if you do switch to a brand just keep on eye on any reaactions she might have. Good Luck. L.

I have mixed brands fo formula all the time with my boys, and they are fine. The only reason I would say not to do it is if your little guy has any stomach problems. Also, after they were 6 months old, I switched to generic formula with no problems

It's probably best not to switch brands because it may upset his stomach. I know with my daughter I had to try three different brands before I found the one that didn't upset her stomach. You can go to the manufacturer's website and register to get their coupons or something that I did was buy it off of eBay. I got it very cheap that way.

I would just stick to one brand because you might upset his stomach. I have a 7 month old and we use Good Start Supreme. I know formula is expense but we tried a different one in the begining alos that was a little cheaper and he just had stomach aches and was cranky. Hope this helps!

Well, you CAN switch brands of formula but only if you absolutely need too. But you don't want to do it all the time. You should pick one and stick with it. The change in formula brands can mess with his "diaper duty", like color changes in his stool, soft or solid stool, even diarrhea if he's sensitive. All babies are different but if you have/receive coupons for one brand more often, slowly switch over and stick with that one. And definitely watch for allergic reactions, of course!

You can always consult your pediatrician for more advice. That's what they're there for!

Have your usual on a back-up and try the new formulas. If you find that it upsets his stomach you can mark that one off the list. Then I'd go back to the usual and then after a few days try another new one. :) Good luck!

I wouldn't. Why ruin a good thing?

I had problems with my daughters formuala & switched 3 times before we got the right one. During that time she had stomach aches & would cry a lot. I could see in her face she was in a lot of pain. When we switched to the 3rd formula I could tell after the 1st bottle the we found the right one!

IMO, stick with one brand.

L.

you should stick with one brand. If money is an issue try a generic brand most major stores carry them which are substantially less than Enfamil or similac. I know that Target, Meijer and Wal-mart all have their own. My 2nd son is on the Wal-mart version and doing wonderful. The government regulates formula so they all have to have essentially the same vitamins and minerals as the "name brand."

I will say that when I was nursing we would supplement with whatever. If you are solely on formula youmay want to wait to see reactions with foods etc. Personally we use whatever we have coupons for or the generic brand. Some kids are fussier than others.. mine never were. Trust your instincts!!!

DON'T switch formulas based on coupons or prices! Your baby is too young and you DO NOT want her to have the problems that could arise from constant dietary changes.

You shouldn't switch formula even though it's tempting to use the coupons.

S.,

I believe you need to stick to one brand of formula. I would ask your pediatrician to make sure. Go to the website of your formula brand and register. They will send you many coupons that will help with the cost. Also, shop around for the best deal. I was able to get formula cheapest at Sam's club.

I have three children and I swithched formulas with all of them and never had any problems I use the walmart brand alot and if they are having a sale on one I will buy it. I notice actually that the walmart brand disolves better than enfamil does.

The important thing is to not change them sporadically, and keep careful note of the way they are handled. One bad day does not make them allergic, but a regular pattern is a confirmation that that one is not right for the baby. If the baby is spitting it up, cut the formula down just a bit with water and give less. If it continues, try a gentler brand if possible. Nutramagen is expensive, but works for a lot of touchy babies. I am not superstitious, I would mix them, but don't change them cold turkey if the baby is touchy. Just keep like kinds together, like milk formulas and soy formulas. When he is a little older and you are sure he doesn't have a problem with either, you could alternate them, just don't get careless and stop keeping track of how he does on them.

we switch between prosobee and isomil with no problems. good start soy and store brands tended to result in more spitting up for my little lady, so i avoid them. we tried every brand of milk formula out there before we switched to soy.... there is no harm in giving each one a test run. if a particular kind bothers him, avoid it, but use the ones that don't bug his belly.... the little ones are far more resilient that people give them credit for....

My kids had no trouble when I switched formulas. I know some kids don't like certain ones, so good luck. I tried lots of different ones and ended up with generic and my doctor agreed that it was fine.

I switched between formulas. I always got a small can if I was trying a new one to see if she had a reaction. We switched between Enfamil and Simalac with no problems. She did have a reaction to the Good Start and we didn't finish the can but didn't feel bad because it was a small can. It all depends on the baby. Ask your doctor and take is slow. Ultimately we had to switch to soy due to a milk constipating her. Formula is expensive and every little bit helps. Good Luck!

You can do whatever you feel is right for your baby but all of the research and doctor's advice suggest sticking to one formula to ensure that your baby doesn't have any digestive problems which makes sense as they are so little and not fully developed. I can tell you that when my daughter was a baby (she is 4 now) I was tired of paying the high prices for the brand name formula so I asked my pediatrician if I could substitute for the Walmart brand which was half the price. He said to compare the ingredients on the back of the can, and they were almost identitical, so we switched and kept her on that one and never had a problem. The nutrients are what is important. Most experts also tell you to ween babies to a new formula over a period of a week to ten days.

personally i think that you should stick with the one that you are currently buying.......as to not upset his stomach

I would ask his doctor, but from what I know you should try to stick to only one kind. If the formula is upsetting his stomach them you can change, but you are not suppose to be switching back and forth.

Good luck.

Hi S.!
I would truly stick to one brand. I believe that it's fine to switch after awhile but not back and forth all the time. Their stomachs are so sensitive at this stage that you don't want to risk anything happening. To be sure though, I would ask his pediatrician.