Formula and Pooing

Stop diluting the formula, he will not get the nutrients he needs. Formula babies always have less poos than breastfed babies and they are more adult like- thicker and darker in color. His body will adjust to the new milk in time. Also, you can give him more fiber oriented solids like the green veggies, appricots, pears. Limit bananas and orange veggies.

You are awesome! It is great that you could breastfeed for that long. I have a two year old and a 5 month old and was able to nurse for as long as you did but stopped due to lack of milk supply. I also have gone through a deployment so I understand what you may be feeling right now too. I've learned that enfimil has the most iron in it for formulas and it can cause constipation. At least it did in both of my boys. My first son I stuck with enfimil and his bowls stayed the same hardish the entire time. My second son I had to try other formulas due to spit up and bowel movements. I now have him on a generic formula that he does great with. My suggestion would be doing what you are doing my diluting the formula a bit or even trying other formulas after a few weeks of trying a formula. Good luck!

I had to switch breast for formula with my third and I diluted it a bit as well. She is still alive and very healthy, so don't feel like you have done something bad by doing that. Formula is so so thick compared to breast milk and it does cause constipation because the proteins can be much more difficult to break down. the only thing that you are doing by diluting it is giving him a little more water and that's a good thing if he's constipated. as long as your son is eating well (formula and other) he is not lacking for nutrients.

the color change is normal, you have probably noticed that it smells terrible compared to before - not that it smelled lovely before, I'm sure by now you know what I mean. that's normal for any diet changes that he will have, some things will make the color weirder and smell worse, just wait til you start meats.

it most likely won't go away by it's self. you could try to mix prune juice like the other poster suggested, prune juice is amazing for constipated baby. but consider he may prefer it straight.

My daughter did the same thing when I switched and she was 10 1/2 mo old. The color change is normal and so is the harder stools. Make sure he is still going at least 1-2 times a day. If not let your doctor know. She became really constipated, I thought it would pass, and ended up being on meds because she had a fear of having a bowel movement. it is becoming more common as babies are on formula. I know of at least 10 children who have had to be on meds because of it.

Sorry...not meant to scare, but just be aware.

Hi J., I am a 31 year old mom of two. (Ages 5 and 2). I breast fed both. When the yellow poo ends and the yucky poo begins, that's when the rashes start and difficult poos can occur. The darker poops are normal.
Does he cry when he poops? If not, that's okay. If so, I'd talk to his doctor. But, one of my kids has never had trouble pooping and the other can get constipated if I don't keep her fiber intake up.

You said he's eating foods? What kinds? Just cereals?

What I found is that once they are eating solids, the ones that cause thicker harder stools are the starchy foods: thicker cereal, bananas, avocados. The foods that make them go are the ones higher in fiber: apples, pears, prunes, etc. But, as you probably know, you want to introduce new foods slowly and one at a time to watch for any food allergies. Talk to your son's doctor for a list and time line of when to introduce certain foods.

Also, the book: Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron was a great resource for me. You can get it for as little at 6 bucks on amazon.com

Hope that helps.
Stef K.

Don't dilute his formula, instead add some pear or prune juice directly in his formula or give him a seperate bottle of just juice. A few ounces a day is suppose to be enough maybe check with your pediatrician.

Breastmilk and Formula fed babies have completely different poop from the color, smell, amount you name it, it's very different.

My daughter was fed both and with formula she was prone to constipation but then again she's 7 years old now and still prone. I try and push fiber, water, and fruits.

this is VERY common in formula fed babies. im sorry about your breastfeeding issues. :( that sucks.
i want to stick in an encouragement, if its not too late, to just keep nursing along with the formula, that will help a lot.

otherwise, you can give your baby a little bottle or sippy cup of water. its likely that he wont take water in the bottle.
www.askdrsears.com
dr sears recommends the water for formula fed babies since formula is more concentrated than breastmilk, it plugs babies up.

you might hear its dangerous to give babies water, and yes, when given TOO MUCH water, it could be dangerous. however, its unlikely that baby will drink too much, unless you give it when baby is extremely hungry.. which is still unlikely cuz baby wont want the water then...

anyway, there are articles out there that say NO water for babies, but they are just saying that because its hard to say per baby and for babies age weight size, etc, how much to give. i would say add a couple ounces at a time and see how baby reacts. water is VERY important to formula fed babies.
the change in color is normal, its due to the foreign stuff. lol.

also, if your baby is eating some baby foods, its ok to get a box of milled flax and add it to the food. it works like a charm. stool should NEVER be hard, not even in adults, that means you arent getting enough fiber and water. fiber absorbs water in the stomach, and passes into the intestines undigested, but full of moisture. when a person and a baby has enough fiber, stool will always be soft and easy to pass. not watery, just soft. and it isnt a bad thing to have to give the flax every day, and it isnt a bad thing to add it to your own foods! :D its good stuff, that fiber!

anyway good luck!

Hi J.-
This is TOTALLY 100% normal. It is always the hardest on previously breastfeed babies moms. He is not constipated. When you go from breastmilk to formula or when you introduce solids (both of which you have done), you slow the digestive system. The baby poop with formula goes from breastmilk seedy mustard to any color of brown to green. In the medical field, you can look at a babies poop and tell exactly if they are breast or bottle feeders. Also very common for breastfeed babies to go 1-10 times a day and formula feed babies to go 1 time a day to once every three days. It is not considered constipation until the baby's stools is like rabbit pellets. If it is still soft and he is going at least once a week it is not a problem. The reactions parents get from babies that worries them is the baby tends to grunt, do a pushing like behavior and some even become very red in the face when going. All NORMAL. As the digestive system grows, changes and slows the sensation they get when pooping is wierd feeling to them. Not that it hurts, just different. So this is what they are reacting too, not a problem. Now, I actually would NOT change the dilution to the formula. Do the 1 scoop to 2 ounces. When you actually change the make up of the formula you can cause BIGGER issues than pooping. So please make it according to guidelines.

Now you do state you are giving him baby food.... This actually worries me too as if given too early can cause problems. At 4 1/2 months all he needs is formula or breastmilk. Some pediatricians introduce rice cereal at 4 months of age, but that is it. Solids are actually not recommended until 6 months of age. So, if you are giving jar food, I actually suggest you stop that. At 4 months even if on cereal, it should only be rice and should be watered down a bit. I sure hopes this helps.

Good morning, J.! Yes, it's all normal. Formula-poops are entirely different. Besides the obvious (different color and texture), they are also smellier! I wouldn't recommend cutting down on the amount of formula because you're robbing him of calories. Try some baby juice. That loosened my boys right up! It should work and will provide some needed vitamin C. Good luck! Let us know what works. Have a beautiful day!

H J.

The pooping is normal . It is not just the formula that is causing the poop to change color it is the baby food also and that will make the poop thicker . You have to think of it this way he was only getting breastmilk and that is why it was loose . Now he is getting solids it is going to make his poop more solid . But do not dulluit the formula that is just going to cut back the nutrition not help with his bowel movements . Hope I helped .

Don't dilute his formula, he will not be getting all the nutrition he needs. It is normal to have green poo with formula. My daughter does all the time. She also only poos once or twice a day. When she was breastfed it seemed she pood almost every time she was changed. She grunts a lot when she poos, even though it's soft. As long as it's not hard to where hes constipated don't worry about it.

It is completely normal for his poop to be a different color and for it to seem like it is a struggle to get it out. I went through this with my first daughter when she switched to formula at 9 months of age. The doctor said not to worry unless her poops were hard, round and she screamed in pain when she tried to poop. The breastmilk poopies are easy to get out and the formula ones are probably not painful for him, it is just more obvious when he is pooping because the consistency is different now.

I would not mess with diluting his formula, that can leave him without the proper amount of nutrients and protein that his body and brain needs right now. Consult your doctor if you continue to have questions, but I would not dilute the formula.

Please do not dilute his formula! You can really screw up his electrolyte balance and make him very sick. Try adding a little bit of DARK Karo syrup to his bottles...about a teaspoon each time til he passes it better. My little guy did the same thing and that worked awesome! And it's ok to do it about once a day til he gets better at pooping regularly and it's softer! But make sure it is the dark syrup. Good luck!

What is happening to your baby is very normal. Formula is harder to digest and requires different bacteria. It takes a while for your baby to develope this bacteria. Unless the stool is very hard, and he goes more than 5 days without stooling, if is not constipated. You could contact your doctor about ways of making it easier on him. Switching formulas probably won't help.

I would suggest mixing the formula as directed. It can be detrimental to your child's health. By diluting the formula you are decrease his essential nutrient intake and he is getting to much water. To much water can destroy their kidneys.

Yes it is very normal...if you are a little concerned take him to a pediatrician!!!