Advice on Formula

My daughter had a lot of gas issues from birth to about 6 months. Her pediatrician told me to give her tummy gas drops about 3 times a day, regardless if she seemed to need it or not, and then give them to her also as she needed them throughout the day. She told me that it was a safe "drug" to give her that often. I tried that for a few days and noticed an instant improvement in her tummy issues, and her attitude. She would get so gassy that she would literally scream herself to sleep, all the while with me trying everything to get her to ease her tummy problems. I felt so bad for her.

I don't have any advice for you, other than to please ignore "Angel's" response about breastfeeding. I was absolutely appalled that she had no other advice for you than to ask WHY you weren't breastfeeding. It is each woman's PERSONAL decision to make, and for her to invade your personal privacy is beyond me. You seem to have a wonderful family who you love dearly, so don't let her question the decisions you've made. Anyway, I hope you can get to the bottom of your baby's issue. My 9 month old started on breastmilk, then Similac Advance, then Similac Isomil because of her spitting up. Call your pediatrician and see what they say. Good luck!!!
S.

We used similac soy (I think that's isomil advance) with some luck then ended up switching to the walmart version of it and were really impressed. No more gas, spitting up or anything. And it's a lot cheaper. The big difference I noticed was that it didn't foam up at all when we mixed it which meant less bubbles in my sons tummy which meant everyone was happy. It's worth a try!

I agree that talking to your pediatrician, or at least the nurses, may give you a better handle on the situation. Sometimes they can give advice or recommendations based on what a lot of patients are experiencing. Otherwise, I would either put him back on the first formula and put gas drops in each bottle or switch to Enfamil and see if it works. I used Enfamil and didn't try Similac so I can't compare, but we loved the Enfamil...in fact I finally switched to the Target brand of Enfamil and it worked just as well. It is safe to use the gas drops in each bottle. It is not absorbed at all into your system it just passes right through and pops bubbles on the way, so doing that may just solve your problem!

Good luck, this sounds like a trying time for you!

Hi T., The Nestle Goodstart seemed to work best for both my girs (they both were on the Soy version) and my neice used the regular Goodstart and that worked good for her. It's been a little while since we had formula, but one thing that noticed was that with the Similac when I mixed the formula there would be a lot of bubbles, I didn't have near as many bubbles with the Goodstart. Both my kids had reflux really bad and one had gas on top of that. The Goodstart helped with the gas. It may be worth trying a diffrent brand. I was worried about using anything other than what the hospital gave me, but talked tomy doctor and said not to worry. He said that all the formula companies have to meet certain standards, the big names are just going to have the advances quicker because they have the money to do it, where the no names wait for the big names to figure it all out. He told me that in simple terms it's like Pepsi vs. Coke. Which one do you like the taste of better and which one makes you burp less. Hope this helps a little.

My daughter is on Similac as well and her stools are loose and watery most of the time. I did read on the label that stools could be loose because the formula is close to breastmilk. Also if your baby is gaining weight and does not get dehydrated then more than likely your baby is doing fine. Has your baby been congested? Our Ped. said that the mucus from her congestion could cause loose stools. The other thing I would do is try the Enfamil line if your other childeren seemed to do well on it. Also I would ignore anyone that questions you on not breastfeeding. There are many reasons why we use formula and it is no one's business. Plus my first daughter ended up formula fed and has hardly been sick same as my 5 month old. Formula today is much better than what it was and is close to breatmilk anyway. Good luck and congrats on your new little one.

I would try the Enfamil. I notice my baby has less spitting up on that. I also noticed that when mixing the bottle or cereal with Enfamil as compared with Similac that the Enfamil seems to mix up smoother and easier. Hope that helps!

Is there a reason you didn't breastfeed? Have you tried to switch back to breastfeeding? That would help with the gas/burbing a lot....

ADDITION TO MY POST:
T.:
I am sorry if I offended you. Apperently I offending others as they think that I attacked you....It was just a question. Please understand that I am NOT against formula feeding, as I supplement my 7 month old as well as breastfeeding. I understand that in some cases brestfeeding is not an option for some women (my daughter has flat inverted nipples, although she kept at it until her son got it). I also understand that it IS a personal choice to breastfeed or formula feed. But I have seen many MANY women give up on breastfeeding because their docs/peds said that that is what is best for their child.

Again I am sorry if I offended anyone.

Hi. I did not get a chance to read the responses so sorry if this is a repeat. I found with my son his gas was caused by the bottle that I was using. I used enfamil with him and switched him because he started getting gassier than normal. The doctor suggested soy formula. He still had issues. I used the evenflow vent bottles. He still had the gas and spit up. Finally I switched him back to his original formula and went to the type of bottles that use the bag that you fill and you can squeeze all the air out of. I am not for sure on the name brand anymore because my son is now 4 but I remember that they had plastic things called drop ins that were sturdier than the little plastic bags that you had to try to line the bottle with . The drop ins were much easier and I could still squeeze out all the extra air. That solved his problem. Hope this helps. I know it is no fun when they are having probelms like this.

Formula is a trial and error thing, I can't remember what brand we ended up using, only that it was the walmart brand and that it said something about partially broken down comfort protiens? But I can tell you Milacon drops will help with gas...some people I know used drops with every feeding of formula, I used them as needed, but they are harmless and do help...lots of luck = )
B.

Honestly, I would call the pediatrician & tell him what has been going on. See what he suggests. That way you are making sure there is nothing else going on. Plus it is possible to be allergic to soy, so that might be an issue as well.

I hope you find a good solution!

J.

I had to switch to enfamil for the same reasons. I just think there is something in the similac that makes their stool loose.

My first was on Enfamil which caused her to be constipated a lot. My second child was on similac which gave him bad gas and the formula itself smelled bad, we even tried similac sensitive which gave him bad diahrea. we finally switched to the nestle goodstart. Its been about five months on it and no problems just a little gas which i give gas medicine that helps.

He sounds just like my son....he did not do well with soy formulas at all. They were actually worse than the milk based formulas. I tried him on several Similac formulas and he did not do well with any of them. I would totally switch him to Enfamil Gentlease...it was the best formula EVER! Our son was so gassy as a baby and was a COMPLETE nighmare with other formulas. Then my pediatrician told us about Gentlease and we had that best baby. I wouldn't put him through anymore unnecessary pain as that gas really hurts them - it worked just fine for your daughter, right? Also, someone told me that there is a cheaper version of it, so you might check it out (I think Nestle Good Start makes the knock off version). Good luck! :)

As for "Angel" Shame on you for attacking another mommy for not breastfeeding! There are lots of reasons for mothers not breastfeeding...like for example not all mothers can produce milk properly, inverted nipples, babies don't latch on, the medications they have to take, or because they just don't want to, etc. You need to think before you spew your ignorance because you don't know why someone is not breastfeeding and it is NONE of your business anyways.