How often can you change formula?

Inge - posted on 05/22/2011

It's ok even to give them all .. My 5 months baby .. takes S26 fm Wyeth and Nan fm Nestle at the moment since 2 months old .. You can swap it each day for diff brand, but of course try to stick on just 2 brands i believe .. not too many either .. he's not fussy .. and not upsetting the stomach .. i even give him a bit of water here and there .. and he's taking it all alrite .. All good and he enjoys everything ..

Kristina - posted on 05/22/2011

I was told by my pediatrician and the nurses at the hospital to pick one brand and stick with it. They also told me that switching formula types within the brand is a lot easier on the child because of the chemical make-up of the brand. I would suggest finding someone to either give away (or sell) what brands you are not using. I've also seen e-Bay ads posted for people looking to sell (unopened) formula that they are not using. I hope that helps.

Maria - posted on 05/22/2011

Crystal, at the risk of escalating things I want to say that I am a BFer who spent nearly a decade pregnant, nursing, or both, continuously & I have to say that I thought your first comment was uncalled for in this particular discussion. While, for me, personally, formula is not an option, unless I don't have another viable option for feeding my babies. However, I 100% support any mother's choice in how to feed her baby & know that babies can grow up happy & healthy when fed formula. My mother fed me formula under advice from the Dr b/c he felt, w/Mom's stress level it was better for me. You know what, I am fine w/her choice & glad she did what she & the Dr felt was best for me. Dru is trying to do what she feels is best for her baby & needs advice & support NOT to be told someone hates formula & all it stands for. A comment like that would be fine in a discussion where a mom is trying to decide how to feed her baby, but has no place in one where the decision has already been made & the mom is looking for advice on the method she chose. Just as, if you were asking for nursing advice, you wouldn't want to hear/read comments saying "I despise BFing & all it stands for."
Dru, I'm sorry if this causes any more drama on your question, I just feel that it needs to be said & hate when people say things that are meant to make people feel bad about how they choose to care for their child.

Maria - posted on 05/22/2011

Hi, I don't usually respond to any questions, but wanted to reply to this one b/c I've seen what can happen when a baby has a sensitive stomach & mom switches formula (a client I interpreted for & her baby). I am a BFer, so my experience w/formula is really limited, but it sounds like your baby definitely has a sensitive stomach & was reacting to something in your breastmilk. Based on that, I'd say if the formula you have her on is working well for her, & it sounds like it is, it might be best for her if you simply stick w/it. Good luck, whatever you end up doing!

Tessie - posted on 05/22/2011

Depends on the child. With no history of tummy issues & after 6 mo I've used whatever I've had a coupon for & Samples without a problem. I breastfed 1st 6 mo and supplemented with Baby's Only organic. Now that I've stopped BFing and my formula bill is on the rise I use similac, goodstart, & enfamil interchangeably. She's 9 mo and were doing fine.

Lora - posted on 05/22/2011

if you hate formula...what do you suggest adopted parents use who were never pregnant but have to feed a newborn...I am just curious?

Anne - posted on 05/22/2011

I gave my kids whatever formula was on sale that week or what my friends gave me. Most of my friends were breast feeding and I was not. So they usually gave me their sample tubs, too. We never had a problem, but I guess it's up to the baby. Just try it and see if it works for yours.



Oh, and one of my kids is adopted, she never had a drop of breast milk and is a healthy, happy, and smart girl!

(I just wanted to add this for the breast feeding police out there.)

Angel - posted on 05/22/2011

I wouldn't switch the baby off of something that is working well for her. Just like us, their bodies don't agree with everything and each formula is so very different. I would just buy some more of what worked well for her. Good luck!!

Candace - posted on 05/21/2011

My little girl was on that too. By the time she was about 3 months i switched her to store brand and she did fine. turned out that the bubbles from mixing the powdered formula was causing the problem. went to liquid concentrate and never looked back. if going to change just do it gradually. good luck!

Mel - posted on 05/21/2011

HI Dru, I would probably try to stick to the same one its not good for her stomach if you change her over all the time without a reason. Its takes thier body a few days to adjust every time you change it over

Ashley=) - posted on 05/21/2011

Crystal well done, big pat on the back for you.Just come down off the high horse and chill out a little.

Also just a kind word, so many formula feeding moms most likely feel shame because of b/f mothers like your self and the rude ignorant comments, many of you can't help put make.

I love out spoken women but outspoken women with a bit of class and respect.

You can always give your opinion without disrespecting others.Its not hard to do.Best of luck to you.

Carri - posted on 05/21/2011

Aww, don't y'all worry about ol' Crystal, bless her heart. Some people are just so naiively arrogant that they don't realize that for some people it is actually a relief, not a shame-filled experience to switch over to formula when the struggle to breastfeed has begun to outweigh all the happy, bonding feelings we should have. I'm pretty sure my kids will be grateful that I didn't hate formula and all that it stands for. Especially the kid whom I really tried to solely breastfeed, but my husband's pesky chemo treatments really kept getting in the way. I'm so glad I didn't listen to all the arrogant vocal breastfeeders and allow myself to fill with shame on top of all the other things I had on my plate. My baby was losing weight. I gave him formula. No regrets.

Dodie - posted on 05/21/2011

i stuck with one with my first two children but with this last one i used my samples and it didnt bother him at all. its all up to you if you see the baby is having problems try the next or go back to what you were using.

Mel - posted on 05/21/2011

Crystal, can i ask why you are against formula? Both my girls have been on it and are healthy and happy.

Charlie - posted on 05/21/2011

I do not believe she asked what was the closest thing to breastmilk from the baby's mother .

Dru , pick a formula and stick with it , your baby's digestive tract can only handle so much they are not designed to experiencing new formulas and ingerdients all of the time and it could do damage if it is continued .

Good luck and go easy on her tum :)

Dru - posted on 05/20/2011

Crystal,

First of all I would like to commend you on BF your child until 2yrs. I honestly think that is awesome. Second, you are right. I am sensitive about the subject because BF was not smooth sailing for me or my baby and I have been mentally and physically exhausted from it. So yeah I was torn about giving her formula but felt it was the best and my daughter has been better since the swap. I still pump and she gets at least one breast milk bottle a day.

I just really do not know what your point was of your first post other than trying to make someone feel bad. Since you could not answer my question, why did you even come into this conversation? No one asked if you liked formula. I think you have very good points to your debate but it does not belong in this chat and if I wanted to read about what was better, BF or formula, I would go to that conversation.

Char - posted on 05/20/2011

not sure if she will takeor drink it..I tried to change my son;s when he was about 5 months from similac to good start and he wont drink it so it all depends.

Melissa - posted on 05/20/2011

I'm not interested in getting in a debate, but I do believe if you can't breastfeed and baby is having tummy problems maybe you should consider donor milk? Breastmilk is a live, pure substance with antibodies. Formula just isn't.

Faye - posted on 05/20/2011

If she is already having troubles with gas I wouldn't recommend changing. It is really hard on their little tummies. They don't recommend it even for a baby who isn't having troubles. You can donate the extras. I know our pediatrician's office takes samples (unopened..obviously) and gives them to families in need. Just a thought.

Lindsay - posted on 05/20/2011

YOu can really mess up her stomach and her system by constantly switching if she doesn't need it! If she does really well on the one for gas and fussiness and that's what her dr told you to use for her then it had to have been for a reason. It can cause vomiting and constipation if you switch too often without the need to..

Samantha - posted on 05/20/2011

If she is responding well to it then i would not change. I was told once on a formula that works you have to stay with it for 2 weeks since it takes a baby's GI tract to adjust before changing it again. Plus don't try to fix something that isn't broke as i always say...

Jennifer - posted on 05/20/2011

If formula isn't the closest thing to breast milk, what is? What do you suggest if a woman CANNOT breastfeed? If you are a militant breastfeeding mom, I don't care, it doesn't hurt me. What right do you have to butt in with a response that can easily be taken as completely rude? You wouldn't want someone to respond rudely about you nursing a 2 yr old, right?
Someone asked about a formula, you didn't need to respond with a comment about nursing. It had nothing to do with formula!

Jackie - posted on 05/20/2011

Had some issues with my grandson when he was quite young. Paediatrician said NOT to keep changing formulas because it takes a few weeks for them to adjust. We changed two or three times for wind, constipation etc. but the doc said he was probably unsettled due to changing formulas too often.

Angel - posted on 05/20/2011

I would not recommend just up and changing her formula, that can cause a lot of stomach upset. When you switch you should do it very gradually, adding a bit of the new in with the old, and increasing the amount of the new and decreasing the old every few days or so. Depending on how young she is swapping out her formula can be kind of a shock to her system. Honestly if she is doing well on the Similac I would just leave her on it, or possibly try the other similac as it is similar(my daughter used the similac advanced. Hope this helped!

Jennifer - posted on 05/20/2011

Every store brand of formula is made by the same manufacturer. I used store brand of formula with my now 3 yr old and checked every single store brand I could find, all the same!

Nicole - posted on 05/20/2011

I had no problems using all the different samples. I used what I had & then bought whatever was cheapest. I only supplemented with formula though.

Ashley=) - posted on 05/20/2011

If shes doing good on the first formula you gave her, i would personally leave her with that.:-)

Dru - posted on 05/20/2011

My plan was not to use formula but she was never satisfied with my milk and would always spit up a lot. I figured out she was so fussy because we had thrush. So then I started pumping to make sure we didnt pass it back to each other, and then my milk supply died down. So when I started her formula she was a whole new baby. hardly ever cries now until she is ready to eat or wants a diaper change. Thank you all for your comments. Very encouraging and good advice. Except for Crystal Harvey. I feel like your comment was very uncalled for. If you had no answer to my question then you did not have to post.

Caitlin McGowan- - posted on 05/20/2011

I think it depends how well-developed their systems are. I always waited until they were at least 7 or 8 mos to swith and had no probs.

MICHAELLA - posted on 05/20/2011

Hey,
Try to stay with one unless of course something happens and she can no longer take it. But one kind at a time is best for baby and less confusing for you.

Megan - posted on 05/20/2011

If she is doing well on the similac, I would stick with it. With my son we never had to change formulas, but my daughterhas a very sensitive tummy. We are on our 3rd switch and I'm hoping it is the last. They have such immature digestive systems that too much change/too often can really wreak havoc! I would suggest you stick to what you are now using and if you have any mommy friends in need, give them the samples. :)

Melissa - posted on 05/20/2011

I would not switch formulas if you do not have to. It could upset her stomach.

Betsy - posted on 05/20/2011

I also hated formula but not everyone has a choice. Sometimes your milk stops producing and you really don't have much of a choice whether you like it or not.

Jenelle - posted on 05/20/2011

I guess I was was lucky. We only ever used one brand of formula and it was just the Costco brand. It is way cheaper and just as good as other formulas unless your baby has special needs. Formula is regulated by the FDA and have to be held to certain standards. So I just went with the cheapest and we never had any problems.

Betsy - posted on 05/20/2011

I used all the samples I received after my breastmilk stopped and my girl never seemed bothered by it. I think I received 3 different types but if your child has a sensitive stomach I give it a try. She will let you know if its not a good idea.

Betsy - posted on 05/20/2011

I switched a lt with my 2 babies and never had a problem.

Diann - posted on 05/20/2011

My son's ped said it was totaly ok to switch formula to use samples up. Just make sure u use one whole can at a time. Don't switch daily. And don't use soy based unless u child has a milk allergy. Stay with the Milk based formulas. This is also a good way to find out what formula ur child handles best. Good luck!

Carri - posted on 05/20/2011

I have 5 kids and with all of them I have tried to keep them on a consistent formula for the first couple of months, and then after that it is whatever is on sale & I have a coupon for (or the store brand if no other deals). None of them have had a problem with this, and they are all healthy. I actually think I do much better combining sales & coupons than buying in bulk, and then I am not nervous about having too much or needing to switch brands for some reason. Joining the big brands "clubs" on their websites resulted in a steady stream of great coupons in my mailbox.

McKala - posted on 05/20/2011

Hi there! My daughter needs expensive formula too and our insurance covers it so you might check into that if you haven't already and if you are insured. If not, ebay and Craigslist are other options for cheaper alternatives.

McKala - posted on 05/20/2011

I am an RN and I remember my OB instructor telling us that it didn't matter because regular formulas are virtually all the same, even generic- FDA demands this. However, since your baby is on a special formula, I wouldn't switch it around. I had a baby who is now 12 mos old that went through this the first couple months of her life and we switched her around using the free cans the hospital gave and that came in the mail and she got really sick with each change.

Heather - posted on 05/19/2011

The difference between Similac Sensitive (for gas and fussiness) and Similac Advanced is the lactose. Similac Sensitive has the lactose broken down to not upset the tummy. If she isn't sensitive to lactose then she'll be fine with either formula. The only way to tell, however, is trial and error. Babies that don't do well on the regular formula OR the lactose free formula should then try a soy formula. If you have to switch it isn't THAT big of a deal, but do be as consistent as you are able. (from a WIC nutritionist)

Nicole - posted on 05/19/2011

If you keep changing up her formula it could really upset her stomach. If you've found one that she's able to digest wellwell, then stick with that. My youngest son started off on similac advance but it really gave him gas so I tried similar sensitive. That worked really well for him. Also, instead of the powder try the concentrated. To me it digests way better to me with all three of my kids

Anna - posted on 05/19/2011

i used what ever was on sale with my second; i would mix about half a package of the old with the new instead of just switching and i never had a problem.

Angela - posted on 05/19/2011

I got upset with the formula the hospital provided when my youngest was born (it's half soy, half milk) and my eldest daughter had a lactose allergy we discovered after a couple of months so we switched her to soy and she was fine so when my youngest just after delivery didn't seem to be holding down her formula very well my husband and I decided to try switching her straight to the same soy formula my eldest was on and she was fine after that (even though the hospital kept saying "Well we don't recommend you do that! BUT we can't stop you since you're the parents..."). You know your child best and in a pinch switching formula is ok if that is your last resort (like a freak blizzard hits and you only have a trial size milk formula and your baby is on soy and you cannot safely get to the store). They'll get an upset stomach and may have some colorful diapers but it's better than starving.

Changing brands really won't hurt your baby. They are virtually the same. Honestly, I used Similac for a long time until they recalled their stuff then I switched to Meijer's formula. You get twice the quantity of Similac for half the price and my babies were fine on the soy version (the equivalent to Similac's formula for gas and fussiness). babies are really adaptable. But my pediatrician told me that it takes about 2-3 months for a baby to get used to just one formula. So give her enough time to get used to it before you make any major decisions.

Dessie - posted on 05/19/2011

Baby;s stomachs are sensitive, I wouldn't change to anything else, it might lead to sleepless nights for you and baby both.

Megan - posted on 05/19/2011

I will tell you from experience, if you start with one kind of formula and it is working well, don't switch! Switching formulas, frequently or just once or twice, is not great for baby's developing tummy. Especially since you started with a sensitive stomach formula, I wouldn't consider switching to regular, same brand or different. The formula she's on is easier to digest than the original variety, as it is made of smaller particles. The formula you are using is more expensive than the Advance, so if money is an issue, you could try the Advance, but I wouldn't switch brands.

DeeDee - posted on 05/19/2011

If she is fussy and gassy the other two will not help. They will only make matters worse. I would stick with the formula that is tailored for her stomach issues.

Stifler's - posted on 05/19/2011

I would just stick with one formula.

Hope - posted on 05/18/2011

i always forget though, that by the time noah was about 9 or 10 months, we switched to target brand, which is closer to breast milk then any leading brands.

Hope - posted on 05/18/2011

it's best to stick with one, we switched from enfamil to similac when my son was a few weeks old, just because my doctor had given me free similac, we promptly gave him enfamil for gas and fussiness and night time formula after that, but once he hit 6 months, we switched to enfamil premium. it's best to stick with one kind, unless you were doing what i was doing with the gas and fussiness during the day and the night time feeding before bed.