No one ever tells you what to expect when you introduce formula or switch between formulas, and this can leave parents wondering if the formula is a good fit. Know that the experiences I list below are NORMAL! You and I eat 20+ foods a day and it's no big deal because we have decades of experience digesting different foods. Your baby's digestive system is NEW- introducing new ingredients to your baby is novel for them. You may notice the following when trying a new formula: Baby's poop may change in consistency, color, or frequency. While breastmilk poop tends to be yellow and "seedy"' formula poop is often darker and thicker. That's okay! It may smell different and your baby may poop more or less often. Your baby may have more gas than before, especially if you are switching from nursing to bottles. The best thing you can do is use "paced feeding" techniques (see the highlight on my page!) to avoid gulping and overfeeding. Feeding from a bottle generally requires less work for a baby compared to feeding from the breast. As such, some babies will prefer bottle feeding once it's introduced. If this is a concern for you (i.e. if combination feeding), use paced feeding techniques and select a slow-flow bottle nipple. Sometimes switching to formula shows a major *improvement* in a baby's digestive symptoms and this can be hard for moms. While formula sometimes gets a bad rap for being "one size fits all" the benefit of knowing exactly what's in the formula EVERY time can make a meaningful difference for some babies with allergies or sensitivities. Have you heard that formula takes longer to digest? Some formulas contain starch and "sit heavier" in the stomach. As such, your baby MAY increase the time between feedings or drink less for each feeding. #babyfeeding #babyfeed #breastfeedingjourney #breastfeedingsupport #babyeating #4mumy #4mumybaby https://www.instagram.com/p/CVAx8B4K-rX/?utm_medium=tumblr
