10 replies to this topic

[JessicaSW]

Hi Everyone, 

 

I've been breastfeeding, then exclusively pumping and feeding my twin boys since they were born in July. They've recently been demanding more than I'm producing so I've needed to start supplementing with formula. 

 

I got two sample cans from Nestle goodstart so that's what I started with. Both boys take the formula just fine but I've found they aren't having as many bowel movements since we started it and my one guy hasn't went in two days. They both are fart machines, and really stinky. How do I know if this means I should be switching to a different formula? Or is this the way all formulas will make them? Which formula is best for supplementing with breast milk?

 

They get one or two formula bottles a day to three for four breast milk bottles. 

[Pandabear8]

I supplemented my DS for a bit after he was born, and found the powdered stuff resulted in stinky poops and farts. Whereas the ready made or add water type formulas were better tolerated. More $$ though. I started him on Similac as that is what he got in the hospital, but switched to Nestlé ready made. After his 6 week growth spurt I gradually got him off formula, and pumped during the day to supplement with BM at night when my supply was lower.

[aprilbaby]

Many formulas contains GMO ingredients so beware. Do not use the following if you want to avoid Genetically Modified Organisms in your babies formula.

 

GMOs Used In Products Below Baby Food ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Nabisco (Phillip Morris)
-Arrowroot Teething Biscuits
-Infant formula Carnation Infant Formulas(Nestle)
-AlSoy
-Good Start
-Follow-Up
-Follow-Up Soy

Enfamil Infant Formulas (Mead Johnson)
-Enfamil with Iron
-Enfamil Low Iron
-Enfamil A.R.
-Enfamil Nutramigen
-Enfamil Lacto Free
-Enfamil 22
-Enfamil Next step (soy and milk-based varieties)
-Enfamil Pro-Soybee

Isomil Infant Formulas (Abbot Labs)
-Isomil Soy
-Isomil Soy for Diarrhea
-Similac(Abbot Labs)
-Similac Lactose Free
-Similac with Iron
-Similac Low Iron
-Similac Alimentum

 

[snowmom]

Most formulas are very similar in their composition. For my twins I used Nestle at first but found it pricey so switched to Walmart brand presidents choice. You will find stinker poop and probably less often than you get with just breast milk. Two days without pop is very normal as their digestive systems mature. Congrats on the twins and good for you for breastfeeding them.

[lynblair]

For sure when you start changing their diet their bm will change.  Formula bm's will be different than bf bm's.  My babes always had some formula top ups to breasfeeding.  We used Similac Advnaced, and it was very well tolerated.  My pediatrician said that for infants, anything from 8 a day to every 8 days in normal.  I would say as long as they are not seeming to be in huge pain from a lot of gas that all is fine.  I think it is best to stick with one type than to change around.  As snowmom said, they are really same, same, but a bit different.  

[hopefulgirl]

We used Similac Advance, no issues.

[Raspberry]

Many formulas contains GMO ingredients so beware. Do not use the following if you want to avoid Genetically Modified Organisms in your babies formula.
 

GMOs Used In Products Below

Baby Food ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients
Nabisco (Phillip Morris)
-Arrowroot Teething Biscuits
-Infant formula Carnation Infant Formulas(Nestle)
-AlSoy
-Good Start
-Follow-Up
-Follow-Up Soy
Enfamil Infant Formulas (Mead Johnson)
-Enfamil with Iron
-Enfamil Low Iron
-Enfamil A.R.
-Enfamil Nutramigen
-Enfamil Lacto Free
-Enfamil 22
-Enfamil Next step (soy and milk-based varieties)
-Enfamil Pro-Soybee
Isomil Infant Formulas (Abbot Labs)
-Isomil Soy
-Isomil Soy for Diarrhea
-Similac(Abbot Labs)
-Similac Lactose Free
-Similac with Iron
-Similac Low Iron
-Similac Alimentum

Thank you for posting this! My baby is still in the oven and I started researching formulas... And it's scary all the bad stuff they put in then is crazy!!!!! Even the organic ones.. I wonder if you found one that won't be as toxic??? I just pray that I'll have enough milk for my little guy!!

[frostedlemon]

I can't comment on the formula question, but if the stinky gas is a big problem, I have heard that using probiotics such as BioGaia (I think that's what it's called) can be helpful. Quite a few people I know used probiotics for their babies for various digestive issues and it helped a lot. We recently put my son (he's two) on some after his poop never returned to normal consistency after a round of antibiotics and they've helped get his poop back to normal and it's a lot less stinky too.

 

I have also heard that the Costco and Walmart brand formulas are just as good as the more expensive kinds, unless (obviously) you need a specific formulation for sensitivities. I personally would have started with the cheapest and worked my way up to the more expensive if I needed to. Formula is expensive enough Most people I know whose babies had issues with their formula were obviously in distress, with painful gas and stomach issues.

[amandaTTC#2]

The Costco brand formula is what my niece's pediatric gastroenterologist recommended as a really good all purpose formula and it is really affordable compared to others. Of course if you need something more specific like soy or lactose free they do not have those options.

[YellowBee]

I have to echo what frostedlemon says - Probiotics is the key. My son was going once every 3 days and he was almost crying when pushing so the pedi gave us medication. 2 days after switching to a formula with probiotics he became very regular and pooping was a breeze (except for the smell haha). We used powdered Good start with probiotics initially, but it is very expensive and switched to Walmart's Parents choice Probiotics. The only difference I found was that Good start was easier to mix, but other than this I think it is the same. I am planning on switching to Costco's formula now that he is eating solids - it has Omegas as well in it (no probiotics though) and is even cheaper than Walmart. 

 

Side question re the GMO formulas. Why do you think GMO is that bad? Unless it is completely organic grown they use the same amount of pesticides and chemicals to the non-GMO crops. Actually even more because the non-GMO crop is not as resistant to bugs and diseases. 

[JessicaSW]

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies.. It is the probiotic formula we've actually been using, it seems to really not agree with my one little man. Constipation and fussiness. We've switched to the concentrate with no probiotics just two days ago as I've read a lot of people have trouble with constipation and the powders. I'm hoping it's the answer..