Formula Feeding Problems

You've prepared the perfect bottle, but your baby isn't sucking! There are a number of reasons why your baby may be uninterested in the bottle you've prepared, or why your little one may seem sick after eating. The most common problem, and the easiest to fix, is when a bottle is dispensing formula incorrectly. If you're new to bottle-feeding, the nipple which dispenses formula is sold in varying sizes for children of different ages. A newborn's nipple will dispense small, slow amounts of formula, while one made for a toddler offers faster formula flow. If you use a nipple that is too small, it will force your baby to suck very hard, which makes it tough to get enough to eat. Meanwhile, a nipple that is too large causes formula to flow too quickly. This may force your baby to take big gulps of air, which can lead to spitting up, painful gas, or bloating. Even if your baby's nipple is the right size, it's possible that it has become plugged or torn, both of which make eating harder. You can test for nipple problems by holding a bottle upside down and observing what happens. Every nipple will dispense a different SIZED drop of liquid, but a properly functioning one should release about one drop per second. If the nipple is in perfect condition, it is possible that your infant's formula is too hot or too cold. Meanwhile, if your infant spits up frequently during feedings, your little one may just need to be burped more often. Try to burp your baby after every two ounces of formula. Older babies will often tend to burp themselves, so this frequent burping practice is really intended for the younger babies. Another set of formula feeding problems may manifest as wheezing, mealtime irritability, or a tendency to arch the back after a feeding. These signs point to reflux, a problem that occurs when the valve connecting your baby's esophagus to the stomach isn't working properly yet. This allows painful digestive acids to flow out of the stomach and back up toward the mouth. If you suspect reflux, talk to your doctor about ways to ease the ache. There are a number of solutions that can be attempted before a trial of medications. BUT if none of these measures, including medications, makes your infant's feeding easier, it's possible that your baby may be sensitive to something in the formula. For example, a baby who experiences a good deal of gas, diarrhea, and bloating may be allergic to cow's milk, the base of most formulas. And if there is blood in your baby's stools, this is even more likely to be what's going on. If that's the case, your baby may do better on a soy-based product, although some 20% of infants with a cow's milk allergy have soy allergies, too. If your baby is allergic to both cow's milk and soy, your doctor may recommend a hydrolysate formula like Nutramigen or Alimentum. Hydrolysate formulas contain pre-digested milk proteins, so your baby's tender tummy won't get upset during the digestive process. And don't worry that these specialized formulas may not smell appetizing to you, they are perfectly nutritious for your baby. Whatever you suspect the formula feeding problem is, take it seriously. That bottle is an important source of your baby's nutrition for at least the first six months of life!