While changing formulas in consultation with a healthcare provider could help with your baby's gas – some gas is normal in all babies. Raising Children says, “Although gas can lead to gas pain, it is important to remember that gas is often normal, especially in newborns.”
Try a formula designed for gas. If you think your baby's formula may be causing gas, you may want to ask your pediatrician about trying formulas that are tailored to ease gas issues. These formulas can help with fussiness and crying and are gentle on a baby's sensitive tummy.
As such, you might be wondering when to switch formula because of gas. This is a worthwhile question, as sometimes the formula itself could be the main culprit for a baby's digestive discomfort. For instance, many babies have an intolerance or allergy to milk protein, making milk-based formulas problematic for them.
Enter Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease Infant Formula—a formula that has been clinically proven to reduce fussiness, crying, gas, and spit-up within 24 hours of starting. The proteins in this product are partially hydrolyzed (broken down) and easy for a sensitive tummy to handle.
Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease
Feeley recommends looking for a partially hydrolyzed formula. While these formulas still include milk protein, the protein in a partially hydrolyzed formula is more broken down, which makes it a little easier for babies to digest.
The most common side effects of switching formula are fussiness after feedings and changing stool patterns, either looser or less frequent. It's not a sign of trouble if your baby's poop changes in frequency or color. Remember that formula makes up a big part, if not all, of your baby's diet when they're young.
Mucus in the Poop
Mucus in stool typically looks slimy and jelly-like and may indicate a cow's milk protein allergy, especially if the poop is loose, green, and contains blood.
As babies drink formula or breast milk, farts in the first few days can be a good sign that their guts are waking up. As time goes on, some liquid in the intestines may remain undigested, and the normal gut bacteria “eat” the food. The bacteria produce gas as a byproduct of their eating.
Use Soothing Movement
Gently rocking an infant or putting them in an infant swing, once they are at least three weeks old and can hold their head up, may help them pass gas. The motion also soothes them and may help them stop crying, reducing the amount of air they swallow.
Diarrhea in babies
However, poop that is watery, especially if it has blood in it, can be a sign of a milk protein intolerance. Other signs of milk protein intolerance include vomiting or spitting up, or increasing fussiness. If your baby has any of these symptoms, you should call their healthcare provider.
Tummy time.
Placing a baby on their stomach while awake helps to relieve gas pains. By gently increasing the abdominal pressure, tummy time pushes gas bubbles up and out. Tummy time is also a great way to strengthen the head and neck muscles needed to reach early motor milestones.
The gas escapes while they rest. Babies should always sleep on their backs, even if they're gassy. Do not try to relieve your baby's gas by putting them to bed stomach down. You can, however, try burping them while they're laying stomach down across your lap or give them some supervised tummy time to move the gas.
Just like an adult, if you're doing an elimination diet, you don't expect results overnight. Same goes for a baby, you need to give the baby time to recover from one formula before judging the next. Dr. Young suggests giving it at least a week or ten days.
Most babies can change to a new formula without any problems. If you think your baby is having a difficult time changing formulas, talk to your WIC Nutritionist and follow the directions below.
Dr Crosby: Usually a week is enough time for the baby to have fully transitioned to the new formula. You can monitor the baby's symptoms that were the reasons a change was made. Some babies take to a change easily and some babies' tummy's need to adjust.
Gastrointestinal issues, like reflux or constipation, could lead to a breastfed or formula-baby refusing the bottle. “Babies are smart, and if eating leads to feeling uncomfortable, they may begin to refuse the bottle or only eat a small amount to curb their hunger,” says Marquez.
Water that hasn't been boiled can also contain bacteria. Formula therefore needs to be made up with water hot enough to kill the bacteria, which is at least 70 degrees C. This means boiling the kettle and leaving it to cool for no longer than 30 minutes, so that it remains at a temperature of at least 70 degrees C.
Common causes for baby gas
If your baby is flatulent, there could be many culprits for it. Some of the most common causes of increased gassiness include feeding issues, formula or food intolerance, crying and constipation.
Holle Organic Goat Milk Formula
Holle's Organic Goat Milk Formula is naturally high in vitamins A and C and also magnesium and calcium, which typically require more fortification in cow's milk-based formulas. Beyond that, it may help to treat and prevent constipation in the baby because it's also naturally high in GOS.
There's no harm in giving your baby formula that you haven't warmed up, as long as it was made up with hot sterile water and stored in a fridge after cooling. But babies tend to prefer their milk warm as that's what they're used to and it's easier for tiny tummies to digest.