Finding the Right Formula For Your Baby

When my son was just three months old, my milk supply ran dry and I needed to formula feed. So there I stood, in the grocery store looking at the vast array of different formulas, feeling overwhelmed. Powder? Concentrate? Ready to use? What kind to buy? Well, as it turns out we had to try several before finding the one that worked best for us. Here is a review on the types of formula we used and why or why not they worked for us. Every baby is different, especially my son, and a formula that didn't agree with him might agree with your baby.
Nestlé Good Start - for babies 0-12+ months: Nutritionally complete Nestlé Good Start® is the only iron fortified starter infant formula specially designed to be easier to digest and may reduce the  possibility of an allergic reaction due to whole proteins*. Unlike whole cow’s milk protein infant formula, the 100% whey protein in Good Start® is broken down into smaller pieces by an exclusive process, making it easier to digest.  Nestlé Good Start® has been clinically shown to reduce the probability of  developing allergic symptoms in at-risk babies compared to whole cow's milk protein infant formula. You will find Nestlé Good Start® in powder, concentrated liquid and ready-to-serve formats.  Nestle Good Start was the formula that we started with. It is recommended by many as being the gentlest formula and easy to digest. We tried the powder version because it seemed like the best bang for our buck. When mixed, it was smooth and not bubbly. It was easy to drink (well, it appeared to be) and it settled well. Our son has trouble with spit up, and this seemed to irritate his tummy, not to mention make him constipated. We stayed on it for about four cans until our doctor recommended switching to something else. Similac Advance is an excellent milk-based nutritional choice for your baby’s first year. No other formula has higher level of special nutrients* to help support baby’s developing immune system. And it provides 50% more calcium absorption than Enfamil®,† for strong bones.  Similac Advance was our next step. Again, we chose the powdered version. It was very bubbly, but he wasn't as constipated. He still had trouble with spitting up, but it seemed a litle bit better than when he was using Good Start. Once, in an emergency we used the concentrate to prepare a bottle when our formula ran out at 3 a.m. and there was nothing open but the convenience store. The concentrate made him sick and he vomitted up most of what he drank. We never used it again!

PC Infant Formula Powder with Iron With omega 3, omega 6 and iron. For mothers who are not breastfeeding or those supplementing breast milk with formula. For babies 0-12 months. Scientifically formulated to provide the trusted quality you can expect from PC Products.

PC formula is basically the same thing as Similac Advance, but it is $10 cheaper for more formula. Again, we went with the powder for fear the concentrate or ready to use would make our son sick again. PC had less bubbles and it was easier for him to digest. He continued to spit up, but we used this formula for about six months, until the doctor reccomended switching to soy in case he had an alergic reaction to the milk protein.

Isomil Soy - Occasional fussiness is seldom a reason for concern. But for some babies, constant fussiness may indicate a food sensitivity. Symptoms such as excessive fussiness, spit-up or gas may be signs of sensitivity to the protein found in milk-based formulas. For common problems like these, doctors often recommend a soy formula, such as Isomil Soy Formula With Iron. It is milk-free and lactose-free and provides complete, balanced nutrition for the full first year. And Isomil provides 65% greater calcium absorption than the other leading brand.

Isomil didn't seem to stop his spitting up. He didn't mind the taste of it, and we used it for about two months. It wasn't bubbly at all, and the only down side was that it was very stinky...especially regurgitated! I was content on staying on this until we could start to introduce whole milk, but one day I sent my husband to get some formula and came home with something else.

Enfamil A+ Thickened is the only thickened formula, with rice starch designed For Babies Who Spit Up frequently (more than 4 times daily). It is enriched with DHA and ARA (Omega 3 & 6 fats) which help support brain and eye development. It is suitable for babies from birth onwards. Enfamil A+ Thickened is clinically shown to reduce frequent spit up in babies when compared to our standard formula and to support excellent growth and development.

And this is where the search ends. I was skeptical when I pulled this out of the grocery bag, but it seems to have worked. Again, we used the powdered format. It is extremely hard to stir because it is thicker, and it is hard to drink at times because it is almost like the consistency of a milkshake trying to escape the nipple of a bottle. However, the spitting up has almost completely stopped! He went from spitting up 1/2 cup a day to about1 tbsp. and we're happy all around!

In the end, we tried formula from pretty much every brand on the market. It is not the best thing to do for your babies stomach and digestion, so carefully read and review the facts about the formula before deciding to try it out. If you're unsure, talk to your doctor about what he or she thinks is best for your baby. And save those cupons, they can be useful because formula can be pricey.