thread: How many formula brands did it take to find the right one for your baby?

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    qld
    2,661

    Question How many formula brands did it take to find the right one for your baby?

    If u have me on fb then u are probably aware of everything and possibly over hearing about it too lol

    Number 6 is 5 weeks old, when she was born we started her on heinz, for 3.5 weeks her poop was black and she suffered from tummy aches, so we swapped to karicare, and the last 1.5 weeks, her poop was the correct mustard colour but she became very vomity, which she never did on heinz.

    I still have an open tin of heinz that was only used for 6 bottles and just sitting there now and we have just finished the karicare tin, and tonight we have started her on sma in the hope she poops normal and doesnt vomit.

    But what happens if sma isnt good for her?

    What do i do next? Do i try another brand or just stick with it?

    Im concerened about trying too many formulas, although the dr did say its trial and error till we find one that is right.

    I never really had this issue with my other children, number 1 was brought up on s26, and although it did give her constipation in the begining, it sorted it self out after a few weeks. Numbers 2-5 were all brough up on heinz, and except for number 2 who threw up on it, number 3-5 never had an issue.

    Has anyone else trialed more than 3 formulas?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jul 2006
    Melbourne
    4,895

    I don't know your back story but from what you have posted up there, you & your DD are going through a crappy time.

    We were fortuante enough to only have tried to one formula and it was fine for DD. It was NAN Gold (Nestle' :-/)

    I hope you can find one that agrees with your DD but perhaps you need a second opinion - there might be an issue with something that is in the formula?

  3. #3
    BellyBelly Member
    Add Party-of-five on Facebook

    Sep 2008
    bunbury WA
    2,114

    I tried probably 4 or 5 with DD2 until she settled on heinz(just the regular as the gold made her constipated) the gp was happy to keep changing until we found something that worked.

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Oct 2010
    Brisbane
    711

    We started top ups in hospital - NAN and S-26. Then BF for a week or so, then we comp fed - I had quickly read about formulas at the last minute so he then went on NAN HA its easier to digest and not as filling as S-26 so it worked well and he is still on it.

    I bought a tin of Bellamy's Organic on special, but he was only 4 weeks old and he spewed up a lot. I think your GP is wrong if you chop and change them on different formulas, they become more spewy imho. Better to stick with one where they are chucking up a little rather than swap around.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    May 2006
    Igglepiggle Land
    2,742

    We start with Karicare Gold - and if we get a daily 'poo plosion' then we switch over to the Karicare lactose free formula - and funnily enough get no more 'poo-plosions'. We did that with DS (#2 child) so it was kind of like de ja vu when it happened with DD2 (#3 child) .

  6. #6
    Registered User
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    Jan 2005
    cowtown
    8,276

    We used nan ha gold, and Heinz when the boys had top ups.

    They say to give it a week but I'd it's making your child constipated or sick I don't know if I could.

    Try one of the HA formulas they are less likely to make your child constipated and are more easily digested.

    ETA:chucking up may be unrelated to the formula too so it's worth having it checked out if it continues, there are a few things it could be.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Perth
    3,686

    We used formula for top ups when I couldn't express enough (I had a lot if BF issues in the first 4 months) and continued using formula top ups when I couldn't face expressing. So DD was predominantly BF but certainly had enough FF to trial a few different brands. So....

    - we used S26 Gold initially and I thought it was OK but after trying other brands, I realised it wasn't good for her tummy at all and her poos were horrendous on it.

    - Karicare and Nan (both the gold/HA varieties) were brilliant and caused no upsets at all. I honestly can't remember which one we ended up using most as both really agreed with her.

    - we tried Heinz Gold when we were on holidays and I was unable to get Karicare or Nan and she wasn't bothered by Heinz either but her output wasn't as 'good', LOL. I found Karicare and Nan poos were almost identical to her BF poos, ITMS.

    We always used the gold/HA varieties for the extra goodies which resembled those goodies in BM. DD also suffered from silent reflux so I kind of had it in my head that it would help.

    DD was a silent spewer (would swallow it instead of bringing up) but we never used a thickener, our Paed told us not to bother. She was medicated for her reflux though so that may be why.

    HTH

  8. #8
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber
    Add Beautiful Disaster on Facebook Follow Beautiful Disaster On Twitter

    Jun 2010
    Brisbane - where it is never like it should be.
    3,411

    I think I tried 4-5 for the same reasons as you.

    Bellemy organic
    SMA
    Karicare reflux
    Novalac reflux
    Heinz nurture with thickener

    Now he just has the heinz without the thickener

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Oct 2008
    Newport, VIC
    1,885

    I'm currently on my third type:
    - Nan HA - very very very very spewy and unsettled
    - S26 gold - very very spewy and unsettled
    - currently Karicare AR - not so spewy, more settled but poos are a bit odd. It's only been 24 hours so I'll see how it goes.

    I think you just need to keep trying until you get the right one.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    qld
    2,661

    Thanks for the repies

    Well so far so good, no more vomits with the sma, its still early days yet, and we are still waiting on a poop result, but fx this is the formula for her!

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Oct 2008
    Newport, VIC
    1,885

    How are you going?


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  12. #12
    Registered User
    Add Butterfly Dawn on Facebook

    Aug 2008
    Climbing Mt foldmore
    2,894

    Hey! Long time no see (we cant get facebook here cause of government restictrions) Been wondering how you and baby are.

    We have been through a few different formulas for same reasons, settled on Heinz for DD. Ds1 used a HA formua and that was brilliant.
    The main thing we have been told is dont just change formuals suddenly, but to do it over a day or 2 mixing the formuals together so the tummy can get use to the difference start off 70-30% then work round to 30-70%

    Hope you have more luck soon hun

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    qld
    2,661

    How are you going?


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    Honestly, we are struggling.
    The sma is ok i guess, she isnt throwing it up like she was the karicare, but im not sure whats happening in her poop department, its all over the place, its gone green, but sometimes with yellow, today she was constipated, had 3 nugget nappies, before a sloppy poop.

    I just dont know what to do, and when i went to her 6 week check up we didnt see my normal dr, so didnt get to discuss this with the dr, cause she grilled me about not breastfeeding!

    So we are almost finished this tin and have no idea what to do next.

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Add Butterfly Dawn on Facebook

    Aug 2008
    Climbing Mt foldmore
    2,894

    Sophies poop changes color and texture from yellow to dark green. She poops once a week (ish)
    I have heard good things about S-26 or you could try Karicare HA formula

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Oct 2008
    Newport, VIC
    1,885

    I hear ya. I'm back to s26 gold after the Karicare AR thickened formula made him constipated. Which means I'm now back to being a walking spew rag. His poo was green this morning.

    He's not been himself the last two days but he was very backed up so I'll put it down to that.

    I'm going to give this a week or so and make sure his poo is moving nicely before I make any more changes. If I had to choose between constipation and spewing I'll take the spewing. He's not in pain so I'll just wash more.


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  16. #16
    Registered User

    Oct 2010
    Brisbane
    711

    I found Jim's pooing improved once I started him on an extra probiotic. He poos often twice a day now which is good.

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Oct 2008
    Newport, VIC
    1,885

    I think we've settled on SMA. Second week now and all is well.

    How are you going?




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  18. #18
    Registered User

    Oct 2010
    Brisbane
    711

    I know the question is directed at the OP, not me but an update anyway.

    Jim's become more spewy this week. I am still keeping him on Nan HA though.