Switch Baby Formula
The proper technique for switching infant formulas will vary depending on whether you are changing the formula for medical or preferential reasons. Follow the steps below to learn how to switch your infant’s formula safely.
Contents
Steps
Determine Whether You Should Change Baby Formula for a Medical Reason
If you are concerned that your baby’s formula is causing a medical problem, such as an allergic reaction, constipation, gas and constant fussiness, or other symptoms, discuss the matter with the baby’s pediatrician before switching formulas. In some cases, the symptoms may indicate an allergy or another problem that should be evaluated by a health professional.
- Consult a pediatrician about worrisome symptoms prior to changing formulas. If your baby gets hives, a rash, redness, or vomits forcefully after drinking the formula, consult a health professional immediately. These symptoms may indicate a true allergy to milk or soy protein.
- Ask a health professional for a recommended formula for your baby. If the doctor suspects a medical need to avoid lactose or cow’s milk proteins, he or she may suggest a soy or other hypoallergenic formula brand.
- If the doctor does not suspect a true medical problem, however, he or she may still be able to recommend a brand or formulation that can improve other health symptoms, such as fussiness, gas, iron deficiency, or poor weight gain.
- Do not switch to or away from a soy or specialty formula without the advice of a health professional. Most babies should remain on cow’s milk formulas unless there is a religious or health reason to opt for soy-based formula.
- If your baby was premature or had a serious health problem and was prescribed medical formula or a high-calorie formula, do not switch your baby to standard formula without a physician’s recommendation.
Select a New Infant Formula
If you are changing your infant’s formula for reasons of price, preference, or to address minor symptoms potentially caused by a previous formula, select the formula carefully. Most infants should remain on their original formula unless a change becomes necessary, but because infant formulas are highly regulated, they all must provide adequate and complete nutrition for infants (and are thus interchangeable).
- Stay with a formula that has the same base protein source. If your baby is already on a cow’s milk, lactose-based infant formula, stay in that group of formulas when selecting a new formula unless there is a medical indication to switch to soy.
- If your baby is doing well on a hypoallergenic formula or protein-isolate formula, check with a health professional before switching to soy or lactose formula. Otherwise, simply select a different brand of hypoallergenic formula.
- Read the formula labels. If your baby was previously drinking a formula with iron, DHA, or other additives, consider selecting another formula with those characteristics unless you suspect the formula’s additives may be causing problems.
Switch the Baby Formula Gradually
Some babies will drink a brand new formula with no protest and no gastrointestinal problems. If your infant shows no aversion to a bottle of the new infant formula, make the direct switch. If your baby has a sensitive digestive tract or shows evident distaste for the new formula, make the switch gradually over a few days. Use a regular formula scoop to measure exactly the proportions explained below to avoid making the formula over- or under-concentrated, as improperly mixed formula can also cause discomfort or health problems for infants.
- Start with 3/4 old formula and 1/4 new formula on Day 1. Having only 25% of the new formula mixed in with the old will mask a change in taste for your baby.
- Up the mix to 1/2 old and 1/2 new formula on Day 2. If your baby shows any negative reaction to the new formula – such as vomiting, diarrhea, or rash – switch back to the old formula and consider consulting a pediatrician about the symptoms.
- Mix a bottle with 1/4 old and 3/4 new formula on Day 3. If your baby continues to tolerate the mixture well, the new formula will likely be an acceptable food option.
- Switch to 100% new formula on Day 4. Provided your baby has not had any reactions during the transition, the new formula should be the flavor of milk your baby begins to expect and prefer.
Tips
- Try to avoid frequent switches in formula unless it is medically necessary.
- Look for coupons on the manufacturer’s website, in the newspaper, or in parenting magazines to get a discount on your baby’s brand instead of switching solely for price concerns. Some formula companies will even send free formula samples of the type your baby uses to keep you from switching, so take advantage of the giveaways!
Warnings
- If your baby has been diagnosed with a metabolic disorder, milk protein allergy, or failure to thrive, always consult the pediatrician before changing infant formulas.
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