formula causing gas?

[noah's mama]

Simon is 5 1/2 months, started on formula about 3 weeks ago. He gets mostly formula now, just some breastmilk at breakfast and bedtime (and overnight). Since he started the formula he's been really really gassy, and it's giving him real problems - even waking him up and keeping him awake. He's currently on Good Start formula...does anyone know of a brand available in canada that might give him less gas? Or maybe it's not the formula at all, but the bottles? I'm using avent bottles, #2 nipple. I burp him well after feedings but he always has gas later anyway. Also I'm putting Ovol in each bottle but it doesn't seem like that's helping.

[Antoinesmom]

The bran that will work for your son will be different from teh one that worked for others.

For my son it was the nestly good start with Omega that worked best since it didn't forth as much. I found the Nestly good start, forthed too much and gave him gas. We also tried similac and a no name brand. Also the bottles you use will have an impact on the forthing too. We used Avent bottles. I've heard the Doctor... darn can't remember the name, doctor something is good too.

Try different ones and you'll see what's best for your little treasure.

[* Paula *]

Avent Bottles can cause your lo to take in a lot of gas.  Our DS suffered terribly from gas when we used the Avent bottles.

Dr Brown Bottles and NUK bottles are really good and help a lot with wind.

HTH's

Paula

[oilerbaby]

For all three we've used Enfamil.  Second one started on Similac for a bit but really seemed to spit up a lot on it.  As for bottles - we've always used playtex with the regular bottle liners - not the drop in type but the ones that come on a roll in a box of 100 - and then we squeeze out the air before we start the feed and put the lid on to keep the air out when we are burping during the feed. 

The babe right now did have some bad gas and a hard time passing gas when he was born but we took him to a chiroprator when he was 3 weeks and voila - we couldn't even tell when he was pooping or farting anymore, what a difference it made for him.  But, not everyone will agree with the chiro thing.  Good luck!

[OnyxRayne]

Try soy formula. Ella had the same problem, but since we've been giving her soy formula and Mylacon after every feed, she's just fine!

[noah's mama]

Thanks everybody...slow to reply, I know...it's been busy here. DH went away for four days, and I discovered what a challenge it is to be alone with the boys 24/7!
I changed how I'm mixing Simon's formula...I stopped sterilizing his bottles, so I started mixing it up in big batches in a big measuring cup (I used to put formula in the bottle and shake, as directed on the formula can). That has helped some, but he's still really gassy. I'm wondering if soy formula might be the solution...he has a permanent red ring around his anus, and I've read that can be a sign of a milk allergy. I mentioned the gas to our doctor but she just said that was normal for some babies.

[* Paula *]

Deb,

Have you had a look on our allergies board, you may find this helpful.

Paula

[OnyxRayne]

Thanks everybody...slow to reply, I know...it's been busy here. DH went away for four days, and I discovered what a challenge it is to be alone with the boys 24/7!
I changed how I'm mixing Simon's formula...I stopped sterilizing his bottles, so I started mixing it up in big batches in a big measuring cup (I used to put formula in the bottle and shake, as directed on the formula can). That has helped some, but he's still really gassy. I'm wondering if soy formula might be the solution...he has a permanent red ring around his anus, and I've read that can be a sign of a milk allergy. I mentioned the gas to our doctor but she just said that was normal for some babies.

Could be Thrush. Ella's going through the same thing right now. Her tongue is also white. I thought it was milk curds, but they weren't coming off. We took her to her Dr. and she told us what it was.

[cjsmom]

Hi noah's mama:

I am having the same issue that you are.  My son will be 5 months later this week and is on Similac Advance.  He has gas, especially overnight and it wakes him up and he sometimes has a difficult time getting back to sleep.  He seems to be in a little bit of discomfort while he is passing it, but it doesn't seem to bother him very much at all.  But it's the waking up at night.  I think that is the cause of him not sleeping well at night (at least one of the causes - I'm currently working on a sleep strategy with him).  We have switched from Avent bottles to Playtex with liners, we have moved his bedtime bottle to before bath and not after, and we have used Ovol, but he still is having gas.  I think Gripe Water may be working a bit -- but it surely doesn't help him get through the entire night. 

I am considering switching formulas too -- I'm going to discuss with my doctor first.

What about lactose-free formula?  Has anyone had any experience with that?

[Dree]

My dd was about 5mths old when I switched to soy based formula by Nestle (yes, I heard about the boycott). She immediately slept better. I tried to switch back but it did not work the first time. She had a bad reaction....diarrhea..you get the picture. I will spare you the details.

I would give my dd Ovol drops to help with the gas. Those helped a great deal. By 9mths of age my ped told me to do the switch slowly back to milk-based formula. I did that very slowly and she was no longer lactose intolerant. The longer a child is off milk-based formula then she will become lactose intolerant. This will be difficult later when you transition her to homo milk (3%) 

I also changed bottles from Avent to Dr. Browns bottles...What a huge difference!!!!!!. No more gas problems. I have a strong feeling it was the bottles..well, in my dd's case anyhow.

My advise is to change bottles to Dr Browns and to make sure the formula you are using does not have alot of bubbles when you shake it. That is what causes our LO's to have gas.

Good Luck
Dree   

[noah's mama]

Just when I thought Simon was doing better he's having a really bad gas night right now and can't sleep. He's started solids in the last couple of weeks and I think that's making it worse.
Not to mention now my 2 year old is screaming about not wanting to go to sleep...I'd better go look for some advice on that one or no one will be sleeping tonight!

[* Paula *]

What solids have you introduced?

Did you start with babyrice?  If so this could be quite constipating - could this be the problem?

[noah's mama]

I did start with baby rice cereal - that's what they recommend here as the first food. He doesn't like it much so I've been offering him some fruits and veggies too, but he has been eating a little rice cereal every day. I'd never heard that it could be constipating...and interestingly enough, he went two days without a poop this week and was quite cranky until he managed to do his business yesterday afternoon. He's had barley cereal now and oatmeal today for the first time, so maybe I'll drop the rice cereal for a few days and see what happens.

[OnyxRayne]

Hi noah's mama:

I am having the same issue that you are.  My son will be 5 months later this week and is on Similac Advance.  He has gas, especially overnight and it wakes him up and he sometimes has a difficult time getting back to sleep.  He seems to be in a little bit of discomfort while he is passing it, but it doesn't seem to bother him very much at all.  But it's the waking up at night.  I think that is the cause of him not sleeping well at night (at least one of the causes - I'm currently working on a sleep strategy with him).  We have switched from Avent bottles to Playtex with liners, we have moved his bedtime bottle to before bath and not after, and we have used Ovol, but he still is having gas.  I think Gripe Water may be working a bit -- but it surely doesn't help him get through the entire night. 

I am considering switching formulas too -- I'm going to discuss with my doctor first.

What about lactose-free formula?  Has anyone had any experience with that?

We tried Lactose-free. Didn't really help much.

[Dree]

When I first introduced baby rice cereal, I used to use alot of water. They say you should make it runny at first then thicken it up in the following weeks. Once the cereal-thing was established, I would feed my dd fruit right after the cereal. This would help her to go, IYKWIM. 

Good Luck
Dree