Did you know that your choice of formula milk might cause more harm than good?
Any discomfort and anomaly in your child’s behavior may be a sign of something serious, such as a cow’s milk allergy, which is the most common food allergy in children.
But there are other causes to your little one’s problems. The best move might be to change the formula or switch to breastfeeding.
In some cases, breastmilk is not always an option. Some mothers try but they can’t produce enough milk or there could be health hazards preventing a mom from breastfeeding her child. In such situations, where do you turn to?
Consider a hypoallergenic formula.
But is it the right formula for your baby? How do you know if this is the right choice for your child? Here are a number of ways it benefits you and your little one.
Hypoallergenic Formula May Solve Your Baby’s Acid Reflux Problem
Acid reflux is something you don’t want your baby to experience. Constant spitting up or vomiting can ruin your little one’s esophagus. It will also cause problems for their stomach.
And while spitting up and vomiting are normal behaviors, too much is worrisome. These are the most common symptoms of GERD. The acid reflux may also be a symptom of an underlying condition, such as a milk allergy.
In these cases, doctors often prescribe a hypoallergenic formula.
A lot of moms switched to this kind of formula milk and find that it works in eliminating the symptoms.
Before buying a can, talk to your baby’s pediatrician first. Always consult with a professional before you change your baby’s diet. They should know about the different formulas and they will know the best plan for your child.
It Helps with Your Baby’s Current Allergy
Breastmilk helps in preventing allergies. If your baby already has an allergy, which might include your common milk, you need to consider other options.
Standard formulas have either cow’s milk or soy milk as their base. If your baby is allergic to both, the doctor may recommend a hypoallergenic formula.
How is it different than other formula milk products? It breaks down proteins, which your baby might be allergic to, in milk so it’s easier to digest. This helps your little tyke’s tummy from acting up.
So if your baby is exhibiting symptoms of allergy, such as mucus in their poop or acid reflux, refer to your doctor to come up with an accurate diagnosis and the right formula.
Hypoallergenic Formula Saves Your Baby from Painful Pooping
Do you and your baby dread pooping times?
You may be wondering why your infant has constant cases of diarrhea or why they’re always crying when passing stool. The clean-up is messy and your baby looks to be in pain.
This might mean you’re not feeding them the correct formula. These are signs of milk allergy, perhaps to soy or cow’s milk. It could be due to other ingredients found in common formula milk products.
Another symptom is the presence of blood and mucus in the stool. Keep in mind, however, that these could also indicate a separate infection.
That’s why you shouldn’t jump to using a hypoallergenic formula right off the bat. If it’s indeed the former, your doctor may prescribe it for you. If it’s an infection, however, you’ll waste precious time that you could have spent treating it. Having your baby drink a formula that’s not right for them may also cause more problems.
If the hypoallergenic formula proved to be what your baby needs, your baby will thank you. The digestive system will work better at absorbing nutrients for healthy growth. At the same time, it will produce healthier-looking excrements.
The bonus is you won’t deal with painful and messy bathroom visits!
There Are Amino Acid-Based Formulas
There’s a partially hydrolyzed formula and then there’s the extensively hydrolyzed. The former can help ease digestive discomfort. This is, for the most part, for healthy infants without allergies or other serious problems.
The latter is hypoallergenic. Extensively hydrolyzed means that the proteins are further broken down into smaller pieces. Casein, the protein in cow’s milk, turn to a form that’s digestible by babies with an allergy.
Sounds promising but not everyone sees great results in an extensively hydrolyzed formula.
When yours can’t tolerate this kind, you still have another hypoallergenic option. These are amino acid-based formulas, also known as elemental formulas.
These contain (that’s right) amino acids, the building blocks of protein. They’re the simplest form, which also makes it easy to digest and process. This guarantees that your baby absorbs the nutrients they may be missing from other types of formula.
Your doctor may advise you to try out the extensively hydrolyzed kind first. If it isn’t working out for your baby, talk to the pediatrician. The amino acid-based kind may be the next step for your little one.
It Helps Clear Away Eczema
If your child has eczema, a hypoallergenic formula might be worth a try.
It’s also worth noting that various things cause eczema. It’s not an allergic reaction but it has strong associations with allergies to food. And that includes milk allergy.
In this case, hypoallergenic or elemental formulas may help. Pair this with other habits that help flare-ups and you should see an improvement in your baby’s skin.
With the right formula and treatment plan, you could see skin improvements in two to four weeks. This is one of the main benefits of hypoallergenic milk that some parents fail to consider. Sometimes, the benefits go beyond what’s happening in your baby’s tummy.
It Can Solve Respiratory Problems
Is your child always wheezing or coughing? Do you notice that their nose always gets plugged with mucus?
Any irregularity in breathing may indicate a serious complication. Your baby may have a respiratory infection that, if left untreated, can be fatal.
But it could also be a sign of an allergy. This allergy may cause uncontrolled inflations that make it hard for your baby to breathe. And as you should know by now, a hypoallergenic formula can solve this problem.
When you switch to a hypoallergenic formula, you get to the root cause of the allergy. As a consequence, your baby gets relief from its symptoms like respiratory problems.
And as always, check with your pediatrician first. You need to know the correct diagnosis so you can move forward with the correct medical care.
Your Pediatrician Should Have Samples
If your baby is having problems, you should talk to your pediatrician first and foremost.
They will recommend the best course of action. If that is switching to hypoallergenic formula, you’re in for expensive feeding times.
A can of the good stuff is pricier than other formulas. And because there are several brands in the market, you won’t know which one is best for your baby if you don’t try them all out!
But don’t worry! Your pediatrician should have samples for you.
Ask the doctor if you can have some samples of the brand they recommend. That way, you won’t have to commit to a whole can.
You’ll also gauge your baby’s reaction to that brand and act accordingly. Are they not liking the formula? Tell the pediatrician and ask if they have samples of another brand, to which your little one may react in a different way.
Samples allow you to try two or more without investing in a lot of cans. You and the doctor will see which one works for your baby this way.
Keep Learning How to Keep Your Baby Safe and Satisfied
Remember, seek your pediatrician’s opinion before you change your baby’s formula. There are other options aside from hypoallergenic formula that might work better. Most of these are cheaper, too, so it wouldn’t hurt to ask for a professional’s advice first.
Want to learn more about how to best take care of your baby? Visit our blog today or contact us and get to know the latest tips for your child’s well-being.
