Hi Boox Popular Magazine 2024
Establishing a routine is one of the most important things to do with your baby. This includes sticking to a regular bedtime schedule every day and adopting a just-as-regular feeding schedule if you can.
However, if your baby isn’t settling down with a specific formula, it may be time to gradually transition them to something new. If you want to do this without the excess hassle, and without causing your baby too much distress, you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, we’ll share our top tips to help you transition your baby to a new formula to save the tears.
What Type of Formula Should I Choose?
There are many different types of formulas out there to choose from, to the point where it can often be overwhelming knowing exactly what to settle on!
A great rule of thumb when transitioning formulas is to look for a generic store-brand formula that matches the one that they were previously on. This will do wonders for safeguarding your little one’s happiness and comfort!
Not only is this completely safe for your baby but it’s essentially the same formula, meaning it will make the transition between formulas easier without causing lots of disruption to your baby’s life.
Essentially, you just need to be aware of the basic ingredients that are found in the same formula type to make the best decisions.
As long as you are following the instructions laid out for you, it will also be safe to mix two formula brands if this is what your baby responds better to.
Our advice would be to buy a small container of the new formula (or formulas) until you are 100% certain that it’s the right one for your baby. If your baby doesn’t get on well with this specific type of formula, you can visit https://sellformula.com/ to sell the excess.
Reasons To Transition Your Baby To A New Formula
Trying out a few different baby formulas can help to ease worries about burping, food intolerances, constipation, or extreme gassiness that your baby may have. However, transitioning from one formula to another is not necessary in most cases.
Provided your baby is happy and healthy and isn’t displaying signs of food allergies or intolerance, the formula you select will depend largely on personal preference. For example, you may opt to use a specific brand that has been recommended to you by a pediatrician.
You may also need to transition your baby to a new formula if they don’t enjoy the taste. In fact, one of the biggest differences between available formulas is the taste! This is because some babies are quite picky about the things that they eat and might have a strict preference for one type of formula over another.
However, considering the taste of breast milk can change depending on what the breastfeeding mother eats, the flavor of the formula is not typically a cause for concern for the majority of formula-fed babies.
How To Start the Transition: Our Top Tips
If you are switching formulas based on a recommendation from your pediatrician due to allergies, for example, you will likely be advised to immediately discontinue the old formula and switch to the new one in one go.
But if you are switching for other reasons like convenience or price, it’s best to try your baby on a new formula to test their reaction before switching.
- Try making a simpler and more gradual change if your baby is not enjoying the new formula. You can begin this process by using a ratio of three parts old formula to one part new. Once your baby is on board with this, and feeds are regular, it’s going to feel far more natural moving to half-and-half formula during every feed.
- Make sure to keep gradually changing the ratio above until your baby is only consuming the new formula, and is happy to do so.
- Trial run formula for a week or two to identify any changes in their stool, gassiness, burping, or spit-up. It takes a while for an adult’s digestive system to adjust to a new diet, and a baby is no different! Be patient with them during this time.
Most importantly of all, keep an eye out for any sensitivity or intolerance that your baby may have to this new brand.
You must also remember that it might take a couple of feedings before your baby begins to get used to the taste of a new formula, so have patience!
Safety Considerations
As referenced above, you must look out for signs of intolerance or allergies if you need to transition your baby to a new formula. There are also a couple of other things you must do.
Make sure you check the expiration date of any store-bought formula before you check out. If you order a specific type of formula online, check the date on the container before you open the formula so that you can return anything that may be expired.
Keep a close eye to see if any discoloration, strange flavors, or unusual odors occur when you open the formula and begin mixing it. If you notice any of these things, cease using that particular formula immediately!
Signs Of An Allergy
If you don’t know what to look for when it comes to allergies, don’t worry. These are the most common signs:
- Abdominal cramping
- Blood in a baby’s vomit or stool
- Diarrhea
- Hives or skin rashes
If you notice any one of these signs, immediately stop using that particular brand of formula and consult a professional to figure out what your next steps should be.
Summary
Transitioning your baby to a new formula is a perfectly safe practice that can sometimes be a little tricky. As long as the new formula you have chosen has a similar base to the old formula, your baby will still receive the nutrients they need without upsetting the digestive system.
