Signs of formula sensitivity

Suzanne Barston, Blogger & Author of "Bottled Up", shares advice for parents on how to tell if your newborn child has a formula sensitivity
Signs Of Formula Sensitivity In Newborn Children
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Signs of formula sensitivity

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A lot of parents panic at the first sign that their newborn is getting a little bit fussy. Unfortunately, this is just something that happens with babies. They get fussier as they get older. I also think a parent knows, deep down, when something is wrong with their child. If you are suspecting that your baby is not tolerating formula well, you are probably on to something. Some of the more concrete signs to watch for are things like, spitting up in excessive amounts. All babies spit up a little, but I'm talking excessive spitting up. Grunting or being really miserable when they are eating. Pulling away from the bottle. Crying constantly, not a colicky cry, which is a set amount of hours per night, but crying all day long, especially at feedings or around feedings. Mucus in the poop. Blood in the poop, rashes. Things like that are fairly indicative that there is problem when they are eating. If this is happening, you can try a sensitive formula, which very often will do the trick. If it doesn't, the next step is a hypoallergenic formula. This is something to talk to your doctor about, but you don't have to. They are available over the counter. It is expensive and it is hard to tolerate, taste wise for the baby, so you may want to talk to your pediatrician before going that route.

Suzanne Barston, Blogger & Author of "Bottled Up", shares advice for parents on how to tell if your newborn child has a formula sensitivity

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Suzanne Barston, CLC

Blogger & Author of Bottled Up

Suzanne Barston, CLC is the former Editor-in-Chief of Los Angeles Family Magazine, a Certified Lactation Counselor, and a freelance writer specializing in parenting, women’s interest, and science/health topics. She is the author of Bottled Up: How the Way We Feed Babies Has Come to Define Motherhood, and Why It Shouldn’t and blogs as her alter ego, the "Fearless Formula Feeder". "FFF", as it’s known to an international fan base representing over 40 countries, supports parents dealing with issues of guilt, fear, conflict and uncertainty regarding infant feeding difficulties and choices through critical assessments of research, pithy commentary, practical advice, and a weekly series allowing parents to share stories in a cathartic way. She is also the co-creator of the #ISupportYou movement. 

Barston was raised outside of Boston and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University in 2000. After living and working in Chicago and London, she now resides in Los Angeles with her husband, the photographer Steven Barston, and their two obnoxiously cute children. She and her husband were featured on two award-winning online reality series for Pampers.com, A Parent is Born and Welcome to Parenthood, about their pregnancy and first years as parents. Suzanne's writing and her work with FFF and Bottled Up have been featured in the New York Times, the Huffington Post, SheKnows.com, Babble.com, Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine, Parenting, Babytalk, OhBaby!, Fit Pregnancy, The Observer, Yahoo Shine!, Australia's Good Weekend magazine, and on a variety of radio programs including KPCC's "Take Two", numerous NPR affiliates, "Parenting Unplugged", "Positive Parenting", "Mom Enough", "For Crying Out Loud", "Voice of Russia", and more. Suzanne was honored to be one of the keynote Voices of the Year in 2012 for the annual BlogHer conference.

She currently works both as a writer and as an Infant Feeding Counselor. 

 

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Transcription: 
A lot of parents panic at the first sign that their newborn is getting a little bit fussy. Unfortunately, this is just something that happens with babies. They get fussier as they get older. I also think a parent knows, deep down, when something is wrong with their child. If you are suspecting that your baby is not tolerating formula well, you are probably on to something. Some of the more concrete signs to watch for are things like, spitting up in excessive amounts. All babies spit up a little, but I'm talking excessive spitting up. Grunting or being really miserable when they are eating. Pulling away from the bottle. Crying constantly, not a colicky cry, which is a set amount of hours per night, but crying all day long, especially at feedings or around feedings. Mucus in the poop. Blood in the poop, rashes. Things like that are fairly indicative that there is problem when they are eating. If this is happening, you can try a sensitive formula, which very often will do the trick. If it doesn't, the next step is a hypoallergenic formula. This is something to talk to your doctor about, but you don't have to. They are available over the counter. It is expensive and it is hard to tolerate, taste wise for the baby, so you may want to talk to your pediatrician before going that route.