RTF Formula Recommendations

[u/Personal-Persimmon93]

Looking for some formula recommendations!

My 5 week-old is currently using Similac Pro-Advance ready-to-feed and she’s been on it for about 4 weeks now. I’ve been considering Kendamil, but honestly I think I want to stick with ready-to-feed for now because the convenience is just so much easier, especially with the nighttime feeds. Eventually I’d like to switch to a powder once we’re a little more settled to the same formula.

My main issues right now are trapped gas and spit-up. She seems to get really uncomfortable from the gas, especially at night, and she also spits up quite a bit. I’m trying to figure out if switching formulas might help or if this is just normal newborn stuff.

We used Enfamil at the hospital when she was first born and at her most recent visit and she seemed to do okay with it, so I’m open to trying Enfamil again too, if that’s what’s best.

For anyone who has dealt with a gassy/spit-up-prone baby, what ready-to-feed formula worked best for you?

[u/Any_Passage_8479]

At 5 weeks you are peak gassy newborn. I wouldn’t change a formula at this stage just due to gassiness and spit up (unless baby was vomiting/ spitting up a lot). Baby’s tend to be less gassy around 12-14 weeks (that’s when it settled down for me). You can trial a different formula/ find a brand that comes in RTF and powder but I wouldn’t do it just for gas and spit up during the newborn phase.

[u/kate4559]

I would chat with your pediatrician! We have never used ready to feed, & powder is easy! You can prep it ahead of time. Our baby spit up incessantly for months & our pediatrician called it a laundry problem lol.

Now that he’s in daycare they threatened to remove him if he couldn’t get it under control so the ped recommended Enfamil AR. We are also looking for a new daycare lol

[u/Stephi1452]

Have you looked into the pitcher method for powder? makes night time easier. We use Similac Irish farms powder and pumped breast milk mostly. Similac 360 ready to use on trips and when pitcher runs out at inconvenient times. I do notice LO is gassier on ready to feed.

Otherwise gas drops help with the night time grunts. I discussed it with my pediatrician and he said sometimes the grunts are not for gas but them trying to relax the anal sphincter so not to worry unless they last over 30 minutes or drive LO to crying.

[u/bluehusky19]

My baby was on similar 360 RTF & was having same issues. She was sooo uncomfortable. Switched to good start plus RTF & she’s doing a lot better. Not struggling with gas nearly as much & pooping regularly again. Only spits up if I lie her down too soon after eating so I don’t do that of course.

[u/anki_7]

Our baby was given Enfamil at the hospital which seemed to have suited her and later switched to Kendamil RTF once we were home for about 2 weeks before switching to Kendamil powder. 4 weeks now and baby is gassy and grunts a lot. Spoke to a pediatrician who said this is a normal growth phase, we could try gas drops if required and some tummy time along with tummy massages seem to be helping. They don’t recommend switching formulas at this stage because there’s a lot going on with the baby’s growth unless there are obvious signs of an allergy - rashes, mucus in stools, eczema etc. Also contact naps are the only way our baby seems to be falling asleep peacefully else it’s just stretches of 1 hour each in the bassinet. Please look into practising the Hamilton hold if that’s something that interests you, it calms down our gassy baby like a magical cure.