XP: Formula, please help!

newbee36 · November 2011

We have been EBF until now. We had some blood in stool issues for a while now, and the GI today that we switch to a hypoallergenic formula. Of course DS is refusing the formula now since he is not used to it, but I hope he will start taking it, eventually.

I need help, since I don't have any experience with formula, I have some questions:

1. I know I shouldn't boil formula, but how hot/warm can the water be to make the formula?

2. The instructions say that I can prepare formula and can keep it in the fridge for 24 hours. Am I allowed to warm it up before giving it to him?

3. What kind of water do you use to prepare the formula? Can I just pre boil it and use it after it cools down?

covertxxamour · November 2011

1. I don't ever heat my water up too warm. I put the water in the microwave for about 20 seconds, and it's perfect for my LO.

2. If you are using formula from the fridge, yes, you can heat it up. But you obviously have to be careful of any hot spots in the formula.. that's most important.

3. I use Nursery Water that I buy from Walmart or Shop n Save. I just prefer it over our city water. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to preboil and use it once it cools down.

ClickMama · November 2011

Which hypoallergenic formula are you on? We are on Neocate, although tried Alimentum. Regardless, they all tend to taste horrible, so you have to be creative with how you give it. Did the doc mention mixing 1/2 BM and 1/2 formula until your LO is used to the taste?

Answers to your questions

1) We keep the water at room temperature.

2) We don't make the formula in advance as its easier to figure out if she will take 3oz or 4oz if its not premade

3) We boil tap water and keep it in a tupperware on the counter with her other stuff.

If you want to warm up your bottles, I advise against the microwave. Instead, take a plastic tupperware container and fill it with very hot water, sit your already made bottle in it and it will warm up in a few minutes.

smrfyone · November 2011

With respect to #3, you might ask your pedi about his/her recommendations regarding the use of fluoridated water. We use bottled water right now, but the pedi wants us to change to fluoridated nursery water around 4 months. We would use tap water but our community has high levels of arsenic in the water. Really- arsenic! Good luck with your switch, I hope it isn't too difficult.

newbee36 · November 2011

smrfyone:
With respect to #3, you might ask your pedi about his/her recommendations regarding the use of fluoridated water. We use bottled water right now, but the pedi wants us to change to fluoridated nursery water around 4 months. We would use tap water but our community has high levels of arsenic in the water. Really- arsenic! Good luck with your switch, I hope it isn't too difficult.

Really? What a coincidence. The water in our community is also high in arsenic! That is why we have been buying water for the past 5 years.

newbee36 · November 2011

ClickMama:
Which hypoallergenic formula are you on? We are on Neocate, although tried Alimentum. Regardless, they all tend to taste horrible, so you have to be creative with how you give it. Did the doc mention mixing 1/2 BM and 1/2 formula until your LO is used to the taste?

We are going to try the Alimentum first, and if it doesn't work we will try EleCare or Neocate. It does smell nasty, but after 4-5 hours going with no food, DS ate 4 oz of this formula. The doc. said I should stop the BM completely. So obviously Alimentum didn't work for you, but did it not help the symptoms, or did it cause other symptoms. Tnx!

newbee36 · November 2011

Thank you all for your feedback!

MothyrGrimm · November 2011

We use room temp water from a jug we sometimes preboil water and save it in a jug or we just buy jug water. We have a well so have to boil any tap water. You can heat it after its been in the fridge the only big rule is 24 hrs and no saving half eaten bottles because bacteria. If we need to heat anything we pop it in the mic for 15 seconds and stir the hell out of it. Can't mic our drop ins otherwise we'd just shake it in the bottles.

ClickMama · November 2011

newbee36:
ClickMama:
Which hypoallergenic formula are you on? We are on Neocate, although tried Alimentum. Regardless, they all tend to taste horrible, so you have to be creative with how you give it. Did the doc mention mixing 1/2 BM and 1/2 formula until your LO is used to the taste?
We are going to try the Alimentum first, and if it doesn't work we will try EleCare or Neocate. It does smell nasty, but after 4-5 hours going with no food, DS ate 4 oz of this formula. The doc. said I should stop the BM completely. So obviously Alimentum didn't work for you, but did it not help the symptoms, or did it cause other symptoms. Tnx!

That is great that your LO took that much! Alinentum did not work for us. It made her extremely gassy. She seemed a bit better on the ready to feed and worse on the powder but overall just too gassy. The powder has a corn ingredient that some babies can't tolerate although mine couldn't handle rtf either. We had not yet seen. blood in the stool when we tried it, we did it for her reflux. About a week after we tried it and a few other formulas we saw blood in the stool. It can take a while to see an allergy like that so we were not surprised.

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