Formula Changing

Hi, I also get Wic. My son is 6 months old. He is also having the same problem. His doctor told me to put dark Karo syrup in the bottle. He told me a teaspoon and a half for every 4 onces.

My son had the same problem when he went from breastmilk to formula. Talk to your pediatrician, but the suggestion we got from our pediatrician is to add Karo syrup to the formula. I think if you add a tablespoon to each bottle, you will notice her stool beginning to soften over the next couple of days. After that, I think we just put like 1 teaspoon in each bottle so that the constipation would not return. Good luck!

-S. T.

L.,
get a prescription from your dr for the formula you want and wic may approve it. That is what they did for me. I would avoid karo syrup if at all possible, it is sugar and that has to be terrible for the baby. good luck Judy

It is probably the iron in the formula. It will make it harder and darker. Water will help. Give water between feedings. If she doesn't like water add sugar to it.
It appeals to the baby more and actually the sugar will help
along with the water for the poop.

being that the baby is only 24 days old - i would wait a few days to see if she adjusts to the new formula. If you still have some of the other kind - try chaning her over slowly.. instead of all at once... it might make the tranistation easier.

That being said - i believe that if your baby's Dr prescribs a specific formula for your baby, then WIC has to honor that and issue formula checks for that specific kind. I know normally they issue enfamil or prosobe - but if your baby has any kind of condition or issues with those - your baby's Dr may need to prescribe something else. A prescription from the Dr is the only way WIC will honor any other kinds of formula. (friends of mine had problems with this before - due to prematurity, feeding issuesm, etc).

Just have the babies doctor write a presciption for the formula your baby has been taking and WIC has to give it to you. Trust me I know my oldest when I weaned him off the breast had a very sensitive belly, so he was on Nutramagen and thats expensive, but WIC gave it too me. Good Luck!

Hi. The first thing I would do is take the child to their pediatrician and explain the symptoms and get them to verify what you know and then see if they would write W.I.C. or give you the letter to give to them stating that your child needs the other formula due to this problem. They should listen and accept what the child's own Dr. has to say. W.I.C. did that to me with my first child and I had to go through the problems with her having hard stools and eventually had to give her enemas. That is NOT something I wish anyone to go through! My youngest had problems when we started giving him formula when I wasn't there to nurse him but that had nothing to do with W.I.C., just him not wanting even the bottle and the formula. Sometimes if the formula is fortified with iron it can affect them too.

I would say you should have your child's doctor write something out saying that your baby needs to be on the original formula due to digestive issues. Wicc should be able to accomodate you. Or you may have to just not use the stuff Wicc sends and buy the other kind yourself. I know that would stink but I've had a lot of experience with my kids not pooping well on formula and you don't need that stress and neither does the baby. Hope I could help!!
L. G

if shes to be having a problem with the formula they gave her then talk to your doctor and ask him what he wants her on i can tell you wic got rid of enfamil products they just switched to nestle good start so like you i had to change my 6 month olds formula but she seems to be doing ok on this one she couldnt handle similac so i would talk to yuor doctor and see wgat they want cause as long as its awic offered formula they will gladly obide by the doctors wishes just make sure you get a prescription to give to wic

C.

Try using formula that has little or no iron in it. Lots of babies have a problem with the iron and it can cause constipation.

Hi L.-
I know that it takes about 2 or 3 days for the baby to get used to a new formula. If it hasn't been about 3 days since starting the new one, maybe use the one WIC will pay for until then and see what happens. If you have been using it that long, speak to the pediatrician and see what can be done. Like the other post said, they may be able to write a letter stating that the one WIC will pay for is not good digestively for your baby. I am not sure they will pay for any other formula, but it's worth a try. Also, if your baby ends up taking Similac or Enfamil, sign up on their websites and they will send you coupon checks towards formula and may even send samples. I used to get $10 checks for Similac and as my son grew, they started to dwindle down to $5 and then to $2 or $1 coupons, but at least in the beginning the $10 checks will be useful.

I had the same problem with my son, he didn't start having formula until he was 3 months old but my doctor put him on low iron formula, you can also mix 1/2 low iron with the regular but make sure you doctor says that it is ok

Go to her doctor and get a letter from him stating she needs to be on a certain formula...bring the letter to WIC and they will give you checks for that brand...

My daughter had the same problem

I had the exact same problem. If it continues to be a problem, if you let the WIC office know that the formula is making her constipated they will change the formula. Had to do it with my son and with my nephew.

you can try pear juice but you have to do 1 oune of water and once ounce of pear juice. it may take a few days for the baby to get used to the formula change. are you using the good start? it is said to be a better formula due to the comfort proteins that are easier to digest. i wouldn't use karo syrup, could be harsh on baby's stomach. the pear juice works but i would only do it once a day and not around feeding time in between feedings so she hets the nutrients from the formula. it takes a few days for the old formula to leave the baby's sytem so be patient. this to shall pass. also if all else fails you could due rectal therometer and that should help her go as well but no more than 2x daily becuase you want her to use those muscles on her own. i didn't know if you were also aware that their stools become less frequent around the time they roll around to being a month old even though she is only 24 dyas old. good luck and hope these tips work. i used these on my son at about a month old. he is now 3 months old. kelly