Swallowing air
If your baby swallows air while formula feeding and is then put down to sleep, the trapped wind may cause discomfort and make your baby cry.
After a feed hold your baby upright against your shoulder or propped forward on your lap. Gently rub their back so that any trapped air can find its way out easily.
Sickness and vomiting
Some babies bring up more milk than others during or just after a feed. This is called possetting or regurgitation. It’s not unusual for babies to bring up quite a lot. It can be upsetting when this happens, and you may be worried that something is wrong. As long as your baby is gaining weight there’s usually nothing to worry about. If it happens often or if your baby is violently sick, appears to be in pain or you’re worried for any other reason, talk to your health visitor or GP.
Cover your baby with a thick bib when feeding and have a cloth or paper towels handy to mop up any mess. Check that the hole in your baby’s teat is not too big, as giving milk too quickly can cause sickness. Sitting your baby upright in a baby chair after a feed can also help. The problem usually stops after six months when your baby is starting on solid foods and drinking less milk.
If your baby brings back a lot of milk, remember he or she is likely to be hungry again quite quickly. Don’t force your baby to take on more milk than they want during a feed. Every baby is different. Some prefer to feed little and often.
Constipation
Always stick to the recommended amount of infant formula milk powder. Using too much can make your baby constipated or thirsty. Breastfed babies don’t usually get constipated. If your baby is under eight weeks old and hasn’t passed a stool for several days, talk to your health visitor or GP.
Allergies
If you think your baby might be allergic to formula milk, talk to your GP. They can prescribe special formula feeds called extensively hydrolysed protein feeds.
Some formulas are labelled as hypoallergenic, but these are not suitable for babies with a diagnosed cows' milk allergy. Talk to your GP before using this milk.
Always get a GP's advice before using soya-based infant formulas as babies who are allergic to cows’ milk may also be allergic to soya.
Babies sometimes grow out of allergies, and you may find that you can introduce cows’ milk into your baby’s diet as he or she gets older. Always ask your GP or health visitor for advice before making any changes to your baby’s diet.
