Can You Switch an Infant's Formula?

You may have a variety of questions associated with feeding your baby formula. Formulas of the same type, such as soy or cow̵7;s milk, generally contain similar ingredients and have comparable nutritional content due to government guidelines that regulate formula, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Your baby̵7;s physician can guide you through the selection of infant formula and whether it̵7;s safe to switch.

  1. Switching Brands

    • As you shop for formula for your baby, you might have one brand that you prefer, or perhaps you shop the sales and purchase whatever formula you can find on sale. While some parents might fear that switching formula brands will upset a baby̵7;s digestive system, you can safely change brands without worrying about causing harm, advises pediatrician Wendy Sue Swanson, with the Seattle Mama Doc website, affiliated with the Seattle Children's Hospital.

    Symptoms from Formula

    • A baby may experience symptoms that could be a reaction to ingredients in the formula. Some possible symptoms include dry and red skin, diarrhea, lethargy, fatigue and forceful vomiting, according to the WebMD website. If you see these or other concerning symptoms or your baby seems unusually fussy, consult your child̵7;s physician for guidance and recommendations before switching formulas. The physician can help by offering recommendations for choosing a different formula. Update your physician about your baby̵7;s progress and response to a new formula, also.

    Soy or Hypoallergenic Formula

    • Some babies have lactose intolerances that necessitate soy formula instead of cow̵7;s milk formula. A true lactose intolerance is rare for babies, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics HealthyChildren.org website. Consult your physician prior to switching to a soy formula. Some babies also have intolerance to soy protein, which will result in more symptoms of intolerance in the little one. If this occurs, the physician may recommend a hypoallergenic formula that might reduce unpleasant symptoms.

    Follow-Up Formula

    • After a baby reaches 6 months of age, nutritional needs change. You might opt to switch your child̵7;s formula to one designed for older babies between 6 and 12 months of age. Follow-up formulas often contain increased amounts of calcium and phosphorus from the formulas designed for younger babies, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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