X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Is my baby allergic to formula?

3 min read
Is my baby allergic to formula?

Bottle feeding your baby is not the end of the world. No matter what anyone says, bottle feeding over breast feeding does NOT make you any less of a mother or any less concerned about the health and welfare of your baby. Find out if your baby is allergic to milk powder formulas.

baby-drinking-milk

Is formula, or milk powder, bad for your baby?

As the mother of four, I (for personal reasons) did not breast feed my first three. By the time baby number four came around I decided I’d give it a whirl. I lasted about 8 weeks and then decided that with three small children and a farm to run, bottle feeding was definitely where it was at.

As for all the stats on how much healthier a breast fed baby is…my oldest didn’t see a doctor (other than for shots and stitches a couple of times) until he was twelve. My youngest (the breast fed baby) had more childhood illnesses than all the others combined. I’m just sayin’…

The different types of baby formula    

There are basically two different types of baby formula milk powder--milk based and soy based.

Milk-based formulas are the most common and are derived from cow’s milk. Recognizing that some babies may be more sensitive to the lactose (sugar) in milk, there are varieties of milk-based formulas that are lower in lactose.

These will often relieve gassiness in babies who are having trouble digesting the sugars. If this still presents a problem, you can find lactose-free varieties as well.

Soy-based formulas are just what they say. They contain soy proteins rather than milk proteins. These formulas are better tolerated by babies who display symptoms of allergies to milk.

Formulas specifically designed for premature babies have a much higher calorie content to provide the necessary energy they need to survive and grow.

How to tell if my baby has allergies

The ways allergies choose to manifest themselves can vary from baby to baby. As a result there are several indicators you need to watch for in determining whether or not your baby may be allergic to formula.

- Excessive spitting up or even projectile vomiting
- Gassiness and discomfort after eating
- Nasal congestion without any other symptoms of a cold or sinusitis
- Skin rashes and/or hives (rashes can appear on any part of the body)
- Changes in bowel movements-your baby’s allergic reaction will not always be immediate
- Lack of weight gain or possibly even a loss of weight

The first step

If you suspect your baby is allergic to his/her formula, do not hesitate to contact your pediatrician. Take your baby to be checked and to discuss your suspicions with the doctor and come up with an alternative for feeding.

The next thing you need to do is remember this isn’t the end of the world. Lots of babies have allergies. That’s why there are so many alternatives-to make sure there is something out there for every baby. You also need to get rid of any feelings of guilt or self-doubt over not breast feeding or not picking up on the problem right away. Babies are a mystery in many ways. The process of elimination is sometimes all we have.

What will you feed your baby
Your pediatrician will be able to provide you with the best advice as to which baby formula to try first. Most of the time switching from milk to soy based products does the trick (it did with one of my daughters). Aging, don’t worry if the first switch doesn’t take. You’ll find one that will.

Partner Stories
UHT vs Fresh Milk for Toddler: 5 Things You Should Know About Milk for Your Child
UHT vs Fresh Milk for Toddler: 5 Things You Should Know About Milk for Your Child
3 Ultimate Ways to Build your Child’s Natural Defences
3 Ultimate Ways to Build your Child’s Natural Defences
MFGM: Role In Strengthening Your Child Immune System. Here’s How!
MFGM: Role In Strengthening Your Child Immune System. Here’s How!
MFGM and Milk : The Link between Nutrition and Brain Development
MFGM and Milk : The Link between Nutrition and Brain Development

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Darla Noble

  • Home
  • /
  • Feeding & Nutrition
  • /
  • Is my baby allergic to formula?
Share:
  • Bottle-feeding to be banned?

    Bottle-feeding to be banned?

  • Formula Amount By Baby's Age And Weight: How Much Is Enough

    Formula Amount By Baby's Age And Weight: How Much Is Enough

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

    Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

  • Bottle-feeding to be banned?

    Bottle-feeding to be banned?

  • Formula Amount By Baby's Age And Weight: How Much Is Enough

    Formula Amount By Baby's Age And Weight: How Much Is Enough

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

    Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.