Enfamil A.R. getting stuck in the nipples

We have switched our DD over to Enfamil A.R. and it has really helped her reflux. The problem is that the formula is so thick and the powder keeps getting stuck in the nipple. She gets soooo frustrated. We are already using the "fast" flow nipples and I am thinking it really isn't an issue with the thickness of the formula as much as it is with the powder not mixing up enough and getting clumpy in the nipple.

We use the Playtex with the collapsable liners and I fill them with the water first in the morning and then we just add the scoops of formula when it is time to make the bottle. We add it and shake well but I am still having a problem. How do you make yours? Any suggestions besides widening the nipple which I don't really want to do as I think it is more of a mixing problem than a wideness of the nipple problem. I also think part of the reason her reflux is better is because she has to drink more slowly.

Thanks,
Amy

 

I tried to use the Enfamil AR powdered formula but I could never get it mixed thoroughly no matter how much I shook it up. I've heard others mixed it in a blender which just seemed like a pain to me. So we use regular Enfamil but add the rice cereal. That way they are both on the same formula since it's only my daughter who has reflux. We also use the playtex drop ins and they make a variable flow nipple that's designed for thickened formula. Works perfectly.
Good luck!

 

The only way we could get it to mix right was to use a hand mixer--it works like a blender but you hold it and submerse it in the liquid. I usually mix up one or two pitchers of formula at a time. We use level 2 nipples and it goes through just fine (it even went through level 1 with no problem).

 

I've heard of this problem with that formula before. You could try mixing up 24 hours worth in the blender or making enough for 1 bottle but using a hand blender. Or switch to regular Enfamil and use cereal like pp said. ardon: Sorry, I don't think there is an easy solution.

 

try powder then water???? that works better for me. I use the playtex too.

 

Oh my....we had the WORST trouble with this! I finally found that making the bottles in big batches was hurting us. And also, no amount of shaking would get rid of the clumps either. I finally found one of those formula mixers at BRU. It helped us out SOOO much!!! So I am now making individual bottles for each feeding and using the mixer to mix the formula. This is the only thing that would help us.

 

I tried it as well and just couldn't get it to work. I ended up just going with Enfamil a+ (with lipil) and doing a lot of baby barf dodging. My sofa will never be the same.

 

We used Enfamil AR for almost 10 months and it made a huge difference for us - much less spitup. What we did was mix batches of formula in a regular blender and keep the formula in the fridge in large Rubbermaid jugs or we pre-made the bottles with the caps on. We'd made a days worth of formula at a time. Not only did this solve the "clump" issue, but also saved us tons of time every day. We could also feed a crying baby much faster and this reduced stress levels!

 

We're dealing with about the same thing right now.

For those of you mixing large batches of formula and storing in the fridge....how are you heating the bottles??

 

I just switched to the AR a few weeks ago and both boys are spitting up MUCH less! I am using mainly the Dr. Brown and Podee bottles. I found that if I swirled the bottle around a bit to get all the powder wet, then shook the mess out of the bottles it helped with the clumping. Also I read on the canister that you are supposed to wait 5 minutes before giving it to them. So, I started to "try" (try=sometimes you can not get the bottle to them FAST enough!) to wait at least 5 minutes then will shake the bottle up again. It really seems to help. Good Luck!

 

We heated the bottles in bottle warmers for about the first four months. Then we started using the microwave - removed the cap/nipple and warmed it up for 15-20 seconds depending on how much formula was in the bottle. Not long enough to heat it, just long enough to take away the chill of the fridge. We shook them very well to distribute hot spots. We could serve a bottle in less than 30 seconds this way and everyone was much happier.

Another idea - a friend of mine keeps a crock pot with a small amount of water going all day. She puts the bottles in there for a minute or so before serving. I did not go this route because I was too brain dead the first 6 months and would have burned the house down. But it works for some people!

 

We also use the Enfamil thickened and playtex drop ins. It does clump really bad, the only way I have found it works is to make a big batch at once, stir it with a whisk than strain it and mix again. Its a pain but it has cut out soooo much of the spit up. We just heat the bottles in a bowl of hot water.