Seperate Formulas and starting solids..

I have two questions that I am hoping you all can advise me on.

1) how many of you have your babies on seperate formulas ? I have been working my way through formulas to find the right one for my babies, I am now wondering if the task will be endless. It seems what works for one doesnt work for the other. Also how long do you give a baby on formula to see if it works before switching ?

2) Starting Solids - my ped said that its ok to start anytime between 4-6 months. My girls have just turned 5 months, but they are 3 1/2 adjusted age. What age did you start solids and was it actual or adjusted ?

Thanks
Sarah

 

What issues are you having with the different formulas?? Or what symptoms are your babies having on them?

My girls are on different ones. My littlest seemed to have a lot of tummy issues right from the start so from 2-4 months we tried a lot of brands and settled on Enfamil Gentlease for her. It made a world of difference. She was a very fussy, cranky baby due to constipation, mild reflux, I think possible some lactose issues as well. My other one uses a supermarket brand with no issues.
I gave each formula about a week to see what it did to her before switching. We recently tried to switch her to the supermarket brand and after 10 days I could tell she was having tummy issues again so went back. She at 9 months has stopped spitting up and has lots of poops so I thought maybe she could handle it, but no.

My girls were 7 weeks early, but I don't do much by the adjusted age. I felt they were ready and the pedi said go ahead so I started cereal at the 4 month mark. At 5 months you can try it out and see how it goes. Mix up a tiny bit, quite watery and see if they take it off the spoon. You can start off slow and go from there.

 

For about 5 months, we had our girls on separate formulas. The only one that would work for our smaller twin who had reflux was Similac Alimentum, and it was just too expensive to put the other girl on if she didn't need it. So one was on Alimentum and the other was on Similac Sensitive. When they got to be around 6 months old, we tried slowing switching the one twin onto Sensitive, and she was able to make the change. Now they are both on Sensitive.

As far as how long to wait, we found that you'd see a difference (better or worse) usually within 24-48 hours but the full effect might take a week or two. When we tried Alimentum for our one twin, she had a HUGE improvement after just one or two bottles of it. It was really just that dramatic.

Our girls started solids (rice cereal and oatmeal cereal) right around 6 months old (they were 37 1/2 weekers so no adjustment). We didn't rush it with them. They actually really hated it in the beginning so we backed off for a week or two and tried again. Since there's no real nutritional benefit so early on and it's really more about learning how to eat, we took a very laid back approach with solids introductions and followed their lead.

 

My twin boys are on two different types of formula. One is on Similac Alimentum due to milk protein allergy and the other is on Similac Soy since he was very gassy, as well as spit up a lot. Twins or not, they are two different babies and the same formula may not always work for both. It does make things more difficult tho. We have to be careful to never mix them up. Especially when mixing the formula in the baby cereal. One time, I forgot which bowl the Alimentum was in so I had to throw both breakfast cereals away and start over. LOL But since the Alimentum is medically necessary, my insurance covers it 100%..thank god because that is a very expensive formula.

As far as the solid foods, we started them at 4 months (actual age) I delivered them at 37 weeks. That was also recommended by our pedi. She had us start by colors. The yellows, oranges, and then greens. It didn't matter if they were fruits or veggies. She said the lighter colors were easier on their digestive system.....and boy could they eat! At 9 months old ,they weigh 21 lbs 3oz & 21 lbs 14oz.....they are big boys!

As far as how long to try them on the formula, I would say at least 3 days. When we introduced all the new solids, the pedi said not to proceed to the next kind til after 3 day to make sure they did not have an allergic reaction.

Well good luck to you. It will all work out. Its all just trial and error.

 

My b/g twins are on separate formulas and have been since they were 2 months old. My son had blood in his diaper last Christmas which his pediatrician said indicated an intolerance to milk. He was consequently put on soy formula. My daughter has always been on the Sam's brand of gentlease. We're hoping that my son outgrows his milk intolerance by the time they get off formula at one year of age. Until then we will continue to give them separate formulas.

We introduced cereal to the twins when they were 5 months old (4 months adjusted age). At first I made two separate bowls of cereal each made with a different formula. However, I quickly decided to make just one bowl of cereal and I make it with water instead. That way I can feed both babies from the same bowl. They took to eating solids like ducks to water and we have never looked back since. At 6 months of age we started introducing fruits and vegetables. I alternated between the two types of food waiting 3-4 days before trying another new food. Now the babies are eating table food. They have never had an adverse reaction to anything I have given them and neither my husband nor myself have food allergies so I have relaxed a little on how often I introduce something new. So far they have tried a wide variety of foods such as pancakes, waffles, toast, bagels, egg yolk, American cheese slices, shredded cheddar cheese, diced fruits and vegetables, sweet potato french fries, mashed potatoes, zucchini, Mum Muns, cereal bars, wagon wheels, yogurt, deli meat chicken and turkey, etc. I just make sure whatever I am giving the babies is cut up very small to prevent choking.

 

My boys are on two different formulas. My youngest one(30 minutes) is on NeoSure (It has extra calories) and my older one is on Nestle Quick Start (regular Formula) When we get our formula, we actually weigh it out and put it in small bowls so that when it is time to make bottless, we just have to measure out the water. For example the Quick start is 153g to 32oz water. We do this every evening before bed. This amount will make approx. 5 6oz bottles. Enough to get us through the night and the following day. It is so much easier, expecially with having to make them seperate. Now, for the introduction of solids....My boys are currently 6 months, they will be 7 on the 29th of this month. My younest son was VERY colic, and always let the formula just run out of his mouth, It would take us sometimes up to an hour to feed him. His Ped said to add rice cereal to his bottle. 1 teaspoon per oz. This would thicken the formula enough for him to swallow before it ran out. We were skeptical, but we tried it and it worked great. It actually helped the colic as well. So they were actually introducted to solids at 2 months (2 weeks adjusted, they were 6 wks early)We introducted the solids on a spoon at about 5 1/2 months. The oldest loved it, not so much for the little man. He actually needs to have his really thick, or it comes right back out. Their weight difference has pretty much stayed the same since birth...they were 4.13, and 6...now they are 16.3, and 19.8. Sorry for the babble, hope this has helped.

 

Thank you this info has been so helpful. Both babies seem to have it constantly running out of there mouth, one more so than the other. So maybe I will ask the doctor about adding rice cereal to the bottle.

 

Well I have been working my way through them trying to find one that works for one of my babies who has reflux and is more fussy than the other. We are currently on Good Start which I think was working but now not sure as her reflux has gotten worse in the last week. Good start doesnt work well for her sister as its made her more gassy. I think its back to the drawing board for both until we find the one that works best for each baby. I now wished I could have pumped longer as I know things have gotten worse for them since stopping the bm. ugh

 

I have had my twins on different formula's since the beginning. Switching formula's too much is not good for them, so if you find what works, even if they are on two seperate ones, just stay with that.

I wanted until my girls were 5 months adjusted age (7 1/2 months birth age) before starting soilds.