Which formula to try?

My poor Morgan has gone from a very happy baby to a very fussy baby in a matter of weeks. He's been a spitter since the beginning, but a few weeks ago, he started developing a rash...which the ped said was excema. We're using hydrocortisone to clear the rash, but it keeps coming back all over him. So, I'm working diligently to try to figure out what the heck he is reacting to, since it seems like he must have daily contact with whatever is causing his excema to flare up. I just can't get the rash to heal.

So, I'm switching formulas again to see if that will help with his excema, his spitting, and his fussiness. We've tried all of the Enfamil products (including Nutramigen). It doesn't seem to matter which one he is on...he's still flaring and still spitting.

I want to try switching him to something outside of the enfamil family and wondered what everyone would suggest. I've heard Nestle Good Start can help with spitting, but wondered which one? Should I try a formula without DHA and ARA? Maybe he's allergic to that?

I'm desparatly trying to find "the thing" that's bothering him. He's such a happy kid...I just hate seeing him so miserable.

Shannon

 

I would honestly avoid the soy Good start. They do have regular good start supreme that doesn't have dha/ara in it.

If that doesn't work - I have seen some good things with Alimentum. That is a similac product.

Finally, if that doesn't work there is neocate. This is pretty expensive, but it is dairy free, wheat free, and soy free. Kids with lots of intolerances usually do well on this.

Hope that helps!

Angel

 

I'd suggest that you breastfeed and manage your diet to remove dairy and soy... but that's likely not possible. for allergic babies, it's by far the best possible food -- no matter what an uneducated Dr might say. Babies are never allergic to mom's milk -- just maybe to some of the foods mom eats.

So alternatively, I'd investigate dairy free, soy free products. My sons have a dairy intolerance and once i removed dairy from my diet (I breastfeed)my fussier son became a different kid -- he wasjust happier and slept tons better. the other one started to spit up less.

Essentially protein could be your problem. Kiddos aren't born with the bacteria to digest proteins. Dairy protein (from pasturized milk especially) are hard for kids to digest and many, many, many have issues with this.

it usually passes by 4-6 mos, but for severe cases -- which may be your son, it may take up to a year or more to deal with it.

good luck

Teri D

 

My boys were allergic to the dha and ara as well i believe. thought htey never broke out, they did throw up their entire bottles. I found the Goodstart wtih out the dha and ara worked wonders and we have happy eaters now. Aside from the formula, have you tried the laundry soap? Changing that since he comes in contact with that daily? What about the laundry softner? If you use it maybe that could be it. Also, i have heard of babies on here having reactions to diapers of certain brands. That could be a possibility as well. Good Luck!

 

If he is fussy or gassy a good one to try is Isomil by Similac.

 

I switched my fussy boy from nutramagin to Earths best organic and he thrived. maybe worth a try. I use seventh generation washing powder and just a small amount. I also only use wipes for poos, for wee I use wet washcloths and wash them. I try to keep chemicals away from them. I have heard that homeopaths can help with ecxema etc.. That excema is the bodies way of trying to get rid of something. I haven't tried one though, they have to be very good.

 

For the spitting up, we switched to regular Goodstart long before they added the DHA. It worked almost instantly. For the skin problems, I would look at your detergent too, if you hadn't done that already.

 

We tried Nestle's Goodstart, and both boys were spitting up. The Enfamil is better as only one child spits up now in moderation. My oldest was on Similac after 6 months and we had no problems with that (7 yrs ago). We use Dreft and cloth diapers to try and avoid any rashes. Your pediatrician should be working through this with you. He can get you different formula samples to try so you don't have to go spend a ton of money.

 

I'm headed to BRU right now to pick up a new formula. I think I'm going to try Goodstart. I've switched formulas, removed fabric softener (currently only using all free and clear and was using downy free and sensitive softener). I'm also trying to find a lotion that doesn't hurt him...eucerin is hurting him and that's what all the docs recommend.

We'll see. I really appreciate all the suggestions! I pray one of them works!!! Shannon

 

oh yeah...I just switched them back to Pampers Swaddlers (from Huggies) because now both Morgan and Jonah have a bad diaper rash.

Poor guys are like my little lab rats...I keep changing stuff each week!

 

I would go without the fabric softener altogether. I had to do this with my first per the peds recommendation.

All of parenting is an experiment, just remember to change one thing at a time!

 

So we tried literally two bottles of the nestle goodstart supreme (no dha or ara) and he puked for two days. So, he was definitely reacting to something in the nestle. We may try Alimentum (sp?), but I'm just not sure if I'm willing to risk it after the nestle fiasco. We're headed to the dermotologist tomorrow. We'll see what he says. At least before he was just a happy spitter. If we could get his skin figured out just so he wouldn't itch, I'd be happy.

If anyone else has other suggestions, I'd really like to hear them.

 

One of my dd's has had very mild excema for several months, but it recently got really bad on her back and the top part of her behind. I noticed that it came up to the same area that the diapers hit her - I had just switched her from swaddlers to size 3 Costco Kirkland brand. I switched her to pampers cruisers and w/i two days the excema was back to being very mild??? Coincidence maybe, but seems like it was the diapers! Stephanie