Top 5 Best Formulas For Gassy Babies (Here Are The Top 5 That Really Work!)
We are all for breastfeeding, but some circumstances force us sometimes to feed our newborn with formula. However, unlike breast milk, formula milk tends to give more gas to our babies than milk, and we all know that gassy babies are unhappy babies. The good news is that there are formulas designed to reduce gas and in this post, we’ll find out what the best formula for gassy babies is.
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Similac Sensitive Infant... | 172 Reviews | from $92.61 | Buy on Amazon |
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Enfamil PREMIUM Non-GMO... | 292 Reviews | from $5.91 | Buy on Amazon |
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Enfamil ProSobee Soy Sensitive... | 151 Reviews | from $43.94 | Buy on Amazon |
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Babys Only Organic Toddler... | 216 Reviews | $55.69 | Buy on Amazon |
Top 5 Best Formula For Gassy Babies
There are tons of brands of formula milk designed to help gassy babies, but these five on our roster are what we think are the best on the market today. Let’s take a look at their pros and cons.
#5 Similac Sensitive
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Similac Sensitive Infant... | 172 Reviews | from $92.61 | Buy on Amazon |
Similac Sensitive is designed specifically for babies 1 to 12 months old who have lactose sensitivity. It’s a milk-based formula that’s easy to digest and is ideal for babies who are always fussy after feeding as a result of gas.
Blended with OptiGRO, it contains a combination of Vitamin E, Lutein, and DHA, all of which are ingredients present in breast milk and are crucial for your child’s brain, eye, and cell development. If you’re not too comfortable with a soybean-based formula, then Similac Sensitive might be the perfect option for you.
What you will love about it:
- It does an excellent job reducing gas.
- It’s really effective for babies who have lactose intolerance.
- The container design makes scooping very convenient.
What you may not like about it:
- It’s a bit foamy, so you may need to skim off the bubbles before feeding it to your child.
#4 Enfamil Gentlease
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Enfamil PREMIUM Non-GMO... | 292 Reviews | from $5.91 | Buy on Amazon |
For babies who constantly have reflux, the Enfamil Gentlease might make a huge difference. It’s also a milk-based formula, but with less amount of lactose, designed for gassy babies. It contains protein that has partially been broken down, so your child won’t have a hard time digesting it.
A lot of parents swear by its quick-relief action, but it’s for you to find out and judge whether it’s true or not. What you should know about this formula, though, is that it contains both DHA and inositol, two elements crucial to a healthy brain development. It also has a unique triple health guard blend that offers 30 nutrients, plus vitamins and nutrients for immune system support.
PROS
- It claims to contain twice the amount of Omega 3 and DHA compared to other brands.
- Parents swear that it can indeed reduce gassiness within 24 hours.
- It’s designed to be closer to breast milk in terms of nutritional value, so your child won’t have a difficult time switching if he’s been breastfed.
CONS
- Your child may find its smell a bit strong and its taste a bit bitter.
#3 Enfamil ProSobee
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Enfamil ProSobee Soy Sensitive... | 151 Reviews | from $43.94 | Buy on Amazon |
Another entry we have from Enfamil is the ProSobee. It’s a soy-based formula for babies up to 12 months of age and is an excellent alternative if your child is having a hard time with a milk-based one. It’s also dairy-free, so you won’t have trouble if your child is really lactose intolerant.
Just like any other formula made by Enfamil, this one has all the essential nutrients your child needs for his motor, communication, social, and cognitive development. Soy is found to be more gentle for some babies so you might find this a good option if nothing else seems to be working.
PROS
- It’s the best option if you’re worried your child has milk allergy.
- It’s one of the best soy-based formulas that actually cuts down on a child’s gas and the discomfort it brings.
CONS
- You may have to mix it really well in order for it to dissolve properly.
#2 Earth's Best Organic Sensitivity
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Formula milk made by Earth’s Best Organic is unique in such a way that they use lactose as sweetener. This particular variety is designed for babies with sensitive stomach and is made with lower lactose content to reduce fussiness and gas.
It’s fortified with iron for proper red blood cell development, plus, it contains ARA and DHA, two fatty acids present in breast milk that help with eye and brain health.
Not only that, but it also contains lutein, which is also for eye development, and the prebiotic fructooligosaccharide that’s crucial for immunity. With no artificial coloring or flavors and made without fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, this formula is the perfect option if you’re into organic baby products.
PROS
- It closely resembles breast milk, so it’s not hard for your child to transition to it or even switch between it and breast milk.
- Since it’s organic, you can have peace of mind if your child has allergies.
- It tastes great, so your child won’t say no to any bottle with this formula inside.
CONS
- You’ll have to shake it very well to avoid clumps.
#1 Baby's Only Organic
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Babys Only Organic Toddler... | 216 Reviews | $55.69 | Buy on Amazon |
Another organic formula on our list is this one from Baby’s Only. It’s a dairy-based formula that’s gluten-free and contains no GMO ingredients. It’s organic, which means it’s derived from dairy cows that haven’t been given steroids, antibiotics, and artificial growth hormones.
It also contains high amounts of essential fatty acids that the body converts to ARA and DHA, so you can be sure that it’s good for your child’s brain and body development. This particular variety is formulated for children one-year-old and above, but some parents claim to have fed it to their children as young as four months with success.
PROS
- It doesn’t use less desirable ingredients such as organic corn syrup and hexane processed DHA.
- It doesn’t smell and taste bad as some organic formula brands do.
- It doesn’t leave a greasy residue on the bottle.
CONS
- It may cause your child’s poop to get harder.
Our Pick Of Formula For Gassy Babies
We love all five of these brands of formula on our roster, but our focus was on the two organic brands: Earth’s Best and Baby’s Only. We were impressed by the fact that Baby’s Only Organic formula milk is made by a company that supports organic integrity. However, our vote went to Earth's Best Organic Sensitivity for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that among the many brands of formula milk available today, the ones from Earth’s Best are the nearest to breast milk in terms of nutritional content.
Via Amazon.com
Our pick, in particular, contains DHA and ARA. But aside from that, it also has iron that’s needed for the healthy development of red blood cells. It contains prebiotics, too, which are vital for the immune system.
And when compared to Baby’s Only, Earth’s Best is clearly more economical. Moreover, the one from Baby’s Only doesn’t come in bigger containers, which means you’ll have to stock several small containers instead of a few large ones.
What’s In Formula Milk That Makes Your Baby Gassy?
First things first - gas is normal for babies. Even breastfed babies suffer from it from time to time. However, there’s just something about formula feeding that causes baby to develop gas more, spit up more, and suffer from constipation more.
The primary reason is that some newborns have a sensitivity to certain ingredients found in formula milk. Most formulas are made from cow’s milk, and when your child is sensitive to its protein content, he’ll tend to develop an upset stomach.
You can tell quickly when your baby is gassy because he’ll become unusually fussy every after feeding time. He might pull his legs toward his chest, too, stretch them out, and arch his back because of the pain he’s experiencing. Moreover, his stomach will have a bloated appearance due to gas.
If you’ve figured out that it is indeed the type of formula you’re feeding your child that’s giving him gas, then the best solution is to switch to a different brand of formula, particularly one that’s organic.
It’s important to talk to your pediatrician first to make sure you’re making the right decision. Your child’s doctor knows best what brand or type of formula you should switch to that will reduce your baby’s gassy moments.
Check Your Feeding Bottle - It Might Be The Culprit!
Sometimes, even after you’ve switched to a new formula, your baby will still be gassy. If this is the case, then it might not only be his milk that’s causing him the trouble - it might be the feeding bottle after all!
Unlike with breastfeeding, bottle feeding causes your newborn to suck air in more quickly and in larger quantities. As a result, he’ll be ingesting more air than milk.
If you haven’t switched to a new formula yet, it would be an excellent idea to check your baby’s feeding bottle first. Regular bottles do not have vents that help regulate the amount of air your child ingests during feeding.
There are, however, baby bottles that are designed especially for gassy babies. These bottles have venting systems that eliminate as much air as possible while your baby is feeding, reducing his chances of developing gas or becoming colicky.
Feeding bottles may be expensive, but formula can cost you more in the long run. For this reason, it’s crucial that you check first whether it’s actually your child’s milk or his bottle that’s causing him to be gassy. It would be more cost effective to switch to a new bottle than to a new formula.
Sometimes, a few exercise moves can also help relieve gas in babies, just like what’s shown in this short clip:
A Few Things To Consider When Switching Formulas
Ask for your pediatrician’s advice. We’ve already mentioned the importance of talking to your child’s doctor when considering to switch to a new brand of formula milk. Aside from the fact that a physician would know which brand is the best for your child, he’ll also know whether you should actually switch to a formula designed for gassy babies or simply to a different brand.
Consider your budget. We all want to give the best to our kids, but sometimes, our budget just won’t cooperate. Since formula that’s specially made for gassy babies are more expensive than regular ones, it’s important to think very carefully before you make the switch.
Some brands are less expensive and yet should be enough to meet your child’s nutritional needs. Start with these brands first and observe your baby’s development. You can always switch to a more expensive brand later on if you’re not satisfied with the results. What’s important is that you’ve already consulted your doctor beforehand.
Introduce the new formula gradually. Some babies won’t have any protest when their formulas are switched, but others like my firstborn, will not hesitate to show their distaste. The key to successfully switching to a new brand of milk is to introduce it slowly. If your child likes the new formula much more, then you won’t have a problem.
If he finds the new taste unfavorable, then you can make the switch gradually, that is, by mixing a little of the new milk with the old and slowly adding more of it with each feeding. There are different opinions regarding mixing of formula.
One camp says it’s a no-no, while another camp says it’s okay as long as you follow the standard procedure of mixing formula. Ultimately, the decision is yours, along with some guidance from your child’s pediatrician.
Speaking of mixing formula, here’s a short video showing you how to properly and safely prepare formula for your little one:
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Similac Sensitive Infant... | 172 Reviews | from $92.61 | Buy on Amazon |
|
|
Enfamil PREMIUM Non-GMO... | 292 Reviews | from $5.91 | Buy on Amazon |
|
|
Enfamil ProSobee Soy Sensitive... | 151 Reviews | from $43.94 | Buy on Amazon |
|
|
Babys Only Organic Toddler... | 216 Reviews | $55.69 | Buy on Amazon |
We know you also have your own preference when it comes to formula for gassy babies, so why not share your thoughts with us? You’re free to drop your comments in the comments section below! You’re free to share this post, too, if you found it informational and helpful! Thank you!