Aptamal Cartons

the lawman

Hi all,

Our daughter is 3 weeks old. She is suffering now from colic (we are told. she squirms like mad at night time and won't settle until you hold her!).

She feeds maybe 30% breast milk from mom and then 70% of the full blue small cartons of Aptamal. Should be change to the anti-colic Aptamal formula? The reason I ask is can this specific formula be used whilst also breast feeding as I thought that the full blue Aptamal can only be used in conjunction with Breastfeeding.

All advice is welcome and appreciated.

January

Aptamil can be used alone or combined with breast feeding. If you're thinking of changing your daughters formula you should speak to the public health nurse or your GP and see what they think.

My 1 week old daughter suffers terrible with colic and I have changed her from Aptamil to Cow & Gate Comfort and also use Infacol anti colic drops, my PHN recommended I do that and I've noticed an instant change in her.

Khannie

We use the aptamil comfort in conjunction with breastfeeding. You can use that without consulting anyone. Nutritionally it is more or less equivalent to the normal aptamil, though it has more simple sugars (lactose takes time to break down and is released into the bloodstream slower because of that).

edit: I'm not contradicting Adrienne there. If you have concerns about Colic it is worth talking to your PHN. I just wouldn't hold off on switching to the comfort formula if you think it might help.

edit 2: I think the powder is better than those cartons by the way. Our 3 year old used to puke the aptamil cartons quite regularly but generally held down the powder. I think they're handy in a pinch though shockin' expensive.

bob the bob

We used the aptamil anti colic formula but not until about 4 months so cannot say with confidence that it's suitable at 3 weeks.

I will say that us switching from the regular to the anti-colic helped a bit. The milk is a bit thicker, the bottles got blocked a few times during a feed and you have to suck it yourself to unblock it.

We brought our son to a cranial osteopath and it fixed him almost overnight from colic.

Moonbeam

What kind of bottles do you use?

The tommee tippee anti colic + bottles are really good so are the doctor browns ones.

the lawman

Moonbeam wrote: »

What kind of bottles do you use?

The tommee tippee anti colic + bottles are really good so are the doctor browns ones.

We are using the doctor brown ones. I think we'll talk to our PHN and maybe change to a colic friendly formula.

the lawman

bob the bob wrote: »

We used the aptamil anti colic formula but not until about 4 months so cannot say with confidence that it's suitable at 3 weeks.

I will say that us switching from the regular to the anti-colic helped a bit. The milk is a bit thicker, the bottles got blocked a few times during a feed and you have to suck it yourself to unblock it.

We brought our son to a cranial osteopath and it fixed him almost overnight from colic.

A cranial ostepath? Is that the normal route for Colic problems? If so any references for this service in Ireland?

the lawman

Khannie wrote: »

We use the aptamil comfort in conjunction with breastfeeding. You can use that without consulting anyone. Nutritionally it is more or less equivalent to the normal aptamil, though it has more simple sugars (lactose takes time to break down and is released into the bloodstream slower because of that).

edit: I'm not contradicting Adrienne there. If you have concerns about Colic it is worth talking to your PHN. I just wouldn't hold off on switching to the comfort formula if you think it might help.

edit 2: I think the powder is better than those cartons by the way. Our 3 year old used to puke the aptamil cartons quite regularly but generally held down the powder. I think they're handy in a pinch though shockin' expensive.

Khannie is the aptamil comfort the one with the yellow badge that says anti colic and anti constipation?

Khannie

the lawman wrote: »

Khannie is the aptamil comfort the one with the yellow badge that says anti colic and anti constipation?

Had to go down and check so I thought I'd take a pic anyway, but yeah. That's the one we're using.

Nevyn

the lawman wrote: »

A cranial ostepath? Is that the normal route for Colic problems? If so any references for this service in Ireland?

No it is not the normal route for Colic problems, it is an alternative health treatment which has no proper medical research into it, it's up there with Homeopathic 'cures' for Colic and acupuncture.

The only "alternative" treatment I would recommended would be baby massage.


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colic/DS00058

Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff

If your baby cries about the same time each day and nothing you do seems to offer comfort, your baby may have colic. Colic is often defined as crying more than three hours a day, three days a week for more than three weeks in an otherwise well-fed, healthy baby.

Colic can be distressing for both you and your baby. But take comfort: Colic is relatively short-lived. In a matter of weeks or months, the colic will end, and you'll have weathered one of the first major challenges of parenthood.

Fussing and crying are normal for infants, and a fussy baby doesn't necessarily have colic. In an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby, signs of colic include:

* Predictable crying episodes. A baby who has colic often cries about the same time every day, usually in the late afternoon or evening. Colic episodes may last from a few minutes to three hours or more on any given day. The crying usually begins suddenly and for no clear reason. Your baby may have a bowel movement or pass gas near the end of the colic episode.
* Intense or inconsolable crying. Colic crying is intense and often high pitched. Your baby's face may flush, and he or she is extremely difficult — if not impossible — to comfort.
* Posture changes. Curled up legs, clenched fists and tensed abdominal muscles are common during colic episodes.

Colic affects as many as 25 percent of babies. Colic usually starts a few weeks after birth and often improves by age 3 months. Although a few babies struggle with colic for months longer, colic ends by age 9 months in 90 percent of cases.

When to see a doctor
Seek immediate medical attention if your baby's crying could be the result of a fall or injury.

Contact your baby's doctor if you're concerned about your baby's crying, especially if you notice changes in your baby's eating, sleeping or behavior. You can help your baby's doctor by tracking in a diary when your baby cries and for how long. Also record your baby's sleeping and eating patterns.

The cause of colic is unknown. Researchers have explored a number of possibilities, including allergies, lactose intolerance, an immature digestive system, maternal anxiety and differences in the way a baby is fed or comforted. Yet it's still unclear why some babies have colic and others don't.

Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staff

Your baby's doctor may not be able to fix colic or make it go away sooner, but there are many ways you can try to soothe your baby. Consider these suggestions:

* Feed your baby. If you think your baby may be hungry, try a feeding. Hold your baby as upright as possible, and burp your baby often. Sometimes more frequent — but smaller — feedings are helpful. If you're breast-feeding, it may help to empty one breast completely before switching sides. This will give your baby more hindmilk, which is richer and potentially more satisfying than the foremilk, which is present at the beginning of a feeding.
* Offer a pacifier. For many babies, sucking is a soothing activity. Even if you're breast-feeding, it's OK to offer a pacifier to help your baby calm down.
* Hold your baby. Cuddling helps some babies. Others quiet when they're held closely and swaddled in a lightweight blanket. To give your arms a break, try a baby sling, backpack or other type of baby carrier. Don't worry about spoiling your baby by holding him or her too much.
* Keep your baby in motion. Gently rock your baby in your arms or in an infant swing. Lay your baby tummy down on your knees and then sway your knees slowly. Take a walk with your baby, or buckle your baby in the car seat for a drive. Use a vibrating infant seat or vibrating crib.
* Sing to your baby. A soft tune might soothe your baby. And even if lullabies don't stop your baby from crying, they can keep you calm and help pass the time while you're waiting for your baby to settle down. Recorded music may help, too.
* Turn up the background noise. Some babies cry less when they hear steady background noise. When holding or rocking your baby, try making a continuous "shssss" sound. Turn on a kitchen or bathroom exhaust fan, or play a tape or CD of environmental sounds, such as ocean waves, a waterfall or gentle rain. Sometimes the tick of a clock or metronome does the trick.
* Use gentle heat or touch. Give your baby a warm bath. Softly massage your baby, especially around the tummy.
* Give your baby some private time. If nothing else seems to work, a brief timeout might help. Put your baby in his or her crib for five to 10 minutes.
* Mix it up. Experiment to discover what works best for your baby, even if it changes from day to day.
* Consider dietary changes. If you breast-feed, see if eliminating certain foods from your own diet — such as dairy products, citrus fruits, spicy foods or drinks containing caffeine — has any effect on your baby's crying. If you use a bottle, a new type of bottle or nipple might help.
* Let someone else take over for a time. It's stressful to listen to your baby cry for long periods, so give yourself a break.

January

Khannie wrote: »

We use the aptamil comfort in conjunction with breastfeeding. You can use that without consulting anyone. Nutritionally it is more or less equivalent to the normal aptamil, though it has more simple sugars (lactose takes time to break down and is released into the bloodstream slower because of that).

edit: I'm not contradicting Adrienne there. If you have concerns about Colic it is worth talking to your PHN. I just wouldn't hold off on switching to the comfort formula if you think it might help.

edit 2: I think the powder is better than those cartons by the way. Our 3 year old used to puke the aptamil cartons quite regularly but generally held down the powder. I think they're handy in a pinch though shockin' expensive.

Only for the fact that the PHN was here yesterday for a check or I wouldn't have asked her at all. She's in bits with it, never seen a one week old baby with problems like my poor little ones! The C&G seems to have done the trick anyways! She's almost instantly a different baby. She used to be all scrunched up and crying for hours on end, she's more relaxed now!

I have to agree, those cartons are good if you're out and about but the powder is much better value!

Buford T Justice

the lawman wrote: »

We are using the doctor brown ones. I think we'll talk to our PHN and maybe change to a colic friendly formula.

We used the normal Avent bottles with our two and never had a problem with them, our friends did use the dr brown ones after using the avent ones but said that they were no better than the avent ones. We also used tomee tipee ones with our second because of difficulty feeding, but they were akward, didn't fit the sterilizer etc.....

LashingLady

Because the comfort is thicker you either need to go up a teat size from what you were using or else there are vari-flow teats that are Y shaped that you can get that let the thicker formula through easier. All of the bottle brands have a version afaik.

the lawman

Thanks all for the help. We are not sure if it is in fact colic at this stage and we are assessing her as she goes along. She raises her little legs so it certainly has the hallmarks.

Anyway she's great!

Ta