Formula (power) upsets tummy

As Sophie is weaning I'm slowly moving off BF and onto formula milk (SMA). As I was using very little of this, I originally bought the pre-made up cartons. However, as Sophie's needs have increased, I purchased a tin of the SMA Gold powder. However, I've only used it a couple for a couple of days now as it seems to upset her tummy.

The first time she got a lot of wind and was off her food. I wondered if it was the powder so went back for a few days to the cartons and she went back to normal. Just to check it out (in case it was just a bug or something) I tried the powder again yesterday and, again, today she's off her food completely, grizzly and windy and was sick in her cot tonight.

I've been very careful about making up the feed (more so than I was with Jas to be honest as the paranoia by manufacturers seems to have increased) so I boil fresh water in the kettle, leave it to cool for about 20 minutes, make up the bottle as directed and then cool under the cold tap until the right temp is reached. However, it seems that there is a quite a difference between the carton and powder SMA. I even tasted it and have to say the powder version is quite disgusting.

Has anyone else found that their little one can't get on with the powdered stuff? It's just surprised me with her reaction to it.

i bottle fed izzy from birth and she couldnt keep sma down she'd drink a bottle and then bring like half of it straight back up again someone else i knew found the same problems and she reccommended i switched her to cow & gate and i didnt have a problem. Aptimal is one my friend was recommended as a top-up for her daughter when she was breast feeding.

I used SMA Gold as I bottled fed Charlotte but she was windy on it. We just gave her gripe water on her last night feed and found that worked. She went onto follow on at 6 months as she was fully weaned by then. The cartons weren't available back then.

George had to go on Cow & Gate comfort because SMA upset his tummy, but the cartons of their formula and powder seemed the same.

Why don't you keep her on breast milk, five months is very early to withdraw it.

Samuel said:
Why don't you keep her on breast milk, five months is very early to withdraw it.

Actually, it's been a very long time for me so I'm pleased. With Jas she wouldn't latch on being premature so I expressed for a month and she had formula too. I'm chuffed I've managed this long with Sophie but as she's started weaning (and doing very well) my milk is decreasing as I'm not expressing so much now. To me it's a natural course of things. I never intended to be the sort of mother who was still BF'g a year old child although I know some people do this.

She still is BF mainly at night and her first feed in the morning so she's still getting that.

So, I'm going to try Aptamil (I've heard it's particularly good) and if that's no good, will just keep her on the cartons.

i was going to suggest changing milk, she might get on better with a different brand

i had the opposite problem with casey, she was on cow & gate powder but if we were out for a full day, or sometimes at grandparents we tried cartons but she would bring most of it back up so i gave up on cartons.

We've started her on powdered Aptamil today. What a difference. I smelt and tasted it and it's miles away from SMA stuff. Definitely the closest to breast milk by the looks of it. She's had one lot today and so far seems fine. Let's see what tomorrow brings

how is it going now ?

It's fine thanks hun. She's having no problems with Aptamil at all

Gabriel has been very funny on SMA too, he keeps bringing milk back up and seems to be in a bit of discomfort afterwards.

I was told under no circumstance to change his milk - just to give him infacol before his feeds. He is slightly better but still has moments where he's finding it hard to bring up wind / or is sick.


I'll see how it goes over the next week and if he continues i'll ask my HV why i 'shouldn't' change it when she comes on Monday, then see if i think i should change it.

I find it odd that they've told you not to change it. However, Sophie was a bit older when it happened and perhaps there are subtle differences in the brands that can upset a tiny tummy? You wouldn't think so though would you. I've never heard of anyone having a major problem with their baby due to a milk change.

As I said on FB, Sophie is now on Aptamil and she's brill on it. I've left her on the first milk as I see no reason to change (again) to the follow on milk. She has plenty of fruit and veg so I'm sure she'll be just fine

Hope he's going to improve with the Gaviscon hun