I can't tell you how many times I have switched my 8 week old son's formula. We have tried Enfamil Newborn, AR, and Gentlease, we have tried Baby's Only Soy, Dairy and Similac Alimentum. Every single one caused my baby some kind of problem, from spitting up to constipation, gas, and pain while eating. At 5 weeks he was diagnosed with silent reflux and put on rantidine three times a day. I did not want to give him prescription drugs at 5 weeks old, but I thought I would try it. He was in so much pain, it was awful to watch. It was also affecting his sleep because he could not lie flat without having pain.
To make a long story short, the rantidine did nothing to help his reflux. After two weeks I decided to call it quits. My pediatrician gave me samples of Alimentum because we suspected a milk protein allergy. The Allimentum did no good and gave him diarrhea. I switched back to Gentlease, even though it produced horrible green swamp poops and did not really help anything either. I almost gave up looking for a good formula, assuming that they were all horrible.
We tried everything I could find. First we bought a probiotic and started that once a day. It seemed to help aid digestion but did nothing to ease his pain. Then we switched from Avent to Dr. Brown's bottles, which cut down on the gas and helped a little bit more. Finally, I decided to give this formula a try. I was in the middle of a feeding of Gentlease, and he was crying in pain. Just for kicks I popped open a can of the Baby's Only Lactorelief and BAM! No pain! He literally stopped crying right in the middle of the feed, gulped down 4 ounces, and crashed.
I did not realize until visiting the NaturesOne website that they do compare this formula to Enfamil Gentlease and Similac Sensitive. It's the only sensitive organic formula on the market. The ingredients are similar to that of the other brands but it does not contain corn or hexane-derived DHA/ARA. It smells and tastes a ton better.
I don't think my son is lactose intolerant. Or maybe he is. There are also theories out there that some babies are sensitive to corn or DHA. Whatever the problem, I don't care. After two days of eating this formula, the only time we are experiencing any discomfort is when he has to burp. Even that seems very minimal and the burps are easier to coax out. I always wondered how long I should wait to see results from a new formula. A day? A week? A month? In this case, I have seen improvement from the very first feed. I won't say it's perfect yet, but he may have inflammation from the previous formula. I will update.
I know how frustrating it can be to figure out what the problem is if your baby is having reflux issues. It's trial by fire until you nail something down. If you are feeding Enfamil Gentlease or Similac Sensitive and would prefer an organic alternative, this is for you. Please do not let these people who insist that the arsenic will hurt your baby scare you. Do some research on hexane and DHA and decide which is worse, potential small amounts of arsenic (which is naturally occurring from volcanic activities in the areas of the world where rice is grown) or the hexane derivation process. This is the ONLY formula on the market which does not contain DHA/ARA.
Yes, it's expensive. But so are Alimentum and Nutramigen, and if your baby needs it, it's worth its weight in gold. I'm so glad it's working for us, and I could not be happier with it.
Update 9-14-12
Still working great! After two weeks, it's almost like my son never had reflux at all! We still get the occasional feed where he has an episode, but I think that might be stomach related and since he can't tell me, I'll never know. It seems to help to burp thoroughly when he gets that way.
Update 10-3-12
Over a month later we are still loving this formula. I had an extra can of the Dairy formula lying around and wanted to use it up. It instantly gave my son horrible gas and an upset stomach. I think he really does have a lactose sensitivity. I'm so glad Nature's One makes this organic lactose-free formula. My son is growing and thriving on it, with no reflux issues to speak of.
Update 1-23-13
We were able to transition to the slightly cheaper Baby's Only Soy formula at 6 months without a hitch. Tried the dairy formula again to no avail. I really think it's the lactose. But the soy is working great and we are saving money while still using the same great company.
Update 1-7-15
My son is no longer a baby, but I thought I would do a final
Update because there has been interest. My son tested positive for a milk allergy after we introduced solids at 8 months. It was barely detected. We did a combination of almond milk and hemp milk at a year, and he continued to do fine with cheese and yogurt. Now he is 2.5, and while he dislikes cows milk he is free of any dietary restrictions. Despite the milk allergy, he tolerated this formula just fine until he bottle weaned at a year. We did end up switching back to this after trying the soy, simply because I did not care for the smell and texture of the soy, and was a little worried about the whole soy proteins mimicking estrogen thing. But all turned out well and he's a perfectly healthy 2-year-old.
Product contains at least 95% organic material.
As certified by
USDA Organic
USDA Organic
USDA Organic certified products are required to be produced using farming practices that maintain and improve soil and water quality, reduce the use of synthetic materials, conserve biodiversity, and avoid genetic engineering, among other factors. Crops can be certified organic if they're grown without prohibited substances such as most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for three years prior to harvest. Livestock are raised on pastures and treated humanely without growth hormones or antibiotics. Organic products do not contain GMOs or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. USDA Organic products contain a minimum of 95% organic ingredients and use the USDA Organic seal.
