There are several potential signs a formula doesn’t agree with a baby. These include excessive spit ups, very slow weight gain, extra fussiness following feedings, bloody stools, allergic reactions, and severe constipation. 

However, in some cases when a baby is transitioning from breastmilk or formula to LittleOak they may experience temporary discomfort, gas, constipation, change in stool colour/consistency and spit ups. This is very normal as your baby is learning to absorb a new food with different vitamins and minerals. If these symptoms persist or if you’re concerned in anyway, please reach out to our Careline or your healthcare professional. 

Please refer to the feeding guidelines on your LittleOak can and on the LittleOak website. However, this is intended to be used as a guide only. Like adults, babies are all different, and appetites and needs vary. Other factors to consider when determining how much formula to give a baby include: is your little one a premature baby, are they meeting milestones, are they under the review of a paediatrician, are they having the recommended nappy outputs, and are they generally a happy or fussy baby. Also, if your little one doesn’t drink the whole bottle in one go, you can keep the bottle aside and offer it again 15 minutes later. 

You should aim for a temperature of between 30 and 40 degrees for baby formula. You want to ensure that the water is warm, and the powder fully dissolved. If heated above 40 degrees, it could potentially start overheating the quality nutrition in the milk and lose some of the natural goodness. If you shake or swirl the bottle to get the powder to fully dissolve, please let it rest for 30 seconds so the bubbles and air settle. 

In a perfect world, children would willingly accept any milk being offered to them; however, we all know it’s not always that easy. So there are some helpful hints you may wish to consider when making the switch from cow milk to goat milk formula. Firstly, this transition shouldn’t be too dissimilar to switching between different cow milk formulas – you may just wish to transition slightly slower. Slowly changing your formula over 5-7 days is much better than a sudden switch. At LittleOak, we recommend introducing one feed with a new formula at the first feed of the day or when your child is particularly hungry. 

Download our transitioning guide to LittleOak

There are several factors to consider when comparing goat milk formula vs cow milk formula for babies. Firstly, there are differences in the proteins found in each type of milk. A1 and A2 are the most common proteins found in milk. Goat milk naturally contains A2, which is gentler on tummies. Secondly, goat milk has lower levels of lactose than cow milk, making it easier to digest. Thirdly, goat milk is also high in prebiotic oligosaccharides, which are naturally-occurring carbohydrates that feed the good bacteria.

One of the most common causes of gas and constipation in babies is lactose. 

Lactose is the sugar found in milk which is digested by the enzyme lactase. If a person is deficient in lactase, they struggle to digest lactose leading to the signs of lactose intolerance such as trapped wind, bloating and constipation or diarrhoea. 

Where there isn’t a specific baby formula that can treat gas or constipation, goat milk contains lower levels of lactose than cow milk, making it gentler on a baby’s digestion. 

You can speak to your Pharmacist about adding a baby probiotic to the first bottle of the day. The baby probiotic aids in improving the gut health of a formula fed baby. 

Adding 10 mls of water to one bottle of the day can also assist in getting the bowels to move.