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Add The New York Post on Google So, you had the baby, stocked up on formula and now you’re deep in that hazy newborn feeding phase. But instead of locking eyes with your little one as they settle down with a bottle, you’re noticing they seem uncomfortable after every meal.
Many experts agree that some gassiness is expected as babies’ digestive systems adjust to the outside world. But frequent symptoms like a hard, bloated stomach, constant burping, spit-up, excessive squirming or scrunching could be signs they need gas relief.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, several techniques can help relieve a little one’s gassiness, from adjusting their feeding position to helping them pass gas by moving their legs and changing how you burp your baby.
But if symptoms of gassiness persist, some parents may consider switching formula brands. The Cleveland Clinic has also outlined recommendations from pediatrician Amy Sniderman, MD, regarding what to look for in a more gentle formula.
According to further guidance from the Cleveland Clinic, there are a few other considerations to keep in mind. Each baby has unique feeding needs and preferences, which means you’ll want to consider your baby’s symptoms and consult your baby’s pediatrician prior to switching formula brands.
Below, find five formulas designed to be gentle on the tummy — from popular brands including Little Spoon, Enfamil, Similac and more — as well as guidance on the best feeding practices in the FAQ section.
While Little Spoon’s formula isn’t specifically designed for gassy babies, its high-quality ingredients and thoughtful formulation may be gentler on sensitive tummies. Little Spoon opts for a grass-fed whole milk foundation, which helps naturally preserve Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM) components— a complex of fats and proteins also found in breast milk that aid in gut maturity. On top of that, Little Spoon’s blend contains five nucleotides found in breast milk and FOS prebiotics to help support a healthy microbiome, while its 60:40 whey-to-casein protein ratio is modeled after breast milk for easier digestion. The formula is also made without palm oil, soy, or corn syrup, ingredients that may contribute to firmer stools or digestive discomfort in some babies. Little Spoon also uses organic canola lecithin in place of soy-based emulsifiers as soy can be commonly flagged as a digestive-sensitive ingredient for some babies.It’s also worth noting that Little Spoon follows rigorous quality standards.
The formula is USDA Organic ,EU Organic, Clean Label Project certified for Purity Award, Pesticide Free and First 1,000 Day Promise, and undergoes testing for more than 550+ contaminants. All test results are published publicly on their website by lot code so you can see the exact test results for the can of formula you purchased, offering added peace of mind for parents who want to find a truly high-quality formula for their little ones.
Babies with a diagnosed lactose or protein sensitivity should follow their pediatrician’s guidance.
Similac is a trusted formula brand used by many hospitals and healthcare professionals, and its Pro-Total Comfort formula is designed to be gentle on sensitive tummies. It features partially hydrolyzed whey protein, which is broken down into smaller pieces to support easier digestion, and is made with non-GMO ingredients without artificial growth hormones or palm oil. A key ingredient is 2′-FL HMO, a prebiotic structurally similar to one found in breast milk that helps support a developing immune system. Some parents report noticing less crying and fussiness after switching to this formula, making Similac Pro-Total Comfort a popular choice among families looking for a gentle option from a well-established brand.
If your baby seems especially fussy after feedings, Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease may be worth considering. It uses partially hydrolyzed proteins that are designed to be easier for babies to digest, and the brand says it’s fast-acting — formulated to help reduce fussiness, crying, gas and spit-up in as little as 24 hours. It also contains about 80% less lactose than standard milk-based formulas, plus a dual prebiotic blend (PDX and GOS) to support softer stools and digestive health. To round it out, the formula includes brain-supporting DHA and MFGM, nutrients that help support healthy growth and development.
Dr. Brown’s Good Start Gentle Pro is a great option for babies with sensitive tummies. It uses 100% whey protein that’s partially hydrolyzed, making it easier to digest than intact cow’s milk proteins. According to the brand, its two-step protein process further breaks whey proteins into pieces that are up to 10 times smaller than those in standard cow’s milk, helping prevent the firm curds that can cause digestive discomfort. The formula also contains the probiotic B. lactis, HMO prebiotics, and postbiotics to support gut health and digestion. Like breast milk, it’s made with 2′-FL human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and DHA to support immune, brain and eye development. Clinical studies have also found that babies fed -partially-hydrolyzed formulas like Good Start Gentle Pro have more regular stools than those fed standard intact-protein formulas.
As far as organic formulas go, Kendamil’s Organic Baby Formula is a strong choice. The blend uses natural, grass-fed whole milk without palm or soybean oils, opting instead for a combination of sunflower, coconut, and rapeseed oils that may support better fat and calcium absorption. The formula is enriched with GOS and HMOs to help support your baby’s immune system and gut health. Another added perk of this formula is that it uses whole cream rather than skim milk, allowing it to retain naturally occurring MFGM, which closely resembles the structure of human milk and may support easier digestion.
Below, find some common questions asked regarding gassy babies — plus suggestions from experts on how to find relief for your little ones.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recommends that parents with gassy babies consider a few feeding techniques to help babies who are bothered by gas:
1. Start feeding before your baby becomes overly hungry: Try giving your baby a bottle before they’re crying intensely from hunger. When babies are very hungry, they may feed more aggressively and swallow extra air, which can cause gas and discomfort.
2. Try a different bottle or nipple: Parents can try out different bottle types and nipple flow speeds to find one that helps your baby feed comfortably. The right bottle can help prevent your baby from gulping too quickly, taking in excess air or spitting up frequently.
3. Burp your baby regularly: Burping after feedings can help release swallowed air and reduce gas discomfort. When bottle-feeding, hold your baby upright for a few minutes after a feeding to encourage extra burps and allow trapped air to escape.
4. Pay attention to feeding and post-feeding positioning: Keep your baby as upright as possible during feedings to minimize air intake. After feeding, you can lay your baby on their back and gently pedal their legs to help move trapped gas out of their body.
5. Increase tummy time: Tummy time can also help relieve gas. The floor will naturally apply gentle pressure to your baby’s belly, which may break up trapped air bubbles and encourage gas release.
According to Katie Larson-Nath, MD, FAAP, who is also a member of the Committee on Nutrition at the American Academy of Pediatrics, it can be difficult to tell if a formula can help with gas symptoms. She notes that gassiness can be part of normal digestive processes that babies adapt to over time.
“Babies’ digestive tracts are rapidly developing, which means there are lots of changes happening all of the time. Both passing gas and getting poop out are normal body functions,” she noted, adding that getting gas or poop out is a “complex process” that often involves some squirming and pushing.
“What caregivers may see as gas pain may also be their baby learning how to poop and let gas out effectively. It can be a big production. This also makes it hard to know if changing a formula will help their baby’s symptoms,” she shared. “If a baby isn’t growing well, if they have any blood in their stool, if they have rashes, if they are throwing up or spitting up a lot or if they are inconsolable, they should see their doctor for more of a workup for their symptoms.”
With all that being said, Larson-Nath does add that if a baby seems gassy and uncomfortable, parents can try a different formula.
“It is important to know that it can take a few days for symptoms to change with a new formula and that a baby will need to be on a formula for 1 to 2 weeks to know if it is really going to help with symptoms more long term,” she added.
Every baby’s gastrointestinal tract is unique, and Larson-Nath highlights that there are many different causes of gassiness, so what works for one baby might not work for another.
“The main ingredients thought to potentially impact gassiness and digestive discomfort for infants are the carbohydrates, protein, and pre- and probiotics,” she shared.
Larson-Nath says that parents should give a new formula brand at least 1 to 2 weeks to get an idea if it’s a good fit for their baby.
Anytime a caregiver is concerned about symptoms, they should contact their pediatrician.
“Things that they should see their provider for prior to making changes to a formula include if their baby isn’t growing well, if they are inconsolable, if there is blood in their stool, if they have rashes, or if they are throwing up a lot (more than normal baby spit up),” noted Larson-Nath.
She adds that these symptoms may mean something else is going on that needs to be addressed.
This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Journalist. As a Gen Z first-time mother of one, Miska tests baby, maternity and postpartum products ranging from stylish new kids clothes to long-trusted diaper brands with her daughter. She evaluates baby- and mom-approved products for practicality and quality, and consults medical and parenting experts to weigh in on safe ingredients, usage and more. Before arriving at the Post, she covered the lifestyle and consumer verticals for the U.S. Sun.
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