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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Comfort milk not regulated enough?

9 replies

anonny55 · 01/04/2025 09:34

At 3.5weeks my formula fed baby became incredibly constipated. He was pooping once a day but screamed for hours while trying too and had a tear/bleed as he got a tear while it came out (it was rock hard!)
I took him to the gp who gave me laxatives for him and recommended changing to comfort milk.

since changing his milk he’s back to usual within a few days poop consistency fine and no pain or struggling.

the last few days I keep seeing things pop up about how comfort milk isn’t as regulated as first milks etc and give comfort milk is outdated advice, not good for baby , lots of HV and midwife’s don’t like it etc. the thing is it’s not like having colic and he can just be prescribed Gaviscon to make it better. He can’t live off laxatives, common side effect was stomach cramps and diarrhoea which he struggled with both after the laxative and I don’t want him to live like that every day. It’s obviously horrific seeing them screaming in pain.

did anyone else’s baby have comfort milk and they was fine? Should I go back to the gp and say I don’t want to do comfort milk? What would they even say though, there’s nothing they can give to make you poop that isn’t laxative?

should I try another brand of regular formula? Goat milk? I’m so worried I’ve been giving him comfort and it’s bad for him. He’s 5 weeks so it’s only been 5 weeks and he’s had regular formula and comfort formula in that small amount of time, how soon could I change it again, surely he’s poor belly won’t be able to keep up with switching of milk so often

first time mum, please be kind!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 01/04/2025 13:38

I dont see how it can be bad for them. Infant first formula is regulated. Comfort milk has had some lactose broken down to make it easier to digest.
If the milk is suiting him then I would keep using it as he could end up in discomfort again if you change to something else.

Elunajeya · 01/04/2025 13:40

Mine had comfort milk and were absolutely fine. Only irritation was it cost even more.

OrangeSlices998 · 01/04/2025 13:41

If it’s working for him then he’s fine, it’s a stage 1 milk so it is regulated. I think what people mean is they can make all sorts of claims about how it helps babies, without evidence of that. But who cares, if he is thriving on it then what’s the issue? FWIW I used kendamil for my second after I stopped breastfeeding and it was very easily tolerated compared to other formulas.

Smallmercies · 01/04/2025 13:42

All infant formulas are very highly regulated. HVs and GPs should be recommending first stage milks as per Unicef Baby Friendly. Comfort milks can cause constipation, but obviously not in all babies.

dementedpixie · 01/04/2025 13:46

Comfort milk is a first infant formula as its marked as suitable from birth @Smallmercies . Comfort milk is supposed to help with colic and constipation. It may have less lactose and have some milk proteins broken down to make it easier to digest

Strictlymad · 01/04/2025 13:50

Infant first formula is regulated with a worldwide law and classed as breastmilk substitute. The rules about ingredients and incredibly strict and also govern marketing, bogof deals etc. This law doesn’t cover other milks (follow on, extra hungry, comfort etc). If doesn’t mean they are not safe, but it’s true they don’t come under that legislation and can’t be classified as breastmilk substitute. Which is generally why hv etc don’t recommend. However you have made this swap under medical advice and seen positive improvements. General guidance is to use first infant formula unless advised otherwise by medical professionals which is exactly what you’ve done

DippyDuck19 · 03/04/2025 21:30

What formula did you try? My LO became constipated on cow & gate. Would poop once every 4-5 days and was really hard! We switched to aptamil comfort which made no difference! I then tried normal Hipp Organic after reading lots of good things on here about it. There was an immediate difference. He now goes every other day if not daily and it’s nice and mushy so much easier for him to pass!

anonny55 · 04/04/2025 09:32

@DippyDuck19 he was on sma first milk, he was still pooping every day, but screaming in pain and it was rock hard😖 then sma comfort and he’s fine again but the farts and green poop are lethal!! I don’t know if I should’ve just tried a whole different brand of first milk before comfort😩

OP posts:
DeadsoulsAngel · 04/04/2025 09:44

Both mine had cow and gate comfort milk, they’re now 14 and 18, fine and healthy. Neither got on with any other milk and comfort was an absolute godsend to us!

Infant milk standards are extremely high, including comfort milk.

Enjoy your baby OP, 💐

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