Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice about my 6-month-old’s bowel movements. She’s recently started weaning.
We breastfed for 3 months, but struggled a lot with latching despite support from lactation consultants and breastfeeding cafes. I eventually gave up breastfeeding and pumped exclusively for a month while introducing formula — she was on Kendamil. Even on breastmilk, she would only open her bowels every 3–4 days, and our doctor said this was normal.
We also saw an osteopath. It didn’t change her bowel habits, but she seemed to feel better afterward.
Kendamil formula made her constipated with hard stools, so the GP prescribed lactulose. We then switched to HiPP Organic, and her bowels were better for a while. Around that time, she was diagnosed with reflux. The doctor also mentioned possible cow’s milk allergy, though she never had any other symptoms. We’ve since tried dairy in her weaning foods and she’s fine, so I understand weaning can sometimes make stools harder. Prunes do seem to help.
Fast forward to now: we’ve recently switched to Mamia (Aldi) formula. They’re all regulated so just started fresh with a different formula!
Reflux has settled, she’s happy and thriving, but her bowel movements are exactly the same. Sometimes she goes 5–6 days without a poo, and when she does, it’s hard and clay-like. I usually have to help lift her legs, but her belly is soft and she doesn’t seem uncomfortable otherwise.
To add: we added probiotics (biogia) for 8 weeks with no difference. Now currently on Kendamil pro comfort drops.
I’m not keen on comfort formulas.
When she was on HiPP comfort, the lactation consultant explained that comfort formulas although are designed to make digestion easier, a first milk formula should be enough — babies adapt, and comfort formulas are thicker and more filling and a “ploy”. So other than her bowels, she gets on well with Mamia Aldi, is it worth sticking with this and just increase fibre and water in her diet?
Has anyone else experienced this with their 6-month-old? Any tips for helping their bowels while sticking to standard first-milk formula or do I change ?
Thanks in advance!