Carobel problems!

[Smellybears]

Right then, baby has reflux and cmpa. He’s on nutramigen and has today been put back on ranitidine and also carobel to thicken the milk. Really not getting on with carobel and dr browns bottles. I’ve tried all sorts of different measurements and it’s stressing both me and baby out.
My question is, can I give it to him in a syringe as I think he will take this better than it being in a bottle? Will it have the same effect and also how do I prepare? He make up 4oz bottles which sometimes he drinks all of but majority of the time he doesn’t. I have a perfect prep machine which I use. What’s the best measurement if I was going to syringe?
Due a feed soon so wanting to syringe if possible, if you think it’s safe to?
Thank you!

I think you need to put it in the milk to thicken it so that it stays down, so I dont think that syringing it would work? Have you tried changing the teat size so its easier for him to drink?

I seem to remember you need a special teat for that stuff. Like with an x type opening maybe? Otherwise it's too thick to get through the teat.

Apologies if you have already tried that.

Agree putting it in a syringe is not going to work as it won't be mixed in. Maybe you need to experiment a bit with quantities and add a little less carobel? I have a vague recollection that it was too thick for ds to bother with, made up as on the carobel packet.

I’ve tried four sized teats, I’m not getting on with it at all. The special tests are clogging. I’ve even done half a scoop to 4oz and they are still clogging. This is so frustrating!

I found that the measurements listed in the instructions made the milk so thick that it wasn't drinkable. I used 1 heaped scoop per 7oz or half a scoop for 4oz roughly. I also went up a tear size or two.
DS (11 months) was on Carobel until very recently and although it helped, it was certainly no miracle cure.

I’ll try again with half a scoop and four oz. it’s been such a battle lately and I feel I’m letting him down because I can’t get this milk right

I’ve tried size 1,2,3 and the y shaped teats. I’ll try the y shape again and see how I get on. I really was hoping that I’d be able to syringe, never mind. Thank you for the fast replies!

My ds has 1 scoop (which comes with the carobel) per 3oz. How long are you letting it sit? Maximum I let it sit is 10 mins and if he doesn't drink it then, it gets too thick and has to be discarded. We also used dr brown bottle. He's been on level 4 teats for months and months. He just turned 1.

He's on neocate though. I seem to remember that nutramigen was a bit thicker than neocate and so I used to add 1 scoop per 4/5oz. Same idea with letting it stand etc

I think I’ve been letting it stand too long then. Can I give it straight away? I’ve been leaving it five mins

Have you tried a different bottle? My lo is on Aptamil Pepti and carobel. I use tommee tippee and mam bottles size 3 teat. I had to do a bit of trial and error to get the amount of carobel right. I settled on 1 1/2 scoops for 4ozs and now do 2 level scoops for 6ozs. Every baby will need a different amount.

Has anyone found that their baby is allergic to carobel? Little ones eyelids have awoken and it’s given him diarrhea when he was on anti reflux milk for three weeks it was going straight through him, his diarrhea was awful, he lost weight.

Eyes have swollen not awoken!

I also remember reading that BF babies could be given it on a spoon before a feed. Surely you could give it in a syringe.

I read that on the packet which is why I asked if I could syringe it? I know he’d take it a lot easier that way

My daughter had carobel because she aspirated. I had the dr brown bottles. Yes you need to put the carobel in the bottle with milk and also I’d try just making the hole in the teet bigger. Just with a hot needle. Also try and slowly graduate the amount of carobel and ease them into a thicker amount slowly

My sympathies to though it’s a bloody nightmare all this malarkey

I think he’s allergic to it. I’ve just given him another bottle and he’s come up with a rash on his face, swollen eyes again and then pooped it out pretty quickly.

Oh dear. Thats really unfortunate, poor little mite.

Can you ask GP/paed for further advice?

Is it Nutramigen or Nutramigen AA/ puramino?

Maybe he needs a completely dairy free amino acid formula rather than an extensively hydrolysed one if so.

He’s on nutramigen just the normal one I think, it’s got a number 1 on the tin. I’m waiting for the specialist to call me back. Seems an awful coincidence that he’s got these symptoms when started on carobel so it must be that

Yes sounds plausible. Hope the specialist gets back to you soon. So stressful, been there.

Thank you for your support and kind words

My little man is 7 weeks old and has recently been diagnosed with CmPA, 3 milk changes later were now on Nutrimegen and gaviscon. I bought carobel and stupidly didn't realise the scoop was at the bottom of the box and used a formula scoop. I didn't realise how thick I had made it till I washed the bottle!! Have I hurt my baby?😭

We had issues with the teat size for carobel as well. We use doctor brown bottles and most messages we had read from others suggested size 2 would work but we found we needed size 3. I know this is an old thread but I'm posting as it is still coming up on the searches on this subject. Size 3 worked for half a scoop of carobel in 130mls of milk.

@Insomnia1234 Its driving me mad lol using 2 scoops for 6oz mam bottles. Some feeds are fine and others are clogging but doing everything the same. So domt understand why.... loads of big bubbles in the bottle though from all the shaking so am not sure if it is them thats causeing the problem tbf