Does my 7 week old need to move on to next stage of formula?

[shirlls]

My LO is 7 weeks old and weighs 13 pounds. In the past week he has got very grumpy, especially in the evenings, and has had a change in his toilet habits. He has had lots of trapped wind, sore tummy (legs hunched up to his stomach), and a combination of constipation and loose poos (sorry if tmi). We have been giving him gripe water (infacol didn't have much effect the last time). Usually before, the gripe water has settled him, however in this past week nothing helps. We have tried swaddling, lots of cuddles, rubbing his tummy, walking around with him, but nothing helps to settle him

He has been demanding more feeds (he is formula fed - Aptamil), sometimes withing a hour or 2 hours of each other. Sometimes he will finish it and other times he won't. If we up the amount we are giving him he brings a bit of it back up (and he never sicks any up normally) so we have kept it to the same 5 fluid ounces in each feed.

As he is so big, I am wondering if perhaps we might need to up his feed to the next stage as he is still only on the first stage? He gained a pound each week in past 2 weeks and the health visitor suggested seeing how his weight is next week and moving him on to next stage.

Do you think this is what is causing his tummy upset? He has had colic before but never like this.

 

[CaptainMummy]

Paige was on stage 1 (sma gold) right up until she turned 1, and she was a big baby too. Never felt the need to change her formula.

 

[kwood]

The hungry milk is for babies that finish 9oz bottles every two hours so it doesn't sound like this is what baby needs.

However, based on symptoms you may want to talk to your GP about using comfort milk.

 

[ke29]

Hungry baby milk (stage 2) would make his symptoms worse as its harder to digest and designed for much older babies to delay weaning. Sounds like comfort milk would be more appropriate but I would speak to your GP as he might have reflux.

 

[dragonhawk]

Your problems sound a little like what we encountered when ds was young. 7 weeks (if not before) was when I started noticing he was having issues, he was also on Aptimal.

I changed to Cow and Gate and the difference was quite noticeable. On Aptimal, he would barely finish a feed, and having tasted it myself, I can see why. On Cow and Gate he was perfectly happy to drink until he was full.

I would suggest buying a carton of ready mixed formula of a different brand and see how he reacts....

 

[bumblebeexo]

You could try switching brands, or comfort milk - that would help more, as hungry milk would probably make things worse.