Formula, also called ABM or artificial baby milk, is not as healthy for babies as breast milk, according to pediatrician Bill Sears. Yet there are also benefits of feeding a baby with formula, such as the fact that the mother can have someone else feed the baby while she is at work. There are many types of formula, and it can be confusing for new parents to choose which would be best for their baby. Lactose-free formulas are made from soybean proteins, while milk-based formulas come from cow's milk. Both formulas are fortified with vitamins and minerals, but certain babies do better on one type than the other. Switching from a lactose-free, or soy formula, to a milk-based formula can cause some health problems for babies who are not used to the carbohydrate in milk, lactose.
Digestive Problems
According to Dr. Bill Sears, the most common symptom that babies develop when they are switched from a lactose-free formula to a milk-based formula is gastrointestinal problems. He states on his website that many babies get constipated from drinking milk-based formulas, since cow's milk protein is harder to digest than the lactose-free formula some babies are used to. The Nemours Foundation states that some babies have cow's milk allergies, which is the reason why they were first put on a lactose-free or soy formula. For those babies, switching to milk-based formula often causes diarrhea.
Rashes
Another common symptom of problems digesting cow's milk protein is rashes. Babies who are allergic to cow's milk protein tend to get rashes on their face or eczema throughout their body. Babies who are not allergic to cow's milk but have always been given a lactose-free formula may also experience rashes as their body adjusts to the change. The Nemours Foundation states that when babies switch formulas, they often have reactions that last from two to four weeks. If the baby has a symptom such as a rash for longer than four weeks, the doctor should be consulted, and a different formula might be recommended.
Vomiting
The Nemours Foundation states that babies who switch to from lactose-free formulas to milk-based formulas may vomit often if they are having trouble getting used to the cow's milk. Some amount of vomiting occasionally is normal in babies, but when a baby vomits consistently, there is usually a problem tolerating the formula. Babies who vomit after getting milk-based formulas may be recommended to switch back to a lactose-free soy-based formula.
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