Trust us, you’re not the only person in Australia frantically searching for the best formula for a sensitive tummy.
In fact, many parents come across Oli6 Goat Milk Formula in the journey of finding the best formula for colic and gas, or when tackling cow’s milk protein intolerance (CMPI), or when dealing with infant reflux. (The list of baby tummy upsets goes on.)
If you’re finding that formula feeds land you with a fussy bubs, an easy digest formula may help bring them back to their natural, happy, not-chucking-after-every-feed state.
Oli6 Goat Milk Formula is uniquely developed to support the health and growth of little ones, while remaining gentle on their tiny digestive systems. Read on to learn more.
Why do some babies have digestive issues?
Truth is most newborn babies will experience some sort of digestive upset at some point. This is because they’re just so little (!) and they have an immature gastrointestinal tract to boot. It’s still working out how to process milk.
Mild digestive issues are common and often harmless as long as your baby is still putting on weight and developing well. A special formula for sensitive tummies may not be necessary. A bit of fussing, some spit ups and funny looking poops are likely to be no big deal, but if you’re ever concerned you should seek proper personalised paediatric advice.
In rare cases there could be a more serious issue at play, such as a digestive tract birth defect, or an intolerance or allergy.
Is there a best baby formula in Australia to reduce tummy upsets?
Even breastfed babies can experience discomfort as their bodies get up to speed with digestion, but formula fed babies do tend to have more complications. Why? Because breast milk contains the perfect balance of proteins, fats and vitamins for babies. It’s the best and most easily digestible food for newborns.
While all formula manufacturers aim to develop formula milk that resembles breast milk as closely as possible, it simply can’t be the same thing. Some are better than others, though.
People starting on formula for the first time often agonise over what is the best formula milk for a baby 0-6 months old, as this is the age most likely to experience digestive issues. However, there isn’t one “best formula for newborns” in Australia, as every baby has its own unique needs. But if you’re looking for an easy digest formula, there are some good options to check out.
What special types of formula can help?
If you’re noticing that your little one is experiencing an issue repeatedly, changing to a specific type of easy digest formula may help. You should always be careful when switching formulas, and only do so with advice from a medical professional.
What’s the best formula for colic and gas?
Babies that experience colic, gas and reflux in excess may benefit from an easy digest formula specially designed to ease digestive discomfort. A few options include:
- Hypoallergenic formula – in this type of baby formula, milk proteins have been broken down into smaller pieces making them easier to digest.
- Formula for reflux – some brands offer a reflux formula blend that’s thicker in consistency to help babies keep feeds down.
- Lactose-free formula – lactose intolerance in infants is rare, but your paediatrician may recommend it if they suspect your little one has it. In lactose-free formulas the lactose is replaced with other naturally occurring sugars like sucrose or glucose.
- Goat’s milk formula – featuring smaller fat and protein particles for easier digestion, goat’s milk formula can help settle gassy tummies
Consult your paediatrician for advice on the best formula for colic and gas for your baby.
What’s the best formula for a sensitive tummy?
A ‘sensitive tummy’ could mean a newborn with a classically underdeveloped digestive system, or a baby that reacts poorly to standard cow’s milk formula. It could also encompass kids with CMPI or mild allergies. In this case, you might be pointed towards one of these easy digest formulas:
- Hydrolysed formula – many ‘sensitive’ formulas are made from partially hydrolysed cow’s milk. This means the proteins have been broken down to an easier to digest form.
- A2 formula – while most cow’s milk formula has mostly A1 beta casein protein which is associated with digestive discomfort, A2 formula can be derived from cows that only produce milk with the A2 beta casein protein.
- Goat’s milk formula – this is naturally A2! Goat’s milk formula is easier to digest largely because of its lack of A1 protein.
Again, make sure you consult your paediatrician for advice on the best formula for your baby’s sensitive tummy.
What’s the best formula for constipation in infants?
While constipation in infants can be hard to spot, you’ll probably cotton on when your baby goes without pooping for a few days. This isn’t always caused by formula, so don’t just switch formulas straight away!
Your doctor might suggest one of the following if the issue is ongoing and things like milk allergy, or constipation caused by solid foods has been ruled out:
- Colic and constipation formula – there are some specific colic and constipation blends available in the infant formula aisle. These contain ingredients that aim to soften stools and ease strain.
- Allergy formula – in the case of cow’s protein milk allergy, your doctor might suggest switching to an anti-allergy formula to improve digestion.
- Goat’s milk formula – again, due to the smaller size of its protein and fat particles, goat’s milk formula can also be a winner when it comes to constipation in infants! Paired with high quality prebiotics and probiotics, goat’s milk formula can support digestion and improve gut health.
Why is goat’s milk formula easier to digest?
Goat’s milk formula is one of the best types of formula for newborns with tummy sensitivities for a number of reasons:
- It has smaller proteins which produce softer curds, promoting softer stools and easier digestion.
- It contains natural oligosaccharides (prebiotics) that help establish and maintain good bacteria in the gut. Goat’s milk has more human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) than cow’s milk, making it more similar to breast milk.
- Its nutritional makeup is closer to breast milk than cow’s milk, with less lactose and more of the A2 beta casein protein than A1, which is harder to digest and more present in cow’s milk.
How to decide: Key traits of an easy digest formula
There are DOZENS of formula options available on the supermarket shelf, and they all claim to ‘solve’ different issues. So what should you look for in an easy digest formula for your little one?
Here are some of the top digestion-supporting factors you’ll want to look into when making your decision.
Probiotics
Probiotics are good bacteria that live in our digestive system and help fight off bad, illness-causing bacteria. A good easy digest baby formula needs a high quality probiotic in it to mimic the natural probiotics transferred from mother to infant via breast milk.
Oli6 Goat Milk Formula contains the superior probiotic bifidobacterium longum, or BB536. This is a widely researched strain of probiotic that’s been proven to alleviate gastrointestinal, immunological and infectious diseases, while modulating the gut microbiome. Oli6 proudly made the first goat’s milk formula in Australia that uses this incredible probiotic.
Prebiotics
Just like in human breast milk, infant formula also needs a healthy dose of prebiotics in it. Prebiotics are what feed the probiotics in the gut, ensuring optimal immune function and nutrient absorption. Prebiotics are needed for tiny tummies to develop a healthy gut, and are associated with normal bowel function.
Natural oligosaccharides vs synthetic prebiotics
A lot of infant formula contains synthetic prebiotics fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). While these do an adequate job of supporting an infant’s microbiota, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are preferable as they’re naturally found in breast milk.
Goat’s milk formula has a much higher saturation of HMOs compared to cow’s milk formula, with 14 of these naturally occurring prebiotics found in Oli6 Goat Milk Formula.
Vitamins
Of course, you’ll want to find a good balance of essential nutrients in your easy digest formula too. While all infant formula in Australia needs to be nutritionally complete to make it to our shelves (this is highly regulated), these key vitamins will help support growth and digestion:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Calcium.
A2 beta casein protein
You won’t find ‘A2’ listed on the ingredients, but the formula tin will state if it’s A2 or not. It’s a safe bet that any A2 formula, especially naturally A2 goat’s milk formula, will be gentler on your baby’s tummy.
There are plenty of easy digest formulas for you to try to ease your fussy bubs’ tummy issues. To help you make the decision, we’ve created a useful comparison article that looks at the differences between some of the best baby formulas in Australia for sensitive babies. And as usual, we urge you to seek medical advice if you’re concerned about your little one’s tummy issues or are considering switching formulas.
Interested in giving Oli6 a shot? Great! Find us in your local Woolworths, Coles or Chemist Warehouse, or shop online.
