POOP CONSISTENCY
In the first days and weeks after starting a new formula, a change in poop consistency is normal. It may become more loose, more formed, or pastier. With Neocate® Syneo® Infant, which contains fiber, poops may be softer, more like those of breastfed infants. If you’re uncertain, or if your little one hasn’t had a bowel movement in a while and/or seems uncomfortable, speak with your healthcare professional.
BOWEL MOVEMENT FREQUENCY
On starting Neocate, the frequency of stools per day often — though not always — decreases. Most parents say they only change diapers for a bowel movement once every day or two. That’s because Neocate’s amino acids – the building blocks of protein — are very broken down, sometimes called “low-residue”. Therefore, a baby on Neocate often poops less than those on regular infant formula.
CHANGE IN POOP COLOR
A lot of parents see a change in the color of their infant’s bowel movements after switching to Neocate. The color can vary from day to day and range from yellow to many shades of green to khaki. This is common for most hypoallergenic formulas, because of how they’re digested and absorbed. (The exception is formulas with prebiotic fiber, like Neocate® Syneo® Infant or Neocate®Junior.) If you really want to know some colors you might see, review the baby poop chart.
DIGESTION, FEEDING
With any change in formula, there may be some changes in your baby’s gas (or flatulence). Changes are especially common in the first few days/weeks. Amino acid-based formulas like Neocate are no exception, especially because they’re digested and absorbed differently than other formulas.
Because Neocate is made with amino acids, it also has a unique taste compared with most formulas. Some babies don’t mind, but others can take time to get used to the difference. These resources offer feeding tips for a successful transition to Neocate. If you’re concerned that it’s taking too long for your infant to adjust, please talk to your healthcare team.
GAS, DISCOMFORT, FUSSINESS
Many parents notice more gas in the first days/weeks with Neocate, which may cause some temporary discomfort or fussiness. The gas should return to what is typical for your baby within about two weeks. Experiencing gas, discomfort or fussiness is normal when making changes to your infant’s diet.
REFLUX/SPIT-UP
Cow milk allergy can be signaled with a number of symptoms that vary from infant to infant. Reflux or spit-up is a possible sign of an underlying cow milk allergy. Because amino acid-based infant formulas have a thin, watery consistency, some parents have told us they noticed some extra spit-up in the first few days of starting Neocate. This typically improves over time. However, you should speak with your healthcare professional about solutions to minimize the spit-ups.
As always, if you have questions about using the formula, please give our Nutrition Specialist team a call at 1-800-365-7354, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET.
POTENTIAL TRANSITIONAL SIDE EFFECTS* OF SWITCHING TO AMINO ACID-BASED FORMULAS LIKE NEOCATE MAY INCLUDE CHANGES IN:
How long will it take to see improvements in allergy symptoms through dietary management with Neocate?
