You all know that I love Bobbie baby formula (discounted link) for so many reasons – firstly, because of their fight to end the stigma around nourishing your baby with formula, and secondly, because their product is incredible and what so many families have been asking for – a US made, European style, organic formula modeled after breastmilk! Another thing I love about Bobbie is how easy it is on baby’s tummies. This has been my own personal experience, along with that of my friends and customers— Bobbie baby formula supports digestion and regularity. 

I also value Bobbie for their brand and ingredient transparency. They were recently awarded two certifications— the Clean Label Project Purity Award (read more from Bobbie here) and Pesticide Free certification. These show that Bobbie is going beyond what is required in order to bring parents (and Bobbie’s own babies) a best in class formula.

A little about babies and constipation:

Choosing a baby formula is really hard – there are so many factors that go into making the decision. For me, my most recent baby, Roey, did not have a lactose intolerance, so I knew I had a wide range of options as most formulas are made with cow’s milk.

Since Roey had mechanical reflux, or reflux due to the anatomy of her stomach, it was important to me to find a formula with a protein ratio that was closest to breastmilk. This ratio supports easy digestion and quick stomach emptying, which was crucial for my baby and also meant less straining, less constipation, and therefore, less spit up!

We only had the chance to use Bobbie baby formula for about 6 weeks since they had launched just before Roey’s first birthday. We loved it and so did she. In fact, we loved it so much that we now sell it in our brick and mortar store (come check it out!).

What causes constipation in babies? 

Some babies are just more prone to constipation – whether fed with breast milk or formula. Babies who are formula fed tend to be more prone to constipation. Expressed/human milk tends to be more easily digested by most babies. For this reason, breastfed babies tend to poop a lot more frequently. 

Any changes in your baby’s feeding can cause constipation as well – such as introducing formula, switching formulas, or introducing solids. 

Luckily, we didn’t have many issues in the constipation department, but I know this is something many families struggle with while using formula.

Signs and symptoms of baby constipation:

• Baby has hard, pebble like stools
• Straining and bearing down – with little to no poop in the diaper
• Baby is having less poops than usual
• Pain and belly bloating*
• Blood streaks or anal fissures*

*Always contact your health provider in these cases or if you have concerns about your baby’s health.

Want more in-depth info? Checkout my complete constipation blog post here.

What ingredients in formula cause constipation?

Fat blend in baby formula: 

When it comes to true constipation, taking a look at the fat blend in your baby’s formula is crucial – a simple change in a fat blend can help ease and prevent constipation.

Fat is an essential component of infant formula because it provides your baby’s body healthy fatty acids to grow and survive! All infant formulas have a fat blend.

• Palm oil
  • Palm oil is a common fat used in American formulas because it mimics a fat in breast milk called palmitic acid. Palm oil is not bad, and many babies thrive on it, but it has been shown to lead to harder stools in infants (aka – more constipation) than babies who are fed non-palm oil based formulas. So, when we are speaking about constipation, paying attention to the fat blend in your baby’s formula can lead to softer stools – and therefore, less constipation. 
  • Bobbie’s (discounted link) organic fat blend is modeled after the average fat profile of breastmilk and contains organic coconut, sunflower or safflower oil and canola oil. This blend meets your baby’s nutritional needs while being easy on their tummies.

What ingredients in formula are beneficial for easy digestion?

Protein ratio in baby formula:

Protein is another essential part of infant formula. Most infant formulas contain whey and casein— two proteins used in varying ratios, depending on which formula you are using. 

• What is whey?
  • To put it simply, whey proteins are those that remain in liquid form during digestion. When your baby spits up and it’s watery – that’s whey! Because whey remains liquid, it empties the stomach more quickly than casein. 
• What is casein?
  • Casein is the protein that curdles during digestion – and what you may see as the more solid, curdled looking part of your baby’s spit up. Because of the density and nature of casein, it takes longer to empty the stomach. 

On average, mature breast milk contains a ratio of 60% whey and 40% casein – which is exactly the protein ratio in Bobbie baby formula. The higher ratio of whey protein leads to faster stomach emptying which can help reduce spit up and speed along digestion, making it easier on your baby’s tummy (and on your washing machine).

Remedies for constipation:

Depending on how old your baby is, there are a few remedies you can try with the OK from your provider:

• Bicycling motion (gently!) with leg to get gas and poop moving along 
• Letting baby be more active – try some extra floor time or tummy time
• Pear or prune juice (age appropriate and with OK from your provider)
• Glycerin suppositories (with OK from your provider)

Want more remedies? Check out my blog post on constipation and remedies here.

How to switch baby formula for less constipation:

If you’re struggling with constipation in your baby, take a look at the fat blend in your baby’s formula. Not many infant formulas on the market offer a fat blend that doesn’t contain palm oil as it’s a main fat source (Bobbie baby formula does not contain palm oil), and a simple change can do a lot of good for your baby’s digestion! Always consult with your provider before switching formulas for your baby. Once you get the go ahead, most babies can tolerate a switch cold turkey. In some cases, it may be necessary to switch cold turkey, such as a milk protein intolerance or reflux issue. 

Switching a formula for less constipation can generally be done all at once. On average, it can take up to 2 weeks to see full effects from switching formulas – so give it time! If your baby is still experiencing symptoms of constipation after two weeks, or there is an acute change in your baby’s behavior, or your parental Spidey senses are tingling, be in touch with your provider. You can also ask about adding in some constipation remedies during the switch to make the transition go smoother – pun intended 😉

If your baby is refusing a new formula or you are weaning from lactating, you can go gradually as well. Check out my weaning to formula e-guide for a step by step process!

Questions? Text Bobbie (415-854-2500) – their customer service is incredible. 

*Bobbie baby forumula is a cow’s milk based infant formula and may not be suitable for all infants. Always speak with your provider if you have any concerns about your baby’s health and/or before making any change or addition to your baby’s diet. 

**This blog post is sponsored by Bobbie Infant Formula, however it is my true and honest opinion. I am honored to be a partner for many reasons – I love the work they are doing to end formula feeding stigma and truly love their product for being easy on a baby’s tummy.

Check out Bobbie infant formula here. PS – they just launched a GENTLE formula!

*Bobbie baby formula is a cow’s milk based infant formula and may not be suitable for all infants. Always speak with your provider if you have any concerns about your baby’s health and/or before making any change or addition to your baby’s diet. 

**This blog post is sponsored by Bobbie Infant Formula, however, it is my true and honest opinion. I am honored to be a partner for many reasons – I love the work they are doing to end formula feeding stigma and truly love their product for being easy on a baby’s tummy.

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