Whether for medical reasons, to maintain a particular lifestyle, or simply for comfort, you’ve decided that bottled formula milk is the very best option for you and your baby. And that’s great! But you’ve noticed that your tiny tot seems to spit their milk up rather a lot, and they’re awfully gassy. Could it be that this particular formula milk doesn’t agree with them? Might they need a hypoallergenic formula instead?

What are hypoallergenic formulas milks?

Generally speaking, doctors will recommend one of the following formula options for those babies who aren’t receiving breastmilk:

Cow’s milk-based. This is the most common substitute for breastmilk, and most infants will develop and grow perfectly well on cow’s milk-based formulas.

Soy-based. For vegan families or infants who show an allergy or intolerance to cow’s milk, soy is a good alternative because the proteins used come from soy instead of cow’s milk.

Unfortunately, many babies allergic to cow’s milk are also allergic to soy, and that’s where hypoallergenic milk formulas come in.

There are two options for hypoallergenic formulas, the first of which is protein hydrolysate. Hydrolysate formulas are generally easier for allergy-prone babies to digest because the proteins have been heavily broken down and they’re lactose-free. However, if a baby continues to have problems after switching to a hydrolysate formula, doctors will recommend switching to an elemental formula made up of 100% amino acids. These typically only prove necessary for infants with a severe cow’s milk protein allergy and/or multiple food protein allergies, including soy and gluten allergies.

So, are these hypoallergenic formulas something you should consider giving your tiny tot?

When might a baby need to switch to a hypoallergenic milk?

Parents will often look to change their baby’s formula if their little one seems to be particularly gassy and fussy, if they often spit up, or if they’re suffering from colic. But, generally speaking, these changes are unnecessary and make very little difference. If your baby is healthy overall, it’s probably best to stick to your current formula.

If you’ve noticed specific symptoms, including diarrhoea, problems with sleep, and excessive crying, it’s worth speaking to your paediatrician about potentially making a switch. We would like to stress that it’s essential to talk to your paediatrician before changing your baby’s formula, not only because they’ll let you know if it’s necessary but also because they can offer the very best formula recommendations.

If a paediatrician finds that one of the following medical problems applies to your baby:

A suspected cow’s milk or soy protein allergy
Galactosemia (a disorder that affects how the body processes a simple sugar called galactose)
Suspected lactose intolerance

they may suggest trying a hypoallergenic formula. But again, we’d like to reiterate that formula changes should only be made after seeking the advice of a paediatrician.

Does my baby need hypoallergenic milk?