Two Questions - Switching Formulas & Preemie Smiling

My daughter was only two weeks early and had some problems with gas and acid reflex. We tried all of the expensive formulas as well. I think it was Nutramigin that worked best for her. I tried to breastfeed but had a hard time with her latching on. We found the Dr. Brown bottles helpful with her gas. Her doctor also put her on acid reflex medicine and that REALLY helped her she also went to a GI doctor until she was around 1 yr old. When she was older we had to thicken her formula with rice cereal and she eventually outgrew the acid reflex.

I think that you can expect him to do things about 6 weeks behind "normal" kids. Like if a "normal" kid smiles at 3 months (no idea if that's right..just a number I picked out of thin air) then your son will start to smile at 4 mos 2 wks. But..you have to remember that ALL kids are different. He won't be like any other kid, because he's not any other kid.
Have you tried Mylicon for his gas? That stuff works wonders! It got me through the first 6 months of my first daughters life. She was GASSY! ALL THE TIME! And I was breastfeeding! It was a lifesaver! You can also try to burp him more often during feeding and make sure he's not getting too much air when he's taking his bottle.
You need to give the new formula at least a week or two to work. It takes a while for their little systems to adjust.
I'm sure he knows Mommy's smell and voice and is comforted by it, even if it doesn't seem like it. Having a newborn is tough. The lack of sleep, the first time Mommy jitters, all the emotions (even if you didn't physically give birth), the entire lifestyle change for everyone, all combine to make things difficult. Hang in there! It does get better! It's amazing how much things change even in a span of two weeks.
Congratulations on your new little one :) They are such a blessing!

Our adopted son was not a preemie, but he had to use Alimentum as well. It is expensive, but comparison shop so you can get the best deal (the manufacturer (Similac) also sells it thru their website). I also wholeheartedly second the Gripe Water suggestion. It worked WONDERS for my son.

My triplet neice/nephews were premature and they were expected to be "behind" in the same amount of time they were early, so in your son's case, 6 weeks. Don't worry, smiling will come, I promise!!! Enjoy EVERY stage because, trust me, it goes by SOOOO quickly. (my son is 22 months now).

Blessings to you!!!

I never had a premie, but I remember reading that you can expect the milestones to happen when he would have been 3 2-3 mos old if he had been born at term. It'll come and it will be one of the best days of your life!

Congrats on your baby!

I had a son born 6 1/2 weeks early and he had such a hard time as well (though not colicky).

I gave him Mylacon gas drops at each feeding and he had Nutramigin. Yes, I know it's the most expensive, but if you try it you'll find that it works like no other. My pedi explained to me that Nutramigin's formula is "broken down" more than other brands so that it's easier to digest.

Your doctor should be able to give you samples (the samples are close to the actual size). You can also go to the Nutramigin website to request coupons.

I do hope you try it....

Good luck!

My son was also born 6 weeks early....he is now 2 1/2 months old and porking out at over 9lbs...but he was in the NICU for about 13 days.....the only formula they would give him there was Enfamil w/ Lipil for premature or low weight babies....it has alot of extra vitamins, proteins and of course IRON which is what binds him up. I asked my doctor about switching formulas but she wasn't comfortable doing that so soon......he had gas and constipation so bad I tryed a number of things...they say Karo Syrup and warm water...but that didn't work.....I finally found something called "Gripe Water" you can find it at Rite Aid and Krogers carries it......it says for colicy or gassy babies. It worked wonders so he can get the gas out and poop! It is a little expensive for a small bottle and you give him a whole teaspoon...we've just been putting it in his bottle and the next day he poops....eventually he will grow out of the constipation. So that's probably the same thing you are going through, I would definetly try that....because it makes your fussy baby happy when their tummy doesn't hurt! Also about the smiling thing.....honestly every baby is different...but I think around 3 months old they start doing it.....but also for preemies it could take a little longer...Hope this helps!

CONGRATS! How fun, exciting and wonderful for you to take a little one into your home, and how exciting for you!
Alimentum works wonders if that's what the baby needs. I know there are certain forumlas that are suggested for premiees--the Neosure being one of them along with alimentum. I would not want to give any other formula to a premie infant if not suggested by the doctor. I'm not sure how long he was at the hospital or if he has any other premie health issues but it's better to error on the side of caution. The newer formulas that claim to be more gentle have not all been throughly tested on premature or previously premature infants. They are made and tested on full term infants that have gas issues. I would personally be hesitant.
As for smiling, it is actually right around 3 months (previous post that pulled it from thin air was right! Yah for her!) before they start smiling. You can expect some delay in this, I wouldn't say the whole 6 weeks but possibly.

I don't have ideas on the formula, but my second daughter was born 6 weeks and 3 days early. What my husband and I found is that she was about 6 weeks behind our first daughter on everything. For us, this meant that the newborn phase lasted almost 4 1/2 months instead of 3 months. Hang in there, it will get better.
If they haven't talked to you about it, premature babies become overstimulated very easily which can make them very fussy. We also found that while Katherine was able to entertain herself, she did better if I carried her with me. You might try some of the carriers that are out there. I used to tuck her into a Mei-tai. She would have her legs folded up and loved being carried around. I know you have to be careful with them, but she loved the rocking movement.
Good luck, he is going to do great!

Usually babies smile at about three to four weeks, so your baby should be smiling soon. Some babies will smile for all the guys in their lives and not their mom much....also babies go thru a period at about four to eight weeks where they have a really hard time with constipation and gas, so do what you need to do to get thru this--lots of good suggestions given by the other mommies. This is a good time for those vibrating little baby carriers.

I had the same issue with two of my kids. It is REALLY frustrating. We ended up on Alimentum. I'm not even really sure how much it helped, but it was our last resort and it was covered by insurance. Nobody wants to see their baby upset, but so many babies have issues with horrible gas/colic. I think that more than anything it is just their sensitive "new" little systems. As their body matures they tolerate food much easier.
I know myself, I switched from so many different formulas, I tried every bottle on the market, I did the Mylicon drops, I even tried prescription anti-gas medications. With both kids it just kind of stopped around 12-14 weeks. I think that was when their bodies were ready.
My sister in law had premie twins and it was the same battle with them as well. I'm sure that right now you are experiencing a lot of crying and gas and the occasional happy baby, but gradually that will turn around. You will have a happy, easy baby that will occasionally be fussy. Hang in there! It is not easy, but before you know it, life will be much easier.
Also, I swear that if you have a really collicky baby, once they are over that stage and they are feeling better, they turn out to be the most content, easy-going babies!