Switching Formula

We are finally switching the baby formula Ben gets via his feeding tube to a toddler formula. Both GI and our Pediatrician have been wanting us to switch for a year now, but the timing was never right.

I didn't want to do it during a school week because I was afraid he would miss so much school if he had trouble tolerating the new formula. The process of switching him over takes about a week if all things go well since we have to mix the two together and step up gradually. So I had intentions of switching him during Christmas break. But then he was so sick with pneumonia and the flu the whole time it was out of the question and unsafe to switch then. Plan B was Spring Break, but ENT decided a scope was in order and I didn't want his airway looking bad if he didn't tolerate the new formula. So here we are in July and Ben has his annual GI appointment on July 10 (I've already rescheduled two times because I didn't have him on the new formula yet).

I knew I HAD to have him switched over by this date and I couldn't cancel his appointment again. It gave me a deadline and I really needed a deadline because I've been putting it off as long as possible (I have major anxiety over changing his food). Last year when we tried to switch, it was awful. After just receiving 1 ounce of the new stuff mixed in the old stuff, Ben got violently ill for 24 hours (that is how long it took to get e1 ounce out of his system). I think both Ben and I are still traumatized from that day. Not to mention Ben has so much trouble with feedings and rates anyway and we are FINALLY at a point where he doesn't vomit or retch except when sick. And it took us about 2 years to get here... so why mess with a good thing, right?! Well, I guess his baby formula doesn't provide the nutritional breakdown he needs at his age... so food change here we come (we are trying a different formula this time though and it is suppose to be more hypoallergenic/broken down than the last kind).

Today through the beginning of next week was as good a time as ever to start the process because neither Ben or I had any appointments. Today from 12 pm - 3:30 pm he had a little bit of the new stuff, some water (which he has also never had before) and mostly his regular baby formula. I'm happy to say, so far - so good! Tonight will be the true test because he eats from 8 pm - 8 am. If that goes well, on Thursday we will try a 50/50 mix (including water) and so on and so forth. I'm really hoping for smooth sailing! It kind of makes me sad to think about the fact that Ben is almost 4 and has never had anything but non-dairy, hypoallergenic baby formula (Allimentum). He's had pea sized tastes of pudding, ice cream and a few stage 2 baby foods, but nothing really that his body has had to digest. He doesn't get to enjoy some of the simple pleasures of life, such as eating.