There are few things more important to a father than making sure their children are properly fed. God gave us a great design to make that happen, but it doesn’t always go according to plan. In an attempt to make life easier for mothers and compensate for the unexpected, we invented formula. Not all baby formulas are created equal though. At some point you may need to make a change.

I’m not going to go into the history of baby formula. (I’ve got other long posts if you’re looking for something to read with your morning coffee.) I will, however, go over the proper way to switch from one formula to another. It’s not that hard, but if you don’t follow these steps there’s a good chance you’ll have one very upset gremlin on your hands.

So let’s begin!

Step one: Understand Formula Types

Milk is milk right? Wrong! The formula you are feeding your baby isn’t really milk. It is a close approximation of milk, but it isn’t milk. Most main stream formulas aren’t even made with dairy, but rather soy and other seed oils. Sounds tasty huh?

Either way, it’s important to know what kind of formula your baby is currently on and what kind she will be moving to. If you are going from a soy formula to another soy formula the transition will be easier than if you were switching to a milk-based formula and vice versa. Switching types is definitely doable, but it takes more time. That being said it’s always a good idea to take things slow. Your baby’s gut isn’t running a race.

Step Two: Normal Formula

I know it seems counterintuitive, but your baby is used to their regular juice even if it isn’t the best for them. The first day of the transition period needs to be like any other day. The next week is going to be interesting for everyone involved: you, your baby, her gut microbes. Everyone’s going for a ride!

Step Three: Start Small

Like I said in the previous step, your baby’s gut biome is going to experience some changes. The bacteria in her gut will react to different formula and if you just switch over cold turkey they will freak out. This can cause indigestion, constipation, and lots of gas.

On day two and three the first feeding should be the old baby formula, the second feeding should be the new formula, and the rest of the day should be the old formula again.

Step Four: Follow the Pattern

There’s going to be a nice, easy to follow pattern here. Days four and five the first feeding again is the old formula, then the next two feedings will be the new, and the rest will be the old.

Every two days you replace a feeding with the new formula We’re going to follow this pattern until the only feedings with the old baby formula are the first and last feedings. This should take from one week to ten days.

Step Five: Troubleshooting

At this point you’ve gone through the full transition and your baby is now fully on her new formula. Now, the best laid plans of mice and men do often go awry so there’s a good chance your little one may have had some setbacks. If she seems like she’s got a little too much gas or other digestive discomfort be patient. It may be necessary to spend an extra day or two as a certain stage if her tummy needs more time to adjust.

This isn’t rocket surgery, but following the proper procedures can make or break it. Sure your baby will eventually adjust with enough time, but you will feel like a zombie from lack of sleep until then. Best to just keep to the schedule and adjust as needed. At the end of your day you know your baby best.

You got this, Dad!

If you have any formula tips or stories drop them in the comments. I’d love to hear them!