Alimentum, by Similac: A Product Review

When my 3 week old daughter was diagnosed with MSPI ( milk and soy protein intolerance), her pediatrician recommended that we start her on a special hypoallergenic formula made by Similac called Alimentum. I, of course, was glad to hear that there was a formula that might work for her, but I wasn't as excited about the price of Alimentum. At our local Target, it is $28.99 for a 16 oz. container! (Fortunately we qualified for a program called WIC, that helps us cover the cost of the formula).

On the Package
Alimentum claims to be a hypoallergenic formula for food allergies and colic due to protein sensitivity. It further says that this formula is made with iron and DHA/ARA, and it is easy to digest. It is recommended for babies from birth to 12 months of age. The standard mixing procedure for the powdered variety is one scoop for every 2 ounces of water. One package will make approximately 115 fl oz of formula, which equals nineteen 6 oz bottles.

What's it made of?
Since babies with MSPI cannot tolerate milk or soy protein, an alternative must be used. The first ingredient listed is corn maltodextrin. It does however, contain an ingredient derived from milk (casein hydrolysate), but the proteins are pre-broken down, allowing for a baby with a protein intolerance to digest it. A five ounce serving is 100 calories with a protein equivalent of 2.75 grams, 5.54 grams of fat, and 10.2 grams of carbohydrates.

Our Feeding Experience
As I mixed the very first bottle of Alimentum for my daughter, I noticed right away that it has a strong smell. Not necessarily a bad smell, just stronger than other formulas I've used. Also, it didn't seem to mix as easily as other formulas. There were several stubborn chunks of powder that didn't want to mix in the water. After VERY vigorous shaking, there were still some small chunks of powder, but they weren't bothersome in the end.

Taste
From that very first bottle, my daughter took to it right away! She eagerly drinks it, so it must taste great, at least to babies!

Easy to digest?
Very soon after starting her on Alimentum, my daughter's digestion problems disappeared. She was no longer uncomfortable between feedings. Her constipation went away as well. She has been on Alimentum for almost 8 months now, and has had absolutely no problems.

Conclusion
Before using Alimentum, my daughter was having digestion problems, uncomfortability, and slow weight gain. Once we started using Alimentum, all of these problems quickly went away, and have not returned in the 8 months she has used this product. The only downsides are the high cost and strong smell, but when considering the health of your baby, these downsides are minor (especially if you can recieve financial aid from a program like WIC). I would recommend this product for babies with MSPI or similar digestive issues, if a pediatrician has also recommended it.