Understanding your baby’s tummy troubles

Breast milk is best for your baby

Breast milk is best for babies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Unnecessary introduction of bottle feeding or other food and drinks will have a negative impact on breastfeeding. At around six months of age (but not before 4 months), infants should receive nutritionally adequate and age-appropriate complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Consult your doctor before deciding to use infant formula or if you have difficulty breastfeeding.

Abbott Singapore fully recognises breast milk’s primacy, value and superiority and supports exclusive breastfeeding as recommended by the WHO.

The content on this website is intended as general information for Singaporean residents only and should not be used as a substitute for medical care and advice from your healthcare practitioner. The HPB recommends that infants start on age-appropriate complementary foods at around 6 months, whilst continuing breastfeeding for up to 2 years or beyond to meet their evolving nutritional requirements. If no longer breastfeeding, toddlers can switch to full cream milk after 12 months. This should be complemented by a good variety of solid foods from the four main food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and alternatives). For more information on the nutritional requirements of infants and young children, please visit www.healthhub.sg/earlynutrition.

Tummy troubles can be frustrating for babies and concerning for parents as confirmed by global surveys conducted on behalf of Abbott Nutrition.

2 out of 3 young children around the world experience some form of tummy trouble, such as gas and fussiness, that prompts parents to see their paediatrician.¹

Recognizing Tummy Troubles

It’s common for babies to experience discomfort after feeding as their digestive systems are still developing. A baby’s tummy is about the size of a marble in the beginning and about the size of a ping pong ball by day 3.^{+, 2}

⁺ The use of marble / ball models to represent newborn stomach capacity may be useful only as a representation of breast milk intake during the early newborn period.

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Moms’ Experiences Across The Globe

According to moms around the world, feeding issues are common.³ The top symptoms that moms said their child experienced while on formula are spit-up, excessive gas and constipation.

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Older Children Still Experience Tummy Troubles Up To 4 Years Old⁴

Across the 6 countries surveyed, 3 out of 4 moms said their children between 18 months to 4 years old experienced a digestive health issue. Constipation & diarrhoea were the top symptoms reported by these moms.

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Searching For Solutions

Parents often recognize the symptoms of feeding issues, and should work with their paediatrician or health care practitioner to determine the best feeding option for their child. If breastfeeding, work with your health care professional to continue.

¹ Abbott global tolerance survey 2008, n=5000.
² Spangler AK. et; al, J Hum Lact. 2008, 24(2):199-205.
³ Nielson Global Report for Abbott: Assessing the Incidence of Formula Tolerance & Feeding Issues. January, 2009.
⁴ Ipsos InnoQuest Formula Tolerance Incidence Study. January, 2014, n=1610.

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