Having a colic baby is like signing up for the most chaotic rollercoaster ride of your life. Picture this: relentless crying, an insatiable need for soothing, and the feeling of helplessness that can make even the most organized parent reach for the emergency chocolate stash. Unfortunately, we weren't spared from this wild adventure, but I am here to tell you why choosing European organic formula was the superhero cape we needed to survive this rollercoaster. In this blog post, I will provide a detailed roadmap for parents thinking about transitioning their baby from breastfeeding or conventional formula to organic formula from Europe. I will also navigate through the common concerns and challenges that we faced during this journey. But, first of all, let me explain you what I mean when I talk about colic. 

Understanding Colic

Colic is a term used to describe excessive, often inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy and well-fed infant. It typically begins around the second or third week of life, peaks at around six weeks, and then gradually improves by the time the baby reaches three to four months of age. Colic episodes are often characterized by intense crying, usually in the late afternoon or evening, and can last for three hours or more per day, three or more days a week. The exact cause of colic remains a mystery, but it can be an incredibly trying and stressful experience for both the baby and the parents. This condition can affect not only the baby's well-being but also the parents' mental and physical health, as it's emotionally exhausting to deal with a constantly fussy baby. The unrelenting crying and fussiness can take a significant toll on the family's overall well-being, making it crucial to find effective ways to manage the condition.

The Benefits of Using Organic Formula from Europe – Our Roadmap

Now, for the fun part – how European organic formula, particularly the German brand HIPP, came to our rescue and turned us into believers. Here's why we never looked back:

1. Anti-Colic Bottles: 

One of the first things we realized on our colic journey was the availability of anti-colic bottles. While we had to switch from breastfeeding to formula feeding for personal reasons, using anti-colic bottles would also work in case you decide to pump and feed breastmilk from a bottle. So, imagine having bottles that can hush the storm of colic by reducing air intake, fantastic, right? Anti-colic bottles are designed to reduce air intake, which can be a significant factor in colic. And after using anti-colic bottles with the German formula brand HIPP, our baby was noticeably less fussy.

2. Shared Responsibilities

Thanks to European organic formula, both parents could join the feeding frenzy. It wasn't just about splitting the work and providing emotional support for both of us; it was about dad-time bonding while soothing our tiny hurricane. And all of this without the stress to pump and store breastmilk so that my husband can support me in feeding our baby. 

3. Probiotics for Colic

European formulas are like magic potions; they often contain probiotics, the tiny wizards (or commonly called beneficial bacteria) that battle colic and constipation. No need for parental diet CSI – we had backup. Plus, if you are using probiotic drops, you can save on the additional cost as the European organic formula we used, HIPP, already contains probiotics. So, it's a double win for parents looking to provide the best for their little ones.

4. HIPP HA Formula

We chose the German brand HIPP for our superhero formula because, as a parent originally from Germany, I was not only fed with HIPP myself but also have followed the company over the years and heard good things from my fellow moms in Germany with colic babies. 

HIPP offers a range of formula options, and we decided on the HIPP HA (Hypoallergenic) formula, specially designed for sensitive tummies. While we could have opted for the "normal" HIPP formula (Bio Combiotik) to have probiotics included, we chose the hypoallergenic version (HIPP HA) based on the recommendation of a trusted pediatrician. 

HIPP also offers a Comfort version, specifically designed for little ones with colic or constipation problems. It reduces lactose to make it easier to digest and help in regulating bowel movements. Both HIPP HA and Comfort formulas are quite similar in many regards, such as the 8whey protein hydrolysate) process to remove the casein portion of the milk. However, they differ in that HIPP HA uses lactose as the primary carbohydrate, while Comfort is a low-lactose formula and can work better for babies sensitive to lactose levels. In our case, our daughter's colic wasn't lactose-related, and we didn't want to create a potential problem with lactose in the future. Therefore, we decided to go with HIPP HA rather than HIPP Comfort. However, if you are looking for a formula to deal with lactose-related colic, then Comfort might be the better option for you.

Challenges and How We Unmasked Them

• I don’t have the time to boil water 

In the quest for safety, most US formulas do not recommend boiling water. But HIPP prefers a warm bath for safety reasons, so we joined the bubbly fun by pre-boiling water and keeping it (in a tumbler) at the right temperature to mix with formula whenever needed.

• The cost is quite high compared to US formula

Initially, we were eyeing our piggy banks with suspicion. However, we soon realized European organic formula didn't rob us blind. In fact, it was a better deal compared to our plan to combine US formula with expensive probiotic drops.

• I don’t speak German and cannot read the instruction label: 

If reading German preparation instructions on formula packages makes you feel like deciphering hieroglyphics, don't worry – I have got you covered with our FAQs.

• I don’t know where to buy it 

Online is the superhero's lair for European organic formulas. We scoured the internet and discovered a trusty company in Germany that had our back. Affordable shipping, free international transport on reaching a certain value, and two free formula boxes for newcomers – a deal as golden as a baby's giggle.

Conclusion

Our journey with a colicky baby was no picnic, but European organic formula, particularly HIPP HA, turned out to be the golden ticket we needed. It silenced the colic chaos, brought us flexibility, and improved our overall well-being. 

Our adventure and the treasure map of information I provided help fellow parents facing a similar rollercoaster. Remember, you're not alone in this wild ride, and there are super solutions out there that can turn your colic conundrum into a breeze!

With lots of humor and support.

Jana