SMA 'Stayed in the Cupboard' Milk (SMA Staydown Milk)

Member Name: numummy

Product:	SMA Staydown Milk
Date:	02/10/08 (448 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Specifically designed for babies with delicate tummies

Disadvantages: It didn't help us

For personal reasons, I began bottle feeding my first baby at around one month, shortly afterwards he was diagnosed with a condition called reflux, which essentially means (in laymums terms) that the 'flap' on the tummy that should close to keep milk/food down, doesn't.

No-one could really advise why my baby had this condition, but it's fairly common it seems, though it is easily distinguished from a bit of spit up, as baby struggles to drink the milk in the first place. My son always seemed desperate for his milk, but just couldn't drink it. He'd cry whilst drinking, fight with the bottle, and then vomit back virtually everything he'd taken. Initially I wondered if he was just a sicky baby, but after an internet search I realised these could be symptoms of a condition, so I went to see the GP, because I would rather be paranoid and get something checked, than miss something that could be serious!

He was prescribed infant Gaviscon by the Dr, and the Health Visitor also suggested changing his milk to one of the 'gentler' varieties. He was on SMA Gold at the time so rather than switch brands I thought I would try SMA Staydown, which is casein based to help in stay in baby's tummy and contains corn agents to thicken.

I had to order it online, as I couldn't find it at any of the local chemists initially (later I spotted it in a very large branch of Boots), and ordered x3 tubs just to make sure.
It comes in the same style/size tub as the other SMA milks, but is very different.

The milk is a much thicker consistency, and therefore a variflow or larger holed teat is recommended. It is also made with cool milk, and has to be gently rolled, not shaken, to mix. Basically, if you have a hungry young baby who is not prepared to wait, and you adhere to the current guidelines of not preparing in advance - it's faffy!

Now, I had high, admittedly unrealistically high, hopes of this milk, and I didn't care how faffy it was at the time - I just wanted my baby to be able to feed properly, and be content. It's always horrible to see a tiny one suffering in any way, and I was desperate to 'solve' his problem.

What I didn't expect, was my babies reaction to the change of teat. He absolutely HATED it and just wouldn't have it in his mouth. I guess the flow was just too fast for him, despite the thicker milk. So I tried with a regular teat, but noticed that in every bottle, there was still powder (I was desperate to shake the bottles!), and he still wouldn't accept it. When the HV witnessed his reaction, she agreed with me that it was probably better to switch back.

I recollect that the milk was close to £9.00 per tub, and as I said, I had bought three (I didn't want to be left short if it did help), so that was a fair sum to have wasted.

In the end I changed formula to Aptamil 1st, which seemed better suited to my baby, and carried on with the Gaviscon. The reflux gradually improved as my son aged, and disappeared more or less completely at around 10 months. I am assuming the severity of his reflux was mild to moderate, as some babies do have to undergo surgery, though many grow out of the problem as their gut matures.

So our experience wasn't a success, but, as babies and mums are all so different, it might be worth trying as obviously enough people are happy with it for SMA to justify producing it!

It is available on prescription, and you can learn more (to obtain a more balanced view!) at http://www.smanutrition.co.uk/Home/products/specia lfeeds/staydown.aspx

Best wishes, and if your baby has reflux, extra special wishes to them xx

Summary: If your baby has refux, by all means try it, but there is no miracle solution