Why do formula-fed babies have smelly poop?

New mothers all know that although it is hard to take care of a newborn baby, fortunately, when taking care of the baby's poop and pee, you don't have to endure the unpleasant smell, because the baby's feces are odorless. So why do babies who drink formula milk have smelly feces? Let's find out together~

Babies who only drink breast milk have almost no smell in their poop, but once they drink formula... you will immediately know what it means to have a stink that makes you want to run away from the room. What is it in baby formula that creates this... interesting phenomenon?

Interesting things about babies drinking formula and breast milk

Compared to formula milk, which is based on cow's milk and mainly contains casein, babies can easily digest the protein (mainly lactalbumin) and fat in breast milk, so the feces excreted by breast-fed babies are less smelly. However, breast milk has a slight diarrhea effect, so when you change the diaper of a breast-fed baby, you will find that their "production" is amazing - there is always a good thing and a bad thing, isn't it interesting?

If you feel like opening your baby's formula diaper and want to run away now, don't rush to say that you can't stand the smell. Wait until your child is old enough and starts eating meat. In order to avoid changing my daughter's diaper, my husband and I always play a subtle game now, taking turns pretending not to smell, suddenly having something to do, and pretending to be asleep, etc., to see who will be the first to give in to the smell of shit.

Compared to toddler diapers, baby diapers smell so much better! It doesn’t matter if they are breastfed or formula fed.

As a new mother, I also asked myself this question. Because my daughter is breastfed, her diapers don't smell that bad, while the mothers in my friend group who feed their babies with formula milk all complain about how smelly their children's diapers are.

Here are my findings, based largely on observations from my mother-in-law, who is a lactation consultant.

The evolutionary significance of babies drinking breast milk is that it allows them to absorb nutrients most efficiently. Breast milk is food tailor-made for babies, and babies within one year of birth are changing all the time.

Why do formula-fed babies have smelly poop?

1. Most formula milks are based on cow's milk, which is very different from human breast milk. Cow's milk contains more different types of proteins, fats, and elements such as aluminum, magnesium, cadmium, and iron.

2. Breast milk is a food that the mother naturally prepares as the baby grows older, but formula milk must be prepared to balance the needs of babies of different ages. So, for example, a one-week-old baby gets the same nutrients as a one-year-old baby. Because of this, most of the fat and protein contained in formula milk cannot be absorbed by the baby and will be excreted with the feces, which is one of the reasons for the odor.

3. Another reason is the iron added to formula milk (which is also the reason why formula-fed babies often suffer from constipation). Iron is difficult for babies to absorb, so in order for them to get enough, a large amount of iron needs to be added to formula milk. Most of the iron that is not absorbed is excreted just like the unabsorbed protein.

Babies who drink breast milk can almost completely absorb the breast milk they drink, and they are less likely to be constipated. Their feces are mostly water, and contain very little protein, fat and trace elements. Babies who drink formula milk have a lot of fat, protein and nutrients in their feces that cannot be absorbed, so their feces will be smelly.

No. 5 website editor said

Breast milk is a magical thing. It is the most suitable food for babies in the world. As the baby's body continues to grow, it can automatically convert the nutrients needed by the baby and tailor the safest, healthiest and most nutritious food for the baby. Therefore, it is recommended that mothers breastfeed if they can.