Feeding
SMA® Nutrition is actively committed to supporting breastfeeding as the optimal source of nutrition for babies. With your support, mum and baby can learn together and settle into a routine that works for both of them. Our Feeding Hub contains numerous resources to support mums in learning all about breastfeeding. There are also a number of unbranded help sheets to share on the topic, including feeding positions and milk expressing, which are available in 8 languages.
However, whether a baby is breastfed or formula-fed, feeding issues are very common, especially during the first few months of life. Difficulties can manifest as regurgitation, constipation or behavioural changes. The reasons for this are often unclear, however physiological immaturity or an inability to break down certain components in milk may be responsible.
Research shows that gastrointestinal symptoms occur in up to 55% of all infants in the first 6 months of life.1 Although they can cause a lot of distress and anxiety for parents, they usually resolve as the baby matures.
Up to 78% of formula-fed infants have more than one feeding issue.2
Our Feeding Hub covers many topics – including colic, constipation, reflux, lactose intolerance, and explanations of possible causes and management techniques, which can provide reassurance for parents.
1 in 2 infants under 3 months of age can experience reflux and baby regurgitation daily3, in the UK this equates to almost 300,000 infants each year.4 Although infant reflux is considered a mild digestive discomfort which will resolve itself in the first year of life5 the NHS continues to experience a high number of parents seeking help from their healthcare professional.6,7
Explore our Feeding Hub for a wealth of information on breastfeeding, formula feeding, feeding issues, weaning, infant gut health and immunity.
- Iacono G et al. Dig Liver Dis 2005; 37: 432–438.
- Bellaiche M, et al. Acta Paediatr 2018;107:1276-1282.
- Vandenplas Y et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2009; 49: 498-547.
- Office for National Statistics. Births in England and Wales 2024. Available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/birthsummarytablesenglandandwales/2024 (Accessed July 2025.)
- Van Tilburg MA et al. J Pediatr 2015; 166: 684-689.
- Leung AKC, Hon KL. Gastroesophageal reflux in children: an updated review. Drugs in Context. 2019; 8:212591.
- National Health Service (NHS). Reflux and Breastfeeding. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/feeding-your-baby/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-challenges/reflux/. (Accessed July 2025.)