"The Cost of Colic" Survey Highlights
Perrigo® Nutrition, the maker of all Store Brand Infant Formulas sold in the United States, in conjunction with OnePoll, conducted a nationwide survey of 1,289 American mothers of children aged 2-9 whose child suffered from colic and/or cow's milk allergy (CMA), to gain insights into the lessons, dilemmas, and worries associated with raising a child with colic and/or CMA. Below are survey highlights.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted between May 29, 2020 – July 31, 2020 among 1,289 nationally representative American mothers of children aged 2-9 whose child suffered from colic and/or cow's milk allergy (CMA), using an e-mail invitation and an online survey. Margin of error is +/- 3 percent.
MOM'S EMOTIONAL COST
- Nearly half of moms (49 percent) worried most about not finding a solution or relief for their baby with colic and/or CMA within the first year, followed by worrying baby's growth and development would be affected (33 percent)
- Most moms (68 percent) reported experiencing "mom guilt" mainly due to a feeling of helplessness since they couldn't fix their baby's problem
- One in three moms (36 percent) felt guilty needing or asking for help
- Top emotions felt by moms within baby's first year included feeling frustrated (49 percent), overwhelmed (33 percent) and having anxiety (28 percent)
- More than half (59 percent) of moms were too tired to maintain a social life
- When faced with a few hours of alone time, the first thing moms did was working out (43 percent), followed by sleeping (42 percent) and cleaning/doing laundry (39 percent)
- Nearly half of moms (47 percent) reported getting only 4-5 hours of sleep each night, while nearly one third (31 percent) reported getting only 2-3 hours of sleep
TOP 5 ACTIVITIES MOMS SACRIFICED DUE TO THEIR BABY WITH COLIC AND/OR COW'S MILK ALLERGY
Social gatherings with friends
35%
TOP 5 MOST FRUSTRATING ASPECTS OF PARENTING BABIES WITH COLIC AND/OR COW'S MILK ALLERGY
Not knowing the cause of baby's colic
42%
Feeling like there was nothing I could do to help
34%
Differentiating between a symptom of colic and general baby behaviors
34%
MOM'S FINANCIAL COST
- Seventy-six percent of moms agree that they would have paid anything to relieve their baby's colic and/or CMA
- One in three moms (39 percent) were fearful they would not be able to afford the appropriate relief for their baby
- The average mom spent $230 dollars on various potential solutions or products for their baby
- Moms who had a baby with both colic and/or CMA reported their number one complaint about hypoallergenic infant formula was price
- More than half of moms (52 percent) would have purchased a lower-cost generic store brand hypoallergenic infant formula option that was just as effective and provided the same complete nutrition as leading name brands like Nutramigen® and Alimentum®, if available
TOP 10 PRODUCTS PARENTS PURCHASED TO RELIEVE COLIC
Sensitive formulas (e.g., Enfamil Gentlease, Similac Sensitive, Gerber Soothe)
32%
Hypoallergenic formula (e.g., Nutramigen®, Alimentum®, Neocate)
22%
SEEKING RELIEF & SUPPORT
- Nearly half of moms turned to their pediatrician (46 percent) when searching for a solution for colic, followed by a nurse (35 percent) and then a pharmacist (24 percent)
- Forty-two percent of moms sought out groups with mothers in a similar situation to seek relief
- More than half of moms (53 percent) waited 1-2 weeks after experiencing colic and/or CMA symptoms with their baby before visiting a pediatrician
- More than three-quarters of moms were satisfied (78 percent) with the advice received from their pediatrician for their baby
- In an attempt to provide relief, most moms (42 percent) tried an elimination diet, if breastfeeding, followed by carrying/holding them for extended periods of time (35 percent) and laying them on their tummy (35 percent)
TOP 10 SYMPTOMS BABY EXPERIENCED WHICH LED TO SEEKING TREATMENT
Extreme irritability or colic
51%
Frowning and grimacing
33%
Frequent spit up or reflux
28%
Inability to console baby
25%
LESSONS LEARNED
- Nearly half of moms (47 percent) reported feeling a stronger connection with their baby once their baby grew out of their colic and /or cow's milk allergy symptoms
- More than one quarter of moms (29 percent) felt that it took two to three weeks before they had a good handle on their baby
- Advice moms would share with new moms includes asking for help, being patient, and it gets better
- Moms reported the most crucial support they had when baby's colic and/or cow's milk allergy was at its worst was their husband, maternal mom and pediatrician.
TOP 5 THINGS MOMS WISH THEY HAD KNOWN ABOUT LIFE WITH A COLICKY BABY
Just because your baby has colic doesn't mean they are unhealthy 52%
Colic is quite common 38%
It's okay not to have all the answers 34%
Giving your baby extra attention won't spoil them 33%
HYPOALLERGENIC FORMULA SPECIFICS
- Moms learned about hypoallergenic formulas mostly from their pediatrician (49 percent), followed by online (44 percent) and from one of their mom friends (42 percent)
- Sixty-six percent of moms who had a baby with colic and/or cow's milk allergy purchased one or more hypoallergenic infant formulas, of those moms:
- 33 percent purchased Nutramigen®
- 32 percent purchased Alimentum®
- 31 percent purchased a free amino-acid based formula (e.g., PurAmino, EleCare, Neocate etc.)
- Nearly half of moms (46 percent) were given a sample of hypoallergenic infant formula from their pediatrician, and about 3 in 4 of these moms (73 percent) saw that sample as a direct endorsement
- After using a specialty infant formula to manage colic and/or CMA, 21 percent switched to a regular infant formula when baby was between 3 months and 6 months old