What ingredient in infant milk formula causes this, er, interesting phenomenon?
• The protein (mostly lactalbumin) and fat in human breast milk are more easily digested by babies than the protein (mostly casein) in cow’s-milk formula, which presumably makes the end-product less smelly. However, breast milk also has a laxative effect, so breastfed babies are often notoriously prolific when it comes to filling their diapers – an interesting trade-off. If you think the diapers of formula-fed babies are bad, wait until you have a meat-eating toddler. My husband and I play elaborate games in order to avoid changing our daughter’s diaper – pretending not to smell it, having urgent chores to do, faking sleep and such like. Compared with a toddler, a baby diaper smells lovely, regardless of whether they are fed on breast milk or on formula. Rebecca Rose, Bunya, Queensland, Australia • As a new mum I have also asked myself this question. I breastfed my daughter, and she had diapers of the none-too-stinky kind, whereas mums in my playgroup who formula-fed their children com
