Formula.. Is there much difference between brands?

[Hobby2014]

Sorry if this has been asked before.
First baby. Was just going to buy Aptimil as in my head seems the 'better' one. Is this the case? It's more expensive than others so is it better?
Any recommendations?
Thanks!

[katandkits]

No there is very little difference between brands. Aptamil is deliberately priced higher than cow and gate so that people think it is better for babies. They also use more pseudo sciencey stuff in their advertising to try to create a more premium brand image to appeal to middle class parents. Aptamil and cow and gate are made by the same company. Formula ingredients are tightly regulated in any case.

[ohdearitshappeningtome]

Apparently they say aptamil is meant tobe as close as breast milk you can get... How can you?

Only slight change in receipe but that's it and 1.50 on price.

[katandkits]

It is modified cows milk same as all the other brands. It is no closer to human milk than it is to camels milk! I am surprised trading standards let them get away with some of their claims. I have nothing against formula feeding and I did not ebf so I bought some of the stuff myself but I really hate how they are allowed to get away with false claims and advertising.

[jaggythistle]

The closer to breast milk advertising was banned, it has obviously stuck though!

[picnicbasketcase]

I think they're all pretty much the same, barring any intolerances or allergies obviously. Use whichever one is sold at a reasonable price at your nearest shop.

[beccajoh]

They're all much the same really. Pick one and give it a go. By all means buy Aptamil if you want but it's no better than any of the others and 50% more expensive.

[bonzo77]

The contents are very strictly controlled by law. So no, no significant difference. Cow and gate and aptamil are actually made by the same company (milupa). We have used both, their packaging makes measuring especially easy.

[Hobby2014]

Thanks everyone.
Cow and gate is much cheaper so might start with that.
It's a bit naughty really if they're all similar but certain ones sell theirselves as being the best.

[ExBrightonBell]

The large formula manufacturers have definitely been a "bit naughty" in the past - see what Nestle got up to in the 1970s, or Danone in Turkey in 2013.

[ohdearitshappeningtome]

It's actually against the law for formula companies to advertise first milk, that why they advertise follow on!

According to most: follow on milk is equivalent to whole milk but that's how they get their advertising

[ExBrightonBell]

The NCT have a research document (from 2010, so a little out of date but still an interesting read) about the "differences" between formulas. It also covers the ingredients and rules about formula in detail which is interesting in itself.

www.nct.org.uk/sites/default/files/related_documents/Dodds%20Choosing%20a%20formula.pdf