Formula milk stages - what's the difference?

[LazyDaisy6]

I'm a bit confused about the different stages of formula!!
DS is nearly 8 months and I'm trying to get him to take the odd bottle. He's feeding too much for me to express plus he hasn't taken expressed milk from a bottle in the past anyway so I'm trying formula.
I've tried a few different formulas and bottles as he wasn't too keen but have now decided to just stick to one and persevere. What's the difference between Cow and Gate Stage 1 and Cow and Gate stage 2 follow on milk? Which one should I be giving?

[Lules]

Not a lot. It's a marketing thing. You can get Boots points etc on follow on milks which is about the only benefit

[angelopal]

Give stage 1. Follow on are just so they can advertise. Never bothered with follow on milk. Just went from stage 1 to cow's milk at a year old.

[AfunaMbatata]

The follow on mills have more sugar in them.

[LazyDaisy6]

Ah of course, the marketing - didn't even think of that. I presume that's why they can give away freebies of follow on milk at baby shows etc.

I hadn't even though to look at the sugar - thanks @AfunaMbatata

[Kattatty87]

Stage 1 is more whey based and based on breast milk. It's easier for babies to digest so good for breastfed babies who may get constipated from stage 2. But yes also advertising!

[Spam88]

Best to just stick with stage 1.

[Xansaf]

I don’t understand why people think follow On milk is a marketing thing. I mean they cost the same and people are still going to buy the milk aren’t they?

[HopeAndJoy16]

They aren't legally allowed to advertise stage 1 milk, nor offer any promotional deals/discounts
www.babymilkaction.org/ukrules-pt2a

Agree if you want to introduce formula juat stick to stage 1

[Themummy76]

I think the iron content also goes up?

[eeanne]

I don’t understand why people think follow On milk is a marketing thing. I mean they cost the same and people are still going to buy the milk aren’t they?

It's because it IS a marketing thing. WHO recommends that countries do not allow advertising of any formula geared for babies 6 months and under. So the manufacturers created a different product for babies 6 months and older that they can freely advertise - stuck in a few more vitamins and sugar and voila.

Not all people would have been buying it anyway, the formula companies are hoping parents will be convinced that follow on milk is better than breast milk past 6 months giving them new customers.

[thenewaveragebear1983]

We kept Ds on stage 1 for far too long but his sleep definitely improved and he wanted less milk when we switched to stage 2. We did this after 1 year after realising that he couldn't tolerate cows milk in its pure form. I do think there's some difference in the formulation, but nothing significant. Perhaps as pp said, more iron? Different fats?

[EgremontRusset]

Silly question probably but do you have a 6 month plus teat when you are trying to feed him? I realised DS was only refusing bottle because the flow was too slow.

[LazyDaisy6]

Ohhh thats interesting @EgremontRusset! I will have a look and try the next one up