is one kind of babymilk best?

[Allyco]

am currently b/fding and have just gone back to work afternons only, so am leaving 3 (4oz) bottles of expresswed milk to tide dd over until I get back.

She is drinking them all and looking for more but am worried can't express any more than I am already doing and may need to combine it with formula while I'm at work (am NOT giving up b/f!!)so, is any one kind of formula better than any other? or are they the same? am a formula virgin!

BTW she is nearly five months old.

Help please

[IloveMarmite]

I use HIpp Organic, or Cow & Gate organic with mine. These have worked well. Good Luck

[charlie01]

My HV suggested aptamil as being closest to breastmilk, not sure how true it is though?

[Nimme]

My super chemist also reckons aptamil is best.

[hotmama]

I use Aptimil - recommended by my hv - and used by the majority of mums I know that use formula. Big plus of Aptimil is that it contains prebiotics and DHA - these are found naturally in breast milk and play a pivotal role in brain function - so perhaps is the next best thing to breastmilk? Recommends in "What to expect in the first year" that if a formula is going to be used then try to use one that contains DHA. Important to me as I wanted to use the best I could as breastfeeding just wasn't working and I felt a bit crap about giving up - so a bit of a consolation. Also, pooh is more like breastfed pooh i.e. runny etc - tried Hipp Organic - posset smelt like cake mixture but pooh was a bit pasty - so reverted back to Aptimil - babe is happy!

[kinderbob]

Nah, I'd just do what you are doing, she will be well into solids soon, and she will make up any shortfall when you get back from work.

She is possibly looking for the enjoyment of sucking rather than milk IYSWIM.

[stitch]

agree with kinderbob.
and if she is five months old, then definitly giv eher more solids. she sounds ready for it.

[Allyco]

thanks everyone - fwiw i think it's the sucking rather than the food too. Am going to get some emergency Aptamil though.

[bottle]

lots of my friends babies managed on fewer bf's a day and did not need formula

ds went onto formual at 5 months and we use babynat which is organic and can get from health shops and very pleased with it though i think another time i might consider nanny which is goat and apparently (according to whom closer to breast milk

know lots who use aptamil, it is all much a muchness

[bottle]

meant to say babynat has dha in it too

[Allyco]

ta for that bottle.

I am so thick - what is/are dha?

[bottle]

no you are not it is a long unspellable chemical! which basically means is part of an essential fatty acid which i think is normally present in breast milk, babies need it for brain development and nerve cells - what you can get from diet in oily fish, seeds etc... lot of research that western diet def in essential fatty acids you cannot make them so you have to get them in your diet - aptamil has them added i think also as prob do the other formulas not sure - i have a bit of a thing about them and ds is constantly eating oily fish as a result poor lovie

[Fran1]

My midwife recommended APtamil too as similarities to breast milk.

I was in same position as you. DD had mainly expressed breast milk when i was at work, but aptamil in emergencies!!

The good thing is you can buy it in tiny readymade cartons so none goes to waste as it is used so infrequently.

[aloha]

I also used Babynat when mixed feeding as
a/ organic
b/has vegetable origin dha - not fish eye origin!
c/Came in a really cute tin!

But really, I do think formulas are pretty similar (they have to be, by law) and I also I think if you are breastfeeding and leaving that much expressed milk, I think it's plenty!

[Allyco]

thanks everyone.

Like the bit about aptamil coming ready made - i don't even know how to make up a bottle of formula even though DD is my fourth!