Aptamil, SMA or Cow & Gate

[endlesslove]

I am a first time mum to be in 6 weeks. Already know I will be bottle feeding. Anyone have any preferences on the milk formulas above? I am not sure which to use.

[MotherofZ]

Don't know if there is any major difference between the three, but I personally prefered SMA. Tried Cow and Gate, but my daughter had difficulty digesting it and the health visitor recommended switching to SMA and she was much better with that.

[scorpio1]

i too preferred SMA for both my babies

[hockeypuck]

The doctors etc in this area recommend Aptamil as it has additional things in it that are found in breast milk but not in other formula (ready to get shot down by the boob police). When I had DS and said I was going to use Aptamil to top him up after breast feeding, the midwife said "oh good, you know what you're doing" they are not officially allowed to recommend anything but will do when pushed.

Try one and then if it doesn't work get advice from your HV before switching.

[gegs73]

I did the opposite, had SMA first but constipated DS1 so swopped to C&G with no problems. Think it depends on the baby but you can always swop if the baby has problems with it.

[endlesslove]

Thank you.

There is just so much to think about and I wasn't sure if one had better 'things' in it than the others.

My next question is how do you make them up?!

[scorpio1]

cooled boiled water in sterilised bottle.

a scoop (level) of formula per 1 fl/oz of cooled boiled water,

SHAKE

test on inside of wrist for temp, and feed!

[scorpio1]

they only take a few ounces at first, seems really small amount!

[endlesslove]

This is what I am confused about - the cooled boiled water bit!

Do you cool down in kettle then add to sterilised bottles, or do you poor fresh boiled water into sterilised bottles and leave on side to cool down with lids on or off, or do you put boiled water into sterilised bottles into fridge to cool down?

With the sterilising, do you do in advance and leave the bottles in the steriliser until needed?

Sorry if I sound think but formula milk seems so much more confusing!

xx

[MrsBadger]

Mears posted the most recent guidelines recently...

[rummages]

this will download the Food Standards Agency pdf.

[scorpio1]

i left the water to cool in kettle for about 45 mins. it has to be only boiled once water.

sterilising: i made my bottles up straight away after the steriliser finished.as long as you leave the lid on the steriliser, they will stay sterile for about 2 hours.

be really clean when you make them. wash your hands and worktop before, make sure knife you use to level off formula scoop is clean too.

i made mine up and put them in the fridge, they keep for up to 24 hours, although im not sure about current advice on this (last baby i had is nearly 3)

any more questions?

[MrsBadger]

(and you're right, it is a faff)

[lilymolly]

If Formula is confusing........

Then breast feed

or at least give it a try??


Not trying to bully you at all as I ff when dd was 17 weeks, but I can never understand why people dont even "try" to breast feed, would love to know your reasons.

[scorpio1]

I didn't-just didn't want to, not at all.

[lilymolly]

Yes I guess somepeople just do not want to, and that is TOTALLY fair enought, to be honest, I found bf very painfull,and difficult and was amazed i stuck it out for 17 weeks, but I am still proud that I gave it a shot.
Not trying to be smug, iyswim

I used SMA, in answer to the op.

[loopyredangel]

See what suits your baby - I breastfed and when it came to going on formula had quite a difficult time because he didn't like the flavour - the only one he like was aptamil

[MuffinMclay]

SMA is one of the easiest to get hold of. Lots of people rave about Aptamil, but it is erratically stocked in my local supermarket, so SMA seemed easier.

[Twinklemegan]

Aptamil is very expensive. I understand that Cow and Gate is just as good and a pound cheaper.

[Carmenere]

I used SMA, Aptimil, Farleys, Cow and Gate, whatever was available really. That said I bf for the first 4 months and did use SMA mostly when I stopped but my dd wasn't fussy and drank whatever I gave her.
My no 1 ff tip is that you don't have to heat the milk. Room temperature is fine. It saves LOADS of hassle.

[endlesslove]

Thank you everyone. I have heard that Aptamil is the best...not sure why though.

[Twinklemegan]

Aptamil advertise in the professional journals and the name "sounds" scientific. Aptamil and Cow & Gate are both owned by the same Dutch company NUMICO. I understand that the formulation is pretty much identical.

[eidsvold]

i used aptamil for dd1 only cause I had no idea what to give her - being relatively new to formula in the UK. It was recommended by the NICU consultant when dd1 was released from hospital.

[bagsundereyes]

I formula feed and have done from when dd was 4 weeks.

I agree that formula feeding from such a young age is a bit of a PITA, though. You'll need to make up 7-8, maybe more bottles per day, and the washing, sterilising, and making up of formula can be tricky to fit into the day if your little one wants to be held and have lots of mum's attention. You'll throw lots away as well.

I started with SMA for purely practical reasons - it is widely available in the smallest of shops (in case you run out). They make cartons of ready-mixed formula, which are also widely available, and are really useful for days out. I don't know about the other brands but it's worth picking one that sells ready-made formula . dd seems not to have problems with SMA.

[honeyapple]

why do you want to give your baby milk that is supposed to be for a calf? Sorry, I just cannot understand why anyone would choose this route without even trying breast feeding... and NO I am not a member of the bf police... just a normal sane person.

When I stopped bf my Ds at about 1 yr old I gave him Nanny which is a goat milk formula. It is supposedly much better for babies, but is expensive. There is also an organic cow milk one you can get in health food shops... sorry, cant remember the name... babynat??