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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why anyone buys that 'Growing Up' milk stuff?

358 replies

bubbleymummy · 03/05/2011 18:42

No one expects to get their iron content from milk - you get it from the food you eat alongside it (although you shouldn't really drink milk alongside a meal anyway because calcium inhibits iron absorption) so why would you spend money on this product? Does anyone on MN buy it? If so - why?

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 03/05/2011 18:43

Because its their choice?

countrybump · 03/05/2011 18:44

Yes I do, because it's convenient and my daughter likes it.

Sirzy · 03/05/2011 18:45

I don't because I was lucky that Ds was very easy to wean. If he hadnt been then I would have used it to make sure he was getting vital nutrients.

squeakytoy · 03/05/2011 18:45

I suppose because many children are fussy about eating veg or meat and its an easy way to get nutrition into them.

I have never heard of calcium inhibiting iron anyway? if it did, how can it be possible to get iron in the "growing up milk"? Confused

strandedbear · 03/05/2011 18:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Happymm · 03/05/2011 18:48

I do, because DS2 won't eat anything even slightly nutritious:( lord knows what happened with him, DD and DS1 eat anything, ESP fruit, DS2 just spits it all out. He'd live on butter and chocolate if he had his way, so enriched milk and smoothies it is for him. At least that way I can kid myself he's getting something good:o

januaryjojo · 03/05/2011 18:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

indulged · 03/05/2011 18:50

Actually the SCAN report on Iron and health states that there is limited evidence that additional calcium inhibits iron absorption.

indulged · 03/05/2011 18:50

SACN rather

Ninx · 03/05/2011 19:04

DS (S.N - aged 4) won't drink cows milk and doesn't eat any other protein-rich foods; no fish, cheese, meat, eggs or pulses at all. The little bottles also save us a huge amount of sleep because he still has a bit of milk several times a night as per dietician's advice given his food-refusal. We just take four or five up and open them as needed.

I don't like to think about the amount of plastic packaging though.

NinkyNonker · 03/05/2011 19:06

Yanbu

Original poster
bubbleymummy · 03/05/2011 19:08

I think you've all been conned by good advertising but hey ho - your child your choice! :)

Fwiw my ds2 won't eat much either but we don't drink cow's milk and I don't like overly processed things so it would be the last thing I would reach for. Children's iron requirements aren't that difficult to meet if you eat meat at all - we only eat fish so it was something I was concerned about but when I looked into it I realised that it all added up over the day.

Indulged - I'd be interested in reading that. Most iron supplements recommend not taking them alongside calcium and it was something the doctor mentioned to me during pregnancy.

OP posts:
Disasterpiece · 03/05/2011 19:08

I buy it for my 17 month old DS.

He still wakes once in the night for milk. No problem.

However I dont like having to go downstairs in the cold kitchen in the middle of the night so I leave a bottle and a bottle of Aptamil 1+ in his room.

[lazy and proud]

LadyWord · 03/05/2011 19:13

I buy it for trips out where we might not be able to get to a shop or cafe for milk. I'm not carrying fresh milk around on a summer day, sweating and turning into yoghurt in my bag, then feeding it to DD. She's 14 months and still has milk during the day, but I'm trying to give up bf and we're down to bedtime only at the moment.

Nothing to do with iron though.

Original poster
bubbleymummy · 03/05/2011 19:21

I forget how handy it is having milk 'on tap' as such! :) I suppose if you've ff then it's just a handy next stage although why doesn't it need to be kept cold if it's milk?

OP posts:
Disasterpiece · 03/05/2011 19:33

Plenty of BFers use this milk too. So dont start being arsey about that. Hmm

usualsuspect · 03/05/2011 19:34

BF V FF thread by Stealth

TheSkiingGardener · 03/05/2011 19:37

I have a friend who uses it as her DD hardly eats any food. It's reassurance that she is getting all the vitamins and minerals she needs. It's not just about iron, maybe you are the one who watches too much advertising?

DuplicitousBitch · 03/05/2011 19:37

yanbu - total scam

NorfolkNChance · 03/05/2011 19:39

DD (who was BF if it's going to turn into that kind of thread) prefers it to cow's milk. Simples.

saffy85 · 03/05/2011 19:39

Some children just will not drink cows milk. My HV said as DD was happy to drink cows milk and had a balanced diet she didn't need any formula after she hit 1. I know some toddlers who are very picky though and this stuff must be a godsend if your child will only volentarily eat rich tea biscuits, oven chips and the odd apple (a friend of mine has a DS and this was his diet aged around 18 months).

MissPenteuth · 03/05/2011 19:39

Same as LadyWord, I buy the small cartons for trips out as it's more convenient than fresh milk. The ones with a straw are particularly handy as you don't need to take a cup.

PinkIsMyFavouriteCrayon · 03/05/2011 19:40

We bought the powdered stuff when we stayed in a hotel recently, DD likes warm milk before bed and Marriotts dont do microwaves in rooms! So powdered stuff was a godsend as I could make it up with warm water from the kettle Smile
fortunately (for my pocket and lazyness) DD loves cows milk far more than she ever like formula so we usually just give cows milk.

winnybella · 03/05/2011 19:42

Agree that it's a scam. YANBU.

nethunsreject · 03/05/2011 19:42

yanbu