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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask which formula brand you would recommend for a newborn?

241 replies

MissMattyJenkins · 28/10/2015 06:36

I'm posting in AIBU for traffic as I'm running out of time before the baby arrives and I want to buy some for the house. I couldn't find any recent threads on this when I searched.

A couple of pharmacist friends have suggested Aptamil (with the proviso that they think the brands should all be much the same). I've noticed since then that aptamil is more expensive than SMA or cow and gate!

Anecdotally I've heard a few people saying aptamil is easier on the baby's digestive system when browsing older threads on mumsnet but not consistently.

What do people think?

OP posts:
Original poster
MissMattyJenkins · 28/10/2015 09:22

Thanks mulligrub Smile

OP posts:
slightlyconfused85 · 28/10/2015 09:25

I make 3 or 4 and they go at the back of the fridge. For a 3oz feed about 10-15 seconds. 6oz about 30 with a really good shake

NorahBone · 28/10/2015 09:28

If you might end up using it for occasional feeds I'd recommend Hipp. The box has two separately sealed bags so you have longer to use it.

sltorres9 · 28/10/2015 09:32

Would not recommend sma, it's known for given baby tummy problems. My lb was sore every single day while using sma

Original poster
MissMattyJenkins · 28/10/2015 09:36

shamelessbreadaddict and fairylea I'm sorry to hear of you both having been so stressed with breastfeeding. I know it can be very easy and convenient in lots of cases but when its not it can cause a lot of worry. Thanks for sharing.

OP posts:
tobysmum77 · 28/10/2015 09:45

Sltorres sorry to hear that your lo had some tummy problems but it is the experience of just one baby. C&G didn't agree with dd1 and was fine on SMA, plenty of other people have different experiences.

Alisvolatpropiis · 28/10/2015 09:46

op - I recommend you get MAM anti colic bottles which can be sterilised in a microwave (assuming you have one?), forgoing the need for a steriliser and making space for the perfect prep machine. It really is very good and can often be found on offer.

I use Aptamil for my daughter but she was on C&G anti colic and constipation formula for a a good few weeks prior to that.

I think the posters asking you why you're not planning to breastfeed are really rude. It is none of their business.

Panickingalot · 28/10/2015 09:48

Follow the manufacturers guidelines on how to make a bottle. None of this preparing in advance and microwaving crap. If you decide not to breastfeed the least you can do is make the bottles properly. without breast milk to encourage and grow a healthy immune system little babies are at risk of bugs.

Pohtaytoh · 28/10/2015 09:52

MissMatty congratulations on your soon to be new arrival! I did bf, but had issues at first (lo breathing) which kept me in hospital. I had to use formula in the first couple of hours and although midwives aren't allowed to recommend a formula i said 'just pick at random' - knowing there is no such thing! They gave her Aptamil First, formula is much the same but it is widely considered to be the best if wishing to continue bf.

As you have stated you would prefer to bf fingers crossed for you that it all works out for you. Watching friends make bottles and time outings around feeds i personally feel the bf is (ultimately, because i did struggle at first!) the easiest option but understand people have different experiences Grin

Pohtaytoh · 28/10/2015 10:04

Alisvolatpropiis i've read the whole thread and can only see one post asking about bf, and there was no harshness or accusation at all! Levels of bf are falling and if we don't ask why we won't understand why! It could be as simple as the op being worried about something that others may be able to reassure her about.

And i can see many posts (from me included) where bf mums have shared their experience of occasional formula use in conjuction with bf. The op has said she wants to try bf as a first port of call (which we may not have known had balls not innocently and gently asked) so really their advice is the most tailored to OPs situation. For example noting the little ready made bottles are good to have on hand, last longer and OP you can get multipacks with little disposable teats on them if you didn't have all the bottles and didn't want to outlay the cost at first.

ShamelessBreadAddict · 28/10/2015 10:06

Thanks MissMatty.

Congratulations to you and I wish you lots of happiness with new DC! Flowers

I'm a bit Shock tbh at some of the posts re follow-on formula. I have heard the argument that it simply isn't necessary, but never has anyone implied to me that the higher iron levels found in follow on formula may actually be harmful. Quite worrying and I'm very glad I read this thread. Will be checking with HV as soon as I see her (which will be soon). I'm always a bit wary of Dr Google and advice found on forums (not necessarily on MN but have had some pretty bad advice in the past from various places online) so I probably won't make any rash decisions till I speak to HV re formula.

So sorry OP for hijacking again!!!

GreatFuckability · 28/10/2015 10:20

Mine all had c&g with no problems. I used to make the bottles in advance and warm them in hot water -when I could be arsed-

Original poster
MissMattyJenkins · 28/10/2015 10:48

Alisvolatpropiis I must read more about that prep machine, it sounds very popular on this thread and elsewhere. Yes, I do have a microwave. Although I already have an ordinary electric steriliser from before which I thought I would just use again (which would also mean I wouldn't have to buy anything else). Smile

Thanks Pohtaytoh - and that was an interesting experiment you conducted with the midwife picking a 'random' brand! Grin

Shameless the comments on the follow-on formula are definitely interesting aren't they!! Certainly wouldn't encourage me to use it. I admit I didn't use it with previous DC as they were eating well when weaning so I didn't see the need for the extra iron which (I thought) may have proved constipating. Although I can see there was a different post mentioning the need to ensure specific vitamin requirements are being met eg vit D.

Panickingalot thanks for the advice, I'll give that some thought Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
MissMattyJenkins · 28/10/2015 10:55

fuckability that's another vote for the cheaper brand. I think I might do a little tally chart of how many people have recommended each brand!!

OP posts:
tobysmum77 · 28/10/2015 11:33

I gave dd2 follow on milk and she survived. The point of it is you can get club card points and it is sometimes on special offer....

dementedpixie · 28/10/2015 11:37

I used it too for ds but only because it was cheaper and you could get offers on it not for any spurious claims about higher iron levels, better for them, etc. I just wanted to point out it wasn't necessary to use it if your child is happy on the first milk.

ShamelessBreadAddict · 28/10/2015 11:52

Thanks OP.

Yes, demented and toby, I don't imagine there is a vast difference either way between follow-on and newborn formula tbh. My HV was pretty clear about it though (as in she said it was recommended) and I just spoke to a friend nearby who said her HV actually reminded her to buy follow-on milk when her LO turned 6 months Confused. All a bit strange really.

QuietTiger · 28/10/2015 11:56

The Tommee Tippee prep machine is utterly brilliant and saved our lives at 2am when we were trying to make bottles for DD.

DH was so taken with the machine, I caught him using it to make colostrum so he could stomach tube orphan lambs and working out how he could make millions by marketing it to sheep farmers everywhere! :D

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 28/10/2015 12:01

I liked Cow & Gate for my boys. Aptamil went through them like water (seriously they were 36 weeks and less than 5 pounds, but they were easily having 7oz per feed of Aptamil, every couple of hours. Not normal!). SMA made them constipated Confused.

I didn't know it might take a while for my milk to come in, so although I really wanted to breastfeed, I was left crying my eyes out on my first midwife appointment after I got home as I'd been up all night trying to feed twins when I had no milk. The midwife made up a bottle each of 2oz and they slept for 6 hours - it was bliss Grin

If I were you I'd buy a few of the ready made cartons (or the made up bottles if you can find them) and use them if you need to. You might not. Just get one brand for now and reassess if you need to.

I used the hungry baby milk when they got to about 4 months, but really this was because I couldn't afford a pack a day on the regular milk. We weaned at 5 months and they continued with formula until 6. I used to fill up my bottles with boiling water and top up with boiling to warm then add the powder. Frowned upon I believe but it worked for us!

Chococroc · 28/10/2015 12:03

I make the bottles up one at a time as needed according to guidelines. I keep a jug of water in the fridge and put the bottle in there and it cools quickly, ever quicker if I add a few ice cubes to the jug.

mumhum · 28/10/2015 12:08

Aptamil 1 all the way (midwife and HV recommended even though not supposed to). Powder cheaper than ready made but latter can be handy.

mumhum · 28/10/2015 12:13

Both my DC have taken Aptamil at room temp. I sterilise bottles and fill with cool boiled water. Add powder when required, shake and feed. Bottles kept made with water no more than 24 hrs. Important thing is not to keep mixed formula at room temp for more than 2 hrs. HV suggested all this to me and it's great not to have to warm bottles etc.

Chattymummyhere · 28/10/2015 12:14

Aptamil for both of mine and it was recommended by the midwife.

Aptamil first, cow and gate middle and Sma being the one where they saw most issues.

Bottles make one at a time, we have invested in a perfect prep machine for this baby

SquirrelledAway · 28/10/2015 12:15

Both of mine thrived on SMA. Ready made cartons are great if you're out and about.

I used to make up 4 bottles at a time, flash cool under the cold tap and then store at the back of the fridge, and I used a microwave to heat them up - on the advice of a SCBU nurse friend, who couldn't believe I was faffing around with jugs of hot water to warm the bottle. They were all used within a few hours (greedy babies - they were both like sludge pumps).

Alisvolatpropiis · 28/10/2015 12:22

Poh I didn't say that there had been harshness, merely that it was rude to question. Because it is. The op wasn't asking for opinions on how she is choosing to feed her baby.

Levels are breastfeeding are falling because (physical issues for mum/baby aside) women don't want to do it, no amount of support or heavy handed pressure is going to change that, I don't think.

I tried, as it happens, hated it and if I had continued there is not a doubt in my mind that I'd have ended up with PND.

Formula isn't poison, it is a perfectly valid alternative to breastmilk.