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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:
carabos · 28/10/2015 19:46

Fascinating thread. Can I ask a couple of really silly questions - never fed formula, so clueless about the process?

Why do you settle on one brand? Breast milk varies from day to day and the taste is influenced by what the mother eats, also impact on baby's tummy and bowels, so wouldn't it be ok to use different brands?

What does the baby eat when in the hospital? In my day we were in for a week and the non- bf mums were given pre made bottles of formula for their newborns. Does everyone come home so quickly after the birth that they don't feed while in there? What about people who have to stay for one reason or another?

This is one of those threads that makes you realise there's a whole parallel universe out there that you're completely disconnected from Grin.

VenusVanDamme · 28/10/2015 19:47

Cow and gate has been good for us. DS started on their prem formula and then moved to the first milk.

One of the SCBU nurses said they found SMA made babies quite windy but my DNs were fine on it. The only downside I see to SMA is their ready made (200ml sizes) are in a carton rather than bottle like C&G or Aptamil and my friend definitely finds that a faff when out and about.

Pyjamaramadrama · 28/10/2015 19:55

Carabos it's hardly a parallel universe.

People tend to stick with one brand because swapping can upset the babies tummy.

I breastfed in hospital but you can ff there too.

Bungleboggs · 28/10/2015 19:56

Def cow and gate for me. I chose mine as it was made by the same manufacturers that produced the premature formula that my little one had in nicu.

VenusVanDamme · 28/10/2015 20:17

Bungle - a fellow nutriprem baby?

PrimalLass · 28/10/2015 20:23

Aptimil. DS was mixed-fed and we were given SMA in the hospital - it reeked and he hated it. The first time I offered him a bottle of Aptimil he necked it.

Purplepoodle · 28/10/2015 20:26

Cow and gate with all mine. Hospital gave us it so we continued.

Only1scoop · 28/10/2015 20:28

Aptamil from day one worked wonders for us.

Amazing stuff.

passmethewineplease · 28/10/2015 20:30

Cow and gate or Aptamil. SMA made our DD constipated for some reason...

I made bottles up by adding fresh boiled water, then cooling them down in the sink of freezing cold water, then storing st back of fridge (not the door as this has a lower temperature due to be opened a lot) the WHO recognises this as the second best method when making fresh isn't always convenient.

Congratulations btw! Flowers

ShamelessBreadAddict · 28/10/2015 20:31

carabos, I'll just try and answer some of your questions with my own experience.

My baby was readmitted to hospital a few days after being born (we were discharged the day after birth initially). I was 'EBF' till DC became very lacklustre at home a few days later. As it turned out, DC had lost far too much weight and was readmitted to hospital where they fed DC through a tube. Think this was due to a number of things; dodgy latch, a baby who just wasn't very hungry by nature and both of us being a bit ill after several days' of stop start labour (I got readmitted myself but to a separate ward one day after DC). We never planned to ff, so didn't have any formula. Our hospital only provided C&G so that's what DC had. I have read a few posts on MN now advising that mums who might want to ff should bring in some formula as hospitals won't provide and I did see some mums feeding their newborns with formula which they had brought in themselves. However, most mums either hadn't planned to ff or had forgotten to bring any with them as they were mostly using the C&G provided by the hospital to begin with. I don't know if that was maybe because we were on NICU instead of the normal maternity ward though. After things settled down a bit and DC had 'graduated' from the very monitored NICU to one without incubators etc, my DH started bringing in bottles of pre-made C&G as we didn't want to take the piss and were in a better place to provide our own (were just a bit too shocked and worried before that and obviously didn't want to leave DC).

As you say, a whole parallel universe really. I certainly didn't expect to do any ff-ing so it was a bit strange when we started making up bottles at home. It was such a relief to be able to actually feed DC though and I will never criticise formula ever; it saved my DC's life!

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 28/10/2015 20:33

Miss I mix fed until four months and then bottled. I did a combo of breastfeeding and expressed milk, because my boys were so little they were very sleepy and it would sometimes take over an hour to feed them. Also breastfeeding twins is not discreet when out and about!

DS3 however was on time, latched on within minutes of being born and was a natural. Didn't lose any of his birthweight and I fed him till 14 months. He's four now and k kind of think he would still be doing it if he could! mummy's boy

MigGril · 28/10/2015 20:44

In the US I believe most people wash bottles in a dishwasher which you can do. Ever opened your dishwasher during the dry cycle? you'll find it full of steam this is effectively strealsing no need to do it again.
Plus as long as bottles are clean its not really an issue. The issue is killing the bugs in the powder as others have pointed out. Babies have died from this yes it's rare, but a rise you can eliminate altogether by making the formula up correctly.
I'm not even convinced I'd trust a perfect prep machine to do it as its not a device that has to be regulated.Even thought the manufactures claim it works, I'm not the trusting type with these sort of things.
As the WHO guidelines state you can make bottles up in advance and store them.

PrimalLass · 28/10/2015 21:05

Carabos - I mix-fed one child for 8 months and breast-fed the other for 22 months. I can honestly say that those choices were driven by them, not me.

I intended to EBF DS, but he was very large and got himself into a starving hungry screaming state so wouldn't latch for long. We settled on one formula because it made him happier than the other. We did two bottles a day plus breastfeeding until I had to stop at 8 months.

I FULLY intended to mix-feed DD and asked for formula at 8 hours after birth because of the horrendous first few days with DS. At 3 weeks old she started refusing formula and would projectile vomit. Again, I could do nothing about this - her choice. She refused cows milk until one day, at age 2, when she took a glass I was passing to DS and drank it. She is s contrary madam.

Beebar · 28/10/2015 21:11

Your breast milk? Better than from any old cow

SeveredHeadsDragOnTheFloor · 28/10/2015 21:20

Clearly you can't read, Beebar.

Pyjamaramadrama · 28/10/2015 21:23

There always has to be one doesn't there?

Only1scoop · 28/10/2015 21:24

Should have gone to Specsavers....

Pohtaytoh · 28/10/2015 21:26

Don't want to derail the thread but Alisvolat Flowers for what you went through. Experiencing bf issues can be a very lonely place to be, I know myself. I distinctly remember sitting in the very furthest corner of my sofa as far away as possible to my DH holding lo. I said to my DM I was tired of every moment i spent with LO being a struggle on bf, and that if lo didn't take to it in a week, i was moving on to formula. DH later told me he really thought I was on the verge of PND that night. I believe that a lot of women start wanting to bf, I believe that the NHS doesn't work hard enough forewarning mums of how hard it can be, that there is not enough nice support out there (I nearly slapped the BFN lady in the hospital - she alone nearly made me give up there and then!) and I believe a lot of people who experience issues bf their first child are understandably nervous to try bf with their next (every baby is different). I sometimes compare it to giving birth. You have a birthing plan, you want (for example) a vaginal birth but things take a different course and the best option for your baby is a caesarean. It doesn't necessarily mean that you shouldn't plan for and have a trouble free VBAC with your next child. It is every woman's right to decide for herself how she wishes to feed her baby, but I would hate for anyone's reason not to bf be because they are scared, they don't have support, they struggled with a previous baby and are worried to try again, or because they aren't aware of pumping or combi feeding (I wasn't as a ftm!)

I don't feel PP line of questioning was meant to be rude to Matty, or even question her reasoning, but to identify why she wanted to know about formula as it may influence advice given. For example ready made formula if you want it as an in case of emergency

I remember that feeling of total helplessness when I realised my pre baby plan on easy bf was not happening. I am so grateful we were able to get feeding on track after a long and difficult road, and I am still feeding 13 months on. Conversely my best friend who gave birth 3 weeks after me had no issues at all feeding, but just simply didn't enjoy it. I never ever judged her for moving on to formula, because it was what worked for her and her lo.

Matty apologies for derailing your thread, which I have to say is a wonderful example of how mums actually are outside of the media portrayal that we are all judging each other for our feeding choices. You have had wonderful advice from FF, Combi and BF mums

Pohtaytoh · 28/10/2015 21:27

Oh for gods sake Beebar you had to go and ruin in whilst I was typing about how nice everyone was being.

EnoughAlready999 · 28/10/2015 21:27

Those ready-to-use disposable bottles of formula must be awful for the environment.
OP - did you bf or ff your other children? Strange that you seem clueless about both feeding methods!

passmethewineplease · 28/10/2015 21:36

8 pages in though, not bad! thought it would be much sooner

ApplesTheHare · 28/10/2015 21:39

EnoughAlready Seems a little harsh Confused Can you not just support the OP and offer advice? Parenting is HARD... No reason for online anons to make it harder...

FattyNinjaOwlBecameAZombie · 28/10/2015 22:03

I've used c&g from birth with all 3 of mine.
I'm another who doesn't trust the perfect prep. Water has to be at least 70 degrees to kill bacteria in the formula, and I'm not convinced a "hot shot of water" is enough.
I make up 6 bottles at once, rapidly cool, then store at the back of the fridge. They all get used within 24 hours. After each bottle, I wash it and put in the cold water steriliser. It's easy. And if need warming a jug and a boiled kettle do it. Of you may get lucky like me and have a baby that takes straight from the fridge.

Good luck with everything OP. Hope breastfeeding works for you, but if not don't beat yourself up over it.

MERLYPUSSEDOFF · 28/10/2015 23:28

I started with Aptamil and switched to Hipp organic with my twins 7 yrs ago.

Don't think it makes any difference to be honest.

Just go with what's readily available (sold in 24hr supermarket).

CaoNiMao · 29/10/2015 01:37

Beebar - what if the OP was adopting her DC? You wouldn't know from her thread, so isn't it best not to make comments that could potentially be very hurtful?