Stage 2 hungrier cow and gate milk

[anonymous12345667]

Has anyone on here put their baby on stage 2 cow and gate milk? My health visitor says it's not needed but I just think my baby is so hungry all the time but I don't want to over feed him and stretch his stomach but I also want him to be full. He's also quite colicky at the moment aswell so that may have a part to play in the hunger pangs that actually might be wind, but even once I've winded him he's sucking his fingers and lips. Please help. First time mum and feeling like a failure I just want my baby to be full and happy and ease his colic as much as I can. My baby boy is 5 weeks old, 6 weeks old on Sunday.

Far too early for hungry milk. It doesn't have any more calories than first milk but is harder to digest and can cause constipation. How often is he feeding and how much is he taking?

Sucking fingers doesn't necessarily mean hunger; babies like to suck whatever they can get to and that's why dummies were invented.

Past 6 months, follow on milk can be given but if a bit of a gimmick. First milk is completely fine until 1, when the transition to whole cows milk can be made.

Before 6 months, it’s really quite dangerous to give follow on milk. Formula is strictly controlled and the ingredients in follow on milk are different to first. It contains too much iron, for example.

Colic can be caused by many reasons including over feeding or feeding too quickly. How many oz a day is he having and how often? Are you pace feeding?

OP isn't talking about follow on milk they are talking about hungry baby milk which has a higher casein/whey ratio than first milk. It is still marketed from birth but can be harsh on the digestive system as its harder to digest

It might make the colic symptom worse, so I'd be careful. What colic symptoms is he having @anonymous12345667?

There's also a danger that it will make him hungrier in the long run. It's more difficult to digest so is in their tummies for longer but has no more calories than first stage formula so they can actually end up being underfed.

The general rule for feeding them at this age is first stage formula at 2.5 floz per pound in weight. So if he's 11 pounds he should be having around 27.5 floz a day. Does that sound about right for him?

Stage 2 cow and gate is definitely follow on milk (www.candgshop.co.uk/shop/milks/follow-on-baby-milk/follow-on-milk-powder-800g.html)

But if OP meant hungry baby milk, my apologies. That is theoretically suitable for a newborn. But still a bit of a con. It isn’t more nutritious or have more calories than normal milk. It’s just filled with a heavier protein that is harder to digest, supposedly keeping them fuller for longer. There is no evidence they even do this though. I actually think it risks worsening colic, not make it better.

Stage 2 used to be hungry milk and stage 3 was follow on milk

These were the old style milks with stage 2 as hungry milk

@dementedpixie

Far too early for hungry milk. It doesn't have any more calories than first milk but is harder to digest and can cause constipation. How often is he feeding and how much is he taking?

Sucking fingers doesn't necessarily mean hunger; babies like to suck whatever they can get to and that's why dummies were invented.

My health visitor said the infant milk has enough nutrients he'll need until he can transition to cows milk, I just wanted to double check because different things work for different parents. Just wanted to see if it was worth considering but I'll definitely keep him on infant. He loves his dummy but he does end up spitting it back out and crying a lot and sucking his fingers, licking lips etc. I've tried everything from winding him again to see if I've missed any wind, cuddling, changing his nappy, clothes, rocking, trying to put to sleep etc and sometimes it just doesn't work. I hate the thought that he could be hungry or too hot or cold I check everything

@AliceW89

Past 6 months, follow on milk can be given but if a bit of a gimmick. First milk is completely fine until 1, when the transition to whole cows milk can be made.

Before 6 months, it’s really quite dangerous to give follow on milk. Formula is strictly controlled and the ingredients in follow on milk are different to first. It contains too much iron, for example.

Colic can be caused by many reasons including over feeding or feeding too quickly. How many oz a day is he having and how often? Are you pace feeding?

Thanks for the feedback! I'll take this on board! He did take his bottles quite quickly but we've started to slow them right down now and take more breaks between feeds for winding. I used to just wind in the middle of his feed but then he would fall asleep and not wake up for the rest and be hungry an hour and a bit later so I would wind him after his bottle but I'd rather take breaks and feed more often if needed tha him be quite gassy at the end of the night.

@BunnyRuddington

It might make the colic symptom worse, so I'd be careful. What colic symptoms is he having *@anonymous12345667*?

There's also a danger that it will make him hungrier in the long run. It's more difficult to digest so is in their tummies for longer but has no more calories than first stage formula so they can actually end up being underfed.

The general rule for feeding them at this age is first stage formula at 2.5 floz per pound in weight. So if he's 11 pounds he should be having around 27.5 floz a day. Does that sound about right for him?

Thanks for the feedback! He's started crying profusely and randomly throughout the day and can't be settled, he becomes stiff especially around the belly, he's always got hiccups and struggles to wind, I spend up to 1 hour per feed winding him easy. I've informed my health visitor and all I can do is just carry on doing just that, hopefully by 3 months he will be okay, just struggling mentally at the moment. 25oz total during day sounds right, although he often shows signs of hunger after having 5oz which I think can be due to colic aswell

@AliceW89

Stage 2 cow and gate is definitely follow on milk (www.candgshop.co.uk/shop/milks/follow-on-baby-milk/follow-on-milk-powder-800g.html)

But if OP meant hungry baby milk, my apologies. That is theoretically suitable for a newborn. But still a bit of a con. It isn’t more nutritious or have more calories than normal milk. It’s just filled with a heavier protein that is harder to digest, supposedly keeping them fuller for longer. There is no evidence they even do this though. I actually think it risks worsening colic, not make it better.

I did mean hungrier baby milk for new borns too! Sorry I'm new to this 😂

If his belly is hard, is he bloated as well? Any mucus in his poo?

y health visitor said the infant milk has enough nutrients he'll need until he can transition to cows milk, I just wanted to double check because different things work for different parents.

You shouldn't be taking advice on this from random people on the internet though.

You have a 5 week old baby - either consult medical professionals such as midwives, health visitors, GPs, paediatric staff, etc or authority online resources like the official NHS website.. NOT random strangers and anecdotes on the internet.

How are you getting on now @anonymous12345667? Is there any improvement?

Is he tall? He might be on his six week growth spurt as well.

If he’s hungry just give him more milk. He doesn’t need hungry baby milk.

Has your health visitor discussed with you on-demand feeding vs scheduled? Particularly at this stage, feeding little & often is needed.