what brand of ready made formula do you use? which is best?

[missytequila]

title says it all... just trying to decide which brand is best, not really concerned about price, just quality.

thank you for your opinions.

They're all the same, just choose the brand that's available from your nearest 24 hour shop!

They all try to convince you there's a difference but there isn't. Aptamil has cornered the middle class, yummy mummy set round here but there is nothing to chose between them. Go by cost and convenience.

I used Aptamil on occasion because I still BF and was told in the hospital (when I was told I had to give DS top up's) it's the closest to breastmilk...however like most of the things I was told in the hospital, it's probably not true.

Aptamil is very heavily marketed to healthcare professionals - more ads in the professional journals, more 'free' training days, more gifts and so on than other brands. The result is that more mothers are recommended it by their midwives and others.

Formula has to be made to international and national specifications so there is not much room to manoevre in manufacturing.

There is some evidence that sticking to so-called first formula (all the brands have one) is probably a bit better for younger babies, as the protein content has undergone more changes which make it more appropriate.

But beyond that, whatever actual brand you choose is persona preference - you could buy the tin you liked the look of :)

Tiktok - how can they get away with this? I thought gifts, training days etc were prohibited in the Code?

Too late for questions for Mike, but I think he will have a hard time picking the questions out of that thread anyway

Yes, gifts are proscribed under the WHO code.

But the Code is not law in the UK.

Plenty of HCPs take gifts from the formula manufacturers - it is common place.

Anything from a pencil to a scholarship to a training day - many of them don't care...

They think it's 'free'.

It isn't.

FF mothers and babies pay for it all, through the high price of formula.

I used SMA Gold with both dds, I really liked it, although I know a lot of Mums on MN aren't that fussed on it. Agree with poster that said check which formulas are stocked in nearest shops, chemists etc.

I chose SMA because the hospital I had dds in used it, and I didn't want to change.