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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Help - only shop I can get to has wrong age formula

30 replies

LadyThompson · 19/12/2010 16:18

I have an 11 week baby and live in a rural area which has had heavy snow. The car is stranded half a mile away and won't budge, and we walked in the snow to the nearest shop but they only had the formula which is supposed to be suitable from 6 months. Will it harm her? The only other formula we have is for her 2 yr old sister and I guess that would be worse. Or is it all the same?

OP posts:
sleeplessinseatle · 19/12/2010 16:25

Could you call the helpline number on the formula packet? Or do they have the right age in a different brand?

Shamechanger · 19/12/2010 16:28

I don't think its a good idea to give her this. Have you totally run out of other formula? I take it you are completely FF? I would call round any friends with sim age babies who live nearby, or call a cab with 4wd to bring you to another shop, or go (or send DH) for a long hike to another shop. Or see if anyone from MN nearby can help!

shinyshoesandglitterypoos · 19/12/2010 16:29

It's all milk - it won't hurt her. It may not be ideal but better than starvation frankly.

MoonUnitAlpha · 19/12/2010 16:32

It's probably ok for a one off, but I'd call the helpline and check with them.

I doubt it will harm her, but might be harder to digest or upset her tummy a bit.

BookcaseFullofBooks · 19/12/2010 16:32

Would you be happy to say whereabouts you are?

Original poster
LadyThompson · 19/12/2010 16:36

Sleepless, I will call the helpline (if they are open, which I doubt). I am not bothered about the brand! It is a tiny village shop in a rural area. It's amazing they have any formula at all.

Shamechanger, she is FF. I don't know any other mothers nearby and even if the car wasn't stranded the roads are impassable.

But thank you for your help, I appreciate it. I have enough of the right formula to last until the morning. The next nearest shop is about a 10 mile hike.

OP posts:
BoysAreLikeDogs · 19/12/2010 16:44

your HV might have some, or the surgery?

eviscerateyourmemory · 19/12/2010 16:50

Do you have any neighbours at all (or any with a fwd)? Someone who was going to a shop might be willing to get you some formula.

Or if you call your HV in the morning they might be able to suggest something. In a very rural area people might be willing to go 'above and beyond' the call of duty by helping out in this sort of situation (I heard of nurses delivering food to certain patients in the last lot of snow). If someone was passing they might be willing to bring you something.

tiktok · 19/12/2010 16:52

It's not 'all milk'.

Follow on is too high in sodium for a baby of 11 weeks.

LadyT: I hope you get sorted...you are an emergency case and I would hope the health service could assist you somehow.

Original poster
LadyThompson · 19/12/2010 16:55

Thank you everyone. Tiktok, that's really useful to know - thank you. Surgery is a ten mile round walk, and no neighbours with a 4WD. Our normal car might be ok but we have a rubbish hirecar as our car is being fixed.

I think I will have to get up at the crack of dawn and do the ten mile walk myself before DP goes out. I would rather do that than give my precious DD2 something that's too high in sodium.

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyThompson · 19/12/2010 17:00

Have just compared the sodium content and the 0-6 months stuff is 0.016 and the 6+months is 0.02 so not a lot in it but they have such tiny bodies.

OP posts:
eviscerateyourmemory · 19/12/2010 17:05

Even if surgery is 10 miles from you its possible that someone eg DN or HV might be coming to your area.

Have you tried appealing locally eg with Twitter, or ?namechange and reveal your location on here? This is the sort of situation where most people would help out if they could.

rainbowinthesky · 19/12/2010 17:05

WHere is dp going out to?

Original poster
LadyThompson · 19/12/2010 17:05

Eviscerate, I will give it a thought. Thank you.

OP posts:
shirleyhyypia · 19/12/2010 18:39

Where are you? Rough area?? I dont have any formula, but you can borrow my boobs, lol :)

MumNWLondon · 19/12/2010 19:13

Actually would be best for village shop to stock stage 1 formula since that is suitable for all - might be something to mention to them once the snow has gone.

I agree about calling GP, and also calling round people who live near - and asking friends on facebook.

KenDoddsDadsDogEatsTinsel · 19/12/2010 19:16

Would defo do an appeal on here. Bet there is someone who can help. Mumsnetters love an emergency!

KenDoddsDadsDogEatsTinsel · 19/12/2010 19:16

Oh and ring your local hospital delivery suite. Am sure they won't mind helping.

Original poster
LadyThompson · 19/12/2010 19:32

Trouble is, the roads in the village are so very bad I am not sure many people would be able to get to us.

Um, I don't actually have any local friends, on FB or otherwise. I know that makes me sound like a Billy No Mates but I am a rather reluctant refugee from London and haven't settled here brilliantly, and we are in fact moving to another village after Christmas so I am ashamed to say that I guess I haven't made much effort Blush

Local hospitals: main one 15 miles or more away, a smaller one about 8 miles away.

I think the HV is a good call. I will ring her tomorrow. She is bound to know if there is a Mum with a tiny baby in the village.

Thank you very much, everybody. I have lived here since my eldest daughter was born 2 years ago and I miss London so desperately. I feel incredibly cut off here, even when it isn't snowing!

It seems unlikely that DP will get to work tomorrow unless he walks 15 miles so if the HV can't assist I will send him on a long walk Smile

OP posts:
KenDoddsDadsDogEatsTinsel · 19/12/2010 19:57

Found this on the Heinz nurture website
What is Follow-on Formula?

Follow-on formulas are designed for older bottle-fed babies and most are casein-dominant. They contain higher levels of iron, protein and other nutrients compared with Starter infant formulas. Because of the higher nutrient levels, follow-on formula is not suitable for infants under the age of 6 months. It is not necessary to change to a follow-on formula at 6 months if your baby is happy on starter infant formula.

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 19/12/2010 20:00

where are you?
i am in the north west and can try and get something to you.

Original poster
LadyThompson · 19/12/2010 20:02

Thank you Charlotte, so incredibly kind. But I'm at the opposite end of the country...

OP posts:
littleducks · 19/12/2010 20:13

Did you call the helpline? They may be able to offer some kind of temporary advice (like making the formula up weaker or something) until you can get some of the right type

Did you bf at all? (You dont have to answer this) perhaps if you did and have recently given up you could try and see if you have any milk if you don get desperate

Hope your HV/a kind MNer can come to your aid!

Original poster
LadyThompson · 19/12/2010 20:18

Littleducks - now have a paediatrician's advice and apparently as Tiktok pointed out, the 6 months+ stuff has 25% more sodium. However, if we alternate that with what we've got it shouldn't hurt her kidneys short term Sad But I don't fancy this at all and would rather one of us had a very very long walk.

But the good news is I think I had miscalculated what we have left and we could get through longer than tomorrow morning, by which time things might have improved or I will have been able to get some from a local mum via the HV.

OP posts:
sleeplessinseatle · 19/12/2010 21:34

Could you see if tesco or waitrose will deliver? They sometimes have last minute slots if you are willing to pay a higher delivery charge?
Have seen their vans making it through quite thick snow.