7 month old - follow on milk? Also thermometer for water?

[Trillian42]

Sorry if silly question, was EBF til now. We've started DD on one formula feed a day & are using first milk in the cartons - should I switch to the Follow On versions?

Also, have had problems locating a thermometer to check temp of water for powdered formula - where did you all get yours?

Thanks :)

I have no idea about the follow on milk as
my baby is only 3 months.

You don't need a thermometer for the water though. Just boil your kettle and let it cool for a bit-no longer than 30mins though.

Have a look here

hope that helps!

i also have a 7 month old previously ebf, now at the childminder 3 days, so having some formula - ( I dont want to pump at work) i was also using cartons, now a tub. My tub says boil the kettle and then leave it for 30 mins before adding to powder, after which you need to check the temp- i dont take this literally- the temp gets checked on my hand, or i have a little suck

I have recently got a good thermometer from mothercare tho.

How are you finding the changeover? Are you still bf at all?

Don't switch to follow-on, it's unnecessary and first milk is better for them.

Agree with Moon UnitAlpha - follow on is only there to get round the advertising ban on breast milk substitutes.

First milk is closer to breast milk and therefore more appropriate for your LO.

HTH

I never bothered with follow-on for either of my dds, they were ff from birth. I cooled my kettle (1 litre) for 30 mins before making up powdered formula. I kept a seperate kettle for making the formula so it didn't interfere with my copious tea making abilities and found it really handy. Good luck

Excellent, thanks for the guidelines. Way easier than a thermometer.

I was worried about not using the follow on milk as I understood it contains more iron and with the new study suggesting babies should be weaned before 6 months ( by the way) because of lack of sufficient iron in breastmilk, thought maybe I was doing the wrong thing?

thegauntlet Still BFing - have just dropped one feed (out of 12+ ) a day, but planning to drop a few more so DD can be fed in creche from 9-6. It currently takes 45mins to get 80mls/3ozs into her, so is a pain! But the key for her seems to be that she controls the bottle so letting her treat it as a game for now. It's literally only a few days since she'd take a bottle at all after a long time trying (originally with EBM).

Most of the iron in formula can't be digested anyway, so any extra in follow on is a pointless gimmick. Breastmilk has less iron but it's in a different form that actually can be digested.

Got a leaflet from the HV ages ago about milks - follow on milks are not recommended or needed apparently. Also states this in the NHS Scotland booklet about weaning that I was given last week. Their advice is to use first milks until 1 year old, when you can change to cow's milk. Which makes me a bit when I see follow on / hungry baby etc on sale.