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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Aptamil email saying baby should sleep through at 17 weeks?

35 replies

MamaMaiasaura · 18/02/2012 11:34

What utter bollox and saying that you should give Watertown break the habit? Seriously wtf? 17 weeks is a time for growth spurts and development milestones. The other alternative they suggest is to wean or hungry baby formula. Breastfeeding not even mentioned. I only joined club for free toy tho Grin. However if I was a first timer And leaa savvy imight believe all they say.

OP posts:
fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 18/02/2012 11:36

It's clearly bollocks, but that's what you get from taking advice from a company with a product to sell. They're hardly going to push breastfeeding, no matter what they say. I thought that advertising formula for the under 26 weekers wasn't even allowed?

JiltedJohnsJulie · 18/02/2012 13:36

Well according to this study half of 12 month olds need parental intervention to get back to sleep.

Email them and ask which studies they are basing their information on Grin.

GodisaDj · 18/02/2012 13:42

mama can u email me the email? I know a midwife who actively campaigns against this kind of thing. She complained the other week because Asda were selling formula at a reduced rate.

I believe (don't quote me) that the can't advertise formula to under 12 months.

I'm with u though, wtf, sleeping through at 17 weeks! Bloody dream land!! Grin

Original poster
MamaMaiasaura · 18/02/2012 14:14

Yup will forward email but need address

OP posts:
Original poster
MamaMaiasaura · 18/02/2012 14:19

I just emailed apitimal back

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 18/02/2012 14:24

Oooh, what have you said?

Original poster
MamaMaiasaura · 18/02/2012 14:33

I asked if they could please provide me with the details of the studies on which their information is based, in particular a baby of 17 weeks should be sleeping through. . I found it absurd to feed wager to 17 week old baby in the night should they wake to break the habit, or alternativlely to feed them formula to make them sleep through. I asked why there was no mention of breastfeeding and how they could be recommending formula in a baby of 17 weeks when I believed the regulations prohibited this prior to 26 weeks.

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 18/02/2012 17:10

Excellent. Bet you don't get a reply though.

nannyl · 18/02/2012 17:14

i think when you apply for the toy, you tick the box allowing them to tell /advertise formula to you

I was as cross when i got that email a few weeks ago...

the 22 week one (that i got this week) really irritated me too
(they underline the words anemia then aptimal follow on milk implying (or trying to imply IMO) that without their follow on milk your baby will get aneamia

Original poster
MamaMaiasaura · 18/02/2012 17:32

I always check (or uncheck) boxes for advertising. I wonder wether there wast an option for this. I'll be emailing at the 22 week one too. Nice toy tho Grin

OP posts:
tiktok · 18/02/2012 17:32

In the UK, it is not illegal for formula manufacturers to inform you of their products when you have made contact with them.

This is why they have 'baby clubs' and 'care lines' and pieces of cheap tat masquerading as toys which turn babies into human advertisements for the product.

It's quite simple: these clubs and telephone services and tat exist solely as a marketing exercise to promote formula feeding. They pretend to be services to support mothers.

You don't, surely, expect decent information to come with this sort of exercise?

tiktok · 18/02/2012 17:35

Please don't call it a 'free toy', by the way.

Formula is expensive and one of the reasons is the ££££££ that goes on marketing and advertising and PR.

Mothers who use formula are paying, so the country's babies can have a soft toy :( It's not 'free' at all.

Original poster
MamaMaiasaura · 18/02/2012 19:12

Tiktok Blush you are quite right and yup cute polar bear ploy worked.

OP posts:
nannyl · 28/02/2012 09:13

just got week 24

"now need more vitamins, minerals and calories than milk alone can provide, so it's important to start introducing a healthy, balanced, mixed diet."

should this not be week 26?

oh and another reminded that they "need" follow on milk from 6 months due to low iron.

ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets · 28/02/2012 09:18

I've just started giving follow on milk as DS is 6 months, but it is more expensive. Can I stick to the regular stuff then?

nannyl · 28/02/2012 10:02

you can

first milk is fine (and advised) from birth - 12 months

ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets · 28/02/2012 12:38

Thank you

LiamsMummyJaz · 28/02/2012 13:13

I must be a lucky one then my DS slept through at 6 weeks and hasn't woken up before 7 since. He's now 16 weeks Grin

ceeveebee · 28/02/2012 13:41

Yep, me too, my DTs have been sleeping through from 11pm to 7am since 12 weeks (so 3 weeks ago). Mix fed with Aptimal funnily enough.
Never gave them water during the night though, only EBM.

Gina Ford also recommends giving water during the night when they are 12weeks, and says they should be sleeping through by then too...

showtunesgirl · 28/02/2012 14:18

Giving water at 12 weeks is unecessary as well as dangerous.

4madboys · 28/02/2012 14:35

i dont think its that unusual for a baby to go through a phase of 'sleeping through' by that i mean a good chunk of 6-8hrs etc BUT most babies will wake again ie sleep regression at 4mths, teething ,colds, growth spurts etc this is all normal and just because your baby has slept through once or even a for a few weeks doesnt mean you should expect them to always do it and babies under 6mths taht are not being weaned do NOT need water and it can actually be harmful. bfed babies get all they need through bmilk and those on formula get the water they need in the formula (as long as you make it up as per instructions) ie the right amount of scoops to the correct amount of water, they dont need extra fluid.

ceeveebee · 28/02/2012 15:12

I fully agree, have never given water either in the night or the day.

Wonder whether Gina advises Aptimal as their advice is so similar?

cravingcake · 28/02/2012 20:37

Ooohhh, interesting thread. Just wanted to add that a mum at the baby group I go to has twins who are 18 weeks old and one is exclusively breastfed, the other is formula fed and both her babies are thriving, feeding well, gaining weight at similar rates and both sleeping through from 7pm to around 6am (she said now in seperate cots as they were waking each other up). My DS is the same age and mixed fed (2 bottles of formula and the rest is BF on demand every day) and is sleeping almost identically (6pm to 5am).

All companies want to sell their product and as advertising goes in any business/industry they prey on our weaknesses - so will obviously say that their formula is the best/closest to breastmilk/kindest/nicest/has the best or most nutrients etc to get you to buy more or stay with their brand.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 28/02/2012 21:42

My two were both exclusively bottle fed and did sleep from 7-7 at 10 and 12 weeks in their own rooms. They were on cows milk at 7 months in unsterilized bottles too. How times appear to have changed!

DrCoconut · 01/03/2012 00:07

Wow, all these amazing sleepers! DS1 didn't sleep through once until 15 months. DS2 is now approaching 11 months and doesn't sleep through. Various people have said to give him water instead of milk and there does seem to be some kind of insinuation that sleeping through is a measure of your parenting ability. I accept that an 11 month old's needs are different to a younger baby but if he's waking and asking for "abooooooo" (which we think could be an attempt at boob!) then he gets it. For one thing it's easier when you have work the next day.