Follow on milk

[Kaloobear]

My HV told me that follow on milk isn't strictly necessary as first milk gives babies all they need until they can have cow's milk. But is there a reason NOT to give it? Is it less nutritionally complete or something? I am tempted to switch to it purely because then I can get Boots points on it! But I obviously don't want to if it's less good for DD.

I aksed my HV the same Q a couple of days ago. My understanding is that the main difference is that Follow on Milk has more iron in, as the stores babies are born with dwindle around 6 months. However, if the baby is getting sufficient iron (and of course other nutrients from solids, then there is no reason to use Follow on Milk. ie: if the baby is getting everything it needs from solids, then either Follow on or First milk will do.

I think you can get deals/offers on follow on milk, whereas you can't with first milk, so it can be cheaper.

Sorry, that didn't answer your question - I'm not aware of any reason not to give it, no.

The extra iron is difficult for babies to absorb (it's a marketing gimmick really) so can cause constipation. And I think the ingredients that go into first milk as more tightly controlled by law.

It is primarily a marketing ploy - because it isn't deemed an "infant" formula it can be advertised and price promoted, establishing brand recognition for its other versions. You may find although the packet is cheaper it doesn't necessarily make as many feeds. Nutritionally the additional iron content is not easily absorbed and you may find it isn't as readily digested as first milk. When weaning you can introduce plenty of foods to balance the diet more effectively.

Hm, ok, so potential constipation don't sound good. She doesn't eat very much at all though-a few tsp of fruit at breakfast and a few tsp of veg at tea time. Am really struggling to get her to eat any finger food or any purée with lumps in, which is worrying me a bit. So maybe she would need extra iron?

I might try one small carton of it and monitor her bowels!!

Kaloo don't worry about how much she is eating at this stage. The iron stores don't disappear at 6 months, and ordinary formula has everything your child needs nutritionally.

As a pp said, follow on milk is a marketing ploy, it doesn't exist in those countries where formula companies are allowed to advertise formula for newborn babies. That tells you all you need to know.

As an advertising ploy it has worked incredibly well - even mums who don't use formula are worrying about whether their baby will have enough iron post 6 months. It's an amazing piece of social engineering, one I'm sure that will be the subject of a few postgrad research in the future.

God, it's amazing how cynical the marketing world is isn't it!! That would never have occurred to me as the reason for its existence. So bizarre!

I did switch to it as it was cheaper and it didnt cause constipation. I didnt switch due to extra iron but because I saved money!