Is follow on milk necessary?

[Keznel]

Is it necessary to change to follow on milk at 6months? DD is currently on aptamil first milk (she's 4months). Have asked my HV advice about this but she was very non committal, and said it was up to me, that she'd 'probably' be fine on first milk to 1 year old. However the ads say it has extra iron extra so am I denying her iron by not switching?! Any advice would be appreciated

No, you're fine with 1st milk. They are allowed to advertise follow on but not first milk, which is why the stuff about the iron etc. They don't need it, it's a marketing gimmick. However from 6 months follow on is safe for them so if it was on offer or you couldn't get your usual brand of first milk it would be fine to use follow on, but you don't need to.

Ignore the ads, they just want you to buy their formula. Your child will get plenty of iron from a balanced diet, so don't worry.

Had the same concern Hv was certain no need to switch. I also looked at the ingredients. Very very little difference.

Hope that helps x

NHS recommend first milk til 12 months then cow milk.

Thanks . A friend really confused me by saying you should follow the 1,2,3 of aptamil milks - first, hungry, then follow on!! I argued with her that first milk was ok to a year, but she was so sure of herself I was beginning to doubt myself! Will be sticking with first milk

It is definitely not necessary to switch. The advantage of doing so is that follow on milk is sometimes on special offer and you can collect nectar points on it. Oh and there is no government health warning on the side. I didnt switch with dd1 but I have this time.

No, I have 3 daughters and just used first milk for a year for my elder two, but I switched to follow on for dd3 as it was cheaper, can be sold on offer and I can get points on it. Absolutely no need to change but it made a difference to my budget this this time. Oh and I just went straight to cows milk at 12 months.

Oops x posted Must read properly and not get distracted by the Tweenies News.

I have an 8mo DS and he's still on 1st milk didn't seem a good reason to change.