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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

what formula? are they all the same?

61 replies

stylostar · 07/02/2013 19:47

I'm due with first dc in two weeks and still keeping an open mind on how ill choose to feed. I know breast is best but I have never liked the thought of breastfeeding which is one of the reasons why I've always had doubts about having children. Anyway, I am now and although I've decided to at least try and see how I get on,, I'm also worried about FF. If I do decide toFF , what formula do you use? Are they all fundamentally the same?

Please no pro breastfeeding advice- I know its thebest thing for my baby and believe me this has worried.me since before even TTC!!! I already feel so guilty for feeling this way.

OP posts:

RedPencils · 08/02/2013 13:57

Theyre all the Same.
Choose whatever they stock in your nearest shop. Traipsing to tesco 5 miles away at 11pm because you've run out with a screaming baby is nobodys idea of a good time.

PickledInAPearTree · 08/02/2013 14:04

I got aptiniled, tiktok! I'm old. Not sure about the dosh though.

There is also something in that it was a pound more, when you have the guilts it makes you feel you are doing your best?

Hipp organic is one of the cheapest, you can get in bulk from amazon too.

Anyway when you look into it you realise it's all gubbins and second what's at the local shop too!

milkymocha · 08/02/2013 15:46

Cow and gate :)

Parsnipcake · 08/02/2013 15:56

I am a foster carer of babies and have used all the formulas with no problems. Also, when an emergency baby arrives I have to use whatever I have to hand and have never had a problem with switching. I think a lot of it is myth. Ready made formula in all brands has a different viscosity to powdered, so some babies find the switch between ready made and powdered an issue, and I find powdered hipp seems to be thinner and more accepted by breastfed babies. I tend to use sma if I have the choice because every shop sells it and the travel bottles and tears are a very useful system, but I really wouldn't worry about which brand, babies thrive on all of them. :)

saycheeeeeese · 08/02/2013 15:56

I used hipp organic it was tge nicest tasting.

Don't feel guilty about ff, my dd is 18 mo and hasn't been unwell yet!

I don't think 'they're all the same' its usually people with little experience ffing that say that, SMA constipated DD, aptimil filled her with wind, my advice us to buy a carton of each type and try them all. Hipp was the cheapest and thankfully agreed with DD :)

saycheeeeeese · 08/02/2013 15:57

Oh and totally agree about the tosh from aptimil!! Don't get sucked in :)

PickledInAPearTree · 08/02/2013 15:59

I formula fed and I think they are all the same - by that they are nutritionally the same.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 08/02/2013 16:01

Aptimil worked best for dd1 but it's basically the sane as cow and gate only Difference is fish oil or something. It is however one if the more expensive ones. Try one if it agrees with your baby stick to it. Agree re getting one that is stocked locally in case of emergencies.

fishybits · 08/02/2013 16:05

Cow and Gate suited DD, Aptimal did not.

Floralnomad · 08/02/2013 16:07

How times change ! I suppose that's partly the encouraging everyone to BF and partly NHS cutbacks . Do they not do the little bottles of water anymore as well?

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 08/02/2013 16:11

They still provided then when I had dd2. And they also had the bottles of water as they gave me them to make up dd2s bottles

tiktok · 08/02/2013 16:14

They are all the same in that they have to, by international law, have the same nutritional profile - that does not mean they are all identical in every respect.

The biggest measurable difference between them is probably* the water with which they are made up in people's homes which is also 'the same' but not identical. Also, human being do not make up bottles to exactly the same dilution each time, even when they try to :)

I am guessing - have no real evidence to prove it!

saycheeeeeese · 08/02/2013 16:32

They're all the same nutritionally I agree, in that one isnt better than the other, but I think you need to try them all or at least a few to see which one suits your baby because, speaking from experience, my dd reacted very differently to a few of them.

That's all I was trying to say :)

Original poster

stylostar · 08/02/2013 17:25

Wow! Thanks for all the helpful advice guys. I really appreciate it. I did wonder why aptimil is more expensive. I guess expense doesn't necessarily mean better then! Xx

OP posts:

PickledInAPearTree · 08/02/2013 17:42

I think the general message is that they are all the same essentially so find whichever one suits you, seems to work ok for the baby, is easy for you to buy and suits your budget and dont feel that you are in any way picking the "wrong" one as essentially, they are nutritionally the same.

zoobaby · 08/02/2013 22:06

Hi Stylostar. I'm not a FF so don't know answer to this, but have a question that perhaps would help you make your decision. Again, don't even know if this is a real question or imaginary/mistaken. Basically, maybe you should consider how the different brands are prepared. I mention this because in the very early days I was paranoid about DS going hungry on BM so made sure I had some formula on hand. MIL read the tin (Aptamil) and said that it was different to the one her own daughter uses (SMA I believe). She said that it could be prepared in advance and allowed to stay in fridge etc whereas the Apta tin clearly stated not to do this. Yikes! Again, not sure if that's misinformation, and also sure that not everyone follows directions to the letter (I do as too paranoid), but good knowledge to have in advance.

PickledInAPearTree · 08/02/2013 22:09

The guidelines have changed ZOO and its the same for all powdered milk, there is a very specific way you need to make it up as they cannot guarantee its 100% sterile using water at 70 degrees fresh each time.

You might have had 2 brands as the rules changed on the box.

My last friend that had a baby said the MWs suggested using ready made for 6 weeks as this is sterile. To be honest I used ready made a LOT re the above guidelines, not great at night!

StarlightMcKenzie · 08/02/2013 22:12

Stylostar, congratulations on your soon-to-be newborn.

Probably the best idea imo would be to make sure you understand how to make up formula safely, and then look for the tin shape, equipment, whatever that best suits your lifestyle within those paramaters!?

sleepyhead · 08/02/2013 22:15

Oddly, I was looking at the Hipp site earlier this afternoon as I wanted to see if it was still vegetarian (it's not), and they are now saying that their powdered formula must be prepared with water between 50-60 degrees.

Apparently it's because they've added a probiotic which will be killed by higher temps . I wonder how they square that with the NHS guidance? It would put me off buying tbh.

PickledInAPearTree · 08/02/2013 22:15

Im happy to run through the guidelines OP if you want.

Its something I looked into a lot, plus I think there are good NHS guidelines.

Id certainly invest in some ready made cartons or bottles of whichever you decide at first when they are feeding very frequently or you will need a kettle on both hands!

I used a bit of both to keep the costs down.

PickledInAPearTree · 08/02/2013 22:18

Really sleepy? Thats interesting. I just had a quick peep at the WHO guidelines and 70 degrees was still mentioned.

Wonder how they can square that up.

WHO

sleepyhead · 08/02/2013 22:20

The probiotic isn't present in the Hipp ready made formula because it wouldn't survive the sterilisation process

AmandaPayne · 08/02/2013 22:21

Congratulations on your pregnancy. You have every right to choose how you feed your child. Like anything in parenting, I think it's great to keep an open mind and see how you feel when something is actually happening. It's a good philosophy in parenting generally not to have set ideas (whether it is for or against something) in advance.

You've had loads of responses, but I'm going to add my Aptamil rant anyway. It is not more expensive because it is better. It is more expensive to convince you it is better. I feel that's a pretty dishonest marketing technique and personally I would certainly see whether other formulas agree with your baby before trying Aptamil as a last resort.

PickledInAPearTree · 08/02/2013 22:23

I knew it was you! They are going to take a hit man out on you Amanda.

Im spreading the word as well. Polar Bear Bastards.

perceptionreality · 08/02/2013 22:24

I think it's a myth that any formula could even be compared with breast milk tbh. I used Aptamil for dd3 - I found SMA gold made her sick. I remember she much prefered it made up with powder than when I bought the cartons.

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