what formula? are they all the same?

[stylostar]

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.

[PickledInAPearTree]

Sleepyhead how bizarre.

[perceptionreality]

One thing to bear in mind though - Aptamil was in cardboard packaging and I remember once some water got underneath a carton and ruined it so I had to throw it away and that was a waste of 10 quid!

[SparkyUK]

I think in terms of nutrients etc they are all really the same. I don't know why it didn't occur to us with DS1 who we mixed fed from week 3, but when we started DS2 on formula at 6 months we went for Hipp as it is organic. I've read loads of places that if you can only go organic on one thing it should be milk, and surely this must be even more true if you are an infant and it is the only thing you are ingesting. And unlike fresh milk, it is the same price, if not cheaper, than the other brands.

[DeDevilTail]

When I switched from BF to formula, I went for Aptamil simply because I knew it was the one my friend had used with her DC and figured that they'd done ok on it. After a few weeks, I switched to Hipp Organic because it was cheaper but it made DD constipated so I went back to Aptamil. I'm sure SMA or C&G might suit her just as well but I'm not prepared to risk the misery of constipation again when she's thriving on Aptamil. It may be a bit more expensive but it breaks down to only a few pence more per bottle. Not enough to incentivise me to change again.

[PickledInAPearTree]

No if your settled stick with it, if I FF again though I wont start on it unless its the last one I try!

I used it last time and HIPP DS was fine on both.

Bit odd about this HIPP business though that will def. put me off.

[PickledInAPearTree]

HIPP was cheaper when I bought it, but cunningly it was in a slightly smaller box. Still cheaper but not by as much as you think!

[AmandaPayne]

Pickled - You knew it was me? You mean from my rant on Aptamil last week you knew I'd show up on this thread. Or, oh goodness this is worse, my rant is so well known that you've just linked this user name to an old one. I do think I may be a leeeetle obsessed in my hatred of the polar bear brand .

[Zara1984]

They are definitely all the same nutritionally (based on what paed friends of mine have told me). DS will take any brand, BUT I have noticed on SMA (contains soy) that it makes him smell like peanuts and his poos were greener/stinkier.

[Zara1984]

Oh Amanda - here's an interesting addition to the "Aptamil is more pricey for no good reason" thing.

I was in New Zealand in December and January. DS is normally on Aptamil (no particular reason, mainly because it's what all my FF friends use too). Tried to choose the NZ brand formula most similar to Aptamil (even though they're all the same nutritionally I know, but I didn't want any tummy upsets on holiday!). In NZ this is a brand called Karicare Gold. It's obvious Karicare is the same as Aptamil (even if you don't compare the nutrition labels) - the blur tub has the same design except it's a brown bear instead of a polar beat etc etc. Anyway, they are now rolling out "Aptamil" as a separate product in NZ too - same tub design (brown bear etc), same nutritional content as Karicare, it just says Aptamil on the tub instead. Oh and IS ELEVEN DOLLARS MORE EXPENSIVE than Karicare!! WTF! That's about 6 pounds!!

This new and more expensive Aptamil was often sold out at the supermarket, too. They have to put limits on how many tubs you can buy at most shops because (I'm not stereotyping, I have friends that do this!) many Chinese people buy up NZ formula in bulk and sell/send back home because its very highly prized for it's quality. So the most expensive formula (Aptamil is the most expensive by quite a long shot) is the most desirable IYSWIM.

It was actually weird/interesting seeing all the different formula brands in NZ. Nestlé have one called Nan what a weird name!!

[Phineyj]

onswipe.investopedia.com/investopedia/#!/entry/veblen-good,5107f9b3d7fc7b56700b766b

Thank you, I shall use Aptamil as an example for my Economics students -- great example of high price making product more desirable!

[aamia]

Aptamil tastes disgusting btw and nothing at all like breast milk. Hipp tastes much better - closer to bm just a bit powdery in taste as you would expect.