Feeding a 3m baby follow on milk - anyone do this?

[Suffolkblush]

Evening all,

Got my ds weighed today - 15 weeks and 15lbs! Mentioned to the health staff that he's still feeding very little and often (with 3 night feeds, gah!), even with the switch from breastmilk to hungry baby formula about a week ago.

She suggested that I start him on the next stage of milk now as it contains more curds which will fill him up more. Has anyone tried this?

I'm just feeling a bit hesitant as although I'm assuming it's ok (otherwise why would she suggest it) the packaging does say for 6 months plus and ds is just over three.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

they are not all the same at all. First milk is whey dominant, hungry milk/follow on milk are casein dominant. Follow on milks are higher in iron and sodium and arent suitable before 6 months.

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/types-of-infant-formula.aspx#close

And Comfort milk is lower in lactose. If it wasn't, I'd still be covered in spit up 24 hours a day....

I know someone who worked in a baby formula milk factory and all the milk powder went into differently labelled cans. Formula companies just want your money and will do anything to make you think you need more formula

well mine are 15 and 19 and they were weaned at 12 weeks . DS on follow on from about four months and dd on cows from about 6 months - just like the French. DS is 6'2" and played first xv, first xi footie and first xi cricket and is off to Oxford in September. DD hasn't had a day off school for two years although is only 5'4" (the cows milk might have stunted but I thinkg it's because her grandmas are respectively 5.0, 5.3, 5.4, and 5.5 (great and ord).

Mine seem to have survived OK - as did I and my mum started give me rusk at 6 weeks!

well it must be ok for everyone then if you were all ok! Cows milk is low in iron and other necessary vitamins and is not a complete food for babies. It is not a race to get them weaned first and onto cows milk as quickly as possible.

No it isn't but times change and sometimes people make non contemporary decisions that might be frowned upon but aren't necessarily bad and don't necessarily cause long lasting damage.

It would be perfect if every family never made a mistake or did anything vaguely atypical but life isn't like that and sometimes people need some reassurance that everything will be OK in spite of decisions rather than because of them.

FFS my mother was giving me ribena at about 6 weeks and oddly enough I survived.

Did they advise you to stop breastfeeding too?

How can you offer those reassurances though? You have no idea if a child weaned at 12 weeks is going to be absolutely fine or end up with life-long gut problems.

I think there has been some crossed wires/miscommunication there.

HVs do make errors, but they normally know that follow on milk is really not suitable for babies under six months. It has too much iron in it and is not sufficiently 'modified' for a young baby.

I have never heard of an HV recommending follow on for a young baby. Her explanation about the curds indicates she thinks she is talking about 'stage 2' or 'hungry baby' formula, as there is no difference in curd formation between follow on and 'stage 2' - they are both casein dominant and have the same curd formation.

OP - just phone her and say you are confused and ask her to clarify.

Debs you are talking rubbish, you really are. Your friend at the factory is either having you on or has not been in a position to evaluate the contents of the packaging.

Formula production is pretty closely regulated, nationally and internationally. The ingredients printed on the pack have to be an accurate reflection of what is in the pack - it would be a major crime if this was not the case. Just occasionally there is a scandal where formula is seriously contaminated and babies are harmed - I can't recall any in the UK though in recent years.

This is the main risk of formula production - not that the ingredients end up all the same regardless of packaging, but contamination of the contents at some stage of processing. In the UK, this is responsible for occasional recalls of product, usually before the product reaches the shelves of the stores.

OP, why not try first milk? It's easier to digest than the hungry baby milk and less likely to cause discomfort. My friend's baby fed more on hungry baby formula as he was having digestive problems and was sucking for comfort.

Also, why are you planning on weaning at 18-20 weeks? It's best to wean a baby when they show signs of being ready. You can't know when that will happen. It will probably happen somewhere around 6 months but it's best to watch and wait. Baby rice won't satisfy a hungry baby. If they're hungry, milk really is the best option.

NearTheWindmill, anecdote does not cancel out research. Early weaning is not recommended across the population. Saying it didn't affect you doesn't mean it's safe. I walked into the road today without looking and didn't get run over. Now, was I lucky or is walking out in the road without looking a good idea?

but why are you giving him hungry baby straight from breastmilk? It makes no sense whatsoever. Isn't first milk ideal for them at that age?

You don't have to answer as it's none of my business... it's just perplexed me.