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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

FF advice needed!

16 replies

Lottiedoubtie · 19/12/2014 20:59

So after assuming I would BF, here I am with 3 month old FF DS and I'm struggling with a couple of issues...

Firstly he is moving up the centiles and still feeding every 3-4 hours (day and night) the HV has suggested hungry baby milk. I vaguely know that both blindly following HV advice and hungry baby milk are controversial, but can anyone tell me why?

Also thinking ahead to the future... I've also heard that follow on formula is mostly marketing guff - but do people mean it's pointless for BF babies or all babies? Can FF babies stay on first milk after 6 months or is that a stupid idea and by then he'll need follow on milk nutritionally?

Thanks in advance...

OP posts:

PotteringAlong · 19/12/2014 21:06

They can stay on first milk! Follow on milk was developed because they can advertise it, there's no reason to buy it unless you want boots advantage points although I wouldn't admit that on here

I think hungry baby milk is harder to digest but I'm not sure.

Original poster

Lottiedoubtie · 19/12/2014 21:10

Thanks . I get that they can advertise follow on so that's why they sell it. But it's still mystifying my sleep deprived brain as to why they do not make it clearer that they can stay on first milk!

OP posts:

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 19/12/2014 21:25

It is perfectly safe for him to stay on first milk. Some people like to switch because the rules on things like discounts are relaxed (that's why it was invented). Either is fine. The companies don't make it clear that you can stay on first milk because they like being able to advertise to you.

A three month old feeding every 3-4 hours is perfectly normal. Why on earth does your HV want to stretch this any longer?

Hungry baby milk is controversial because it has no added nutritional benefit. It just sits heavier in their stomach and is harder to digest.

tiktok · 19/12/2014 23:20

Normally it would be sensible to ask your Hv to explain about hungry baby milk but as she has raised the issue because she seems for some reason think three to four hours is a short gap between feeds maybe she is not well informed.

Hungry baby milk is not 'modified' and because of this the protein content is less easy to digest (altering the whey to casein ratio is how it is 'modified'). Standard first formula is whey dominant; 'hungry' baby formula is casein dominant.

Calorie content is about the same.

Your baby does not need and will not benefit from follow on.

Original poster

Lottiedoubtie · 20/12/2014 02:35

Thanks.

HV says he should be going longer at night now. As indeed are some of the other babies I know of the same age (both Bf and FF). Is this not advisable/desirable at this point?

She also says because he is moving up the centiles- started on the 50th has moved gradually up, now between the 75th-91st that he is putting on weight too fast and needs to take in less milk. Is the hungry milk a safe way of doing this? Or is it all rubbish and I shouldn't be trying to do this do you think?

OP posts:

anothernumberone · 20/12/2014 02:46

This link from the nhs is good at giving information on the different formula types. The one you are asking about is the casein based formula ie hungry baby formula. www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/types-of-infant-formula.aspx

SparklyReindeerShit · 20/12/2014 02:46

3-4 hours between feeds is still totally normal for his age and people are lucky if theirs sleeps through at this stage.
At 3mo he's still finding his centile and these first few months growth is massive. I really wouldn't worry about that.
I'm tempted to say don't listen to the hv at this point.

tiktok · 20/12/2014 09:08

Speak to another HV, Lottie.

Original poster

Lottiedoubtie · 20/12/2014 12:47

Trouble is she's the 'best!' One there- everyone in clinic fights to see her! There are two others, one weighed him and forgot to write it down one week (I had to queue again because she hadn't told me either) and the other has given me such gems of advice like 'lay him down upstairs at 7, go down and have an evening, feed him at 11, then 7am, simple'. So I'm not really inclined to trust any of them...

OP posts:

Original poster

Lottiedoubtie · 20/12/2014 12:49

On the other hand he went 5 hours between feeds from 2.15-7.15 so maybe he is 'getting it' with no change in milk? Or maybe it was a fluke...

OP posts:

Original poster

Lottiedoubtie · 20/12/2014 12:52

Just read the link, thanks! So NHS website says no evidence it works... Why are NHS employees peddling it then?

All so confusing!

OP posts:

loudarts · 20/12/2014 12:52

I used hungry baby milk with my first as she would only go 2 hours between feeds and was told I should not be giving it to her as she will get fat. (The doctors exact words) I kept using it and she didn't get fat but it also didn't seem to make much difference in the length of time between feeds

Chunderella · 23/12/2014 14:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Lottiedoubtie · 23/12/2014 15:55

Thanks

I'm convinced on both fronts about not giving hungry baby and not switching to follow on. DH would like to use follow on, but I didn't know that about the iron and constipation- so that might help put him off! Official NHS advice (not just what a random HV says) is enough to convince me but DH didn't grow up in Britain and is consequently a lot more sceptical about NHS advice in what ever form it comes in!

OP posts:

Redling · 23/12/2014 21:00

My 4 month old goes 3-4 hours and wakes 2-3 times a night to feed, I've always thought that was totally normal! Sometimes he wants to feed loads in the evening and sleeps longer, sometimes not. If I can't change it I try not to worry :)

Redling · 23/12/2014 21:06

Also I started BF, then had to express for 2 months and now FF but I've always fed him in the same manner, some days 2oz an hour snacking, sometimes as I say he'll have hardly any in the morning then guzzling all afternoon/early evening. HV seem to think FF babies are going to be routine fed just because they are FF but I still do totally on demand (it wastes loads as I make up big bottles in case and he might snack, but I don't see an alternative as I do what he says!) I don't think a FF baby is any more likely to do big regular feeds or sleep through. It's still milk and they'll still take as much as they want at a time regardless. Mine also can drink a 3oz or 6oz bottle and still wake 3 hours later!

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