transition from first infant milk to follow on milk

[Volleyhang]

I am BF-ing all day and evening, then give half a bottle of formula some nights before she goes to bed, to my 6mo.

Is it now okay to give her half a bottle of the follow on milk (6months plus) instead of the first infant milk before she goes to bed?

You can, but I'm not sure why you would need to switch?

I never bothered with follow on milk with either of mine. I just stayed on the same formula until 12 months, then switched to dairy

I would just keep to the same formula then move to cows milk at 12 months. Absolutely no need to switch to a follow on milk

Of course you can but it makes no difference. You can use the infant stuff for a good while still.

you can switch but for you it would have to be a straight switch as you can't fade the follow on milk in.

we changed hipp organic 1st stage to follow on milk purely for financial reasons, it was often on offer 2 boxes at a reduced rate. I also give DS hippie organic good night milk before bed, whilst others say it makes no difference, my DS is now sleeping a good 8 hour stretch rather than 2blocks of four, but this could be other factors but I have noticed if I run out of good night milk and give him a normal bottle he will stir after about 5ish hours.

sorry I went off the topic then but in short, no reason you can't switch of you want to.

NHS guidance is that it's better to stay on 1st stage until 12 months, follow on milk isn't necessary.

www.nhs.uk/start4life/documents/pdfs/start4life_guide_to_bottle_feeding.pdf

If she's doing ok on the first infant milk, might as well stick with that. You never know if a change will suit her.

The NHS say that "follow on" milk is not needed at all. It doesn't differentiate between mixed fed and full formula fed.

The problem with follow on milks is that they contain extra iron, which sometimes leads to constipation and suppressed appetite. It's nothing to do with whether a baby is otherwise breastfed, though obviously the more follow on milk a baby has the more this could be a problem. But no, there is no NHS guidance saying follow on milk is better than first stage when a baby is bf, nor even equal to.

I wouldn't be going for cow's milk for the bedtime feed either. 4oz may be ok over the course of the day at that age, there are babies who have that amount in their solid food. But if it doesn't agree with a baby, which it could very well not, giving it all at once at bedtime will not be a fun night for anyone.

It just has a little more iron in it and some probiotics for the gut due to food starting to be introduced that's all. Also in some the protein content is different but minutely.

You can swap if you want, people do otherwise they wouldn't bother making it

I think I would stick to the current formula as it is not causing any problems, and then introduce a multivitamin alongside food.

I believe that follow on milk was only created to get round the ban on advertising infant milks. Stick with what you're already using.

I thought the whole point of follow on was that they can advertise it / put it on offer. No need to switch at all. I FF and we switched to cow at 1yo from first stage.

Actually ginger, the reason formula companies make second stage is to get round the advertising bans for first stage. It didn't exist before then. You're right that people use it, but it simply isn't necessary and the fact of the matter is that the NHS advises first stage until 12 months. There's a reason for that. If it were in any way beneficial, the advice would differ.

I wouldn't be phasing it in zzz no, I'd be sticking with what works. There's simply no need for a cow's milk bottle at 6 months and it may be actively detrimental. OPs best course of action would be to remain on first stage.

Ah well mines on follow on, it's more cost effective, had no issues with changing phased it in slowly as per HV advice. DS had a spot of anaemia so we needed the higher iron content, he even has good night milk too I'm hipp organic's favourite type of customer .

I don't suppose it has to be formula, but it currently is. Why change that when it is not a problem?

Because OP wishes to move on from formula?

It doesn't seem like she does, given she is asking about changing to another formula.

As PP have said, a drink of cow's milk might irritate the tummy of a baby who is just starting weaning.

"Moving on" from formula is not relevant at 6 months. Babies need appropriate milk (breastmilk or first infant formula) until 12 months.