Formula recommendation for newborns

[WaitingForWineOClock]

I'm a few weeks off my due date and trying to get prepared. While I fully intend to breast feed, I'd like to have some formula feed in the cupboard in case I need it - I like to plan for every eventuality!

I was thinking of getting a pack of the cartons of ready-mixed formula as it's only intended for 'emergency' use. Does that sound a reasonable thing to do? If so, can you recommend a brand of formula for newborns which is as chemical-free/natural as possible?

Thanks

Yes cartoons are good for energencies, no need to mix. I dont know about natural brands, injust used te one they offered at the hospital.

All infant formulas are fairly standard in the UK. I got a little pack of pre prepared bottles, with sterilised teats. Ended up giving them to a friend who was formula feeding a few weeks later as we were lucky and breastfeeding came easily enough. I found it comforting in the first few days home to know they were there.

They are all very, very similar. I ff both dc from a few days. Of the people I know who have ff, the only ones who've had any problems were SMA Gold seemed to cause constipation in 2 or 3 babies, who all recovered when switched.

I wouldn't fret or overthink this too much - no formula is natural or chemical free (they are made of chemicals!) but all will provide your baby with the nutrition it needs and are safe if made up and used properly. Hipp Organic say they use organic ingredients (not sure if, or how, this is all ingredients), so I guess that would minimise traces of pesticides etc in the ingredients. However, I don't know if the other manufacturers do this too, but don't make it their USP.

FWIW - DS did just fine on Farley's (no longer made), but switched to Hipp for a while because it comes (came?) in cuppa-soup style sachets that were handing for travelling with him.

DD did just fine on Cow and Gate (identical to Aptamil in all but price and marketing - I was told this by someone who worked for the manufacturer).

Choose a formal that is convenient - easily available to you, in whatever format you choose. One father I know chose his baby's formula because that is what they had in the late night garage when I was sent out to get something; One mother chose something that had an easily avaialble equivalent abroad where her parents lived.

Think they are all similar but in hospital I noticed they use Aptamil.

Brilliant advice, thank you all!

The formula companies often give hospitals formula. As hospital using a particular brand shouldn't really be taken as evidence that that brand is the best.

DS1 had formula top ups when he was in SCBU, and the neo-natal nurse I asked about this told me that all the brands are really similar, so there's not really one brand that's "better" than the others.

And re. what they use in hospital - the hospital I had my DC in had supplies of every formula brand commercially available. If a baby needs formula for medical reasons, then they ask the parents which brand of formula they want to use, and give that to the baby. We picked Cow and Gate.

Unless you live somewhere quite remote you may as well wait to see if bf doesn't work first. If I'd had an emergency carton on hand I would have used it before my milk even had a chance to come in! (Or DM would have )

Great idea. My DD struggled with bf for the first few weeks but was desperate to keep going. She found that having a couple of cartons in the cupboard felt like a safety net and gave her confidence. In the end she didn't use them and is now trying to wean a 20 month old boob monster!

No, bike, hospitals are not permitted to have free formula. They must have a selection of brands and pay a market price for it. Free deals for hospitals in the UK stopped about 20 years ago. Reason was that it was anticompetitive and also because free formula tended to lead maternity units to use more of it, rather than support bf.

Ok, sorry. I was sceptical, but an HV told me! I work in a different public-funded role, and we have very strict rules about promoting specific private organisations. Anyway, i was offered a choice in hospital, and chose Farley's because it was the only brand name I recognised.