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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Which brand of formula should I use?

49 replies

Coj · 21/05/2004 19:20

There are so many on the market! Still breast feeding (8 1/2 months) but need to change soon. Is Aptamil best coz most expensive? Which is most like breast milk? Advice needed ladies!

OP posts:
Sunlounger · 21/05/2004 19:26

Hipp Organic - who needs possible hormones etc. It's great.

hercules · 21/05/2004 19:30

I believe they are all the same unless you need a special one on prescription. I have spent time recently on the aisle trying to work it out but cant.

Original poster
Coj · 21/05/2004 19:30

What's the difference? HV said they all have LCPs in now

OP posts:
hercules · 21/05/2004 19:31

I dont believe there is any difference.

Sunlounger · 21/05/2004 19:31

Apparently Hipp does not have LCP's, Organic ones don't, which makes me wonder what's in LCPS

Sunlounger · 21/05/2004 19:32

I only drink organic milk so why should't my baby

Original poster
Coj · 21/05/2004 19:32

Ok thanks. Next q: when do you go from 2 to 3?

OP posts:
hercules · 21/05/2004 19:34

You dont actually need to go on to follow on unless you wish to and I have a feling that 2 is for hungrier babies which means it takes longer to digest. I could be wrong about the 2 & 3 but right about not having to use follow on.

Original poster
Coj · 21/05/2004 19:36

Thanks herc. Wish the labelling was more user friendly

OP posts:
jane313 · 21/05/2004 20:21

I remember at the hospital them asking if I wanted cow and gate or sma; like I would have a preference. I had to give him formula even though I went on to breastfeed for a year because I had gestational diabetes and he needed food because of low sugar levels, so I had never even thought about it. I know some friends babies were sick on the one for hungrier babies and when she tried a different brand and another who after not having any formula for 8 months, rejected them all but aptamil. So there may be so sort of individual preference.

I feel very thick but what are LCPs?

tiktok · 21/05/2004 20:31

LCPs or LCPUFAs are long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids - bet you wish you hadn't asked now

You could look for them on here, or do a websearch [LCPUFAs infant formula] should do it.

They are basically oils, processed from specially-produced vegetable or animal sources, such as algae or fish. By 'specially produced' I mean there are large algae 'farms', probably a massive sort of greenhouse or lab, where they grow the algae just for this purpose. It sounds as though I have direct knowledge but I don't - it's just what I have read on the web.

Obviously, while there are LCPUFAs in breastmilk, these LCPUFAs are not the same.

Formulas change their ingredients all the time. 'Nucleotides' used to be the wonder ingredient. Now, it's LCPUFAs.

aloha · 21/05/2004 22:18

They are all pretty much the same. I chose Babynat because it is organic and has vegetable EFAs, but mainly because it came in a very pretty tin. I think it really doesn't matter though - you've given your baby the best and a head start so don't worry. You could mix feed if you want to continue breast feeding alongside the formula, if you want.

Easy · 21/05/2004 22:49

I think they are all much of a muchness, unless you're into organic or something.

We started off with our supermarket own brand, but changed becos ds got a bit windy and colicy. swapped to SMA which seemed to settle better, but what suited my ds won't necessarily suit yours (esp as this was 4 years ago). Try one, and if baby seems to have more wind/colic etc. try another, bearing in mind that bottle feeding might make a difference too.

Just trial and error really.

hoxtonchick · 21/05/2004 22:59

I tried Hipp Organic when I stopped breastfeeding but it made ds really sick (& several friends had the same experience), so then we swapped to the green Aptamil & it was fine.

WideWebWitch · 22/05/2004 09:39

Hi Coj, I use SMA Gold because it's vegetarian and it comes in ready to pour packs. I buy organic everything else but I couldn't find an organic one that was vegetarian too.

misdee · 22/05/2004 09:53

can i ask something? why do you need to change? you are almost at the age where u wont need to worry about giving formula, and can move onto cows milk if u wish?
There are many types of formula, some people will state SMA is best, others say hipp, some people rave about the organic formulas. one mum told me the best one to give was aptamil as it was the priceiest. but dd1 settled fine on sma gold whilst dd2 preferred sma white. each baby is different. if you find your baby settles fine on one then dont switch it.

aloha · 22/05/2004 09:55

WWW - Babynat is organic and vegetarian - the fatty acids come from flaxseed & stuff. I still use the tins for crayons! Also you can order it online so don't have to bring it back from supermarket.

WideWebWitch · 22/05/2004 10:39

Thanks aloha, I think I'll switch to that then. We've still got a while to go of using formula yet.

bluebear · 22/05/2004 20:27

www - hipp organic is also vegetarian (which is why we use it)

Tried dd on SMA gold to begin with (as is veggie and widely available) but she was sick and had stomach pains with it...she's been fine on HIPP.
(I hadn't heard of Babynat - going to look for it now just to check out the tin )

wellsie · 22/05/2004 21:52

DS was not suited to SMA Gold at all, so tried the Aptamil and he was fine on that. My HV clinic sale all the formulas cheap, e.g. Aptamil is £4.80 a box. You can also buy ready to use cartons from supermarket. Ask HV if they sale it cheaper.

NottsMum · 22/05/2004 22:11

I was told by MW that Aptamil is the closest to breastmilk. That's what I gave to my DD when I weaned her off the boob and she was fine with it. Tip: dilute it with breast milk over a few feeds so that your baby gets used to the taste. I think I introduced it over 2/3 days and had no probs.

Original poster
Coj · 23/05/2004 18:46

This crayon tin sounds good (I love collecting containers!)
Misdee- I know I am nearly there (8 1/2 months) but am a little worried about the teeth on the top coming through and wanted to be ready to change. The formula brands now advise using their product over 1 yr - is that a marketing con?
Didn't know you could mix breast & formula in the same feed. I have learnt so much, thanks!

OP posts:
gloworm · 23/05/2004 20:05

I also mixed breast and formula in the same bottle for the first few days for ds (as he was a bit reluctant to try a bottle at first). we didn't need to with dd, she took to botle straight away.
We used Nanny formula both times (as there is a history of ezcema/asthma/allergies in my husbands family, and goats milk is closer to breast milk than cows milk). also it has no unnecessary additives.
Although Hipp would have been my second choice.

WideWebWitch · 23/05/2004 20:17

Bluebear, are you sure re the Hipp? Thought I'd checked it and decided it wasn't but maybe I dreamt it!

susanmt · 23/05/2004 20:19

You don't need to use formula over a year, it is formula manufacturers trying to expand their market and a con to make you spend more money.

Maybe I picked you up wrong but are you planning to stop because of teeth coming through? Maybe I read that wrong but that was the impression I got from your post. If so, there's no need to stop because of that. I fed dd1 until 13 months and she had top and bottom teeth at 5 months, and ds to 15 months, so he had loads of teeth.

Sorry if I got that wrong but your post says : "I know I am nearly there (8 1/2 months) but am a little worried about the teeth on the top coming through and wanted to be ready to change"