follow on formula - when to start it?

[olivo]

sorry, daft question but have been umming and ah-ing about it and thought, who better to ask than the wise Mnetters.
i know that follow on milk says from 6 months but do they have to start it at exactly six months? i have spent the last three weeks getting dd from breast to bottle and wont be weaning her until she is around 29 weeks as we are going away. should i keep on with the number 1 milk (i've been using cow and gate organic which she seems to take well)till i wean, or should i switch to follow on when she turns six months ( next week). i will be totally stopping breastfeeding in the next week or so.
any advice? my hv didnt give me a straight answer!

Absolutely no need to use it at all.

It's a marketing ploy used by formula manufacturers to get round not being able to advertise infant formula.

As such, it's formulated to contain more iron, more than babies need. It can constipate them.

I really wouldn't bother.

you don't need to use follow on at all - just keep giving her the first milk if she is happy with it

You don't need to . You can use infant formula until aged 1 then full fat cow's milk. Nutritionally as long as the baby is being weaned it has little, if any, benefit. It may work out cheaper , ml for ml, as unlike First formulas it can be price promoted and advertised- the primary reason it exists is to raise brand awareness for the earlier formulas

they are also higher in minerals and iron which though they are there, your baby cannot metabolise anyway. in fact, the excess iron frequently causes constipation and the little kidneys have to process the excess minerals too. so much for 'benefits'

(olivo, your name is far to close to mine you know!)

Don't bother with follow on, my HV said it was a load of phooey

I used the same formula until 12 months and then went on to cows milk

too

oh you wise women
thank you. will stick with what we've got then.marketing ploys grrrrr

oliveoil - olivo's was the name of a coffee shop in the hotel we were staying in when i first posted on MN! too unimaginative to change it now!