Follow on milk advice

[moneyunsure]

I know follow on milk is not actually needed and is apparently a marketing trick but my baby (10m) is anaemic and I’m trying to get him to take some formula feeds
I got a cow and gate 2 ready to feed to try and it seemed to not agree and cause stomach ache and in researching it it seems this milk is actually like a hungry baby milk with a higher casein to whey ratio the same as hungry milk 80 casein 20 whey

So now I’m looking at other milks and wondering do I just get a first milk as it’s only 1-2 feeds a day and I’ve read that the higher the whey content the easier it is to digest so a first milk would be better ? Or nutritionally would a 1-2 toddler milk be better

I wouldn't give 1-2 milk as its not suitable for the age of your baby. First milk would probably be best. Does he easy iron rich foods? Has he been prescribed any supplements?

Eat, not easy

Yes sytron but the hv advised to try formula specifically as they have more iron than breast milk and she said it will help. I’m just unsure which one.
He has a bit of a sensitive stomach. I thought he actually ate v well and he was having well baby iron and vit drops from 6 m

The iron in breast milk is easier to absorb than the iron in formula. Do the drops have iron as most of them just have vitamins?

Can't you just give him a multi vitamin and up his iron rich solids?

He was eating well (3 meals a day, plus snacks and a vitamin and iron liquid) so I was puzzled. Now he’s on sytron and the formula was advised.
I just didn’t realise the one I’d got was effectively hungry baby milk (cow and gate 2) a first milk seems easier to digest but the 1-2 cow and gate had more iron ....
The hv said breast milk has less iron and that after 6 months his body’s store would have been gone
He eats meat and green veg and his porridge is fortified with vitamins and minerals

Gp just told me in 3 months they will do another blood test

How much formula is he taking? If he is having less than 17oz or none because he is bf then he should be on a multivitamin.

Currently only 2oz in morning porridge and 1-2 oz as a drink with morning snack I’m trying to cut down breastfeeding he does seem to have a sensitive stomach though I’m not sure if milk agrees with him or not it may just be as it’s different

Although theoretically there is less iron in breast milk, it is far more easily taken up by your baby and your HV should know this, This is why formula has more! Yes his store is depleting but this should be easily bumped with meat and green veg, particularly if eaten alongside vit c (eg oranges) Follow on milk is a waste of space, hungry baby formula can be difficult to digest. It is a shame to cut down your breast feeding unless you are going back to work, it really is the best. Try not to give feeds separate or before meals as he will progress better with the food. If you are havinganother blood test in three months I would advise you to keep a strict diary so the GP can see the full picture. They may want to see if there is any reason apart from diet. There is nothing wrong with first stage formula if you want to bottle feed but there is little guarantee he will absorb more iron from it just becaus it is in the milk. Focus more oniron rich food than milk. Meat has the highest bio availability

Then he should definitely be on a multivitamin. Find one that contains iron. I know wellbaby one does.