Can anyone recommend which formula to use?

[yummum72]

Hi, my dd is nearly 12 weeks old and I am about to substitute her 11pm feed with a formula feed only I don't know which one to use. I have looked at Babynat as it is organic but wasn't sure whether to start off with Cow and Gate Comfort as it is supposed to be easier to digest. Help! it is very confusing any comments would be gratefully received.

any particular reason why your doing this?

I haven't ever heard of the organic one sorry so can't help you with that but I have used the cow and gate comfort when dd2 was 10 months and it was fine

We never had any problems with SMA Gold

DS is 12 weeks, formula fed. He is on SMA Gold, has had no problems, but haven't got any reason particularly to recommend it above any other one. We picked that one having checked availability of all brands at all the shops near us and it was more easily available and also came in 1 litre cartons which we use.

My DS was on SMA Gold from day one - never any problems.
HTH

Message withdrawn

(and find one you can bear the smell of - I can't remmeber which one it was but one of them actually made me gag every time I opened the tin)

I use Farleys - never had any problems. Can buy it ready made as well.

I was told it is the only formula manufactured in this country and not imported - but don't know if thats right or not.

Trinityrhino I am adding a formula feed as dd is almost going through the night - waking between 2.30am and 3am just feeding for comfort but not feeding well at 7am. Thought a ff would help her to sleep through and feed well at 7am.

Thanks for all suggestions

Aptamil is the one I used after I stopped breastfeeding. I know that HIPP do an organic one now.

such an interesting question... no one can 'recommend' a formula as we simply don't have enough information to make any sort of comparison. the formula manufacturers don't make it public, which should raise one's suspicions i think.

so at the end of the day i do think that the one that's easiest to buy and store is the best. the other thing is that if you're only doiing one bottle a day, be aware that the powder is not made in sterile conditions so you will have to be very careful about making it up at the right temperature to kill bugs that might have been lying around for a while.

if you're baby is exclusively ff then you might expect to get through at least a box every week, so because you'll be going through maybe one a month you'll have to be careful about that, iykwim?

Why does Yummum have to justify this question?

I used SMA with ds1 and Aptamil with ds2 as he refused to drink SMA. No problems with either.

who says she has to justify it?

yup, they are all much of a muchness. chexk what's on sale at both your supermarket, and corner shop, and try that one. also try a brand that does ready-mix cartons, both small and large. these are too expensive to use all the time, but invaluable when you unexpectedly need more/an extra feed.

re aitch's point about a tin lasting you a long time - the brand i use makes half sized tins as well. don't know if the others do too.

If its only one formula feed a day then a carton at 49p (9oz) which can be used if left in fridge for 24 hours, gets over all the problems of making up the formula doesn't it?

ps - if your only reason for using formula is sleep, please think again. dd has been exclusively ff since 4 weeks and still wakes a million times each night.

i think that about quadruples the price though, doesn't it?

half-size tins sound good. i'd think in terms of long-term storage when making my choice, as well as availability etc.

I think different brands agree with different babies - try the most readily available to you first and see how you get on.

I don't think a ff is likely to make any difference whatsoever to your DD sleeping though - loads of people told me they stopped BF or introduced FF for this reason but were sadly disappointed.

It is a myth that formula helps your baby to sleep through the night. Check out www.kellymom.com Please don't be brainwashed by the formula companies! I know this post will probably gets loads of pro choice comments but your milk supply will dwindle if you skip feeds. It's natural for your baby to feed at night and loads of people on here will have tips for making it easier! Don't give up you are doing so well.

I used Cow&Gate and ds didn't have any problems with it, I used the cartons which although more expensive are easier than having to worry about mixing them up correctly.

Cant recommend any brand of formula as both DSs were/are breastfed. Hope you won't mind me saying but I dont think that 12 week old babies feed at night for comfort, it is because they are hungry. It isn't normal for such a small baby to go though the night. DS2 is 12 weeks and he wakes every 2-3 hours through the night, feeds and goes straight back to sleep...

I agree that giving a bottle of FF doesn't help them sleep better at night. DS2 was bottlefed from 5 days old, and yes he was sleeping though (8hr stretches) by 3 weeks old.

DS3 is mainly FF and at nearly 11 weeks still wakes at night for a feed.

As for which formula to use, first off try and find one that's easily available and try that, if she doens't like it/it doesn't seem to agree with her try another one.

FWIW - we used SMA Gold and then SMA White with DS2, and with DS3 we started off on SMA Gold, have a (very) brief "affair" with Aptamil, switched back to SMA Gold and have just moved to SMA White as he was feeding so often (still is but we're getting there LOL).

I used Aptamil and never had any problems, but just to warn you, DD was ff from 6 weeks and it NEVER made a blind bit of difference to her sleep I am afraid. Its a fallacy.