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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

New to the UK and about to wean. What formula milk is best to use when stopping breast-feeding?

26 replies

momtaz · 08/08/2007 22:33

Just moved to the UK from the USA so don't know the formula milk brands here. Will be weaning my baby at 6 months from exclusively breast-feeding and would like recommendations on which formula milk to switch to. thanks!

OP posts:
filchthemildmanneredjanitor · 08/08/2007 22:34

any reason why you are changing to formula?

cba · 08/08/2007 22:37

i used sma, when i finished breast feeding ds2. dd fed till she was one so went straight onto cows milk. Hope that is usefl=ul

cba · 08/08/2007 22:37

useful - even

Jojay · 08/08/2007 22:39

Aptimil is well thought of, I tihnk. I use the Hipp Organic Follow on milk, and DS is doing very well on it - and it's cheap!!

Welcome to the UK!!

heavy · 08/08/2007 22:39

i didn't bf for more than a couple of days. the formula i used was aptimil which is supposed to be closer to breast milk with the fatty acids it contains. i was very happy with it. it's a bit pricey though.

islandofsodor · 08/08/2007 22:44

None of them are closer to breatmilk than any other. Aptamil used to be the only brand that contained LCP's but they have all contained them for ages now.

Buy whichever brand you find in your local shop/supermarket easily and see how they go. There is no independant information to decide which is best. The only thing you can go on is do you want an organic one or not and do you want a vegetarian one (some contain fish oil and stuff)

macneil · 09/08/2007 20:29

I used Similac in Canada, which was just HORRIBLE - the same formula for 0 to 12 months, and it was thick and brownish. It gave my baby very dark green watery foul-smelling poo and because it was so sugary she drank and drank it until she was a very tubby little thing. When I got back to the UK I tried Cow and Gate organic, because it was organic, but my baby would have nothing to do with it. I switched her to Aptamil and it was like the clouds parted and I could hear Hallelujah. Her poo instantly became pale yellow, non-smelly and a little firmer. Now for all I know this is the same for all UK formulas, but as C&G and Aptimil are the only two I've tried, that's my experience. The stage 1 contains fish oil, the stage 3, for babies beginning to wean, doesn't contain fish oil.

kevinsmother · 09/08/2007 20:31

We used Cow and Gate hungry baby formula with no problems

determination · 09/08/2007 21:22

Have a look at this Formula milk `can set back babies'

macneil · 09/08/2007 21:28

That appears to be for babies up to 4 months, and the OP says hers is 6 months old. But you know, always important to remind ff mothers that they may be making their babies stupid.

determination · 09/08/2007 21:31

i didn't mean for it to be taken in that way mcneil..

What i did mean was to highlight the reasons for the fish oils in the ff..

Im sorry if i caused offence, i certainly didn't mean to

SenoraPostrophe · 09/08/2007 21:32

they're all the same really.

but do remember that you want the 0-4 months milk, not the follow on stuff if she's been exclusively breastfed.

macneil · 09/08/2007 21:33

I also see that the article is 9 years old, and the researcher estimated it would take a couple of years before the full results would emerge. He doesn't seem to have added any long term (the article alleges only short term) difference since then.

macneil · 09/08/2007 21:33

Determination: really sorry, generally. Am a bit on edge about this kind of thing after being dumb enough to read 3 days of the Jordan episode.

macneil · 09/08/2007 21:33

Doh, I mean GENUINELY, not generally! WHEN WILL THEY LET YOU EDIT POSTS?

JodieG1 · 09/08/2007 21:33

Wondered the reason too? How old is baby now out of interest?

macneil · 09/08/2007 21:34

(Feel like double idiot.)

determination · 09/08/2007 21:36

macneil,
What was that all about then? I dont get a chance to even read the newspaper never mind a book!

macneil · 09/08/2007 21:38

No no, by Jordan episode I just mean the thread reacting to the Jordan/OK promo, in which an 'is formula like cocaine' argument kicks off. So today I am preposterously paranoid every time everyone here says formula is harmful. Really am embarrassed I reacted that way, sorry.

PeachesMcLean · 09/08/2007 21:43

Sorry to step in here, but, Macneil, I have to say I did feel equally shocked when I saw that link. So I don't think you should feel so bad. And determination has explained and apologised. So just a bit of misunderstanding here. Not a problem either way. Sadly some of the remarks on MN haven't been so easily explained away.

SpacePuppy · 09/08/2007 21:43

SOME PRACTICAL INPUT:

I used SMA, it made ds constipated, he was happy on Cow and Gate, but preferred Aptamil. Aptamil has kept him regular no problem. That was the only reason why I changed formula. It is not more expensive than other formulas and ds is now 20 months, started at 8.5 months and will continue until he is two to make up for his "fussy eating" stage. Why, because it contains all the "stuff" that will keep him healthy while I try to sneak veg into him.

determination · 09/08/2007 21:47

thanx peaches. I truly, honestly did not mean to make people

gringottsgoblin · 09/08/2007 21:50

do you always have to go for 0-4 month stuff if going from excl. bf? not got there yet but its something else for me to stress about now!

Sunshinemummy · 09/08/2007 21:51

I tried SMA, Cow & Gate and Hipp Organic but the hands down winner was Aptamil. I definitely think it's the best out there.

pooka · 09/08/2007 21:56

I have never used formula but I have heard several friends saying that SMA made their babies constipated. However, that was with the first milk and obv before they were able to introduce veg and other foods that may have eased the situation.