Currently best formula?

[MonaLisaDoesntSmile]

Baby due in a month+ time. Last time we used Aptamil (that was before the change in formulation they did that apparently kind of ruined it). We are looking at either Hipp or Kendamil- anyone has recent experiences with either of those? Kendamil came out when we no longer used infant milk, so never got to try it out, but looked interesting.

My baby still fine with Aptimil

i found kendamil great mine thrived on

Every single brand of infant formula has to have the exact same nutrients in it. It’s law. They’re all as good as each other.

We used cow and gate and if breastfeeding is unsuccessful again we will use it again this time

Hipp organic was great for us with a reflux baby. Really gentle on the tummy. We started on cow and gate, then got moved to a prescription formula to rule out CMPA and she had some sort of reaction to that! Settled on Hipp and it seemed to suit her. That and ranitidine.

What @flouncymcflouncerson said is right. They all have the same ingredients as required by law. The reason some cost more than others is because they pass the advertising costs onto the consumer by inflating the prices. Formula costs hardly anything to make and is far cheaper in places where it has to be sold with a blank wrapper.

Another vote from HiPP after switching from Aptamil due to very bad colic. Doesn't have the extra probiotics (no evidence to support them) in so therefore is a little gentler on baby's stomach

You’ll also notice that first infant milks cannot be advertised. Hence the reason follow on milks were introduced as they’re aimed at babies 6months plus, they’re unnecessary.

@claralane

Incorrect unfortunately.

They all have the same 'base' nutrients, but then each brand has different ingredients then added on top of these, so every brand is different.

OP, baby normally decides. SMA was given to us in hospital and didn't suit DS, but aptamil worked great

@flouncymcflouncerson @claralane They have similar, but overal not identical formulations. SMA didn't work for us at all, yet Aptamil worked great.

@Pentium85 Eventually yes, but we want to have a tin prepared just in case if bf does not pan out like last time, and with current shortages need to shop around a bit in advance, so was wondering if there is anything that is worth looking into.

@MonaLisaDoesntSmile

I would then go with whatever you nearest corner shop stocks.
When it's 10pm and you suddenly panic you have none, it's nice to know it's easy to get.

In the current climate whatever you can get your hand on. Lots of people are struggling to get formula.

They are nutritionally all the same (by law) but as others suggest some babies do have a preference.

We went for Cow & Gate Stage 1 because there is a scoop clip and leveller in the lid (handy AF, no digging around for the scoop), it's available in all major supermarkets and you can get it in ready to feed. They also do the wee starter packs with disposable twats which can be useful in the early days. I believe it's made by the same company as Aptamil but not as expensive.

It's worth mentioning that changing formula is not harmful either (despite what you might read on the internet!) so don't worry if you decide to switch later or you choose a brand different to what your hospital provides.

Kendermil is a british company and when chanel 4 were doing a programme about formula they were the one company willing to let the camaras in.

TEATS! Disposable teats! 🙈

@SerBrienneOfHouseTarth Hahaha, disposable twats made my day :)
Better than those you can't dispose of I suppose :)

The Aptamil formula change probably didn't have an impact on the nutritional values, but my friend was preparing it for her child and it definitely had a different smell and a lot of people complained that the consistency was not the same, and then they changed instructions on how to make it or something. My daughter was very easily put off by new flavours and reacted badly to formula changes (we battled aversion because of that when we had to change while on holiday), so stuff like that would be a dealbreaker.

We used Hipp, and using it again for our baby due next week

@TemporaryName123 I will probably get two different ones, and see which works better for the baby, definitely taking Hipp under consideration if we can get it (plus they have the ready to feed formulas as well!).

Hipp organic worked for us, it’s also one of the cheapest

Just buy the cheapest
www.channel4.com/press/news/channel-4-dispatches-asks-if-ps40billion-infant-formula-industry-putting-profit-babies

Shel Banks, an Infant Feeding Specialists, who advises the NHS on some of their guidelines has some advice for parents, “So all we actually need in the first 12 months of life, according to our NHS, according to the World Health Organisation, is just these first stage infant milks. So these first infant milks - these are all nutritionally equivalent. There are very clear European Food Standards Agency guidelines on the maximum and the minimum levels of everything: the proteins, the fats, the carbohydrates. There's nothing to choose between them, to pick one over another in terms of nutrition at all.”

What many parents find confusing are the extra ingredients often highlighted on packaging, which makes some products appear better than others.

Shel Banks, “These different ingredients that the different companies add in - they’re trying to get us to buy them. They’re trying to get us to pick theirs’ over somebody else’s.But the long and the short of it is: if there was a benefit that was actually proven by independent researchers to actually be beneficial for babies then they would all have to add it by law.”

Hipp has ready to feed formulations so helpful if you’re out and about and FAR less foamy than aptamil when made it a perfect prep machine

We use HIPP as it is far easier on baby's tummy than aptimel was.

I've heard good reports re Kendimel as well and would use that as a second choice if needed.

HIPP is well stocked in the larger stores and in the co-op if you have this store in your area x

Also have the HIPP storage tub as it os easier than the paper cartons. Though I wish it wasn't for environmental reasons!

We had good success ordering directly from them too x

@crazydiamond222 I know this from my first one, but some fomulas work better for some babies and not others- although when asking I did realise that what works for other babies may not for mine for the same reason; my DD ended up on specialised formula and tried a few, and while they are all meant to be the same, definitely were not as well, so maybe somehow those little differences can make a big one.

We use cow and gate premade and expressed breastmilk, we tried using powdered cow and gate which caused really awful reflux and wind, once she’s settled for a bit longer we will try aptimil powder