Aptamil - anyone for it or against ?

[Shell001]

Hi,

Anyone use Aptamil ? Heard its good but expensive ... Better than SMA Gold ?

Or indeed baby's entire outfit in case anyone thought I had half a baby

it definitely used to, hunker, but they've changed the packaging. actually i thought the packaging had become more outrageous. god knows what'll happen if i have another child... i'll be totally confused about what to do.

As others have said it's about which formula suits your baby best. We started on SMA gold and found it made ds constipated so changed to Aptamil and a lot better, the aptamil seems to be of a lighter consisitency to me . Anyway as i say best to see which suits your baby but thats our experience of it

Quick question....do you think midwives should give more information re artificial feeding and milks?

What sort of information?

One to one information about how to make up bottles in own kitchen with own equipment - yes.

Group demos - no.

Stuff about composition and effects - well, nobody really knows this stuff.

I think formula companies should give open and transparent information on all of their products. With full details of all/any testing done, especially forumla with 'new' stuff in it.

Midwives should support the mothers in their pregnancies, birth and breastfeeding (if mothers wishes) not give out marketing spiel from corrupt and money making formula companies.

The lactation expert that I see who is employed by the NHS trust and has won awards told me that Cow and Gate and aptamil were the same- made by the smae people apparently

They're made by the same people - not sure how she knows they're the same. The Aptamil link further down this thread says they're not, but hey, who believes a word they say, eh?!

Thing is, nobody knows for sure. Which is why it's such a hard decision for parents to make and why I and many others want better information for parents about formula. It's the formula companies who get in the way of this though - they prefer to market it with slogans such as "love the milk you give" and "inspired by breastmilk" and have marketing strategies that include the ever-popular "talking about infant feeding in any way shape or form makes women who couldn't breastfeed feel guilty, so best not do it".

i don't know either hunker but that's what she told me. i'm havng to give my dd 150ml a day through a supplementer due to her not gaining weight as my milk never came in properly. i have a bit now due to domperidone, fenugreek and folic acid. i have to say i am grateful for aptamil as without it my baby would be very ill. she's 7 wks and has only just reached her birthweight cand that's on 150ml aptamil and bm

used sma with dd1 - horrendous

farleys with dd2 - fine

cow and gate with ds currently and its great

shame i wont have any other babies to brand test any other milks!

pixie, those of us who use it because of milk issues are all very grateful for the existence of formula, definitely. it took dd a long time to get back to birthweight as well, it is a huge pressure. plus i've used one of those supplementers as well, so you have my admiration on that as i thought it was just UNBELIEVABLY faffy, and i've been on the fenugreek and domperidone etc (and porridge and guinness). you are doing a great job, we all get that, hunks included.

I used one pack of Aptamil for DS - I didn't really like the smell
Ended up switching back to SMA which DD now has the occasional bottle of

I like that it comes in premeasured sachets

It's a formula, just like any other, whatever else you hear is marketing hype(bearing in mind for an infant formula this will be done surreptitiously since direct marketing is illegal). If it is what you choose to feed your baby, is readily available nearby and it suits him/her it then debate is pointless really.

I chose Aptamil because it's made (I believe) in Germany, and whenever I go there I'm always impressed by the standard of their food and their attitude to it, not to mention the German stereotype of efficiency (worries about factory contamination, etc.)

So, nothing concrete, but my DD's did well on it after breastfeeding.

PS, Aitch, would you mind if I were to email you on a totally unrelated topic - I have a few questions re your DD's photography session? No problem if not.

gosh, not at all. aitch at babyledweaning dot com

thanks Aitch.

I don't really have any 'guilt' issues as I know its a total necessity.

Also SB my bfeeding expert bod tried everyting else first and by the time she had the aptamil she was 6/7 weeks old and her stomach had had time to 'strengthen' a bit.
i haven't noticed a difference in her poo consistency so just assume that the amount i give her makes no difference

I had no guilt issues about stopping BF'ing at 6 months, and swapping to ff. Started on SMA, but LO was very pukey on it, so swapped to Aptimil 1 (blue packet) all has been fine for ages. Swapped to Aptimil 3 (purple packet, with + iron) last week, and he has had major shits since then. Not sure if its a bug or if its the change in formula.

And for the record, I am most definately NOT middle class! I just found Aptimil worked best on my baby.

I used Aptamil for all 4 DC and all thrived on it.
I hadn't even given not bf a thought until it just wasnt working so Aptamil was what I was offered in hospital and stuck with it(also I was told it was the closest to b.milk at the time-I dont know if this was proven or the opinion of the hospital/mw) .