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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

What Formula is best?

97 replies

SANA · 18/11/2004 11:34

I am a new mum to be and have been looking at the diff formulas availible, so what do most mners go for? any one know why Farleys is more expensive?

OP posts:

mears · 18/11/2004 13:16

ps. I absolutely adored breastfeeding and was never 'distressed'.

jabberwocky · 18/11/2004 13:20

Do you have Enfamil in the UK? That is what we used and it has dha and some other ingredient, I forget the name, that is also found in BM.

throckenholt · 18/11/2004 13:25

we used farleys - can't remember why - they all seemed very similar.

tiktok · 18/11/2004 13:43

All milks for babies under 6 mths have to meet certain legal requirements in order for them to be on sale as infant formulas. The main difference is between whey based and casein based milks - you'll see casein based milks marketed as being suitable for 'hungrier' babies. Brands like SMA White are casein based.

All this means is that the protein in it takes longer to metabolise in the gut because it is 'unmodified' so it's therefore closer to the original cow's milk - the calorie content is pretty much the same as in the whey based. Whey based has had its protein 'modified' so it takes less time to digest - you'll see this marketed as 'kinder' to the baby's stomach. Both types are sold as usable from birth, but you tend to see whey based in hospital.

Some brands have added long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, from fish oils or harvested from specially-farmed algae. The marketing of these draws attention to the fact these LCPs are in breastmilk, but of course in breastmilk they're not from fish oils are algae (duh).

Uwila · 18/11/2004 13:44

I think they all have dha. One thing some people consider in choosing a formula is whic one is most readily available where you live. So, if SMA is hard to find, you'll be in a pinch when you run out on Friday night. We used SMA Gold (after we got fed up trying to feed with empty breasts which were in much pain). We also swapped brands around some. Some people told me that was a bad thing to do, but never bothered DD. Except when we were in the states and she decided all non-UK formula was unsutable. Same thing happened in Prague. Although, she was okay with czech cow's milk (she was 12 months so that was okay).

tiktok · 18/11/2004 13:48

I have never understood why swapping brands is such a bad thing to do, either.....there's no logic to it, except if your baby appears happy on Brand X, then you may not want to chop and change in case she gets contipated, colicky whatever on Brand Y.

Using different brands is actually advocated as a deliberate thing to do, by some.

Uwila · 18/11/2004 13:49

Also, if you are going to bottle feed immediately (i.e. in hospital) you might want to consider pre sterilised disposable bottles. You can get them at boot. Then, if you are in hospital for 3 days, you won't have 3 days worth of stinky bottle and teats to go home and wash.

pesme · 18/11/2004 13:52

Hi Artyjoe, not into linching or general controversy. But bfing dd was the best part of the whole birth thing.

Uwila · 18/11/2004 14:01

Okay, in the interest of keeping this thread civil, can we agreee just to compare the various options of formula?

Don't want another mumsnet battleground.

serenequeen · 18/11/2004 14:04

nothing uncivil in pesme's comment, uwila.

Uwila · 18/11/2004 14:06

the comment itself was not uncivil. I'm just afraid of this thread going to same way as other threads. And, this thread question is specifically about what formula is best. Can't deny the other thread has gotten a bit out of hand, whatever your belief on the subject.

Bozza · 18/11/2004 14:33

Surely you wouldn't be left with 3 days worth of stinking bottles - couldn't they be sent home with DH? I certainly sent my dirty washing home with mine.

artyjoe · 18/11/2004 14:36

I didn't know pre-sterilised 'disposable' bottles existed...Fantastic idea and I'll definitely look into it.

Mears comment about smelling rancid when vomited has made me think a bit though..my second choice would be Aptimil but I'm not sure how readily available it is around here so I'll look into that as backup I think...along with the organic one.

Uwila · 18/11/2004 14:40

Ah, Bozza. I just knew that men had a purpose. That must be it. Yes, put the man to work.

Bozza · 18/11/2004 15:05

Well Uwila I think that you've got your best chances after just giving birth.

To be more helpful I'm of the opinion that there's not much in it between the formulas and chose mine (cow & gate) because it sounded familiar. And when I asked the health visitor (DS was 3 months at the time) she seemed to think the same. However think would start off with the whey based one myself.

leglebegle · 18/11/2004 15:07

I used farleys for ds1 and had no problems with it, my midwife advised me to use it. for ds2 i used sma gold but only because i've found it to be more readily available where i live and when we go on holiday etc. I've had no problems with this either. Incidentally, I too was advised both times not to use the hungry baby milk for the same reasons as already stated, but I have been using it for ds2 for his last 2 feeds of the day (7pm and 10pm) and he sleeps right through till 7.40am (at 3 months) and we have no problems. I've been told this is okay by gp as firstly the baby is massive and needs a bit more than normal and he's not constipated so its obviously working for him. I kind of wish i'd done this with ds1 as he was massive too but I was put off by hv and ended up weaning him early.

controversy · 18/11/2004 15:32

are there health warnings on formula food? - you know like on packs of cigarettes - 'Formula food can seriously damage your babies health' just wondered - cos 'over there' you'd think some mothers are into poisoning their children.

tiktok · 18/11/2004 15:41

Yes, there are warnings, controversy, but not like the fag packet ones All formula has to have a 'breastfeeding is best for babies' panel on it, and it says formula should be given under the guidance/advice of a healthcare professional. Where on the other thread does it suggest mothers want to poison their children?

controversy · 18/11/2004 15:52

so to confirm - it doesn't say 'formula feeding can seriously damage your baby's health' that's what I thought - however the message that it can is being offered on the other thread.

One would assume also that breastfeeding would require the 'guidance/advice of a healthcare professional'?

Anyway I don't want to hi-jack this thread so I'll leave it there if thats ok with you?

Marina · 18/11/2004 15:57

artyjoe, we found Hipp Organic (admittedly this was the follow-on formulation not the "from birth" milk) made ds quite seriously constipated. Was not sure if this was just formula full-stop (he was mixed-fed from eight months) or that brand though.

marialuisa · 18/11/2004 16:01

Cow+Gate for Hungrier Babies.

Her sick and po didn't smell bad BTW.

Bozza · 18/11/2004 16:03

Found the same with Cow and Gate Marina, and know my SIL has done with SMA. Think it could just be formula in general.

Controversy why change the subject and ask the question if you don't want to hijack the thread?

tiktok · 18/11/2004 16:06

Not really ok, controversy.....I don't know what you are getting at, sorry. Would you only believe formula had an effect on health if it was written on the can?

Uwila · 18/11/2004 16:09

Controversy, I can't help but wonder if "controversy" is your usual screenname. Seems an interesting choice of screennames for general and long term use.

Are you generally known by another name on mumsnet?

fio2 · 18/11/2004 16:11

for goodness sake cant everyone just stop this slating? it has been done to death

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