Which formula is most similar to Aptamil?

[MuffinMclay]

There seem to be some supply issues with Aptamil at the moment in these parts (powder and little cartons) and we have almost run out. Which should I get instead, or are they all much of a muchness?

Is it better to get another 'ordinary' formula, or Aptamil hungry baby one (which is available).

For 4 month old ds, btw.

Not sure what is similar, but I am in the same boat. I have a fussy DD who, for some reason can't handle powdered formula (she has about 2oz and gives up, then has chronic wind for the day), whereas ok on ready made, so have to buy cartons all the time. Tesco have run out, I grabbed the last 12 in Boots yesterday, and am off to try Sainsburys tomorrow.

I have given her the odd SMA carton, but it did give DS1 probs with constipation. Not sure what I will try next if can't get Aptamil.

Whereabouts are you? Is it a nationwide shortage?

I'm in Herts. Have tried local Waitrose, Boots, Asda.

I think Cow & Gate are made by the same people so may be similar? I switched from Apatamil to C&G for a follow-on formula. You could try independent chemists, which sometimes have older (but presumably still not past sell-by) stock, because everyone goes to Boots.

I don't think we have any independent chemists near here.

Personally, I would try the hungry baby formula first; I think if you read the ingredients side by side they are virtually indistinguishable, so if she likes the taste of one, she might prefer it to a different formula, and Apatamil surely isn't going to be gone long.

Try calling the manufacturers, Muffin - helpline numbers on the side of every pack.

Or buy them in bulk off the internet, supermarket home delivery or something? Can you do that? We changed from aptamil to Hipp organic by the way - mixed feeding DS - and he reacted well to it, seemed similar consistency if you know what I mean. SMA always seemed a little bit, well, yellow, and he reacted badly to the stuff when he was smaller.

From what I have read on the side of the SMA carton, the hungry baby one (their one is SMA White) is made from casein (curd) whereas SMA Gold (and Aptamil no 1) are made from whey. Not sure if this is the same as Aptamil hungry baby formula but have read on here and experienced with DS1 that the hungry baby one is just harder to digest, so keeps the baby full for longer, but in reality just gives it more wind.

Does that make sense?

I can't get cartons from Tesco in store or on home delivery (the home delivery comes from the same store, so makes sense I guess...).

Lots of great advice, thank you ... and all of it to do different things.

I will phone the no on the side of the packet, more out of curiousity than anything else.

Well I called them and spoke to a lovely lady. She wasn't aware of any supply problems at all. She advised not to give the hungry baby one but to use Cow & Gate instead as it is near identical.

Completely irrelevant, but when you phone they play a little message at the start explaining what they are about. I'm most curious as to why anyone 'who is thinking of starting a family' would call them. What would they talk about?

MM, interesting that C&G is near-identical - yet a fair bit cheaper.

I think the difference is, Aptamil has more marketing in it.

I switched to cow and gate from aptamil as it was cheaper and I knew it was made by the same manufacturer. DS never seemed to notice the difference.

SWC, I think it's the Immuno-open-you-wallet-is in it...

SWC, it would've opened mine too, I'm quite sure, had I not been able to bf DS1.

After all, I'm their target market.

I switched from Cow and Gate to Aptamil with dd1, because HV said it was a less windy formula( this was bollocks, by the way, but at the time would have believed just about anything)dd1 didn't seem to notice the difference,and there was no difference in the amount of windiness.

I've tasted Cow and Gate and Aptamil, and would say they have similar tastes. Hipp Organic tastes different (creamier) and doesn't come in little cartons.

Could you just try some of the ready made cartons, of whatever is readily available?

"its closest to breastmilk

"

I don't want to open a can of worms, but I did follow that thread that was always on active convos about how is it formula threads always get quickly into conversations about how breast is best, and I know this REALLY isn't it, but it does come across as a bit snide, sorry - it's just a drip, drip effect. I really am sorry, but I just think it's part of that sensitivity thing. I know you're spoofing their old tagline, but it also seems to be saying 'which we all know it definitely IS NOT', and it's clearly a just-about-formula thread.

I have just switched to cow & gate from aptamil as told it is the same just different packaging.

Egg - I had same problem as you my DD would only take cartons of ff asked HV and she said its coz its caramelised (sp) so tastes a bit sweeter.

Have you tried Superdrug? They never seem to run low on Aptamil (my local Boots does) as I don't think people who shop there are that demographic.

We use Hipp powder and DT1 no longer suffers reflux. We used to use Aptamil. Yes, we were conned by midwife at hosp who said you shouldn't swap formulas.

Problem solved. Aptamil back in stock at Waitrose.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Will come in useful next time.