Follow on milk - do I really need to buy it or is it just a con?

[pudding25]

Also posted on weaning.
DD will be 6mths in under 2 wks. Mix fed at the moment and will be gradually weaning her off bf over the next couple of months (not doing it totally until she is on 3 meals a day).

Starting solids at 26 wks. We use Hipp Organic milk. I have just had an email from them which says 'Babies are born with stores of iron that start to run out about now - if you are using baby milk, HiPP Organic Follow on Milk is specially formulated with higher levels of iron and protein to meet the needs of babies from 6 months onwards'.

So, should I get this? I have read some stuff on here about it all being a marketing ploy as they are not allowed to advertise ordinary formula so this is their way of getting round it - but does dd need the extra iron until she is fully established on solids, which could take a while? Thanks

Pudding I was advised that BF or 'ordinary' formula will have enough iron in for baby.

providing she is eating a range of foods, she shouldn't need it. I exclusively bf my 5 mth old and when he gets to 6mths and he starts solids, i wont be giving him extra vitamins - there's no need IMO.

Probably just another con.

My baby didn't really eat a 'range' of foods until now - 11 months ish - and was never advised that he needed any 'extra' iron such as that in follow on milk. Ime toddlers are more likely to suffer from anaemia because they do not get enough from their daily diet - babies are still getting a lot of their nutrients from milk, and it really doesn't need to be 'follow on'. Honestly.

Hi - I don't know. I've heard (from HVs and other professionals) that it is a marketing ploy. But I use HiPP Organic Follow On myself.

DD was breastfed for 8 months (ie until she was reliably eating 3 meals a day which took a while because of a bad run with viruses etc) and then moved slowly onto HiPP Follow ON. By 10 months she was completely off the boob and just on food and HiPP. She is now 18 months and has 1 morning bottle (just had it and is now sleeping soundly - hurrah) and one bottle of HiPP Night Time milk before bed.

It seems to work for her. She absolutely LOVES it, but I am hoping to shift her onto cows milk. I've been giving her a glass of cows milk in the afternoon and she has it in her breakfast cereal so should be able to shift over without too much problem.