cow and gate, aptimil or sma?

[camflower]

how on earth do you choose??

'I certainly was NOT endorsing one brand but rather referring to how advertising targets professionals as others have mentioned.' LOL. That is such an obvious lie.

I tried SMA but switched to aptamil because I thought it had a better texture. aptamil has worked well for all my babies.
if your choice does not agree with your baby then do try another. I believe there is very little between them other than trial and personal preference.
good luck in finding the right one for you

My midwife actually came round with an 'Aptimil' pen attatched to her dress!!! I was brestfeeding and felt abit uncomfortable, not enough to complain but just felt like 'should they be advertising this?'

Anyway, when DS self weaned at 11 months I used C&G and he has been fine. With my older ones used a mix of SMA, Aptimil and Farleys.

I really think, though, that they are all the same as they are simply cows milk with regulated amounts of vitamins in. All the extra stuff is just sales hype as far as I know. I would use the one the most available. I like C&G as they had the cartons for when we went out.

Oh meant to say that DD2 was very sicky and we tried every single milk going, changing it didn't make a jot of difference, neither did changing to expensive bottles.

Oh this is a tough one as no one really knows what the differences are in the brands and if there is such a thing as a better formula.

I does get my knickers in a twist when people say "just get whatever is available at 2am at your local garage" as if it is no big deal. Most of us who have been in the "what formula do we choose" scenario are usually incredibly distraught and panicking due to unsuccessful bf. It can be a gut wrenching experience and to a total newbie not knowing the difference in the brands let alone what stage to buy (1st stage? hungry? follow on?) it is daunting. And can you imagine sending your DH/DP to get on your behalf in the middle of the night? My DH couldn't even buy me maternity towels because he got flustered by all the choice. Formula buying would have sent him spinning.

Choosing is hard so maybe buy cartons of the different brands and see what suits the baby.

Dh chose Cow and Gate when the MW asked him (I was having an operation, and dd1's blood sugar was low), he said that he just latched on to the word Cow!

I switched her to Aptamil on the advice of the HV, who said it was less windy. This was bollocks, she was just as windy, but I stuck with Aptamil because it seemed to dissolve easier in the water.

With dd2 I gave her Aptamil, and it seemed to give her horrendous stomach cramps and diarrhoea that smelt of rotten eggs. I think it was because between having dd1 and 2 they had added prebiotics. I switched to Hipp because it was the only one that didn't have these added (apparantly they have not been tested properly), and she was fine.

I agree they are all similar, but babies do seem to react differently to different brands, unfortunately it is down to trial and error.

my dd had sma and was fine with it she was mixed fed with 2 breast feeds a day

my ds had sma got constipated and didn't like it. He was also mixed fed with only 2 feeds being formula so we tried aptimil and it really did make a difference so we stuck with it

might try cow and gate next time just for the variety

I think the way you work out what is best for your baby is buying a few of each cartin and seeing how it goes

I have had my second child in August, with a seven year age gap between him and his sister. I used aptimel with my DD as "recommended" by my midwife and automatically chose it again. Until I clicked on this thread I had no idea that it was advisable to change formulas, as my HV has told me to "persevere". My Ds is windy and in pain at times, not on a regular basis. I was told he has colic and given gaviscon for his bottle...am not convinced. He is on hungry baby milk and feeds every 3 hours...during the night also. He is starting to refuse feeds and is stuggling with the change over to the bigger teats....sorry to hijack this thread but due to this thread am now thinking of changing formula??