Stage 2 follow on milk

[FreddieBear17]

Not sure if this is the right category (I'm new to this kind of thing).

I've recently just moved my 6.5mo on to aptamil stage 2 follow on milk. I didn't really research as my close friend advised me to use it and told me it wouldn't be made if it wasn't meant to be used. However another friend yesterday told me it's bad for their teeth, can make them constipated, not needed and I should of kept him on the first milk. Now I have researched and most people adcise to stay on the stage 1 milk. I now feel bad for changing before research. Does it make a difference which one I use? Should I change him back to stage one?

There is no requirement for follow on milk or toddler (stage 3) milk. Because milk companies are unable to advertise first formulas in the U.K. they created these other milks so that they can promote their brand. There is no indication at all to use them.

Save yourself some ££ and use first milk!

There is no reason to move to follow on milk. The only reason some people do is because you can get club card points and things for it, which you can't with first milk (it's not allowed by law). There is no difference in terms of sugar, etc. and it's no worse for baby's teeth than first milk. I think you're confusing it with the stage 3 milks (growing up milks). These do have more sugar than cow's milk, which is the alternative after 1 and aren't recommended. But all babies up to 1 should be on some sort of formula, if not having breastmilk, and they are largely the same, if marketed differently.

The only difference really is in the protein used. First milk is whey based, follow on milks tend to be casein based. Casein protein tends to keep them a bit fuller for longer (but not like the hungry milks) and is slower to digest than whey. That's why it can be more constipating for some.

I actually switched from first to follow on at 6 months, mostly by accident. It's just what I grabbed at the store one day not looking. My daughter had always struggled to poo and routinely went 4-6 days between poos from birth. But we switched to follow on (Cow & Gate) and actually she became more regular. I stuck to using it for no reason other than that.

I was led to believe that follow on milk was a way of being able to advertise it. There are restrictions on advertising first milk.

Mine were on first milk until they went onto cows at 1 yo.

Thanks everyone for the replies!

I probably wouldn't of switched if I knew they were ok to stay on first milk. But now I've already changed, if it isn't any worse for a baby, then I may as well stick with it. He hasn't had constipation yet (touch wood) and has been on it for a few days now and emptied normally. As long as he is getting as much vitamins and goods that is in first milk I am happy I won't be using follow on milk stage 3 and will just stick to cows milk.

Follow-on milk marketed for 6-12 months tends to be identical to first milk except for having more iron in it (for spurious marketing-related reasons rather than nutritional needs; first milk has plenty). It's this that can make babies more constipated on follow-on. If your baby's bowels have stayed the same you might as well carry on, but it probably wouldn't really make any difference if you switched back and forth.

Although as PPs said, avoid the stage 3 and 4 milks and just use cows or an appropriate alternative.

I came across aptamil follow on milk in the supermarket one day and saw to be used alongside weaning so I switched! I switched at 6 months and my little boy is now 10 months old and he's getting on just fine with it!

I wouldn't worry and would stick to it if it's suiting your little one!