Follow on Milk

[Sleepyquest]

Dd is almost 7 months old and is now formula fed. We were given some follow on milk tubs and DH wants to use them rather than buy more First infant milk. I'm worried that it's not as good for her. Is it ok to use and once you start using it, do you need to stick with it?

The only difference is that follow on milk contains added iron. It will do your baby no harm at all. Basically it's no different to first milk. It's often cheaper (see later in my post for why) but us essentially the same product ad first milk. You don't need to change, but it's not going to make any difference if you do.

To understand why, you need to understand a bit about business and marketing.

Formula manufacturers cannot, by law, encourage the use of formula over breastfeeding for baby's first 6 months. So they may not ever discount or offer money-off coupons. They can't advertise first milk in any way, at all. But After 6 months old they can advertise - as long as it's s different product to the one they are not allowed to advertise (first milk)

So Follow On Milk is an invention by formula milk manufacturers, to allow them to advertise. Only 6m+ milks are ever used for adverts. Only 6m+ milks can be offered at a discount price, or with 50% extra free, or with a £1 off voucher. So manufacturers added extra iron to exactly the same product to enable then to have a legitimately different product that they can legally advertise.

There is nothing sinister in the product itself, so don't fear follow on milk. It makes business sence. The only harm formula manufacturers are doing is discouraging breastfeeding by finding a way to allow them to advertise. But if you are already formula feeding then the only real difference between First Milk and Follow On Milk us that follow on milk is 9ften cheaper for the same thing. So I'd use follow on milk just for that reason.

Follow on milk contains thickening agents and is not suitable for children under 12 months old.

GrumpyHoonMain - it's "hungry baby" milks that contain thickening agents. Not follow on milk. Hungry Baby Milk is a different product again.

It’s basically the same except it can be advertised &promoted (like with club card points).
It’s a waste of money.

It's usually cheaper than First Milk, precisely because it can be discounted, promoted and advertised (and you can earn Clubcard points or Boots Advantage points or whatever- which you can't on First Milk because First Milk cannot legally be promoted in any way)

So the opposite to it being a waste of money!

It's a waste of money to swap from breastfeeding to formula for any perceived benefits. But the waste of money if you are already formula feeding is to stay on First Milk. Because First Milk is basically the same product, just more expensive and no discounts.

@GrumpyHoonMain it does not contain thickeners, what nonsense! It is suitable from 6 months. Hungry milk also does not contain thickeners - it is casein based rather than whey based like first milk/follow on milk and can be harder to digest which is supposed to make them feel fuller for longer.

And I did switch around 8 months as it was cheaper and you could get offers on it

Thanks @FATEdestiny this has been soooo helpful! I had actually sent DH out to get more first milk before I saw your replies but will use the follow on milk afterwards.

Was just discussing this with midwife the other day, she said not to fall into the trap of buying the whole "hungry baby" "follow on" "comfort" milk

Zoey92, it's important to seperate the likes of comfort milk or hungry baby milk (which are often more expensive) from follow on milk (which exists to be a less expensive version of the same thing).

While I agree that it is a "trap" to think comfort or hungry baby milk will magically make baby sleep better or cry less. They probably won't.

It's also a "trap" to think - I'll stop breastfeeding now because follow on milk is better. It isn't.

But moving from First Milk formula to Follow-On Milk formula - that is not a trap.

In fact it's a no-brainer. It's the same product for a pound cheaper. Plus you get advantage/necter/Clubcard points. Plus multibuy savings, and money off vouchers. All these money saving options for the same product (with a bit of fortified iron to make it legally a different product). The only purpose of Follow On Milk is that it can be discounted. For a formula feeding family - that's a good thing, not a bad thing.