Should I be moving onto follow-on milk?

[newmum234]

DS is now 8 months old and is still having the same Aptamil 1 he’s always had (the one that is suitable from birth). I’m now worried that I’ve done the wrong thing and should have moved him onto the Aptamil follow-on milk when he turned 6 months. Why do they have follow-on milk - is it because it contains more iron? I’m worried DS isn’t getting enough iron because he’s not had any meat yet, just veg, fruit and carbs. Please help!

Follow on milk is a marketing ploy, 1st milk is all that is needed in the first year of life.

Thanks @bloodywhitecat - what about the iron content though?

@newmum234

Thanks *@bloodywhitecat* - what about the iron content though?

The iron thing is also a marketing ploy. They're not allowed to market formula for newborns by law, so they make a huge song and dance about follow-on milk, and the iron is part of the routine. There is absolutely no need to switch.

Yep follow on milk is mainly because you can’t advertise newborn milk

By advertising the follow on milk their putting the brand name in peoples heads

This is from the NHS Website ‘ Research shows that switching to follow-on formula at 6 months has no benefits for your baby. Your baby can continue to have first infant formula as their main drink until they are 1 year old.’

They aren’t allowed to advertise formula for newborns or provide any offers or commercial benefits for buying it - so no discounts, no Boots points etc. They can on follow on milk though. I moved on to follow in milk partly because it’s regularly on offer and saves me £2 per tub.

Follow on milk does have more iron in, and their irons levels begin to deplete at 6 months. That said, the amount they require is easy enough acquired through food if they're offered iron rich foods. Follow on milk can be on offers etc so you might find it is cheaper, but no harm staying on 1st milk.

I did switch around 9 months but only because it was cheaper and you got special offers on it that you can't get on first milk.

Just out of mild interest, HVs often say they are EXACTLY the same, but would recoil in horror if you suggested using stage 2 instead of stage 1 because it's cheaper; ergo they are not exactly the same.

I switched because at £9 a box, the boots points start to rack up. It was also on regular offer on ocado

Thanks all. I’m worrying about iron levels but equally don’t want to change DS’s milk if there’s no need. The NHS advice that @springdale1 posted has put my mind at rest though!

For easy iron, if they aren’t having much meat yet, I have been adding red lentils, chickpeas or kidney beans into veggie purées for same age baby. Eggs are also very good

@newmum234 the recommendation is for 2 iron rich foods a day past 6 months, eggs, meat, spinach etc are all great sources of iron.

They are the same after 6 months. If you find follow on milk cheaper then go for it but you don’t have to

The only reason follow on milk exists is because formula companies are not allowed to advertise their product but can advertise follow on milk. It's unnecessary and a con

Its not a con if you choose to use it because its cheaper. I even changed brand when I changed to follow on as that was much less expensive than what I was using.

Its not a con if you choose to use it because its cheaper.

Exactly...

@Littlepaws18 please can you explain why you describe it as a con? Not being facetious, I’m genuinely interested why

It's a con because it was only invented to get round the advertising ban

The nutritional benefits are marginal, especially if egg in included inthe DC's diet.

If it is cheaper, then great, spend less.

But it's really not necessary for any other reason

That doesn't make it a con, it's cheaper and you can collect loyalty stuff like boots points etc for it. A con implies that it's the same but for a higher price, most brands also have double the iron content, not needed for everyone, but plenty of little ones aren't reliably eating a variety of solids before they are one. I agree there's absolutely nought wrong with staying on stage 1, but the insistence it's a con or whatever might convince someone to needlessly pay more money for 1.

You don't have to use follow on milk but it is cheaper and usually has deals on, I'll be switching at the end of the month when ds turns 6 months especially as we go through a 700g tin every 4.5 days

Because babies absolutely don't need follow on milk. It's a useless product designed for the purpose of advertising

@Littlepaws18 are you on about follow on milk (12 months plus), or stage 2 milk (6 months plus)?

6 month+ milk is follow on milk. Toddler milk is from age 1.

I moved mine at 6 months because i thought i needed too, didnt know there was no difference!

Though I do wonder what the midwives would say if you rocked up to the hospital with 6 month plus formula for your newborn...