Formula milk - which brand and why?

[bluebells1234]

Hey,
I have decided to introduce a formula milk before bedtime. I am aware that the formulas available in the UK all have to meet a standard so I’ve been told they are all basically the same. So my question is, which formula brand did you go for and why? And would you recommend it?
TIA

Honestly? My neighbour had an unopened tub and gifted it to me just before I gave birth. Was worth £12.50. In the hospital they asked what milk I wanted to give the baby, after BF wasn’t working as I had hoped. They had SMA or cow and gate. He went on cow and gate knowing I’d use it when we got home as had formula in. He’s 8 months now and never has any problems with it. They’re all the same anyway I’ve heard.

We used Cow and Gate as it was a brand I'd heard of and could easily get hold of. A friend used a different brand, for the same reasons.

I used SMA because that’s what my mum used with me!

Exactly the same reasoning here!

It won't make them sleep more.

I used Hipp Organic as I know a doctor that used it for her baby so I thought maybe she knew something I didn’t, and I liked that it was organic!

Winter and possibly snow and ice are just around the corner. I'd just choose the one that's easily available in the shops close to you.

Don't fall for bedtime milks or follow-on milks though. The only one recommended by the NHS is first stage milk.

.

We used Aptamil because it was the one most frequently and reliably available in our local Tesco garage.

No one said it would! 🤷🏻‍♀️

SMA because it’s the one the lady in Boots gave me when I went in somewhat desperate about a hungry baby. He seemed to like it.

www.firststepsnutrition.org/parents-carers

Kendamil organic, liked that it was organic and made locally. like the ordering system online for bulk deliveries. smells nicer than the others to me and went down well with the baby.

I used Aptamil because it was the brand provided by the hospital, I hadn't taken any in with me because I had planned to BF but it didn't work out so I just kept going with the brand that baby was already used to.

I loved the smell of aptamil, I remember drinking the dregs of my dd's bottles when desperately thirsty on the postnatal ward. (Mixed feeding, c section, they rarely brought me any water).

We used aptamil and cow and Gate alternately depending on what we could pick up, and dd was fine with either, but I always thought aptamil smelled better of the two.

I used SMA for mine, because that’s what I had when I was a baby and I’m comfortable with how I turned out 😉

One you can buy easily

My first was in scbu and it was the one they gave her 13 years ago. My other 2 when the time came I used the same because I’d used it with my first. So they’ve all had a Aptimal
with no issues

Whatever is available in the local shops where you go all the time. What does your corner shop stock? Go for that one!

Aptamil with my first because we were living abroad and it was one I could reliably get there and knew I could easily get it when visiting the UK. With my 2nd I'm using cow and gate (now back in Uk) because its cheaper than Aptamil and made by the same company.

I used SMA for first as this is what hospital
gave me when my milk didn’t come in, and cow and gate for second as I realised cow and gate was sold at my local shop.

I combi fed and switched from cow and gate to hipp organic and his reflux improved. Also liked the smell of it more. It might not be the same for everyone though

He started on nutriprem and we begged for guidance when taken off it at twelve weeks but they couldn't advise

First my first we tried aptimil and my son was constipated so advised by HV to switch. We then tried SMA and he had the most stinky green coloured poo. So we tried hipp and it suited my baby and his digestion.

My only complaint with HIPP is that it was often sold out so had to hunt arround at Christmas when people seems to stock up.

All babies are different and although they say it's all the same - my baby wouldn't agree

Started with Aptimal as I had one of those packs of readymade bottles in when we arrived home after being unable to get Dd to latch on the breast. She was getting a lot of constipation and we eventually switched to Kendamil which agreed with her more.

Picking one that’s avatars readymade can be handy for taking when you go out and about. We also found it easier to use readymade for the knitting when feeds are tiny.

I started with Aptamil Profutura but it constipated my boy so we moved to Cow and Gate with no issues