Why can’t you use follow-on milk?

[Pinkstuffs]

DS 10 months old has been on Hipp Organic pretty much since he was a few months old, we had lots of problems with formula and this is the only brand that he tolerates. The first milk is suddenly out of stock everywhere!

Would I be ok to use some follow-on milk as I can get hold of this? I know the advice is that it’s not needed, although what is the reason for this? Presumably it’s not dangerous? It feels like this is a better solution than switching to another brand.

It’s suitable for 6 months+?

It’s fine to use it. He will be transferring to cow’s milk soon anyway.

I know it is but the health visitor always goes on about how it’s not needed and we should keep using the first formula?

Fine to use.

Don't know logistics of the difference between them but it's a way for them to promote formula as they can't for the first milk.

I’m probably being PFB but we see the health visitor quite a bit due to my DS’s size and she mentions it practically every time!

I never used follow milk, I thought it was some kind of marketing thing rather than being necessary for growth

It's because from stage 1 " from birth" formula can still be used past the age you could technically go onto follow on milk. Some people say follow on milk only exists because formula milk brands aren't legally allowed to advertise stage one formula as it might dissuade from breastfeeding. Whether you go onto follow on milk or stay on the stage one milk is up to you.

Basically Follow on milk is a marketing ploy as they can't advertise First formula.

It does have different levels of some nutrients in.

However it is not actively dangerous

It was developed as a marketing ploy. Baby formula cannot be advertised, but so called ‘follow-on’ milk can, so producers have jumped on this loophole to push their products.
Amazon has the First milk in stock.
www.amazon.co.uk/HiPP-Organic-Combiotic-Onwards-sachets/dp/B003Y6S5WM/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qw-MXsR7iTG1MBxxIIdGtDk2zGP9EVqom-1U0xCRH96WZOiDHb-kUPCJp7Jmz1nPGZaaj2JnMJBW1FHpypj21mPLn41Jn4YEDKX-yLvABm8KRgh1f1hhp9ttR6UsTOp4vSa2s5dq6pg3PlAckYRXoXpJI5R885WuqQDpOShj3N5k_CiNpj-CKj50AbKE3WYjqnRQIHXCUKUE5LKNczC5mFLZzvBgI3rZwOdHrVKtcHIIMdQuE1ZntJV3pejY3tCvNTV2Tmln8w3OW22wkQYzCCpeSzNZnYvIKfjSeczBb35HJ9kGU6SNssVs531gxA15-Pc2SJBpMB0kScLvDIvBrew0zA49Q7Qi_W9MbROLGEb6MBfAGx0U044wDcTpgVdatXAHR5n7NnKNDRUccHlvAVVNFVq5zy2veJthOpYmgYvESe_hcxuB0tCHTjVh2TKH.dVjKK_GtmWGi9EpBhxEaesdxOU1S47qgyUCqzRyxWO0&dib_tag=se&keywords=hipp%2Bformula&qid=1740304058&sr=8-5&th=1

Yes it’s true about a product being manufactured just so they can advertise. The general rule is to not swap and change formulas but in this case, it’s the same manufacturer.

The product itself will be of a strict standard, so no need to worry.

When I can get hold of the first formula I’ll go back to that, but I can’t buy it anywhere. I’ve tried to order some from the website but it won’t be here until next week, if they fulfil the order.

It’s dispatched within 1-2 months unless I buy the pre-made bottles, which are expensive.

If you change, I would not swap back. It’s only really for a couple of months.

HVs tend to not promote follow on milks, purely because it’s a way of manufactures dodging the advertising laws on formulas.

I made a point of switching to the follow on milks because you can't earn tesco/boots/asda points on the first milk either.

This was a long time ago though. Might have changed in some way, but that shit adds up.

I moved to follow on milk to get points too. At the time (9 years ago) I looked into it and there was no difference between the two and ds had the constitution of an ox when we were weaning so we swopped to follow on to get points and so it could be used in money off vouchers in Dunnes.

Ah, I didn’t see that. Just use the follow on milk for now until you can get hold of it again then

I wouldn't switch back for sake of couple months tbh

Follow on milk is just a marketing ploy because it is allowed to be advertised.

Having said that I had a similar issue with DD2. Her usual brand was sold out so I tried the follow on in the same brand but she wouldn’t tolerate it. She also wouldn’t tolerate the ready made version of the same brand. I think I tried other brands until I found one that she would take.

Actually I’ve just checked - this is down for delivery next week.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HiPP-Organic-Combiotic-Onwards-sachets/dp/B0DVC7NFYW/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qw-MXsR7iTG1MBxxIIdGtDk2zGP9EVqom-1U0xCRH96WZOiDHb-kUPCJp7Jmz1nPGZaaj2JnMJBW1FHpypj21mPLn41Jn4YEDKX-yLvABm8KRgh1f1hhp9ttR6UsTOp4vSa2s5dq6pg3PlAckYRXoXpJI5R885WuqQDpOShj3N5k_CiNpj-CKj50AbKE3WYjqnRQIHXCUKUE5LKNczC5mFLZzvBgI3rZwOdHrVKtcHIIMdQuE1ZntJV3pejY3tCvNTV2Tmln8w3OW22wkQYzCCpeSzNZnYvIKfjSeczBb35HJ9kGU6SNssVs531gxA15-Pc2SJBpMB0kScLvDIvBrew0zA49Q7Qi_W9MbROLGEb6MBfAGx0U044wDcTpgVdatXAHR5n7NnKNDRUccHlvAVVNFVq5zy2veJthOpYmgYvESe_hcxuB0tCHTjVh2TKH.dVjKK_GtmWGi9EpBhxEaesdxOU1S47qgyUCqzRyxWO0&dib_tag=se&keywords=hipp%2Bformula&qid=1740304058&sr=8-5&th=1

It's fine but nutritionally unnecessary compared to first milks.

It’s fine. It’s not needed, but it’s not harmful either. With mine who was ff, she was terribly constipated on the first milk, so tried her on follow on milk at 6 months, and she was regular for the first time ever and no longer going a week between poos. It’s a different protein. So we used that until we switched to cows milk and that worked great.

It says delivery on May for me! Maybe it depends where you are. Although I’m only in Yorkshire!

It’s fine to use OP. Yes it was invented as marketing work around because they can’t advertise the first stage stuff and they’re fine to stay on stage 1 and don’t need to swap unless for a reason like yours like it goes out of stock! But stage 2 also meets the nutritional needs for a 6-12 months and added bonus it’s a lot cheaper because it’s frequently on promotion and you can use/collect advantage card or other reward points on it. I wasn’t going to spend more than I needed to on formula so mine both switched to stage 2 as soon as they turned 6 months.

My baby was on sma gold untill he was 9 months then i switched him on full fat cows milk.