Baby milk advice

[ExcitedA3]

Hi, still have 15 weeks to go but I'm thinking about milk already! I want to be prepared. I'm going to use the cartoned milk for various reasons but just wondered which brand people use and which one they would recommend? Thanks in advance!

I BF my DD, but had some little readymade cartons just in case. We asked the midwife what she recommended, obviously she's not allowed to endorse specific products, but told us to get whichever one the closest late night garage stocked, just in case!
We used aptamil as a result.

Aptamil as you can buy it anywhere!! I BF DS but this was the back up

Baby milk has to conform to the same standards so the best one to use is the one that's most easily available in your neighbourhood

Just ignore any claims like "closest to BM" none of the claims have any evidence to back them up.

You can get Aptamil in 1 litre bottles now you can keep in fridge, cheaper than using the little bottles. It is ok for two days, so at 8 feeds a day, once your little one is taking about 60ml per feed, it works out better than the little bottles.

The starter kit they do is brilliant for hospital too - I had a c section and breastfed for first few feeds, then easy to switch to formula. The starter kit has tiny bottles with pre sterilised teats so no need to faff with sterilisation in hospital. Even if you get home within a few hours, it's one less thing to do - the kit is enough for 7 feeds so we bought 3 (spent 2 nights in hosp).

FYI - I use the premade formula too, but the cost difference is pretty big - my DH worked it out at £85 a month for premade versus £35 for powder for whatever amount our little one was taking at the time...)

Breast milk is free of course before someone points that out

I chose the one that was cheapest - in the supermarkets round here its the hipp one...

I sent DH to the supermaket on day three when BFing became Actual Hell, and he return with SMA so that is what we used. Bought the same again for DS.

They are all much of a muchness tbh.

With the 1 litre bottles how do you get around getting it back to room temp before feeding? I know you have to place unused milk in the fridge but it's kind of what I was wanting to avoid! Having to wait ages for milk to warm up. I want to give the milk at room temp which is why I'm going for easy cartons. I know the cost will be a lot more but for me for now (first baby) it just seems like a good option to make things easier!

Hipp tastes most like breast milk and doesn't smell as rank as Aptamil. The packaging is a pita though.

You can get machines that make to correct temp in seconds using powdered stuff. Might fit your needs on convenience and prob cheaper in the long run

We used Aptamil first, it didn't agree with DS and went on to Hipp which is fine. My point here is don't buy loads of one type in case it doesn't suit.

Also, the Tommee Tippee perfect prep machine is your friend - best thing I bought and i'm on my third child - wish it had been around before.

Is there a reason you're not considering bf'ing?

You'll still be putting unused milk in the fridge with the little cartons - they're 200ml each so too much for a single newborn feed. If you want to warm it then pour it in to the bottle and then stand it in a jug of hot water to take the edge off (same principle as a bottle warmer). We used Aptamil, can't remember why!

I heartily recommend a "perfect prep" machine if you do change your mind about powder

I serve bottles at room temp too and dont use cartons. I make four at a time ans shove them in the fridge. I take one out an hour or so before I need it. If I go out I chuck a made bottle in the change bag and serve it when needed.

Cow & Gate is what we used. DD didn't get on with SMA but was fine with C&G.

Oh look we got a whole 13 posts in before BF was mentioned

Follow the world health organisations guide for making up formula, saved my mental health not having to make bottles all night long! I used aptamil (comfort variety) till 6 months and moved on to cow and gate after.

Cow and Gate as it's the cheapest and made by the same company as Aptamil, in the same factory with the same ingredients.
SMA made DS constipated.
I would look at the perfect prep if I had another (not going to though).

For at least the first 3 months or so, the amount they take is warmed so quickly and easily by plonking bottle in a mug with an inch of tap hot water. Or microwaving for about ten seconds (not technically advised due to uneven heating possibilities but as long as you give it a shake after warming it's absolutely fine, so sue me)

Tbh warming it is such a non issue. I just have a flask of boiling water for overnight and pour an inch into a mug and stand the bottle in it while changing babe's nappy and that is enough.

And yes as someone else has pointed out, the small bottles (which have replaced the small cartons) are 200ml which would make at least 4 feeds for a newborn.

My system:

Mini fridge in bedroom for overnight with 3 bottles made up already. Flask of boiling water and big mug for warming bottles - done in the time babe takes to have nappy change. Total non issue, warming.

And yes I know I'm repeating myself, back and fwd to phone with grumpy child!!

Both of mine went straight onto c&g, simply because it was cheapest in the shop. DC3 will be on c&g too. Already got the starter packs and a tub of formula ready (due in two weeks)

Maybe the OP doesn't want to breastfeed. I don't.

Yes I've heard about the prep machines they sound good but I very much like the idea of keeping the carton upstairs to be used in the middle of the night. I also want to be able to make leaving the house as easy as possible so grabbing cartons rather than flasks etc will suit me much better.

I know I'd not use the full 200ml for the first 5 weeks or so but after that probably would so there wouldn't be much wastage.... Just wondered what people did to warm back up to room temp not actually warming the milk as I really don't want to start doing that.

B'feeding is not for me, I have absolutely nothing against it. I just don't like the idea for myself. Never have! I want my husband and family to be involved in the feeding also. So I want to make that process as easy as possible.

I think I might take your advice and use the 100ml bottles that are pre sterilised for the first couple of days until we are all back home, then move onto the 200ml cartons place the left over in the fridge and just take out the milk to warm up to room temp and hour before the feed. If baby needs it sooner I'll open up another carton!

Thank you for all your helpful advice by the way! It's very much appreciated!

I started bf dc1, However, she was failure to thrive so ended topping her up with formula. I used to use powder in the house and also had cartons of aptamil when out and about. I really liked the cartons for when away from the house so easy to use and no need to heat etc.

Refreshing to see someone do what they feel is right with feeding. There is too much pressure and stigma around ff/bf imo. Good for you for making your own mind up.

Im going to try to bf but was planning to get back up powder. Now considering if the pre-made might be better so this has been helpful.

I'm pretty sure that formula has to be discarded once it's been out of the fridge for an hour. Formula can contain some pretty scary bacteria so best to follow the NHS guidelines on making up, and storing the milk.

Tinymonkey how do you know?

Perfect prep is your friend... You can take it upstairs at night on a tray and have a bottle ready within 2 Mins I waited till 3 months to buy one when I just got too fed up of coming downstairs in the night when it was cold and I cracked my hband into
letting me buy one. Cartons are easy but considering my baby now only drinks it warm the perfect prep is so much easier! There is going to be faff bottle feeding unfortunately but perfect prep is as close to easy as you can get!