Bottle feeding- best powder formula?

[grace1991]

Hey everyone! As it says in the title really..can anyone recommend the best powder formula to feed from birth?
I'm UK based.
Thankyou! Xx

Following with interest!

I don't think there's much difference between them all. I used Aptamil.

I think they are all basically the same now as they have to follow guidelines.

I went for cow and gate with dd and we never had any issues, it was also easy to pick up at any show if we were running short.

I used aptamil profutura because DH had it in his head aptamil was best and I mistakenly picked up the pro futura not realising a difference.

I can't swap away from it as any change upsets DD tummy.

I think they are all much the same but be prepared to stick with your brand so if cost is a consideration don't immediately go for a more expensive one as you may well be stuck with it and even a couple of pounds a tub adds up in the end

Oh yes and profutura was particularly hard to find in the early stages of lockdown! I almost weaned early

I don't think there is much of a difference tbh, but I combi fed with Aptamil. After choosing Aptamil I asked midwife if SMA or cow & gate would have been better and she said they were known to cause constipation, but obviously all babies are different. The hospital where I had dc used Aptamil to bottle feed.

I've used aptimal and then switched to SMA with no problems. Perhaps see what is at your local shop so you can it easily.

I used cow and gate as it was the one in our local Tesco express if we ever got caught short. I was also told aptimal and cow and gate were made in the same factory.
My niece had SMA and had terrible tummy upset.

Hipp organic when I topped up on occasion. Would only ever use organic formula to be honest

HIPP organic was wonderful for my 2, after much trial and error

There is a Channel 4 dispatches program you should watch which looks at formula milk - there are such strict guidelines for it that they are all the same. Aldi's own brand is just as good as the most expensive Aptamil versions.

@rooarsome it's the best isn't it! Nanny Care is also an excellent formula too especially from birth onwards

www.channel4.com/press/news/channel-4-dispatches-asks-if-ps40billion-infant-formula-industry-putting-profit-babies

This was the program!

What goes in them is not the same though, especially in the nanny care brand where they only use Goat Milk solids which are much kinder to a newborns stomach then cows milk.

All formulas have to pass strict guidelines like most UK foods, but the quality of the ingredients are another thing entirely. The nanny care in particular is a completely different type of formula due to being goat derived

My midwife said that all the main brands are the same. Im using Aptimal with my two week old and have had no problems at all.

Go with whatever formula is most easily available and affordable for you.

Go with what your local shops have the most of. In my area it's Aptamil

Hipp organic - I had no problems with this midwifes all thought he was breastfed, no wind issues and brilliant poos (if they exist ). Agree with pp I'd only ever use organic formula to be honest.

You're all fantastic. Thankyou so much xxxxx

My LO was unfussy.

I mixed fed and started with C&G. Then someone gave me aptamil so I swapped. She didn't complain or have any stomach upsets. My DP, her dad, pointed out that aptamil is easier to mix.

Personally just get the brand that you can most easily get from your local supermarket.

Hipp organic by far!

I used aldi formula with dd and never had any issues. The ingredients are exactly the same as aptimil but it's about £4 a tub cheaper

I'v FF and BF. I used aptamil. Personally I'd choose a brand that you can get down your local store in case you ever get caught out and one where most small shops sell the ready made. For us that was aptamil, which also happened to be the one recommended at the time.

There's no "best" formula but some babies will get along better with some brands than others.
All have to meet the same basic standards but the ingredients do differ and some mums find that particular brands don't agree with their babies. However for every person who tells you that X formula was best for their baby you will find someone else who will tell you that they had no end of trouble with X and that Y is definitely the best! Every manufacturer would like you to believe that there's something miraculous about their particular formula, but there really isn't, and basically it is a matter of trial and error. You might find whatever you pick first is fine, or you may need to try a few different ones. Probably best not to stock up on large quantities of any one type until you are sure your baby gets on ok with it, and it is definitely a good idea to pick a brand that is easily available if you can. Sometimes its unavoidable, but you don't really want to go for something that can only be bought in one supermarket on the other side of town unless you really have to.
If you're vegetarian, just be aware that there aren't that many formulas that are vegetarian - quite a lot contain fish oils for example - and there is no completely vegan formula available in the UK.
The First Steps Nutrition website has lots of good and impartial information that might help you.There is a parents' guide and a more detailed report that us aimed at health professionals but is accessible for everyone if you'd like a detailed comparison of all the available brands.
www.firststepsnutrition.org/parents-carers
I hope everything goes well for you.