When to start follow on milk

[PINKYKP]

ok so the box says suitable from 6 months, my ds is 5 months and planning on weaning in 2 weeks. am i correct in thinking i use his normal milk for baby rice and normal feeds but when am i supposed to use the iron rich follow on milk?

you don't need to use it at all.
follow-on milk was created to get round the ban on advertising infant formula
as you know, they are high in iron, which some babies can find hard to tolerate

your baby will get all it needs from a varied diet and regular formula milk, so there is no need to change if you don't want to

I wouldn't bother either - his normal milk is better for him, and he can get iron from natural sources in his food. From 6 months you can just put full fat cows milk on cereal and in cooking.

As others have said, just stick with your normal formula. It's just them creating an advertising loophole with a milk that's not necessary and often harder to digest.

Cow's milk in cooking and on cereal, regular formula for drinks.

Remember that just cos there is more iron in the milk it doesn't mean your baby can absorb it.

Just seconding the bit about follow on milk not being needed - all the literature I've been given from the NHS on weaning/FF etc says it is "not recommended or needed". You can keep using the first milk until he is 1 then switch to cow's milk. Toddler milk is not required either!

no need.
dd1 was formula fed, and stayed on first stage milk (not hungry baby stuff) until switching to cows milk at 12mo.

Just to give an alternative view- I put DD on follow on milk at 6 mths. Main reason was that we were doing BLW so I knew she wasn't likely to eat a lot of solids for a while and needed some defence against the PILs lack of iron argument (both doctors). Had no issues with changing her over at all and (trivial point) there are at least offers and supermarket points on follow on milk which there never is on first milk!

Also, a minority view I know, but I for one am glad someone does manufacture formula milk- not everyone is blessed with the ability to breastfeed and it has at least kept DD alive!