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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

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Original poster

Aptamil Follow-on Milk

14 replies

Blaggingit · 02/12/2006 20:27

Apologies if there has already been a discussion about this but I have been using Aptamil First for my DS who is now 7 months. Can I or should I be now using Aptamil 3 Follow-on Milk? I have also noticed that it is about £1.50 cheaper than the First milk, so if nothing else is it worth the financial saving?

OP posts:

CountTo10LordsaLeaping · 02/12/2006 20:32

I started using it at about that time - to be honest I don't think it makes much difference other than the obv financial saving.

HunkerTheInternetPhenomenon · 02/12/2006 20:35

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FastAndLouche · 02/12/2006 20:37

i think the ones sold as from 6mo have iron in them, whereas first ones dont (cause baby has iron from you for 1st 6m) so yes, sposed to swap.

LIZS · 02/12/2006 20:47

There isn't any need to swap as the extra iron is hard for them to absorb and msot babies are taking solids by that age to boost mineral and vitamins. Follow-ons exists largely so that they can advertise the brand name and by association the infant formulas that legally they cannot directly promote. They m,ay ostensibly seem better value but make sure that feed for feed they actually are, since you may need more scoops and/or the scoops are different size relative to the same volume of water than infant ones.

Chamomile · 02/12/2006 20:58

I switched at about 7 months and my Lo took to it quite happily.As you say, it's a lot cheaper,so I would think definitely worth trying to see if it suits your DS. We didn't have any problems with constipation.

Original poster

Blaggingit · 02/12/2006 21:13

I don't think there is any scoop for scoop difference for aptamil, I know decisions hsouldn't be made just on cost but it is a consideration.

OP posts:

tiktok · 03/12/2006 00:24

Fast - there is iron in regular formula (see the label). It's actually added in.

(There is of course iron in breastmilk - less, because it's in a form that is bio-available to the baby.)

They add more iron to follow on - unnecessarily, in fact, as most of it is not used by the baby.

fluffyanimal · 03/12/2006 14:43

Tiktok, where did you find out that the iron is not used by the baby? Everything I've read, inc the NHS birth to 5 book, says that as babies' natural iron stores start to drop after 6 months, they need more in their diet. Lots of babies may not have a very varied diet at that stage, so it might be reassuring to use the Follow-on milk.

HunkerTheInternetPhenomenon · 03/12/2006 14:47

The excess iron is excreted and causes constipation in lots of children, FA.

Breastmilk is low in iron in comparison to formula, but the iron that is there is extremely bioavailable to babies.

Here's a good link

Iron stores last at least the first six months, and current research suggests they last a lot longer.

deaconblue · 03/12/2006 18:51

Follow on milk made ds barf in impressive fountain style. Also made his poo black/green I guess because of excess iron. Have gone back to number one milk and he's much happier.

IdrisTheRedNosedReindeer · 03/12/2006 18:54

Follow on aptimil has bigger scoops than 1st stage. So you use the tub quicker than you would for the first stage.

tiktok · 03/12/2006 21:04

fluffy - there is far more iron in follow on than the baby actually needs. Just having 'more' of something doesn't make it better!

Gingerbear · 03/12/2006 21:07

I fell for the follow-on milk iron marketing ploy with DD. Was worried that she wasn't getting enough iron, and she had dropped the breastfeeds to one at nighttime from about 13 months.
Won't be doing that again this time round.

Original poster

Blaggingit · 04/12/2006 09:29

Thanks everyone for help on this follow-on milk stuff - the jury seems to be split! I might stick to the first milk !!

OP posts:

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