how to decide? total novice

ebayfreak · Apr 11th, 2012, 01:43 AM

How do you decide which formula to give? My baby is 8 months and breast fed, i think i want to switch to follow on milk. Also can anyone recommend bottles and teats to use for a breast fed baby?

kanga · Apr 11th, 2012, 04:12 AM

All formulas are pretty much the same IMO. They are all cows milk with vitamins added and the cows milk probably changed to suit a baby's tummy. I have always thought of the hree main ones (Aptimil, C&G and SMA) as runny, medium and creamy respectively (if that makes sense!).

SMA seems to make babies constipated. I would try Aptimil or C&G personally. Or if you are bothered about organic, try the HIPP one.

As for bottles, my lo got on very well with the MAM anti-colic ones. Breastflow is a brand that aparantly mimic BF but my lo didn't get on with them at all. Its a bit of trial and error. do you have any friends who could lend you a bottle so you can try different types before you buy? You could end up with a cupboard full of bottles that your lo has rejected!

ebayfreak · Apr 11th, 2012, 05:49 AM

Thanks for the advice. I'll give the mam ones a go. do you have to still steralise at her age? (8months)

kanga · Apr 11th, 2012, 11:54 AM

The advice is to sterilise til they are 1 and wash in hot soapy water beforehand. That's my plan but each to there own, I know some people stop sterilising earlier. You can sterilise the MAM bottles individually in the microwave, so no need for a steriliser.

ebayfreak · Apr 11th, 2012, 12:51 PM

Bought some Hipp follow on milk. It says boil the kettle then let cool for 30 minutes before making the bottle up. Why is this? and what happens in the middle of the night ?

kanga · Apr 11th, 2012, 13:28 PM

Its to reduce the risk of scalding yourself.

I personally make my bottles up with freshly boiled water. The water needs to be at least 70 degrees to kill bacteria in the formula powder.

I make my bottles up thus
- add powder to bottle (eg 6 scoops)
- boil kettle and add 50% boiling water to bottle (eg 3 ounces)
- top up with cooled boiled water (eg 3 ounces)

This way the water is at least 70 degrees and bacteria in powder is killed. And also the bottle is the right temp for my lo to drink straight away.

i always have a bottle of cooled boiled water on the kitchen side.

formula drinks are good for 2 hours form when made up with 100% boiling water. I go with an hour max for my method described above

hth x

mavsprtynpink · Apr 11th, 2012, 15:15 PM

I would recommend the dr browns bottles. We tried a few different bottles before falling in love with the dr browns. They reduce his gas and he seems to not fuss through feeding nearly as much as he did with other bottles. As far as formula its a try, wait, and pray thing. We tried 4 different formulas before finding the right one for his tummy. We ended up on enfamil gentlease/similac sensitive or any generic form of the two. I would talk to his doc and see what they recommend as far as formula and advice on switching from breast milk to formula.

Apr 11th, 2012, 01:43 AM	#1
ebayfreak Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Gateshead Posts: 153	how to decide? total novice How do you decide which formula to give? My baby is 8 months and breast fed, i think i want to switch to follow on milk. Also can anyone recommend bottles and teats to use for a breast fed baby?

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Apr 11th, 2012, 04:12 AM	#2
kanga Other BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: England Posts: 3,825	All formulas are pretty much the same IMO. They are all cows milk with vitamins added and the cows milk probably changed to suit a baby's tummy. I have always thought of the hree main ones (Aptimil, C&G and SMA) as runny, medium and creamy respectively (if that makes sense!). SMA seems to make babies constipated. I would try Aptimil or C&G personally. Or if you are bothered about organic, try the HIPP one. As for bottles, my lo got on very well with the MAM anti-colic ones. Breastflow is a brand that aparantly mimic BF but my lo didn't get on with them at all. Its a bit of trial and error. do you have any friends who could lend you a bottle so you can try different types before you buy? You could end up with a cupboard full of bottles that your lo has rejected!

Status: Offline

Apr 11th, 2012, 05:49 AM	#3
ebayfreak Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Gateshead Posts: 153	Thanks for the advice. I'll give the mam ones a go. do you have to still steralise at her age? (8months)

Status: Offline

Apr 11th, 2012, 11:54 AM	#4
kanga Other BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: England Posts: 3,825	The advice is to sterilise til they are 1 and wash in hot soapy water beforehand. That's my plan but each to there own, I know some people stop sterilising earlier. You can sterilise the MAM bottles individually in the microwave, so no need for a steriliser.

Status: Offline

Apr 11th, 2012, 12:51 PM	#5
ebayfreak Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Gateshead Posts: 153	Bought some Hipp follow on milk. It says boil the kettle then let cool for 30 minutes before making the bottle up. Why is this? and what happens in the middle of the night ?

Status: Offline

Apr 11th, 2012, 13:28 PM	#6
kanga Other BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: England Posts: 3,825	Its to reduce the risk of scalding yourself. I personally make my bottles up with freshly boiled water. The water needs to be at least 70 degrees to kill bacteria in the formula powder. I make my bottles up thus - add powder to bottle (eg 6 scoops) - boil kettle and add 50% boiling water to bottle (eg 3 ounces) - top up with cooled boiled water (eg 3 ounces) This way the water is at least 70 degrees and bacteria in powder is killed. And also the bottle is the right temp for my lo to drink straight away. i always have a bottle of cooled boiled water on the kitchen side. formula drinks are good for 2 hours form when made up with 100% boiling water. I go with an hour max for my method described above hth x

Status: Offline

Apr 11th, 2012, 15:15 PM	#7
mavsprtynpink Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Richmond KY. Originally from Chicago IL. Posts: 610	I would recommend the dr browns bottles. We tried a few different bottles before falling in love with the dr browns. They reduce his gas and he seems to not fuss through feeding nearly as much as he did with other bottles. As far as formula its a try, wait, and pray thing. We tried 4 different formulas before finding the right one for his tummy. We ended up on enfamil gentlease/similac sensitive or any generic form of the two. I would talk to his doc and see what they recommend as far as formula and advice on switching from breast milk to formula.

Status: Offline

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