Combining Hungry Baby and Normal Cow and Gate?

[minicazzybee]

Morning!!
I've gone onto FF about 3 weeks ago, and just got a couple of questions. For the last 6-7 nights Alex has been waking every 2 hours during the night and having 5oz each feed. He normally goes at least 3-4 hours during the night without a feed. The HV says its probably a growth spurt and nothing to worry about. Just wondering if it's possible to feed him normal Formula during the day but for his 8pm onwards feeds to switch to Hungry Baby Formula, in the hope it will make him go a little longer between feeds during the night?

Also, this is probably a completely stupid question but is it possible to combine the different formulas within one bottle? E.g for a 7oz bottle making it up with 6 scoops 'normal' formula and 1 scoop of hungry baby? He suffered with constipation when we tried him on Hungry Baby about a months ago, and want to avoid this in the future.

Many thanks xxx

 

[welshwarriors]

I don't think you should combine two different milks in one bottle.

I would ask the HV about combining two milks one for the night and one for the day. She can properly tell you if it would be a good idea or not.

I personally would go witht he flow and feed my baby every 2 hours if he wants that...I did that with my son and now he's back to "normal" and wants one nightfeed now.

 

[Boothh]

when we first started usin hungry baby the HV said if he got constipate to add an extra ounce of water, say use 6scoops of formula and 7oz of water,

we never had to this though because his pooing never changed, xx

 

[Boothh]

also i think using normal formula for day and hungry for night will be fine aslong as you dont mix in the same bottle xxx

 

[minicazzybee]

That's great, thanks ladies. I'll give Hungry Baby a go tonight and see if there's any difference. I really wouldn't bother, but getting sleep in 2 hour slots is really starting to wear thin!!

The tip about adding an extra oz of water to Hungry Baby formula is really good-I was considering making it a little 'weak' anyway, so that confirms it!

 

[welshwarriors]

I had one night (about 3wks ago) when I gave Joe hungry baby milk in the night...gave me an extra 2 hours sleep before he woke up for the nxt feed. Hope it works for you.

The 2 hours extra were no good for me cause his whole daytime feeds where all over the place. lol

 

[suzib76]

personally i wouldnt use hungry baby just to get a longer sleep at night - if your lo is waking more often it is because he needs it

if your lo truly needed hungry baby milk he would need it all of the time not just at night, sounds to me like you are putting your needs before those of your lo

 

[KellyMH]

personally i wouldnt use hungry baby just to get a longer sleep at night - if your lo is waking more often it is because he needs it

if your lo truly needed hungry baby milk he would need it all of the time not just at night, sounds to me like you are putting your needs before those of your lo

Thats a bit mean! Shes got to think of herself as well as the baby!!

Its probably just a growth spurt an will be back to normal soon, id bear with it. I agree though, my lil man is having 5oz every 3 hours and its killin me gettin up in the night so much. Id do anything to make him sleep a bit more at night, i can cope during the day! x

 

[suzib76]

i dont think its harsh - just being honest

i totally understand how hard night feeding is, but, if its what the baby needs then its what the baby needs - i see no problem with a baby being given hungry milk if they genuinely need it, but to give them it so that you can get a better nights sleep is, in my opinion, wrong.

 

[FlowerFairy]

I am currently combining hungry baby and normal formula. Basically Noah needs Hungry baby milk as he was feeding every 2-3 hours and I spke to the HV and she agreed he is a hungry baby! As I had almost a full tub of normal formula I asked if it would be ok for me to use that during the day and hungry baby at night just while I used it up. she said it was fine and I am still doing that. However as soon as it runs out I will just been using hungry baby.

Noah has slept longer since being on the hungry baby, but I dont think it's down to it entirely. I think he was moving on to sleeping longer and this was a coincidence.

 

[Beth09]

I did this with Zach gave him his last two bottles before bed of Hungry baby milk and when he woke in the night i would give him the same. I didn't have any problems doing this and definitely dont think you are putting your needs before him, he needs a well slept mum not one who is too tired to do anything! Give it a go! Hope it works for you!!

 

[minicazzybee]

Thanks Beth-good point, well made.
And for the comment about putting my needs before my baby's, well I am, and I'm not sorry for that. I was looking for advice, not criticism. Just some background info for you; I'm suffering from quite severe PND, and after having seen my counsellor today I asked her about my formula dilemma, and she said that exhaustion can excacerbate PND quite considerably. I would much rather my son have a well-rested mummy who is happy and has the energy and enthusiasm to play with him, rather than be so knackered that I have no desire to play or interact with him properly.

I'm not after a slanging match, just wanted to put the record straight that I'm not some lazy cow who just wants a better night sleep. I actually want my son to have a better night's sleep too, so that he is not over-tired and ratty the next day. Maybe you are lucky enough to have a baby who sleeps more than 2 hours at a time, and if you are than I'm happy for you, but not all of us are so fortunate.

Caroline x

 

[Heavencanwait]

Thanks Beth-good point, well made.
And for the comment about putting my needs before my baby's, well I am, and I'm not sorry for that. I was looking for advice, not criticism. Just some background info for you; I'm suffering from quite severe PND, and after having seen my counsellor today I asked her about my formula dilemma, and she said that exhaustion can excacerbate PND quite considerably. I would much rather my son have a well-rested mummy who is happy and has the energy and enthusiasm to play with him, rather than be so knackered that I have no desire to play or interact with him properly.

I'm not after a slanging match, just wanted to put the record straight that I'm not some lazy cow who just wants a better night sleep. I actually want my son to have a better night's sleep too, so that he is not over-tired and ratty the next day. Maybe you are lucky enough to have a baby who sleeps more than 2 hours at a time, and if you are than I'm happy for you, but not all of us are so fortunate.

Caroline x

You are absolutely right. Although I do not have PND, I definately find that lack of sleep always leads to me becoming negative and tearful by the end of each day.


Can anybody tell me why mixing stage 1 in the same bottle as hungry baby stage 2 is not recommended?

 

[sweetlullaby]

I emailed cow and gate last night lol got this as a response i was basically wanting to know the difference between the milks and whether to ride it out or start him on it (im riding it out atm coz its only once during the night)

Thank you for contacting us regarding the difference between the First and Hungry Baby milks.

Both Cow & Gate First Infant Milk and Cow & Gate Milk for Hungrier Babies are suitable for babies from birth.

However, of these two milks in the Cow & Gate, First milks tend to be used initially, whilst Cow & Gate for Hungrier Babies is used for hungrier bottlefed babies. The difference between the two formula's is in the distribution of the two proteins, whey and casein.

Cow & Gate First Infant Milk is 60% whey protein and 40% casein protein (i.e. whey based). Babies find whey protein particularly easy to digest.

Cow & Gate for Hungrier Babies, like most infant milks for hungrier, bottlefed babies, contains 20% whey protein and 80% casein protein (i.e. casein based). Casein is more slowly digested, leading to slower stomach emptying. This helps baby feel satisfied for longer.

Nutritionally, both milks provide everything a bottlefed baby needs, including the 2 LCPs, AA and DHA.


I would suggest that it may be worth giving stage 1 in the day and hungry baby for the night feeds. This will help him feel fuller and sleep longer again during the night. The hungry baby is harder to digest so I would suggest that you try one feed in the day first before giving it at night just to make sure that he is able to cope with it.

By introducing the hungry baby gradually then you will still have options when your baby begins to feel hungrier again. In this instance then you could change one bottle of the stage 1 in the day for a hungry baby. You can repeat this process until eventually your baby may be fully switched on to the hungry baby formula.

Hope this helps.