Formula questions please help im so confused

[Emzy1]

i want to get lo to have some formula feeds but there is so much choice and im confused on what to get.

once a tub is open how long does it last will it last a few weeks? i dont want to get a big tub use it a couple of times and have to chuck it.

LO is 6 months old what milk is best i see there are different stages

Would you advise hungry baby milk to start with?

sorry if they are stupid questions ive just never really looked at it until today i just thought there was different makes but there was stage 1 2 and 3, comfort milk, good night milk, hungry milk and follow on milk and probbaly lots more im lost lol

 

[Mummy_to_be87]

I started formula feeding at three months, I bought Cow and Gate stage 1 infant milk and bought a big tub, I still dont use the hungry formula as she doesnt need it, I will be moving her onto either the stage 3 follow on milk or blue top cows milk at 6 months! A tub lasts about a week and a half with my LO as she only gets three 7oz bottles a day along with three solid meals! I think the formula can last for a few weeks when open! The choice is yours as to which brand, I chose Cow and Gate because I liked the little cow on the front If you have any more questions feel free to ask

 

[ClairAye]

Needs to be used within 4 weeks, mine last about a week.
I'd use Follow On Milk at 6 months or 1st stage & would not use hungry baby milk first see how LO is on ordinary stuff for a week or two first

 

[Zinky]

My LO is 9 months and I am still using Cow & Gate Stage 1 milk. The Stage 3 follow on milk is just a marketing ploy and there is really no need for it, I think the main difference is it has slightly more iron and is sweeter. Hungry baby milk can be used if your LO is downing 9 oz bottles every couple of hours and isn't ready for weaning.
I use a tub approx every 10 days as LO is drinking about 23oz a day. Once opened you can keep it for 4 weeks.

 

[eulmh82]

Our HVs say actually follow on milk is no different to stage one milk it;s just another scam the companies put ot to get more money. I use cow and gate - SMA did not suit my LO and is known for making babies constipated. Don;t use hungry baby milk unless your baby is excpetionally hungry. I'm not sure how ling a tub lasts once opened perhaps have a look in the supermarkets what it says on the box.

 

[Toes_crossed]

I use Aptimil follow on. There isn't much difference in the stages... but you don't get loyalty card points on stage 1 milk which you do follow on and I can get a free tub of milk every 3 months or so with my boots card points

Tub usually lasts about 10 days but will obviously depend on how much LO is drinking

xxx

 

[Emzy1]

Thank you so much. i have been weaning LO for a few weeks now and he has 3 small meals a day and i will still BF i just want to give bottles when im out and hopefully OH can do a night because lo wakes every hour past 12 to feed, i think maybe my milk isnt enough anymore. Ill try stage one or follow on and see how we go from there thanks again for your help.

 

[ellie27]

I still breastfeed my LO, he is 9 months next week.

Since we started solids at 6.5 months I have bought in a tub of formula and he has it in his cereal/porridge and I make his scrambled egg and mashed potatoes with it. I would love if he took a bottle but nope he just wants mummy!!!

Tub says use within 4 weeks, but I would finish it in around 5 or 6 weeks - its fine!

 

[BrokenfoREVer]

I FF & LO has 8oz bottles a day & obvs, I'm weaning him now.

A tub of Cow & Gate stage 1 usually lasts him a week & a half maybe.

I don't plan on switching to follow on milk & he's never needed hungry baby millk.

Some corner shops (my local one) do half tubs of milk (cow & gate). They are expesive for what they are if you FF all the time, but for you, they might be best, since you don't know if your lo will take it.

Just go for whatever brand you like (I chose cow & gate cos its slightly cheaper ) & get the first stage

Good luck

ETA... if you're just wanting to try LO, why not buy some ready-to feed cartons?

 

[eulmh82]

what about getting ready made cartons just to start just to see if he'll take to a bottle? i always warm it slightly if I can as my LO doesn;t like it so much at room temp? He wakes every hour past 12 for food? Blimey! Maybe hungry milk would be better but just try normal formula first

 

[Emzy1]

I have brought a tub of cow and gate stage one because of the price and also like someone else posted I liked the cow haha if he won't take it in a bottle it I'll use it for his food and cereal because it will be much easier than milking myself lol. I can't get him to take a bottle yet of ebm or water but hoping formula might work if not can i formula be given out of a sippy cup he does have a few sips of water out of them?
How long to bottles last when they are made up is it just a couple of hours or can they last longer I'm sure it will tell me all on the tub but I'm waiting for it to be delivered (online shop) wish me luck that he takes it out a bottle I'd love to feed him out without him showing my boobs to every one hahahahaha he hates to be covered and is so distracted at every noise

 

[Toes_crossed]

They only last a couple of hours once made up.

If you normally BF, maybe try him on the bottle with expressed milk first. And let your OH try with you out of the room.
LO will associate you with BFing.

That's how we did it and it worked. She didn't like taking bottles from me to start with but was fine with OH

Good luck xxx