Formula Stages - Need to change?

[vac_uk]

My Health Visitor was in yesterday and said that baby shouldnt need to change stages of formula milk, so should be able to stay on stage 1 until 1year old when they move onto cows milk.

This is all new from when my daughter was a baby (she is now 4), it was advised then to move through the stages. HV said the different stages are just ways to sell and market their milk.

I was just wondering if anyone else has been advised this and how effective it is to stay on stage 1 milk?? My baby is quite a hungry baby, although stage 1 is fine for him just now (hes on 11days old) Im not sure it will satisfy him till 1 year old...

 

[blahblahblah]

In theory they can stay on stage 1 formula until 1 year, but in practise quite a lot of babies need to use hungry baby formula or they'd be taking ridiculous amounts as they approach weaning age. Once weaning is established the formula will drop down again.

The one that is not necessary is follow-on, but TBH it is cheaper and doesn't do any harm if you want to use it after 6 months.

 

[OmarsMum]

We had to switch at 7.5 mnths as Omar went off his feeds (He's on anti reflux formula). He's not abig drinker, & we had to try sth different. He seems more keen on the new formula & started to take the minimum of 18-21 oz for his age

 

[RHR]

Hi Hun, I've been told this too by my Hv. I'm in two minds about this advise as in my own naive opinion if we bfing them our milk would be adapting to our baby's needs. So to me for them to stay on stage one seems bizarre. I think we'll be buying the different stage formula as Isabelle gets older and her appetite changes.

 

[mamaofthree]

I predominantly breast fed,(Am training to be a breat feeding councillor)Just thought i'd have a nose as had this predicament myself! I switched my third baby to formula at 7months and bought him aptamil stage one as the feeding chart is up to 12months....however i checked the back of the stge three box and there are some extra vitamins?? I think vit A has been added. I would really have to agree though that all in all it IS a marketing ploy. Over 6months your baby can get all the extra vits from homecooked food.

In answer to someones question when you bf your milk automatically changes to suit babies needs ie colostrum from birth,followed by a richer milk, then a thicker consistancy later on as baby becomes hungrier.
Well done to those of you who tried to bfeed! x x x

 

[MrsRabbit]

Do the higher stages of formula have more calories per ounce or something?

Most people I know keep their kids on the same formula from birth through 1 or when they stop formula. I know very few people who use the toddler formula.

 

[mamaofthree]

Do the higher stages of formula have more calories per ounce or something?

Most people I know keep their kids on the same formula from birth through 1 or when they stop formula. I know very few people who use the toddler formula.

I cant see anything on the boxes, and i have them infront of me now, def a money spinner i reckon until someone tells me dif. I guess they wudnt say up to 12mnths on feeding chart if it wasnt adequate would they~?! x

 

[MrsRabbit]

I'd compare calories per ounce, vitamins etc if it's the same I wouldn't bother changing.

I just expect as the baby gets bigger to take more formula and then take solids as well.

 

[Eala]

The follow on milks have some differences in what vitamins and minerals they contain, but also in the quantities. I think the stage 3 milk only has half of the amount of Vitamin B12 (as an example, and that's just from memory, so it could be the other way round!). The stage 3 one has more iron in it, which is one of the ways they try to market it.

 

[mamaofthree]

The follow on milks have some differences in what vitamins and minerals they contain, but also in the quantities. I think the stage 3 milk only has half of the amount of Vitamin B12 (as an example, and that's just from memory, so it could be the other way round!). The stage 3 one has more iron in it, which is one of the ways they try to market it.

I love the way they market that you should give baby iron from a bottle rather than mashing some brocoli or other dark greens hahahahaha. I particularly like the cow and gate one with the huge beaker...ridiculous.x

 

[SKATERBUN]

I want to keep LO on stage one as long as possible, im so worried shes going to gain too much weight if we switch, i believe the one for hungrier babies has a element that makes them stay fuller for longer. If I could give her just breast milk I would, but it just doesnt seem to satisfy her long enough.

 

[littleblonde]

I started on stage one than went on to comfort and then onto hunggry baby. She has been on hungry baby for 14 weeks now and is almost 5 months old. She loves this milk so i dont think i will change it at 6 months. I will follow her lead though. If she is good on it then why change it

 

[Eala]

I love the way they market that you should give baby iron from a bottle rather than mashing some brocoli or other dark greens hahahahaha. I particularly like the cow and gate one with the huge beaker...ridiculous.x

The advert is somewhat misleading, but it is really only comparing toddler milk to cow's milk. And it's also for 1 year +

The sad fact is that there are parents out there who simply aren't aware of what foods contain iron. Children being brought up on ready meals, chips and crisps etc.

I spoke to my HV about toddler milk (when we were discussing milk stages). She says that for some of the children on her list, she actually does recommend things like C&G Toddler. At least then the kiddy is getting a decent amount of the important vitamins & minerals. Obviously she also pushes a healthy, varied diet as much as possible, but sometimes needs must.

I do agree that the stage 3 (follow-on) milk is basically marketing to get the brand name out there, but follow on milk can have its place, for some children

 

[mellllly]

SMA First Infant Milk is SMA’s best alternative to breast milk when baby is not breastfed or to combination feed. It is suitable from birth onwards. At 6 months, you can continue to use SMA First Infant Milk or you can consider moving on to SMA Follow-on Milk, which is especially designed for babies when they have started weaning.

I kept Sophie on SMA gold until she was 1 year and then moved her onto full fat cows milk (blue top)