When can LO start having powdered formula?

[ceejie]

Okay, this might be a really dumb question....but when can my LO have powdered formula? The nurses have recommended that for now I only use ready to feed or liquid concentrate, though I am not sure why? I tried to ask my doctor but she just gave me the whole breast is best lecture and said I shouldn't use formula at all (LO is combi-fed, but I don't produce very much milk so it's more formula).

My girl was born a few weeks early and is small for her age and was having a lot of trouble gaining weight (she only got back to her birth weight a couple days ago). So I am not sure if this has anything to do why they keep telling me not to use powdered formula?

 

[chipsticks]

We've used powdered since we came home so 4 days old for us. Never heard of not being able too use it too be honest. Would have went straight onto it but hospital provided ready made.

 

[fairykate]

It might be a US thing? The ready made is UHT so 'safe' whereas normally US Moms make up powdered formula with cold/lukewarm water so it doesn't kill off any bacteria that may be hiding in the powder. In the UK we make up our feeds with boiled water that's slightly cooled to at least 70deg so it kills any nasties in the powder and is therefore probably safer for newborns.

I'm not saying US formula is any worse than the ones we have in the UK btw, both countries probably have the same risk but we counteract it with the hot water IYKWIM?

 

[mtnprotracy]

I noticed on the back of the powder container it says not to use with premature infants. I would imagine once LO reaches due date and is gaining appropriate weight, it would be fine to switch. 3 of my 4 kids were considered premature and we used the ready-made formula for a few weeks after they came home.

 

[ceejie]

I noticed on the back of the powder container it says not to use with premature infants. I would imagine once LO reaches due date and is gaining appropriate weight, it would be fine to switch. 3 of my 4 kids were considered premature and we used the ready-made formula for a few weeks after they came home.

Thank you! That makes sense. She is now past her due date, but still small. I have plenty of ready made so I will keep using it for a while, but I will be headed to the states soon and was hoping to pick up some powdered formula.

 

[Frooty]

They say use cartons in early days for convenience and cus some babies dont suit a particular type of milk but if u have given cartons of one formula and it suits then u can buy the powder straight away

 

[aimee-lou]

2 reasons to give cartons to a full term infant at birth - 1 - they pass through them like a dose of salts and will get that horrid meconium moving. 2 - it's easier and less room for error with the ready to feed stuff.

I started Eddie on the powdered SMA at 2 days old though, as he was already devouring milk and it's expensive lol, and also due to the heat, the powder is better 'fluid' wise. He also seems to prefer the taste

 

[ilove3baby]

I have used powdered for Rana ever since she got home from the hospital

 

[Photojessy]

I used it right from day 2! Never heard of being too young for it!

 

[littleANDlost]

I breast feed for the first week then went straight onto powder formula.

 

[dizz]

I used powdered formula from the moment we got home from the hospital (she'd have been still 5 weeks premature at that point) - was never told not to, never had problems with it (apart from the kitchen resembling a snowscene whenever hubby makes a feed up but that's not related to safety - well, not the baby's safety - daddy might get killed if he carries on doing it that way)>

This was in the UK though and we make formula up slightly differently as a general rule.

 

[bubbles19]

i breastfed for the first day and when she screamed at me and wouldnt latch she went straight onto the powdered formula, the midwife told me to do this if she hadn't eaten in over 4 hours and i couldnt get her to latch. she never said about the ready made stuff she told me to use it if she was constipated thats about it, my LO was predicted to be 8lbs she was just under 6lbs full term due to the placenta dying, she put on weight quickly with the formula and only lost 2lbs in the begining, so im not sure that weight has anything to do with it, its probably because your LO was premature and the premade stuff is softer on their tummies x

 

[bubbles123]

As others have said, it's because there is a risk of infection from powdered formula if it is not made up properly (ie one bottle at a time and with 70+ water) as it is not sterile and these infections can be much more dangerous in premature babies rather than full term babies. Ready to feed is sterile so much safer for prematire babies. Once your LO is back gaining weight and healthy I see no reason why you can't go to powdered as long as you make it up according to the instructions and make sure you always use hot water to kill any bugs X