When to change to next stage milk

[Vicks]

Joe is 6 months old tomorrow and we're still using cow and gate stage 1 milk. We started weaning yesterday, just a taste at the moment, but do I switch to the stage 3 (6 months +) milk straight away, or stay with stage 1 for a while longer?

Thanks

 

[ellie27]

My midwife said never ever to move to next stage - always stay on first milk - as others are like cement in LO tummy

 

[history_girls]

I'm planning on staying on stage 1 milk - it is fine. HV agreed there is everything she needs in it.

 

[suzib76]

i agree you dont need to change, if your lo is fine on stage 1 you can just keep using it

 

[Emma1980]

my HV advised me not to change either!

 

[Vicks]

Even when they get to 6 months +?

 

[suzib76]

yes, unless you want to change for whatever reason it is fine to keep on stage 1 - both of my older children never had anything else - these 6+ months milk are merely a marketing ploy to get the manufacturers name out there, but if you do decide to chnage there are often coupons/money off deals on follow on x

 

[mrskx0x0]

Really? My HV said to switch to stage 2 at 12 weeks but hasn't mentioned anything about stage 3 because that's a long way off for us. Sorry, I'm not being very helpful xxx

 

[sobersadie]

I thought stage 2 was hungry baby milk and so not all babies used that one. I also thought that stage 3 had more iron in it and that was why you moved on as babies iron supply starts to dwindle at 6 months. Also stage 3 is a bit cheaper and u get deals and coupons with it. Ive never used the follow on milk at 12 months though - i think thats a bit of a con.

 

[RJ01]

I've kept Katie on stage 1 as she is happy stage 3 may have more iron in but they should be getting the extra iron from solids now and stage 3 is not necessary it is just a marketing ploy.
Also a lot of babies get upset tummies from stage 3 so if baby is happy and has a varied diet no need to change. x

 

[aimee-lou]

Yep - I've been advised to stay on stage 1 and tbh the change isn't worth the trauma for us after the whole hungry baby milk incident.....*shudder*.

They can stay on Stage 1 until 12 months when it should be replaced by cows milk. The other stages are purely a gimmick that the formula companies invented as they're not allowed to advertise stage 1 milk, but they are 'follow-on' products, so these follow on and toddler milks have suddenly sprung up. They're really not necessary.

 

[babynewbie]

thanks for asking this as i was wondering the same! i didnt know that they could stay on stage 1 but i guess it makes sense that they get extra iron and whatever from 'proper' food.

 

[welshwarriors]

I changed him to SMA 6 months + milk when he was 6 months a few days.

My HV never told me not to change...HV's again, give differnt advice in different areas. *Roll eyes*

 

[jennifer89]

My HV Told me to stay on the same one untill he is 12 months!

but i've got loads of money off vouchers for stage 3 (cow and gate), and they do more promotions on them.

so when he gets to 6months i think i'll give him a try on the stage 3 and see how he goes!
they must have another stage for a reason,and its cheaper...

 

[blahblahblah]

If anyone is using stage 2 (hungry baby) formula, do not switch to stage 3 until your LO is having full meals and cutting down on formula. Stage 3 formula is much less filling so you'll have a very hungry baby indeed! If you're on stage 1 there's nothing to stop you trying the switch, although you can stay on stage 1 until you switch to cows milk at 1 year.

 

[suzib76]

If anyone is using stage 2 (hungry baby) formula, do not switch to stage 3 until your LO is having full meals and cutting down on formula. Stage 3 formula is much less filling so you'll have a very hungry baby indeed! If you're on stage 1 there's nothing to stop you trying the switch, although you can stay on stage 1 until you switch to cows milk at 1 year.

good advice

 

[Vicks]

If anyone is using stage 2 (hungry baby) formula, do not switch to stage 3 until your LO is having full meals and cutting down on formula. Stage 3 formula is much less filling so you'll have a very hungry baby indeed! If you're on stage 1 there's nothing to stop you trying the switch, although you can stay on stage 1 until you switch to cows milk at 1 year.

We moved Joe onto stage 3 cow and gate on Friday and it looks like water compared to the one from birth! He's on 2 meals a day now, but I don't think the stage 3 is keeping him as full as he was, so we might move back to number 1 til he's on 3 regular feeds a day.

 

[Vici]

I thought stage 2 was hungry baby milk and so not all babies used that one. I also thought that stage 3 had more iron in it and that was why you moved on as babies iron supply starts to dwindle at 6 months. Also stage 3 is a bit cheaper and u get deals and coupons with it. Ive never used the follow on milk at 12 months though - i think thats a bit of a con.

Thats what I thought

If anyone is using stage 2 (hungry baby) formula, do not switch to stage 3 until your LO is having full meals and cutting down on formula. Stage 3 formula is much less filling so you'll have a very hungry baby indeed! If you're on stage 1 there's nothing to stop you trying the switch, although you can stay on stage 1 until you switch to cows milk at 1 year.

Really, we've just gone on to the 6 month+ one of Aptamil and its soooo thick - much thicker then the hungry baby she was on!! She is BLW so not getting "full" meals yet and has been fine!

 

[Vicks]

Just wanted to update you all - we moved Joe onto stage 3 cow & gate and he's been really badly constipated I spoke to the HV today and she said to change him back to the first one, which we can use til he's 12 months.