switch to follow-on formula?

[*happy*]

i met my public health nurse today & she recommended that i swap from the newborn Aptamil to Stage 3 (6+months) so that DD would have enough iron....i'm so confused.....i don't know what to do?

[Lolly]

There is no need to swap, first formula is totally fine until 1 year. Follow on formulas were developed to get around the laws about not advertising first formulas, they do have more iron but if your baby is eating a variety of things then she will be fine. The extra iron and different composition does make babies constipated - if she is growing well and settled there isn't a medical reason to change!

Laura

[*happy*]

thanks laura!I'm keeping you busy this morning!!!!
silly question, but how do i know if she is getting enough iron from her solids?!

[babymunkey]

Hey Hun, I asked the same question recently. I read an article about the same thing, and Laura is spot on. Formula manufacturers are not allowed to market or advertise or have special offers on newborn formula so they created 'follow on' and 'hungry baby' formulas specifically to get round it.

We're still using newborn formula. In answer to your question re iron in her diet, I guess my answer would be the same as Laura's - as long as she has a reasonably varied diet she'll be fine. And bear in mind that may mean that she only 1 or 2 things for a week, then 2 other things the next week - I guess I'm trying to say that it doesn't mean a balanced diet at every meal. Make sense?

[*happy*]

hey!ya, i read your thread & that's one of the reasons i decided to stay on the newborn formula, but the nurse put the shakes on me yesterday saying how important it was for her to have enough iron etc....agh!!!!

[Seona1973]

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/types-of-infant-formula.aspx#close

I did switch to follow on milk but only because it was slightly cheaper and you could get offers on it that you cant with the first infant milks.  The above link says it is fine to continue using first milk for the whole of the first year and that there is no clear benefit from using follow on milk.

[*happy*]

thanks a mill..gonna have a read of that now....
i actually have a box of the follow on stuff in the press that i had bought before i realised i had a choice, so i may use a little of that each day in her cereal, just to use it up!!!!

[*Kara*]

I moved DD at 7 or 8 months and she got constipated   right back to the birth plus

[~Sara~]

Here in the US, there's no restriction on ads.  Even so, my ped said there was no need to switch to the toddler formula even for kids who didn't switch to milk at 1yo.  She said that the toddler formula was only needed for those LOs who weren't eating solids well or had some medical issues.  So, we kept DS on infant formula until 13/14 months when he went fully to cow's milk.

HTH, though it sounds like you're going right back

[*Kara*]

Sara - Follow on (or second stage) formula isn't the same as the toddler drinks you are thinking of... this is standard infant formula with increased iron/calcium and is marketed for 6 months+.  In the USA, there would be Enfapro and maybe GoodStart2...

[~Sara~]

Ahhh, gotcha   We use Similac Advance with iron...so these formulas have even more?!?  I don't even think I've seen them!

[*Kara*]

Sure do!  Twice as much in most cases   Same with calcium - double.

I just looked at the USA websites - looks like you may not have them!  Oh, Similac does

Here are the Canadian links

http://www.enfamil.ca/en/products/infant-formulas/Pages/enfapro-a.aspx

http://www.nestle-baby.ca/Templates/Product.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID={70FEF9F1-8320-44A7-9459-3584E764B1BB}&NRORIGINALURL=/en/products/formula/second_stage/Goodstart2.htm&NRCACHEHINT=Guest

http://similac.ca/en/products/similac_gogrow_step2_omega3_omega6/

[~Sara~]

Found it in the US: http://similac.com/baby-formula/similac-go-and-grow.  It looks like it's the same stuff as what's listed under the toddler formula.  Interesting!  (sorry for hijacking your thread, *happy*)

[*Kara*]

I noticed that too Sara - seems that the major brands do have it in the USA, but it is marketed for 9 months+.  Funny enough, it is standard formula, just has additional iron and calcium... we also have toddler drinks (not called formulas) here... they are much like Pediasure

[*happy*]

hijack away ladies!!!!i've given DD 2oz for the last week with her cereal in the mornings...i'm debating the next step now!not sure whether or not to increase that....