stage 2 formula

[dinah34134]

hello all!

andrew is currently taking similac advance formula.  there's a 'stage 2' formula by the same company.  it's considerably cheaper and says it's for six months and up (andrew will be six months on the fourteenth).

i'm just wondering if anybody else has made the switch to 'stage 2 formula' and if it went okay.

thanks in advance!

[ambersmum]

My HV said not to bother with Stage 2 formular as the main difference is extra iron which baby won't absorb so why spend the extra money, just be sure they eat iron rich weaning foods. However, you say this stage 2 is cheaper? Go for it!
My god daughter went onto a stage 2 and her mum just did a straight switch rather than gradual change over. If your LO didn't like the taste change you could do half and half for a while and gradually change over. I've heard people do that for changing brands, but my dd did a straight change in brands and didn't seem to mind at all.
I've been wondering if we should try the stage 2 so I'd be interested in what you decide and what other people think.

[momtocheyenne&toby]

I went to stage 2 just because ds didn't really take to real food until around 10 months. 

You are sure spending a lot of $$ on Similac..the generic is just as good and so much cheaper.

[crazycanuck]

Here is an excerpt I got from my Regional Health Unit re: the 101 on formulas:

"Follow-On Formulas were introduced in Canada in the mid 1990's, marketed towards babies 6 months and older.  They are better at this stage than whole cow's milk, but have no proven advantage over other formulas.  The implication that such products are somehow"scientifically formulated to baby's needs" is misleading.  The biggest change to baby's diet during this time is the introduction of solid foods, providing a variety of nutrients from all food groups.  Follow on formula may cost less per can than other formula, but the size of the can may be smaller too."


Hope that helps!!

[thitz]

I just bought the first can of Similac 2, we'll be trying it next week.  We've been using the first Similac for months.  The company says the difference between formulas is the amount of calcium. 

Also, I think the price difference is cause the first formula has omega's in it and the second one doesn't.

Tarri

[jennc123]

I wonder if it tastes different, my dd hates formula, she really dosen't want anything to do with it, i wonder if the stage 2 is closer to a milk taste??  how has it been going to the people who have been using it??

[Mom2X&F&V]

Afer trying 5 different formulas the second stage formula finally make my dd have more milk. She takes SMA Promil Gold and it tastes like vanilla and she like it, not love it cause she hates milk but she finally drank more that 15 oz a day with this milk when she was 6 mo. Do you know what is the recommended age to give 3 bottles instead of 4 a day?

[jennc123]

i think it depends on the baby, I try to get 3 bottles in bella but sometimes 4 does the job.  I wonder if i should get a tin of the stage 2??

[ambersmum]

Daniela,
           I noticed you asked about number of bottles a day. In the UK (advice does differ in different countries) I've been told 3 bottles a day at 6 months+ and 20oz a day. THere is no way my dd could take 7oz at a time so I split it over 4 bottles. If you are anything like me I tend to latch on to guidelines and worry if dd isn't doing exactly what they say. Best to remember these  are only guidelines and every baby is different.

HTH

[jennc123]

well i bought the nestle formula and it does smell better and i think it probably tastes better but she still wants nothing to do with it so i have just been giving her water and juice:(...i think she may be completely done with milk till she can have cows milk.  With the guidelines, its so easy to get wrapped up in those, i know i do :?  :cry:

[dinah34134]

we asked the ped and he said to go ahead with the swtich.  so we did.

andrew seems to like the similac 2 we mix it half and half with the no-name iron fortified formula.

i couldn't see any side effects from the formula.

the similac 2 is cheaper than the similac advance, but it is still slightly more expensive than the no name brand.