Formula

[CharlotteH24]

I'm tri hopping but figured that I'd get a better answer on here where bottle-feeding mum's will have bought/had advice/done more research on formula.

I'm completely stuck on what to buy, I'm bottle feeding as I'm going straight back onto anti-anxiety medication after I've given birth and I hate not having a plan in place.
I live in a relatively rural area, the nearest shops are a mile or two away and I only have 2 convenience sized stores to work with. Alternatively I do have a large Tesco 20 miles away but obviously isn't very practical if I make the mistake of running out without a back up. The local shops have SMA, C+G and I think they also have powdered Aptimal (they definitely have ready made). Tesco also has Hipp Organic which I was wanting to use after millions of recommendations, but practically speaking it may not be the best choice as we'll only be going out that direction once a week - if that.

What are people using out of SMA, C+G and Aptimal? I know GP's seem to recommend the first two but I'm a little put off by how many people have had sick babies from them. I haven't heard much about Aptimal in either a good or bad way, it seems to be less used so I'm curious about others experiences or what reviews others have read on it?

 

[Durhamchance]

Sma is supposed to be very rich and I've heard can cause tummy upsets and constipation.

Aptimal and C&G are made by the same company and are basically the same. I've not heard anything bad about them myself.

I personally have and will use Hipp. It was recommended to me when I was pregnant last time and my best friend swore it helped her little girl who had reflux issues. My little boy had no issues while on Hipp and I had no issues buying it locally.

If you want to use Hipp I would recommend always having a spare box in the cupboard, so stock up when you shop? I found you very quickly get to know how fast they use a box up and I never ran out. One box would usually last about ten days just before he started solids. It was obviously longer when he was smaller and drinking less x

 

[Lulu90]

What about doing your shopping online?? I have no relevant advice unfortunately but I just wondered if that was something you had considered. I'm lucky to have a huge tesco 30 seconds away but of definitely do my shopping online if it wasn't convenient to get to xx

 

[TashaWink]

I used SMA last time with Ollie and was fine. I would probably use aptamil this time round if I have to (was recommended by my cousin last time but didn't want to switch once I had already started)

I would definitely stock up, start buying a tin everytime you go. Would be much easier. We were able to buy them in a bulk and it was brilliant.

 

[Sugar10]

I have used cow and gate every time and never had any issues, like the others have said you can stock up on whatever you chose to use and fingers crossed don't find yourself short! I have a couple of times in the past and had to make a late night shopping trip! - oops. X

 

[kumber]

I agree with stocking up and online ordering. You can get boxes of 4 of Hipp on Amazon so you could always order from there to make sure you always have some.

 

[caseysmummy11]

Im using aptamil withmy daughter. Tried her with sma in the hospital and it gave her a really bad tummy. She was so sick afterwards. My hv recommended aptamil with my son but I was already using sma so didn't want to switch so tried it when lily reacted badly to sma and it's been really good so far. She has 3oz every 2-3 hours and im only under half way through the tub I bought last Monday so lasts a good while. Like other ladies have said though if you want to try hipp have a couple of boxes in the cupboards as a back up. I live rurally when I had my first and we ordered online shopping and quickly got to know how quickly we went through a tin. So knew how mych to order. My son was older when he started formula so he used to have more oz more often. Xxx

 

[Kiagirl]

I used cow and gate and had no prob. It was the cheapest one and they also stocked it at my local shop (asda is 30 mins by car away) so having it local was a big thing to me. Having said that I never did run out as a tub last 7-10 days so there was always plenty of time to get another before I ran out x

 

[Angela2612]

I went with aptamil with my DD and will be doing so this time round as I never had any problems with it.

 

[hayes]

Used cow n gate aswell since Harry was 10day's old n never had any probs or ran out as it lasted a wk or more n would always hq've a back up tub n some small ready made one's for days out or emergencies in the cupboard. Would suggest gettin a couple of tubs in of whatever u wish to try n go from there.

Michelle.x

 

[xxcharliexx]

We are using aptamil after a recommendation from a few friends. We have bought the little bottles with screw on teats for the hospital xx

 

[mrsolly]

I started on Cow & Gate with my LO last time but it made her constipated so switched to Aptimal and was so much better. Will be using Aptimal this time as well. My hospital asks how you want to feed and if FF provide you with the wee starter bottles of either Aptimal, Sma or Cow & Gate for each feed for as long as you are on hospital xx

 

[Belfa]

I'm trying BF to start with but both DH and I are keen to move on to combi feeding. For bottles we bought the tommee tippee starter pack when it was on sale at xmas. Keep a look out for these offers. I know I saw the Avent starter pack on sale the other week too. They should give you your bottles, sterilizer etc and definitely stalk Amazon! Dr Brown bottles have a good rep too as they're anti-reflux.

I too have heard good things about Aptamil. One thing to watch out for, and I don't know if this happens in every shop, but the likes of Boots only allow you to buy two tubs at any one time so you wouldn't be able to stock up. I asked why and apparently it's to do with people from Asia buying in bulk over here and shipping out there where formula is much more expensive and therefore the companies loose massive margin. Again, I assumed all retailers did this now but I see people here saying they stock up so maybe not but worth looking in to as it would be a pain to be going back and forth to the big supermarket for you! x

 

[Belfa]

I'm trying BF to start with but both DH and I are keen to move on to combi feeding. For bottles we bought the tommee tippee starter pack when it was on sale at xmas. Keep a look out for these offers. I know I saw the Avent starter pack on sale the other week too. They should give you your bottles, sterilizer etc and definitely stalk Amazon! Dr Brown bottles have a good rep too as they're anti-reflux.

I too have heard good things about Aptamil. One thing to watch out for, and I don't know if this happens in every shop, but the likes of Boots only allow you to buy two tubs at any one time so you wouldn't be able to stock up. I asked why and apparently it's to do with people from Asia buying in bulk over here and shipping out there where formula is much more expensive and therefore the companies loose massive margin. Again, I assumed all retailers did this now but I see people here saying they stock up so maybe not but worth looking in to as it would be a pain to be going back and forth to the big supermarket for you! x

ETA: here's a link explaining the formula rationing http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22066243

 

[ChrissieCool]

Cow&gate with all my boys, SMA made my first boy very sick and constipated xx

 

[Mayflower85]

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[Emerald rose]

Tri hopping aswell.
With my youngest i tried sma first but it made him constipated.
I the tried c&g but that didn't help either and he didn't seem to like the taste. so i switched to aptamil on my health visitors recomendation and it worked after his 3rd or 4th bottle he did a poo.

 

[xjdx]

I breastfeed, but I wouldn't advise stocking up on baby milk just incase your baby doesn't take to it. I work at a supermarket and you are not allowed to return or exchange baby milk even if unopened. I'd just put the money away instead. Xx

 

[roxyroo]

I used aptamil when I stopped breast feeding and will do the same again this time x