Thanks!
Dan
I am looking for advice on baby formula as our imported stash is almost depleted. Aptamil is available just about everywhere and is used by just about everyone. That said, there are a few other brands sold in France from Nestle Bledina, and others that are 20-30% cheaper. Has anyone used or know of these other brands? Any reccomendations?
We just buy Hipp which is fairly cheap here compared to neighbouring countries in the end it is the same milk which is processed in equal or even the same factories and it all obeys the same law, the only difference is in branding and marketing and using different registered names for the same ingredients.
Not a single reason to believe expensive ones are better.
I found the Nestlé products much sweeter than other brands - no good - why not stick with Migro's or other cheaper brands, they do a good job.
Why don't you try a few and just buy what your child likes rather than basing your decision purely on money
For chldren under 6 months, formula is appropriate where breastfeeding is not possible, and it is 'formula' - as in, it is formulated to be a full food. The regulations mean that all baby formulas must have the same profiles as they must fit whatever is the agreed standard.
For babies over 6 months, follow-on formula is no different to fortified milk powder. It is meant to be a 'compliment' to solid foods, a variety of which should be provided as the child is slowly weaned between 6-12 months or so...
After 12 months, cow's milk can be given, as just another food.
For your choice of formula, as I have observed, parents go for branding - Aptamil and Pampers are the most popular brands...
You may find that your brand that you are using from another country, is here, just in another packaging - most of it comes from the same processing system...
What brand have you been using and how old is your baby ?
In the days we prefered Nestle because it disolved better than Aptamil. That was quite some years ago though....
Thanks. Rules and regs are different here than in the US. We used Similac back in the United States. We started using Aptamil as that was what Migros had on the shelf. Unless there is a reason not to, we planning on using the stage one formula due to these regulations and completeness of nutrition. Talia is 8 months old.
What the kid likes is my least concern. I want to make sure that the product is nutritionally complete and made to high quality standards. If the stuff sold in France is as good of quality at a much lower price, I will stick with the lower price. We go through at least a tub a week. If the savings is 10chf a week for the next 4 months, that it's a big chunk of change.
FTFY
You are correct that follow-up formula ('2') is fortified with iron - you do not need to switch from PRE or '1' milk but it can be beneficial if baby does not eat meat or fortified cereal as after 6 months its own iron stores start to be depleted. But it is definitely not 'no different to fortified milk powder' - it has a totally different composition: less protein & fat and more carbs. Children below 1 year of age can't handle the high protein content of cow's milk, although as an addition to cereal cow's milk watered down 50:50 is acceptable after 6 months.
Compare whole milk powder composition here to e.g. Aptamil 2 here .
I agree with cows milk after 12 months and that before that any type of formula will do just fine (all of them have to be produced to the same nutritional standards) although I like the ones supplemented with omega3 and prebiotics as there is some evidence these are beneficial for brain development & gut health.
BTW I combo-feed, supplementing my 5 month old with HiPP PRE (PRE is comparable to 1 but without starch) when I'm not around, but I plan to switch to 2 in a month or so because I think iron is important. Apart from about double the iron, the composition of 2 is very similar to 1.
Not sure if you have a delivery address across the border in France (these services are plentiful near Basel), but we found the least expensive place to get formula was here:
They deliver to Germany and France (free delivery over €69, from memory) and Nutrilon formula (Aptamil under another marketing name) costs around €12/tub versus around €16 in Germany or CHF25 in Switzerland.
It's branding, If I look in the Netherlands, Hipp is about the same price as Nestle/Aptamil in countries where people are more willing to pay more for bigger brands they simply raise the prices.
We used Holle Bio Milk...worked great and no problems with Digestion for the kids. A little more expensive then the other brands...
So if the kid doesn’t like it and refuses to drink, what does the cost matter ? The money is wasted anyway, your nerves are frayed, your wife is unhappy in general. thus causing even more strain at a stressful period of your life.
And all this to save a paltry Chf 10 per tub over 16 weeks, same price as a diner out with your wife, including babysitter cost (about Chf 40-50 for 3-4 hours)
As the composition has to be the same, the taste will be too - have you tried? I have. It is different from mother's milk but different brands taste very similar for my untrained palate
A lot of young parents have to manage without restaurants + babysitters, often self-service + a baby stool is more like it.
The hardship!
At the neo-natal unit at Zürich University hospital, they were changing the formula they were using each year. For ours, they used Hipp. They are all the same thing and if the child drinks it fine, go for the more affordable one. From 1 year on, you can give cow's milk anyway.
Keep in mind that we are talking about an 8 month old. She will stick anything in her mouth from stuffed animals, paper, plastic toys, clothing, etc without complaint. I'm sure she will drink anything I give her.
Dates? Fun out? Ha! Welcome to life with three kids!
Yeah - 240 chfs. As a proportion to the total cost of raising a child. I suppose that’s more important than what’s best for your daughter
I understand this is quite common with babies ...