was saving this for the health visitor tomorrow but thinking she's not going to make it in this snow....

i want to start Arwyn on a bedtime bottle but don't know where to start HV has already told me follow on milk is a con. help?

just use normal stage one formula - from our limited experience aptamil made eli constipated (only 4oz a day), as did powdered formula.

we just used hipp organic ready made cartons which worked well for us and elijah liked - i would reckon try her on maybe 4 or 5oz and see cos its theoretically a bit more filling and keep an eye that she is still pooping the ready made cartons are about 65p i think and are 6-7oz but the tins are cheaper if you want to make it yourself.

other than that just pick the box you like the colour of best hahaha she would still definitely be on normal stage one milk though, ignore the other crap especially if she hasn't had it before

cheers! i wasn't sure if she would be one or two. i just can't handle getting up every 2 hours in the night, it's making me not like myself

yeah eli has been taking 2-3 hours to go to bed and up every 2-3 hours too the past few weeks, im half dead. at least you know arwyn will be fine taking a bottle the cartons are easier i thought but i suppose they would be expensive if you used them loads

i think stage 1 is just normal suitable from birth, 2 is usually hungry and 3 is bedtime or follow on (think it contains rice???!! and other vitamins) so if you just want basic milk to replace a feed it would be stage 1 (might be different for different brands though)

i just read some more online, saw stage one did to 12 months, i assumed it would be up to 6 months or something. see, i'm clueless!!
i might just get a couple cartons to see how she is before i buy a tub, and pray she sleeps!!

I think cartons are a good idea if you just use for night time - not sure you'd use a box within the 3/4 weeks its fresh for otherwise?

Personally I think bedtime milk is a con as Izzy had normal milk formula sometimes if we ran out and she slept the same!

Follow on milk is different though to 1st stage infant milk, as its more concentrated - so they should get the same nutrients they need but in less milk, which is why its for once they start weaning - when they take less milk.

it's not just a sleep thing, i want to start the coming off the boob process and the bedtime feed seemed the easiest to pick on and get some kind of bedtime routine. i'm hoping sleep is a by product of it

im not bothering about connecting weaning with stopping bf personally - i hope to carry on until either a) he has too many teeth b) i have to go to work (vomit) or c) he is very big hahaha

Like Mari says hun - just go with the box you like the look of best coz to be honest they are all pretty similar (give her a week or so to get used to the change and if you find she is still uncomfortable or constipated etc then try a different one). Start with stage 1 formula and see how she goes - if you find she is taking a lot (8+oz a feed and wanting more then move on to stage 2 which is bulkier but with the same nutrients).

When babies get to around 6 months their natural iron stores start to reduce so they need to be replaced in their diet. It isn't always easy to get enough iron rich food into a weaning baby so follow on milk (stage 3) is iron fortified for this reason. Stage 1+2 milks don't contain as much iron because baby doesn't need as much and too much can cause constipation but I wouldn't keep baby on early stage milk after 6 months for this reason (ignore your HV she is a numpty ).

From personal experience I found bedtime milk a con and all it did to thomas was make him uncomfortable and sleep worse. If anything I would maybe give a little 'supper' (few spoons of porridge/rice) after bedtime bottle if she needs it.

Like Lisa says - go with the cartons to begin with because you only get 28 days to use a box and you will end up wasting only using one feed a day. Once you have got to 2-3 formula feeds a day it will be cheaper for you to use boxes. Also by using individual cartons you can find one she likes without wasting a whole box if she refuses a particular brand.

Good luck hun - hope she takes to it well and maybe even gives you a bit more sleep.

xx

oh, that reminded me debs - we were recommended to start vitamin drops which also contain iron cos we are carrying on bf and not bothering with formula, if i ever get out of the house to the pharmacy i will tell you what they are called!