New to FF: Don't know which formula to choose

Hi :)

I am sure that this question has been asked many, many times over, but google isnt really helping and I can't find a thread here regarding my question.

I have a 12w old baby who (usually) once a night needs a formula top up feed. This is commonly his last feed before he goes down for the night (he is sleeping through). For a while we bought the S26 stick packs but the 120ml feed you get from one of those sticks doesnt seem to be quite enough for him anymore so I was thinking it would be more economical to just buy a tin. I went to get one last night and couldn't work out which tin to get, and grabbed a S26 Gold since thats what we already use. I noticed it has a new formula and is now manufactured in Singapore so I decided not to buy it.

Today I want to go and get a tin but I have no idea what to get. Its all a bit confusing with each of them highlighting their best ingredient, and having little knowledge about formula ingredients in the first place. I dont know which ones have more "sugar" than others, which one has the most Omega 3, or whether any of that even matters. He has no allergies (none in the family) so to a certain extent I feel like I could pick any one of them and it would be ok, but at some point he will most likely have more formula than BM so I want to get the best one right from the start. I guess I am looking for some kind of ingredient comparison - does something like that even exist?

Hi Eleana

The Ask Dr Sears website has a helpful chart and other information about choosing a formula that's right for bub - stuff like HA options, the protein and fat content, etc. Not sure if I can insert the link here, but you can get to it if you Google "Ask Dr Sears choosing formula". I supplement DS with one or two bottles a day, and we use Nan Pro Gold. HTH.

I'm not sure about ingredient comparison but I have always used S26 Gold with my 2. However, I know you don't want to use that one but the other one I have heard is a good one is Nan HA formula. Meant to be gentle on little tummies who are used to breast milk and I don't think it's meant to bind them up as much as some formulas can. This is just what I've heard about it and don't have any experience with it.

Good luck in finding the right one! Such a daunting thing walking into that isle with so many tins staring at you all saying they're the best one!!

i would get one that has more "whey" in it to "casein". Whey is the main protein in breastmilk that makes it easy for your bubba to digest!
So if you get a formula that has more casein in it than it will be more difficult for bubba to digest and may cause pain and discomfort and constipation!

Hope that helps!

No idea which one but something to think about is how quickly the tins go off after you open it. Not an issue when you are full time FF but when you are just comping one feed a day you can often only use half a tin before its due to be thrown out. So the little packets might end up being cheaper. Good luck

Thank you all for your replies :) I have to run out the door in a few minutes, but I did grab a tin of the Nan HA yesterday. I had to get some and flicking through all the threads here (back to 2008 lol) it seemed that one was the most recommended for BF bubs. He has only had a bit of it (1/2 S26 1/2 Nan) so too early to tell how he will go on it, but he certainly didnt object to it. I will look at that Sears website, and for the whey. I assumed most tins have a 4w use by date and I was surprised that the Nan only has 3. The stick packs are $5.70 per pack of 6, and we were going through just more than one of those a week, so I think at the moment the tins will work out to be the same value even if we dont use it all.

He is a really active and strong baby, he was rolling over at 9w and has fed from both sides from day 1. Sometimes its like I cant get enough food into him, so I have no doubt it will be used. The colour and consistency difference was pretty amazing when I compared both bottles together last night before I mixed them, the Nan did seem a lot more BM-like, so hopefully he'll do well on it.

Never realised S26 was made in Singapore :( Has it always been like that? I'm currently trying to choose too. Where is Nan made? Tried to find out on the nestle site but to no avail!

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Never realised S26 was made in Singapore :( Has it always been like that? I'm currently trying to choose too. Where is Nan made? Tried to find out on the nestle site but to no avail!

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I think S26 changed in the last couple of months, there are stickers on the cans advising of a new formulation and the fact it is now manufactured in Singapore. My S26 stick packs were manufactured in Ireland, not sure if the cans were made there as well prior to moving it to Singapore. My Nan can says its made in Germany.

A friend of mine has successfully comp fed with Bellamy's organic formula - available at the supermarket. A little more expensive than some of the others. Not sure where it is made but she's happy with it. I use S26 - not happy with them moving offshore but DD will only be on it for a couple more weeks. The hospy recommended Nan HA (same reason that Enchanted said) but all the formulas with omega 3 seemed to bind up DD something dreadful. Unfortunately it can be trial and error so you may want to try different stick packs until you find one that suits you and your bub.

Thanks for the tip for Bellamy's. A friend has mentioned that to me awhile back and I forgot. The stick packs sounds like a great idea, I hadn't thought of that!

Dd is breastfed with one formula bottle a night, had been since about 6 weeks old. She drinks both bellamys organic and Heinz with no issues (we started on bellamys but she prefers the Heinz a little more)

ive heard nothing but awesome reports from the Nan HA i used it with DS its seems so similar to breast milk!!very easy to digest too!(ive since changed as no longer breast feeding)

I have used heinz since my DS was 8 weeks old. Its the only one he didn't vomit up or need feeding every 2 hours


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We use Karicare Goat 1 here. DD tolerates it a whole lot better than cows milk formula. We used to use NAN HA Pro Gold but this made her gassy and have trouble with her poops. She also got a pimply rash on her face that is still clearning after the change. SHe has about 3/4 BM and the rest formula for her feeds.