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I'm just wondering if anybody has any comments on switching to the formula for 6 months +. As Jacob is 6 months next month, we will need to switch him to the S26 Gold Step 2 (or whatever it's called). Has anyone had any bad experiences with their baby when making this transition? Have you simply switched over when they are 6 months, or have you gradually made the transition?
Hi Tootie
I just switched over when the tin ran out at approx 6 mths. Apparently it tastes the same, just a slightly different nutritional mix to meet the baby's changing needs.
But no, I didn't have any problems.
I just switched with both my boys and had no drama
Love
We never had a problem with Kimberley.
We have had a huge problem because they don't make the thickened formula for over 6 months... so we've tried different ones & they aren't doing so well atm... still using her thickened one & every once in a while I buy a sample from another sort to see...
Aidyn transferred onto S26 Progress Gold with no problems at all, in fact I think he liked it even better than the infant one, though it is supposed to taste the same?
I just thought I'd pass on what the girls in my mother group were told at their 6 mth appointments, the MCHN said that there was no extra nutritional in the more expensive formula's post 6 mths that the heinz one and the S26 etc are all the same. They do taste diffrent apparently, as a few of them cahnged to heinz and their babies at first protested, but not THAT different!
She also said that the whole "toddler formula" wasn't needed because they can drink cows milk then.
There is something I can't remember what it happened with my gf where she had probs with the 6 mth + I can't remember if it had something to do with one being derived from vegetables and one not or more lactose or what it was LOL! But Paris never had any problems, I will ask my gf though coz my brain has gone a bit mushy.
*hugs*
Cailin
I've heard the same as Katanya. Alana's dietition and a couple of Peads (from hospital) that she dealt with when she had her cold said the same thing. If you want to your bubs will be perfectly fine on the same formula until you swap over to cows milk at 12 months.
Alex was early so we didn't change formula until 7 months (approx).
Our paed recommended he stay on his original formula (S26 LF) until that stage, as he might have a lactose intolerance.
Which he does.
So we used a combination of S26LF and S26 Gold 6mth+ until 15 months, then on dietician's advice changed to soy milk after a lot of trouble with wind, vomitting and diarrhoea with cow's milk.
I had no problem switching Harry from S-26 to S-26 Progress formula, but you don't have to change to the step 2 formula if you don't want to. Apparently they are just a marketing gimmick. Or you could change to a cheaper step 2 formula because they are basically all the same, and my CHN told me that the Gold formulas are not really necessary after 6 months.
After reading your post Katanya about there being no difference in the cheaper/more expensive 6month+ Formula, I went and compared normal S26 today to S26 Gold.
- S26 Gold has AA (amino acids I presume) and DHA, which the normal cheaper S26 does not have. I didnt look at any of the other brands though, but I would assume Karicare gold would have those same extras.
It would be interesting to find info out on how useful the AA and DHA really is though, cause I could be saving myself around $5 a tin if I was using the other type!
I was just talking to someone about this yesterday Ambah! I noticed that the S26 Gold had AA and DHA whereas the normal S26 didn't. Perhaps we need to find out what these are and what the health benefits are??
After what Katanya had said, I too am considering switching to a cheaper brand at 6 months, but if the AA & DHA provides some kind of health benefit that the others don't, then I'll stay as is.
I'd do some research girls, as it was only passed on via girls in my mothers group from the MCHN, but perhaps you could ask yours?
I can't speak from personal experience because I still Breastfed, but it's like when The Paed says breastmilks has less importance after 6 mths to solids and then the GP, the ABA, and everything I have read on the internet and books say otherwise..I believe them over Pead but I'm going to a paediactric dietician anyhow, it won't be for another 2 months but I'll ask them about the formulas' too?
Well I've since found out that AA is arachadonic acid and DHA is docosahexaenoic acid (what a mouthful!)
Apparently they assist in the development of the brain and eyes. I'm going to try and do some more research and when I next do my grocery shopping I'll be taking a close look at all the different brands to see if they also have this in it.........
:
Essential Fatty Acids
More than half the calories in today's infant formulas come from fat, much like breast milk. To grow, infants need this high level of fat in their diet. Although the role of specific nutrients present in human milk regarding the promotion of optimal cognitive development remains a controversial issue, recent extensive clinical research has demonstrated the importance of two essential fatty acids in infant development.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids found throughout the body. DHA, a key component of heart, brain, and ocular tissue, is important for proper brain and eye development in infants and has been shown to support cardiovascular health in adults. AA, also found in brain tissue as well as in other cells, plays an important role in immunity and other vital bodily functions.
Both DHA and AA, found in foods such as meat, eggs, milk, and fish, are natural components of breast milk and are present in varying levels depending on the mother's diet.
BTW Tootie I am looking forward to hearing what you find out about all the brands!
I will try and have a quick squizz again when I go in tomorrow as well, but I am usually pretty rushed when out shopping.
Well I was in the supermarket earlier this afternoon and had a quick squizz. It seems that the 'gold' versions of formulas, like the S26, Karicare etc have the AA & DHA in them, but the normal versions don't, which is obviously why they are cheaper.
So, I guess it's down to us as parents as to whether we want to give our babies the formula with the AA & DHA in them or not.........
Something you might consider is that your child if they are eating solids might be getting this fatty acids from food, which is perhaps why they are all saying the "gold" brands are important before 6 mths and not as important afterwards. Just a thought? Then again most food that is consumed before 9 mths is just really fibre and water (veges, fruit and rice stuff!) it's not until they start eating meat, eggs, and the other things mentioned that it would replace what is needed. Perhaps until your child is eating enough of that type of food to receive the nutrients?
I just have to say I use Heinz Nuture for both my boys which you can get for around $11 - $12 a tin..... $9 if you get lucky and no it doesn't have DHA and AA in it and well Kameron is now 3 and has had no dramas from having a cheaper variety of formula.
When I began to give Kameron formula there was no way I could afford $18 or $19 a tin for formula which is why we went with Heinz Nurture.
Love
Katanya - I was thinking the same thing re the DHA and AA in the solids he eats now anyway ...
I just had a chat to DP about changing his formula to a cheaper brand, cause the savings from that would be great. But he still wants to keep Aidyn on the Gold... I think he thinks it might help grow Aidyn a super brain or something, ROFL!! Males! :roll:
I am using Heinz formula atm for Grace and have no probs. I used the regular S-26 for Harry, I just can't justify spending nearly $20 on a tin of formula. I did a little research on the gold formulas and there is conflicting info about whether the added DHAs in these formulas are in high enough amounts to be of any use. I spoke to a CHN friend of my mum's and she said for her son she used S-26 gold for the first couple of months then switched to heinz. She said that the gold formulas have the most benefit in newborns but as babies get older a regular formula is fine. I say do whatever works for you. If you and bub like the formula you are using then stick to it but if you want to save a little money then the less expensive formulas are fine to use and will still provide everything your baby needs.
*bump*
Well after talking to our CHN about this issue, I thought I'd post about what we have since found out if that's ok.
We were basically advised that after 6 months, there really isn't any need for babies to be on any 'gold' type formulas as they can obtain extra nutrients from their solid foods. So after that, we decided that we would switch to a cheaper variety, and we made the transition from S26 Gold to Heinz Nurture Follow-On and have had no problems whatsoever. We made a gradual transition over the course of about a week to make sure that his bowels didn't get too upset from the switch as the 6+ month formulas apparently have a greater milk fat level in them which can upset them a tad.
Making this change is saving us around $10 per week which is great! S26 is around $19 - $20 per tin, and Heinz is around $10 - $11.
Yep got the Heinz :) We are onto our last tin of it. When this one is gone it will be full on cows milk. Lachlan already has cows milk all day but has 1 bottle of formula a night before bed
Love
I love the Heinz formula...it just came on to the market when Reilles was about 5 or 6 months old, so I switched over to that. He had no probs with either the starter or follow on formula, and Georgia is currently on the starter one and will also have the follow one at 6 months. As someone else said, if they're having a good balanced diet when they start solids, I really don't think it's necessary to give them an expensive formula. The Heinz one is nice and cheap too, which suprised me when I first started with it, being a well known brand, I thought it would be up there with the exy ones in price! :D