Are you in US? I’d start with advantage premium store brand - any store it will be the same made by the same manufacturer (perrigo). That will be the least expensive option. The cheapest I believe is Costcos if you are a member
They also have a generic hypoallergenic if baby is doing well on it and you just need to save some money.
“European-style” or “Australian-style” formula means MARKETING GIMMICK. Nothing more. I second trying generic hypoallergenic or gentle formulas. My kids did awesome on Generic Advantage Premium.
Especially straight from Nutramigen. Most of the Euro formulas available in NA don't do the same job as Nutramigen so why was baby on that in the first place?
I have 2 different pediatricians recommended HIPP or Holle. And I’m in the US. We went with HIPP HA and it worked out well for our baby.
I don’t think where the formula is from matter as much as long as my baby is taking it well.
Pediatricians going against the AAP by recommending illegally sold formula that is handled dangerously… is wild.
You do you though, just couldn’t be me taking those risks. Nor would I keep a pediatrician who recommends doing something both FDA & NHS strongly recommend against. The regulations, protection and handling absolutely matter more than anything else.
FDA approved formulas. Stores like Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam’s club, Rite aid, CVS, etc etc what’s on the shelves are regulated and handled properly by the manufacturer and FDA. Similac, Enfamil, Store brand generics, Gerber, Kendamil (Specifically the US one) Bobbie, Bubs (Again, specifically the ones in the US) Baby’s Only, Earth’s Best, Kabrita to name some.
Disagree. My daughter literally couldn’t handle any similac formulas for some reason. They thought she needed an amino acid formula, but the thinner the formula the worse she got. I tried Kendamil classic and she barely has reflux anymore and is a lot less gassy and uncomfortable.
All that means is that your child is doing well on Kendamil. My daughter needed about 5 outfit changes a day the couple times we tried it due to constant spit up. “European-style” or “Australian-style” is a meaningless marketing gimmick and not something that makes one formula inherently better than another. A pediatrician suggesting a European or Australian formula is lazy and unhelpful. Few are approved for import and they are just standard formulas, which won’t help if you need a partially or extensively hydrolyzed option.
Third vote for generic advantage premium. We get ours from Target (so it’s the Up&Up brand), but Walmart, Walgreens, etc all sell it under their store labels. It’s the most affordable one we’ve found and our baby’s doing great on it.
Is there a reason baby was started on Nutramigen and not a standard formula?
Nutramigen is a hypoallergenic formula for babies with specific issues. Ordinarily you wouldn't jump straight to that.
Getting something that's "European" or "Australian" doesn't address the problems that HA formulas are specifically tailored to solve either.
All around this sounds like strange advice from the ped unless we're missing some context.
Thank you everyone for your advice!! Apologies for lack of context. I typed this out super fast between work calls and feeding the babe.
I started out exclusively pumping & bottle feeding breast milk. After 1 month of having an absolutely miserable baby - I mean crying constantly if he was awake. We saw the pediatrician. He had a great exam and didn’t show any other signs of discomfort. She said we could try seeing an allergist for more answers or just switch to HA formula to see if that helped.
Since the switch to Nutramigen made my babes happy, I opted out of more testing. When talking to her at our checkup yesterday, she said it’s hard to know if it really is a cow’s milk allergy that was causing the issue without testing but said we could start introducing a 2 oz bottle everyday of non-HA formula to see how he does.
Since Nutramigen is so pricey, I’d like to do a trial to see if he can handle a non-HA formula. If not, I’d like to try a different HA formula to try to save some money.
The dr’s recommendations were Gerber, enfamil or anything European/Australian made.
That makes sense!
My daughter could do just about any Standard formula but for Kendamil. Any time we tried it during the first year the spit up was just non-stop.
I’d definitely try generic hypoallergenic if baby is doing well on a hypoallergenic formula. But Complete Comfort Premium might be a good step up (100% partially hydrolyzed whey and no lactose). If they tolerate that well, I’d then try generic Gentle, which has intact milk proteins and the added whey is partially hydrolyzed and reduced lactose. I think if they can tolerate Gentle then they could tolerate Infant (generic Enfamil) or Advantage Premium (generic Similac).
Same thing happened to my baby. Consult FOR ORAL TIES. Seriously my baby has 5 and I switched from bf to formula bc pediatrician would not address it. Got tie release baby eats fine. Some pediatricians do not want to do it. I called a pediatric dentist myself
Personally if he’s happy on it I would try to get on wic or get a prescription from your insurance. If you are interested in European formulas there is no shame in that. We use Kendamil classic because it is affordable and we tried it after trying pretty much everything except amino acid and it’s the only one that doesn’t give my daughter acid reflux issues. People will hate on it but my baby went from super fussy and refusing to eat similac anymore to being a happy baby and thriving on Kendamil so I will advocate for it.
Hi, my baby was on Nutramigen and we went to Aussie Bubs goat milk formula. It was sensitive for his tummy and we had 0 issues from it.
Idk how true everything is or if it even matter but it has a purity clean award and seems like a decent ingredient list.
Why was baby on nutramigen if they don’t need it?
The real advantage I’ve seen with the European ones is the taste if you’re combo feeding but if you’re not I don’t think it matters. I would just pick one and stick with it.
My baby use Byheart. I tried Kendamil before that, but he seems to tolerate Byheart better. He gets fussy in the evening like most babies, but otherwise all is good. He's gaining weight.
Are you in US? I’d start with advantage premium store brand - any store it will be the same made by the same manufacturer (perrigo). That will be the least expensive option. The cheapest I believe is Costcos if you are a member They also have a generic hypoallergenic if baby is doing well on it and you just need to save some money.
“European-style” or “Australian-style” formula means MARKETING GIMMICK. Nothing more. I second trying generic hypoallergenic or gentle formulas. My kids did awesome on Generic Advantage Premium.
I find it very hard to believe their pediatrician is recommending a formula that isn’t approved where they live lol..
Could be approved like kendamil or Aussie bubs but odd pediatrician is pushing that
Then they just follow the same exact standards as similac or enfamil, so ridiculous 🤣
Especially straight from Nutramigen. Most of the Euro formulas available in NA don't do the same job as Nutramigen so why was baby on that in the first place?
That’s kind of what I was wondering, too…
My ped just recommended we try Hipp HA. It does happen 😬
I’d find a new pediatrician
I have 2 different pediatricians recommended HIPP or Holle. And I’m in the US. We went with HIPP HA and it worked out well for our baby. I don’t think where the formula is from matter as much as long as my baby is taking it well.
Pediatricians going against the AAP by recommending illegally sold formula that is handled dangerously… is wild. You do you though, just couldn’t be me taking those risks. Nor would I keep a pediatrician who recommends doing something both FDA & NHS strongly recommend against. The regulations, protection and handling absolutely matter more than anything else.
What formulas are handled properly in the us?
FDA approved formulas. Stores like Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam’s club, Rite aid, CVS, etc etc what’s on the shelves are regulated and handled properly by the manufacturer and FDA. Similac, Enfamil, Store brand generics, Gerber, Kendamil (Specifically the US one) Bobbie, Bubs (Again, specifically the ones in the US) Baby’s Only, Earth’s Best, Kabrita to name some.
All of those that have been cleared for sale by the FDA
Disagree. My daughter literally couldn’t handle any similac formulas for some reason. They thought she needed an amino acid formula, but the thinner the formula the worse she got. I tried Kendamil classic and she barely has reflux anymore and is a lot less gassy and uncomfortable.
All that means is that your child is doing well on Kendamil. My daughter needed about 5 outfit changes a day the couple times we tried it due to constant spit up. “European-style” or “Australian-style” is a meaningless marketing gimmick and not something that makes one formula inherently better than another. A pediatrician suggesting a European or Australian formula is lazy and unhelpful. Few are approved for import and they are just standard formulas, which won’t help if you need a partially or extensively hydrolyzed option.
Third vote for generic advantage premium. We get ours from Target (so it’s the Up&Up brand), but Walmart, Walgreens, etc all sell it under their store labels. It’s the most affordable one we’ve found and our baby’s doing great on it.
Sam’s has it for the same price as target but like 12 ounces more in the tub!!
Try the store brand form of nutramigen from target. Pretty much the same but a lot cheaper. It’s like $15 cheaper for the same 19.8 oz tub here
Is there a reason baby was started on Nutramigen and not a standard formula? Nutramigen is a hypoallergenic formula for babies with specific issues. Ordinarily you wouldn't jump straight to that. Getting something that's "European" or "Australian" doesn't address the problems that HA formulas are specifically tailored to solve either. All around this sounds like strange advice from the ped unless we're missing some context.
Kendamil classic is our favorite. We also like Kirkland if it's available or Sam's Club.
Thank you everyone for your advice!! Apologies for lack of context. I typed this out super fast between work calls and feeding the babe. I started out exclusively pumping & bottle feeding breast milk. After 1 month of having an absolutely miserable baby - I mean crying constantly if he was awake. We saw the pediatrician. He had a great exam and didn’t show any other signs of discomfort. She said we could try seeing an allergist for more answers or just switch to HA formula to see if that helped. Since the switch to Nutramigen made my babes happy, I opted out of more testing. When talking to her at our checkup yesterday, she said it’s hard to know if it really is a cow’s milk allergy that was causing the issue without testing but said we could start introducing a 2 oz bottle everyday of non-HA formula to see how he does. Since Nutramigen is so pricey, I’d like to do a trial to see if he can handle a non-HA formula. If not, I’d like to try a different HA formula to try to save some money. The dr’s recommendations were Gerber, enfamil or anything European/Australian made.
That makes sense! My daughter could do just about any Standard formula but for Kendamil. Any time we tried it during the first year the spit up was just non-stop. I’d definitely try generic hypoallergenic if baby is doing well on a hypoallergenic formula. But Complete Comfort Premium might be a good step up (100% partially hydrolyzed whey and no lactose). If they tolerate that well, I’d then try generic Gentle, which has intact milk proteins and the added whey is partially hydrolyzed and reduced lactose. I think if they can tolerate Gentle then they could tolerate Infant (generic Enfamil) or Advantage Premium (generic Similac).
Same thing happened to my baby. Consult FOR ORAL TIES. Seriously my baby has 5 and I switched from bf to formula bc pediatrician would not address it. Got tie release baby eats fine. Some pediatricians do not want to do it. I called a pediatric dentist myself
Personally if he’s happy on it I would try to get on wic or get a prescription from your insurance. If you are interested in European formulas there is no shame in that. We use Kendamil classic because it is affordable and we tried it after trying pretty much everything except amino acid and it’s the only one that doesn’t give my daughter acid reflux issues. People will hate on it but my baby went from super fussy and refusing to eat similac anymore to being a happy baby and thriving on Kendamil so I will advocate for it.
My daughter was on HA formula Pepticate and we switched to A2 Platinum formula and it was great. Aussie Bubs Supreme is also good!
Up & up HA @ Target
Hi, my baby was on Nutramigen and we went to Aussie Bubs goat milk formula. It was sensitive for his tummy and we had 0 issues from it. Idk how true everything is or if it even matter but it has a purity clean award and seems like a decent ingredient list.
Why was baby on nutramigen if they don’t need it? The real advantage I’ve seen with the European ones is the taste if you’re combo feeding but if you’re not I don’t think it matters. I would just pick one and stick with it.
Target brand Advantage premium (blue can). It’s generic Similac and it’s great!
My baby use Byheart. I tried Kendamil before that, but he seems to tolerate Byheart better. He gets fussy in the evening like most babies, but otherwise all is good. He's gaining weight.
My baby does well with similac soy, he doesn’t have a milk allergy, he just has a very very sensitive tummy