Choosing and Changing formula milks

Breastfeeding is best for babies, and although the Government and health authorities recognise that not all families choose to or able to breastfeed, they want to ensure that parents planning to bottle feed have considered their decision very carefully. The formula milks industry is highly regulated, to protect and promote the safety and wellbeing of mums and babies.

Regulation that guides companies like HiPP includes the WHO’s International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes; the UK government’s regulation on the nutritional content and marketing of milks; and the Advertising Standards Authority codes of practice, amongst others.

As an output of this; part of our regulatory requirements are to include an “important notice“ statement containing specific and informative information for parents and carers.

HiPP’s number one priority is to support parents, whether they are breast, formula of combination feeding; we believe that all parents should be supported however they choose to feed their baby.

Today’s standard formula milks are usually based on either cows’ milk or goats’ milk, with carefully adjusted carbohydrate, protein and fat levels, and enriched with specific levels of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. They do not all have the exact same recipe or manufacturing processes and some also include additional ingredients not mandated by the regulations, which is why you might find your baby prefers one over the other. There are also different formula milks for different age brackets and milks for special medical purposes to accommodate health issues such as reflux, dairy allergy, etc, which are used under the advice of a GP or other Healthcare professional. Other factors – for example, recommendations from friends, family and your healthcare professional, or a preference for organic ingredients – may also inform your choice of formula milk.

Most brands of formula milk will offer three categories of milk that meet the nutritional requirements of healthy babies for the first year and beyond:

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, parents and pregnant women receiving a qualifying benefit can apply for a Healthy Start card, which provides an allowance to buy food and milk for children under the age of 4. Healthy Start cards can be used to buy cows’ milk-based infant formulas suitable from birth. They cannot be used for follow-on milk or growing-up milk.

For more information visit the Healthy start website: Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)

Formula milks for special medical purposes are available for babies with special dietary needs, such as allergies, intolerances or feeding problems such as colic, constipation or reflux . These milks should only be used on the advice of your GP or healthcare professional. If you think your baby needs a particular type of special milk, you should always discuss it with them.

If you decide you want to change your baby’s formula milk to a different brand or stage (e.g. from infant to follow-on milk when they reach 6 months), or even if your current brand launches a new formulation, there are a couple of things to bear in mind.

First is the type of protein-based formula milk your baby is currently drinking. There are four main types: cows’ milk based, goats’ milk based, soya-based and hydrolysed protein formulas. Unless you've been advised by your GP or health visitor to switch from one type to another (usually because of a suspected allergy), you'll probably want to stick with the type of formula you're already using. For most parents, this is a cows’ milk-based formula.

You'll also want to consider your baby's age. If you've already started weaning, the transition from one formula to another can be quite quick. Try changing one feed on day one, followed by two feeds on day two, and so on until all feeds have been changed to the new formula.

If your baby is still only having milk, the transition may take a little longer. To start with, try gradually switching just one feed on both days one and two, and then switch two feeds on days three and four, and so on.

If you are changing to a different brand, instead of just a different stage of formula, you may want to swap as slowly as one feed every 2-3 days to allow your baby time to adjust to the new formulation.

Always consult a healthcare professional before making any changes or if you have concerns. If you would also like to speak to our customer services team for more information on HiPP formula milks……

For further information, read our formula milk FAQs .

Babies shouldn’t have cows' milk as a main milk drink until after age one. However, once you’ve started introducing solid foods at around 6 months old, it’s fine to use small quantities of whole cows' milk to mix your baby's foods, as long as there's been no evidence of an allergy .

Both pasteurised whole milk and semi-skimmed milk can be introduced as a main drink once your child is 1 year old Skimmed milk is best avoided until age 5 or later, because it doesn't provide enough calories for young, growing bodies.

It’s worth doing some research before you travel to see whether your baby's usual formula milk will be available at your destination (and whether it's got the same ingredients as it does at home). To be on the safe side, it’s often best to take all the formula you'll need along with you, making sure you have enough to cover any delays. You’ll also need to pack your feeding equipment , including something to sterilise all the bottles and teats, if baby is under 12 months of age.

Remember that tap water should always be boiled before you prepare a feed. If you're not sure the local tap water is safe to use, you can make up your baby's formula using boiled bottled water; just choose a brand that has no more than 200 mg per litre of sodium (‘Na’), and no more than 250mg per litre of sulphate (‘SO’ or ‘SO4’).