Difference between first and follow on milk

Most mums, especially the first-time ones, are having a bit of confusion about the difference of first and follow on milk formula. Well, it's acceptable as there are a lot of milk brands available in the market and most of them have different types under. 

But you should be extra careful in getting a can of formula as it might not be suitable for your child. Checking on the smallest detail of the label would do you no harm. To break confusion, let us differentiate first milk and follow on formula. 

First milk. First infant formula is suitable for babies 0-6 months old. It should be given to babies as supplement or replacement for breast milk when you do not do breastfeeding. Since babies 0-6 months old could have sensitive tummy, first infant formula are formulated for their digestion.

Follow on milk formula, on the other hand, is suitable only for six months old and up. Since babies after 6 months starts to develop more motor skills and is becoming more active, follow on milk formula is comprised of number of nutrients needed in their development. Follow on milk formula supports good health and optimize the right nutrition to meet your child’s changing nutritional needs. It contains DHA and ARA for the development of brain and eyes. It also has taurine to support mental and physical development and Choline to support overall mental functioning. Follow on milk formula is also enriched with iron, calcium, vitamin D and nucleotides. 

You can also read more in our post about Child Nutrition on Every Development Stage and The Essentials Our Child Needs in Growing to know the nutritional needs of your child from every stage. 

 

Though it could be confusing to know which can of milk you should bring to the counter, make sure to have checked every detail. When looking for a can of first milk formula, carefully look for the Stage 1 symbol. And it does matter to have a good knowledge about the milk formula you are giving to your child.