... My Mum said she felt exactly the same when she was having my older sister but it just didn't work out for her and so she bought me a tin of SMA Gold to keep hidden in the cupboard 'just in case'!
'Just in case what?' I thought, 'my milk dries up and I can no longer feed my baby.' Breast ... Read review
Advantages: Fills your baby up Disadvantages: Can't think of any
...bought me a tin of SMA Gold to keep hidden in the cupboard 'just in case'!
'Just in case what?' I thought, 'my milk dries up and I can no longer feed my baby.' Breast feeding is the most natural form of feeding in the world, we were designed to do it, how hard can it really be???
WARNING! NOT FOR THE FEINT HEARTED
So Isabelle was born and the feeding began and bar a few teething problems everything was going ... ...were going to get the SMA Gold and feed her out of bottle. He explained he would like to feed her too and I knew he was just trying to make me feel better but it worked.
People have told me stories about how awful their midwifes were about breast feeding and that it is a must but mine was genuinely supportive. She said that I had given Isabelle a wonderful start in life even with just 2 weeks of breast feeding and it was obvious that ... more
Please excuse the terrible title, I don't know what I was thinking!
When I first found out that I was pregnant I was adamant that I was breast feeding for as long as I could. My Mum said she felt exactly the same when she was having my older sister but it just didn't work out for her and so she bought me a tin of SMA Gold to keep hidden in the cupboard 'just in case'!
'Just in case what?' I thought, 'my milk dries up and I can no longer feed my baby.' Breast feeding is the most natural form of feeding in the world, we were designed to do it, how hard can it really be???
WARNING! NOT FOR THE FEINT HEARTED So Isabelle was born and the feeding began and bar a few teething problems everything was going fine for the first week. The midwife said I was a natural and Isabelle just couldn't get enough. That, however soon became the problem. Isabelle wanted feeding every hour and a half and was guzzling for ages. I'd been awake for 48 hours prior to having Isabelle due to really painful non-labour contractions and after the whole labour process was absolutely shattered but Andrew obviously can't breast feed so it was all down to me.
Like her Mum Isabelle was/is impatient and refused to wait while I prepared myself. She soon stopped latching on properly and instead just grabbed whatever she could with her mouth causing bruising and cuts to match no other all over my breasts. I got over this and they healed pretty quickly but then on the final day of my breast feeding shannanigans (only 2 weeks in) I could bare it no longer. Andrew brought Isabelle to me in bed and said she was hungry, she latched onto my already sore nipple and the burning pain was incredible. I cried while she fed and Andrew looked helpless. We talked for around an hour and then Isabelle decided she was hungry again. I looked at Andrew and felt so guilty for not wanting to feed her that it almost broke my heart. Then he decided we were going to get the SMA Gold and feed her out of bottle. He explained he would like to feed her too and I knew he was just trying to make me feel better but it worked.
People have told me stories about how awful their midwifes were about breast feeding and that it is a must but mine was genuinely supportive. She said that I had given Isabelle a wonderful start in life even with just 2 weeks of breast feeding and it was obvious that Isabelle was a hungry baby, excuse the language but 'no shit Sherlock!' you've seen nothing til you've seen my baby eat!!
BACK TO THE POINT
Anyway I felt it was important to explain the ins and outs before getting into my review. Basically after 5 weeks on the SMA Gold Isabelle was taking 8oz and still crying for more at bed time. She was sleeping through the night and a very settled baby but the milk was not enough for her and it was way to early to start weaning. I decided to try the SMA White milk that my health visitor had mentioned and am soo glad that I did.
SMA WHITE PACKAGING Despite the title SMA White comes in a mostly blue tin with a blue lid and the word white written in blue. The SMA logo is at the top of the tine and a little cute yellow chick is peering through a banner that states 'More satisfying for hungrier babies'. Then there is a checklist as follows to ensure that you are using the correct milk for your little baby:
INFANT MILK When moving from or to complement breast feeding If baby is not being breast fed Helps to support immunity Helps brain and eye development
The tins are quite large and so if your stocking up make sure you have plenty of cupboard space. I buy mine from either Boots or Asda and at both stores they are priced at £5.98 per tin. All of the nutritional information can be found on the back along with instructions on how to make up your bottles. Basically it's one ounce of cooled boiled water per one ounce of powder. 'But how do I measure it' I hear you cry, well SMA have provided you with a little yellow scoop that when levelled off provides exactly 1 ounce of powder and your bottles will be marked with measurements so you know how much water to put in! How clever.
NOTE: Babies bottles should always be freshly sterilised and the boiled water should only have been boiled once.
The tin I buy holds 900g but you can also buy SMA white in a few different formats:
a smaller 450g tin but the only place I've seen these is at Bells Stores and they cost £2.98 per tin. in pre-measured sachets of either 4oz or 8oz. You get 16 sachets per box. Ready to use cartons at £1.58 per litre.
USING THE MILK I have never used the ready made variety but took the sachets with us when we went away and this was much easier than lugging a tin around with you and my Mum keeps one of the smaller tins at her house as it is much easier to store, so by my reckoning SMA really have thought of everything.
I tend to prepare Isabelle's bottles for the day on the morning so have the kettle pre-boiled and the bottles all sterilised. I scoop the milk out of the tin with the ingenius scoop provided and then level it off with the flat end of a clean knife. After pouring in the required amount of water (8 fl oz) in my case, I then measure out 8 scoops. If you forget where you are you really should start again as the wrong mix of formula and water can cause havoc to your babies digestion and thus to your sleep pattern. They will either still be hungry or constipated which is the last thing a tiny baby needs to worry about.
The only thing I noticed with this milk is that as you plop your dollop of milk into the water it stays perfectly formed in the little dome shape of the scoop and looks a bit like a dollop of ice cream. If the water is cold then the milk sits on the top for a while and then gradually filters out through the water. It is best to wait until the milk has settled before shaking your bottles up or you may get a residue of powder in the teat which can make it harder for your baby to suck the milk through.
After adding all the milk and securing the teat and lid in place, shake your bottles up and put them in the fridge.
WARNING: If using Avent bottles and teats expect them to leak and be prepared to shake the bottles over the sink.
FACTS
Overall breast feeding is better for babies as your body prepares everything that you need to feed your little one. It's not always convenient and so SMA are merely providing an alternative option. You will never find SMA on offer or any other baby milk for that matter as it is part of a Government Scheme to get mothers to breast feed exclusively for 6 months!
Baby milk should only ever be reheated once and any unused milk should be disposed of.
Always test the temperature of your babies bottle on your wrist prior to putting it in their mouth as the last thing you need is a screaming baby and the guilt of knowing that you caused it!!
DOES IT WORK? So I've rambled on about the facts and figures, packaging etc. but does this milk really do 'exactly what it says on the tin?' Well the simple answer to that question is a great big whopping YES. Thank you SMA. After giving this milk to Isabelle for the first two days she was a little unsettled as most babies are when their routine is changed. After only 2 days however she was taking her 5 bottles a day and after her night time feed was off to dreamland without so much as a whimper for anymore milk. She was still gaining weight at a healthy pace and was no longer ratty after her feeds. She still took the whole bottle which surprised me but as I said, 'the girl can't half eat!!' (said in a Yorkshire accent.) I guess she takes after me and her dad as we're both big eaters!
OVERALL In conclusion I wouldn't change anything that I have done with Isabelle as so far she is a healthy, chubby little baby and I don't have a worry in the world. SMA White really helped her to settle into a regular feeding pattern of every four hours and put a massive smile on my face. I couldn't rate it any higher and can't think of a bad word to say about it.
You can find more information at www.smanutrition.co.uk but before switching your babies milk it is always advisable to speak to your health visitor and think about whether or not your baby really needs it changing. If you do decided to switch then I would recommend that you do it when you have a couple of days where you don't mind your baby being a little bit out of their usual routine. With refernce to the website mentioned above it really is a useful website with tips for while your pregnant and all sorts of generally useful advice. I would recommend that any mum or mum to be visits it.
That's about your lot on the milk front and I hope I've included all the necessary info. I hope I made it an interesting read but then how interesting can baby milk really be???
P.S. If you do decided to taste the milk yourself don't expect a pleasant surprise, it is rancid! But baby seems to like it.
Advantages: helps reduce reflux Disadvantages: not widely available, more expensive than other formula
...my back, we switched to SMA Staydown after trying other formula. The switch was on recommendation from a friend with an equally pukey baby who had adjusted quite nicely to staydown. My little lad adjusted well too.
So, what's the difference with this milk? It is thickened natural pre cooked corn starch that supposedly is gentler on the digestion system of babies. In my opinion, this is true. My little lad's stomach can handle it. But other than ... ...really is that thick!) and SMA advise that you don't shake the bottle. I did shake the bottle until I read the small print and it didn't do my son much harm but....I have heeded the warning since. You can warm the bottle a little but this milk is best given at room temperature. A bonus in my book because I hate waiting for anything and so does my son (he inherited my impatient nature!)
As the milk is so thick, I had quite a bit of trouble with it ...
pooliebaby 27.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of SMA Milk
Advantages: Always available, a brand you can trust. Disadvantages: very expensive and tesco dont give you clubcard points on the purchase
...a large tin. You get SMA Gold for newborns up to aged 6 months then its SMA Follow On for up to 2 years old and then the SMA White for hungrier babies. All my three children have had this formula and I thought it deserved a review. There are various other formulas on the market, for example Cow and Gate and even Soya based powders. I just found Sma to be the most suited for all of my children. Breast or Powder?
In my opinion and probably most of ... ...lack of eating whilst adding SMA to her diet. I breast fed my girl until she was 8 months so I know she was raised on the best milk Mother Nature provides. I simply refused to give her cows milk until she was 2. I feel confident in knowing SMA gave her a good start with everything she needs. Cows milk does not give babies Vitamins C and D and there is not enough iron in it either. With SMA you are getting vitamins A, C and D plus zinc, calcium and ...
mrsmopples 14.11.2005 (12.01.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of SMA Milk
Advantages: Keeps bubbas happy Disadvantages: Can be pricey
...I’m writing this op on SMA Progress, which is a follow-on milk, designed to be used after an infant milk, suitable for babies aged six months and up, though our youngest went on SMA Progress (or Red-top SMA as we call it, primarily due to it’s erm, red top) slightly earlier than suggested. This was in agreement with the local health visitor, who you should contact before going against a manufacturer’s recommendation.
SMA Progress can be bought from ... ...the 900g can.
The SMA website, SMANutrition.com describes the milk as such:
>Follow-on formulae are specially formulated for older babies. They contain higher levels of iron and key nutrients that are essential for the rapid growth and development your baby is going through at this time. Follow-on formulae are formulated to be used alongside a varied weaning diet. Babies are born with a supply of iron. However by around 6 months this has been depleted ...
SeasonTicketless 07.04.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of SMA Milk
Advantages: Good when you can't breastfeed, readily available, easy to make Disadvantages: None
...SMA.
I started with SMA gold. I was still expressing for baby so she was having some breastfeeds and some formula feeds. I was so afraid she wouldn't like the formula, but thankfully she hardly seemed to notice. She loved the bottle and loved the milk. It also filled her up for longer which was great. After trying to breastfeed almost constantly, it was nice to have a bit of a break when I knew she was full up and wouldn't be needing a feed for ... ...You can use SMA Gold from birth. It is a whey-based infant milk which is very close to breastmilk. It is suitable to use in addition to breastfeeds, which is what I did before moving completely to formula.
There are other types:
SMA White - a casein (curd) based milk which is suitable for hungrier babies.
SMA Progress - suitable from 6 months, has extra iron and nutrients to complement a varied weaning diet.
SMA Staydown - helps babies with reflux ...
Lisa365 22.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of SMA Milk
Advantages: Easy to make, full of required vitamins, can buy anywhere Disadvantages: Bit over priced
...this down to her milk, SMA follow on I breast fed my girl until she was 8 months so I know she was raised on the best milk Mother Nature provides. I simply refuse to give her cows milk until her appetite picks up. I feel confident in knowing SMA is giving her everything she needs. Cows milk does not give babies Vitamins C and D and there is not enough iron in it either. With SMA you are getting vitamins A, C and D plus zinc, calcium and iron. To ... ...bonus top up really.
SMA follow on is for 6-month-old babies onwards, you can carry on giving it them right up to 2 years old. It is by no means a food substitute but I am glad she is getting some extra nutrition incase her dinner gets thrown.
It comes in two tin sizes, the smaller one costs £4 on average. This is ideal if you are going away for the day and want to make up some milk. I always bought the larger 900 g for £6.65 which would last me ...
debbie_marway 28.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of SMA Milk
Cow & Gate Follow on Milk...
Jack is now an unbelievable 20 months old and I had stopped giving him any sort of formula milk when he was 1 year and moved him on to full fat cows milk. However he seemed to get cold after cold so we decided that maybe he needed the added nutrients that formula milk would offer him. We reverted back to formula milk several months ago and surprisingly he hasn't had a cold since so perhaps it has helped.
When Jack was younger and on only formula milk for his food we used SMAmilk but when looking at the price of SMA compared to Cow & Gate in the shops, most stores were selling Cow & Gate at around 25 to 30 pence cheaper. This may seem like a small amount but every little helps plus Cow & Gate sold a follow on milk which is specially designed for children from one year on. This is the milk we bought ...
Advantages: slightly cheaper than some Disadvantages: too rich for delicate tummies
I bought this formula milk to have in the house before my baby was born as a precaution incase we needed to formula feed.
i didn't know the difference between the different kinds of formula and was so overwhelmed with nursery furnture, prmas, baby clothes that formula was just another thing to worry about so didn't put much thought into it and just bought the one i'd heard of.
Cow and Gate is one of th ebetter known baby milk formulas but it isn't the best on the market.
Midwives tend to recommend the use of Aptimal as it's the closest to breast milk.
When we used this formula my baby ended up very sick. She brought it straight back up and it wasn't a pretty sight!
Upon speaking to others about this it turned out that a lot of people had had the same experience and so had changed milk to SMA or Aptimal. Cow and Gate is ...
Advantages: Thicker, more filling milk, peaceful nights! Disadvantages: None!
One thing I have learnt during the first year of parenthood is that a baby's routine changes constantly, or certainly that was the case with my little one. Cow & Gate Good Night Milk helped me during one such difficult phase I was faced with at around the 6 month stage. After a couple of months of relatively peaceful nights, the baby began waking at night wanting an extra bottle. At the time, he was being well fed in the daytime, and we were happy that he was getting all that he wanted. After speaking to a friend, I was recommended to try using Cow & Gate Good Night Milk for the final feed of the day. Since we had always used SMA baby milk from when he was very young, we were a bit hesitant to mix his milk, but thought we'd give it a go to see if it helped.
From the very first night that we gave the baby the Good Night Milk, our ...
