System milk is the one secure various to breastfeeding or utilizing breast milk for feeding your child. In the event you select to not breastfeed or are unable to, system will assist to supply the vital vitamins they want.
We spoke to 2,285 mother and father of youngsters beneath 5 about their expertise of system milk in our Could 2024 survey. Of the 75% of oldsters who gave their baby system milk within the first 12 months, round six in 10 of these stated they selected a particular model because of it being a trusted model identify – however is there any distinction between them?
Under, we have outlined what the totally different system milk manufacturers provide, probably the most used manufacturers and the most cost effective first toddler formulation available on the market. We have additionally received recommendation on follow-on, toddler and specialist milks, and what they provide on your child.
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The composition of all toddler system and follow-on system within the UK is strictly managed by regulation. Which means all formulation have to satisfy the dietary necessities of infants in good well being, due to this fact the core vitamins of all formulation are very comparable.
Nonetheless, 77% of oldsters in our 2024 survey stated they thought there was at the least some distinction between manufacturers of system milk, 9% did not know and solely 14% stated there was ‘no distinction’.
Claims equivalent to ‘Closest to breast milk’, ‘Gold Superior System’ and ‘Full vitamin’ are additionally meaningless, as the precise components of breast milk are unknown and alter in line with a child’s age and feeding patterns.
There are two natural system milks accessible available on the market, made by HiPP Natural and Kendamil. Nonetheless, even in non-organic formulation, the pesticide residue degree is about very low (should not exceed 0.01mg/kg of the reconstituted or ready-for-consumption product).
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Along with the core vitamins, all formulation comprise further components, plenty of that are the identical throughout all of the manufacturers. These embrace LCPs (long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids), nucleotides and prebiotics.
Many formulation embrace an extra prebiotic ingredient: oligosaccharides. These are sometimes called FOS or GOS, that are produced commercially from lactose and sucrose, or 2’-FL or LNnT, that are artificially made to imitate oligosaccharides present in breast milk. Nonetheless, though they’re secure so as to add to system milk, there isn’t a robust proof to assist the efficacy of those further components.
Apart from the addition of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), an LCP which the EFSA has accepted contributes to the traditional visible growth of infants as much as 12 months, the opposite further components usually are not of confirmed profit; due to this fact, having these further components does not make one system milk extra superior than one other.
In the event that they had been, then the system milk compositional standards can be amended to incorporate it.
Some baby-formula producers more and more market their product as superior in high quality, or containing further or particular components.
Such advertising and marketing claims needs to be met with scepticism. It’s because all toddler system offered within the UK is legally required to satisfy the identical requirements, so all will meet your child’s dietary wants – irrespective of brand name, value or claims about components.
To seek out out extra, see The First Steps Vitamin Belief.
The make-up of all toddler system is as near breast milk as doable, however it’s unimaginable to copy all of the components present in breast milk.
It is estimated that there are greater than 100 substances in breast milk that are not in child system. Plus, breast milk adjustments over time to supply the vitamins your child wants.
Laws dictate compositional standards, minimal and most ranges of vitamins that have to be included, the extent of pesticide residue permitted, how formulation may be named and labelled, and the way the formulation may be introduced (for instance, they’re not allowed to incorporate footage of infants).
Underneath the rules, toddler system can be not allowed to be marketed to the general public or be supplied at a reduced fee. That is in order that it doesn’t undermine breastfeeding.
In Could 2024, we requested 2,285 mother and father with kids beneath 5 which system milk manufacturers they used within the first 12 months.
Log in or Be a part of Which? to find the preferred system milk manufacturers:
Model 1 – 25percentBrand 2 – 24percentBrand 3 – 13percentBrand 4 – 8percentBrand 5 – 7percentBrand 6 – 7percentBrand 7 – 6percentBrand 8 – 5percentBrand 9 – 3percentBrand 10 – 2%
We have tracked the costs of a collection of first toddler system manufacturers (and one own-label model) to search out out, on common, which work out the most cost effective over a six month interval.
*Costs averaged from twenty fifth August to twenty fifth November 2024. Retailers used: Aldi: Aldi. Aptamil, Cow & Gate, Hipp & Kendamil: Asda, Boots, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Superdrug, Tesco, Waitrose. SMA: Asda, Boots, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco. Pricing comes from an unbiased pricing supplier.
**Common value per feed – by dividing the entire price over six months (176 days) by the variety of feeds over the six months, we get a median price per feed. We additionally keep in mind what number of grams is in every scoop.
***Estimated variety of feeds throughout first six months of life – we have now factored within the really helpful quantity of feeds per day and included any changes because the child ages within the first six months as really helpful by the on-pack dosage directions.
****Estimated whole price over six months (176 days) – we use the price per gram of feed and the variety of grams consumed to offer us a complete price of feeding a child over six months.
The most cost effective first toddler system is Aldi’s own-brand, Mamia child powder, adopted by SMA Little Steps.
The most costly was Aptamil, with an estimated whole price over six months of £398.72 – which is almost double the entire price of Aldi’s first toddler milk.
In response to our pricing analysis, system milk has began to lower very barely in value throughout retailers.
Nonetheless, final 12 months we noticed massive value will increase throughout the identical manufacturers. The common value improve of first toddler system from grocery store and excessive road retailers (25 Could 2022 to 25 Could 2023) was 12.3%, with each model having received costlier. Aptamil noticed the most important bounce, growing by a staggering 16.8%.
The pricing proven within the desk above relies on a snapshot of time. If we ran this analysis at a special time of the 12 months the outcomes may very well be totally different. Your child’s weight or age, value variations and dosage directions may additionally have an effect on the end result.
We have additionally discovered the most cost-effective place to purchase Pampers and the finest value for grocery store own-brand nappies
Fairly presumably. In December 2025, the federal government introduced that it’ll settle for a number of suggestions made in February by the Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA).
The CMA says its suggestions are meant to assist inform mother and father concerning the vary of child system merchandise on provide, a few of that are cheaper than the best-known manufacturers however nutritionally an identical.
The 2 important adjustments to be applied are:
All toddler system merchandise must be displayed collectively in outlets, enabling shoppers to check costs throughout the vary of merchandise extra simply.Shoppers shall be allowed to make use of present playing cards, vouchers, loyalty factors and coupons to pay for toddler system, one thing that has not been doable prior to now.
As of December 2025, the federal government claims these adjustments may save mother and father as much as £500 within the first 12 months of a kid’s life.
The NHS says that newborns want fairly small quantities of system to start out with (normally between two and three scoops, with round 60-100ml of water relying on the system used) however this can range from baby to baby.
Infants are superb at telling you once they’re hungry, and most settle right into a feeding schedule ultimately. There could also be some variation in how a lot and the way usually they wish to drink.
Along with toddler system and follow-on system, there are a variety of different child formulation available on the market that supposedly take care of particular circumstances.
All of the main system manufacturers have a spread of milk that’s marketed as ‘consolation’ or ‘straightforward to digest’.
These formulation are based mostly on 100% whey protein, which has been partially hydrolysed (damaged down) and accommodates much less lactose than normal formulation.
Aptamil, SMA and Cow & Gate’s variations additionally comprise a thickener. That is for a extra managed consumption and to assist your child soak up much less air when feeding, in line with the manufacturers.
No. The effectiveness of consolation milks over toddler milks in lowering the signs of colic shouldn’t be established. As a substitute of switching system, small adjustments to the timing and amount of feeds will help to handle colic.
Consolation milks price greater than toddler system: Aptamil Consolation prices £16 per 800g (£2 per 100g) in contrast with £13.50 per 800g (£1.69 per 100g) for Aptamil First Milk. SMA Consolation prices £13 for 800g (£1.63 per 100g) in contrast with SMA Toddler system £12.20 per 800g (£1.53 per 100g).
Aptamil Anti-Reflux, Cow & Gate Anti-Reflux and SMA Anti-Reflux are all marketed as serving to reflux, posseting and regurgitation.
These milks comprise added components, equivalent to corn starch or carob bean gum, which thicken the milk, both on preparation or as soon as within the tummy. The producers say that the thicker milk helps it keep within the tummy.
No. There may be little proof on the impact these thickeners have on different vitamins within the milk and the way effectively they’re absorbed.
Most infants develop out of reflux and lots of researchers recommend it will be extra helpful for fogeys to be given recommendation on methods to take care of easy reflux. For instance smaller feeds extra usually, however with the identical total quantity of milk per day, will help.
Hungry child system, which can be utilized from beginning, is marketed to folks for infants who aren’t glad by normal toddler system.
The distinction is discovered within the protein make-up of the milk. Commonplace toddler system has a whey:casein ratio of 60:40, which is similar to breast milk. Hungry child system has a whey:casein ratio of 20:80, which has similarities to cow’s milk.
The speculation is that the upper casein content material helps to sluggish digestion and leads to the child feeling extra glad and fewer hungry quickly after feeding. A number of the system producers declare hungry milk can delay the beginning of weaning till the really helpful time, for hungrier bottle-fed infants.
No, there is no concrete proof to assist that infants settle higher or keep full for longer when given hungry child milk.
Lactose intolerance happens when your physique can’t digest lactose, a pure sugar present in milk and dairy merchandise. It is usually non permanent and might happen in your child’s first few months till their ranges of lactase (the enzyme that digests lactose) have change into totally established.
In case your child has signs together with diarrhoea, stomach ache, wind and bloating, converse to a midwife, well being customer or GP. In case your child is formula-fed, they might quickly put them on a lactose-free system earlier than switching again to plain toddler system after a couple of weeks.
Remember the fact that lactose intolerance shouldn’t be the identical as a cow’s milk allergy. Lactose-free system accommodates cow’s milk proteins which can be present in regular toddler system, so it is not appropriate for infants with a cow’s milk allergy.
Converse to your GP in case your child has signs of a cow’s milk allergy, which embrace pores and skin reactions, eczema and digestive issues, as they’ll prescribe a specialist toddler system.
No. NHS recommendation is that follow-on system shouldn’t be mandatory. You may proceed to offer toddler system if not breastfeeding or utilizing expressed breast milk to feed your child.
Observe-on system accommodates the identical components as toddler system, and its ranges of vitamins are additionally strictly managed beneath the identical rules. It accommodates greater ranges of iron and vitamin D, which infants want a better dietary consumption of from six months; due to this, some folks select to change to follow-on system.
Nonetheless, Shefalee Loth, nutritionist and Which? principal researcher, explains: ‘After six months you will be weaning your child they usually can get the additional iron they want from iron-rich meals equivalent to chickpeas, kidney beans, crimson meat and inexperienced leafy veg of their food plan.
‘Vitamin D is more durable to get from food plan although and the federal government recommends that infants and youngsters aged six month to 5 years are given dietary supplements containing vitamin A, C and D day by day.’
In case your child is ingesting round 500-600ml of toddler system a day, they need to be receiving sufficient vitamin D to satisfy their wants, so that they received’t want further drops.
All of the manufacturers have a follow-on system although, and these are normally labelled as stage 2. In the event you nonetheless resolve to make use of it, your baby would should be six months or older (it isn’t appropriate from beginning). Two in 5 mother and father we spoke to, with kids beneath 5, instructed us they’ve used follow-on system.
‘After one, give your child full-fat cow’s milk. It is cheaper than growing-up milk and toddler milk, and it does not comprise added sugar,’ says Shefalee.
‘Till one, milk is the primary part of your child’s food plan, and cow’s milk does not present the stability of vitamins they want.
‘Nonetheless, after one 12 months outdated, meals turns into the primary part of your child’s food plan and they’re going to get the vitamins they want by consuming a different food plan containing lean meat, fish, wholegrains and fruit and veg.’
No. Rising-up milk is marketed as ‘specifically designed to satisfy the wants of your toddler’. However its dietary worth is in contrast solely with cow’s milk, as an alternative of meals and cow’s milk.
Round 300ml of cow’s milk (approx half a pint) will present all of the calcium a one to three-year-old wants (350mg per day).
Right here’s how totally different manufacturers of toddler milk evaluate with cow’s milk when it comes to sugar and calcium content material:
Though most follow-on formulation – other than Hipp Natural – present an identical quantity of calcium to cow’s milk per 100ml, they’re all greater in sugar and costlier. Greater ranges of sugar can encourage a desire for candy meals and in the long run can result in dental cavities.
Toddler milk is marketed as containing far more iron than cow’s milk, however that is deceptive. Cow’s milk accommodates little or no iron and is not the place you or your child get iron from of their food plan. Iron is present in crimson meat, eggs, lentils and pulses, and inexperienced leafy veg.
Your toddler ought to meet all their dietary wants by way of the meals they eat plus a multivitamin drop that accommodates nutritional vitamins A, C and D as really helpful by the federal government, not by way of fortified milks.
System milk isn’t troublesome to organize, so long as you’ve gotten an honest kettle at hand. Listed here are our 4 prime ideas:
Clear bottles and teats totally: It is best to wash bottles, teats and different feeding tools in sizzling, soapy water. Then rinse them with operating water, after which they’re able to be sterilised.Boil your kettle: Make the system utilizing recent boiled water from the kettle that is reached at the least 70°C and cooled to room temperature earlier than feeding.Use the news: Use the news offered to measure the correct quantity of system powder as really helpful by the producer. Do not be tempted so as to add further, as this may trigger constipation and dehydration.Avoid the microwave: Microwaves can create sizzling spots that can burn your child’s mouth. In case your child prefers their milk heat, warmth a bottle of system by operating sizzling water over it, or place it in a bowl of heat water.
Good prep and system bottle prep machines – discover out if it is price investing in a child bottle prep machine such because the Tommee Tippee Good Prep Machine or the Child Brezza System Professional Superior
Correction 11/10/24: Beforehand we stated that the common value per product for Kendamil First Toddler Milk Stage 1 (800g) was £15. We additionally stated it was the most costly per feed in comparison with the opposite merchandise in our desk. Nonetheless, this determine was incorrectly based mostly on the natural model.
Replace: As of 28/11/24, we have now prolonged our pricing evaluation to calculate the price of feeding a child system for 0-6 months relatively than 0-2 weeks. The right common value for Kendamil First Toddler Milk Stage 1 (800g) is £12 and it’s joint second costliest per feed in our desk, together with Cow & Gate and Hipp Natural. Additionally it is the fourth costliest for the entire estimated price over six months (176 days).
