My baby boy is growing up fast, way too fast. I’m clinging on to his babyhood with both hands. I accept cuddles whenever possible, carry him when he asks me to (within reason) and I still enjoy breastfeeding him to sleep and the odd comfort feed. He’s growing up though, putting words together to make sentences, he’s really keen to ‘help’ around the house and when we’re out. He is getting to know about road safety and said ‘Stop!’ at the kerb the other day. But he’s not even 2 yet – can he still be my baby? He’ll always be my baby, they all are, and always will be. He will breastfeed as long as he wants to, or until I don’t enjoy it anymore, but I can’t always be there. He’s never really taken a bottle, the odd one maybe. Even when I went back to work when he was 10 months old, he wouldn’t take my expressed milk so I just gave up giving it to the nursery and my Mum, he was and still does eat very well and drinks water and weak squash.
I work one night shift a week most weeks, and I don’t breastfeed him those nights, or in the morning. I do worry that he’s missing out on the nutrients and calcium he gets from me those times. I use a growing up milk every now and again to reassure myself he’s not missing out on what he needs when I can’t be there. I’m sure he probably gets enough from his diet and my milk anyway, but if I can do all I can to support him, why not? I’ve been asked to try out and review Similac Growing up milk, which I’ve been using for those times when I can’t be there to feed him or for when he wants milk but I don’t want to breastfeed. I don’t express anymore since those early work days, I don’t get full or leak anymore and if he’s not going to drink it I don’t want to bother if it’s going down the drain, what a waste! After 12 months, children need around 400ml of milk a day. I have no idea what Daniel drinks from the boob, but he has cereal and yoghurts as well as the odd milk drink.
About Similac Growing Up Milk
Similac is palm oil free and provides key nutrients to support your baby’s growth and development, with omega 3 & 6, vitamins A, C, and D, calcium and iron. Similac is made by Abbott which has been established for over 90 years.
I was concerned whether Daniel would like it or not, would he take it? I’ve given up trying him with a bottle now and he drinks from both closed and open cups. I waited until he was a bit tired and wanted to watch TV, then I made it up for him in a beaker that I know he likes. He liked it! He saw the milk and wanted it and he sat quite comfortably with his blanket, trainy on the TV and Mummy snappping photos! He didn’t drink all of it but enough so I knew he liked it. I felt reassured that when I’m not there he’s getting a nutritional milk drink substitute. It’s made from cow’s milk and it’s the first formula type milk drink that he’s liked. He drinks plain cow’s milk sometimes, but he’s not that keen.
Preparation
To prepare the drink, you measure out 180ml of water, ideally just boiled water from the kettle, then you add 3 scoops of powder with the scoop provided. The water should be just boiled to kill of any residual bacteria, then you wait for it to cool to the desired temperature. When I first opened the tin, I couldn’t find the scoop, it was really buried, so maybe they should attach it to the lid somehow to avoid this issue. Other than that it’s really easy to prepare. I made a little video to show you:
Packaging
It comes in a metal tin with a plastic lid that you can recycle with a purple and silver design. There is a seal that you open to use, once opened you should use the milk powder within 3 weeks.
Would I buy it or recommend?
If I was buying growing up milk again then I would certainly consider Similac, particularly as I know he likes it now. I do like the fact that they’re palm oil free. If you’re looking for a growing up milk then I would recommend trying Similac. One of their selling points is that it contains ∝ linolenic acid (ALA). In 100ml of prepared feed you get 0.05g of ALA and 0.61g of Linoleic acid (LA), but the beneficial effect of essential fatty acids is obtained with a daily intake of 10g linoleic acid and 2g of ALA so it’s quite a small proportion. Linoleic acid can also be found in milk, some meat and fish, nuts and seeds, butter and oils like sunflower oil. The vitamin D content is 13% of as is the calcium. It’s not something you 100% need, especially if you’re breastfeeding or your child drinks a fair amount of milk and eats a balanced diet, but you may consider it if you’re after that extra reassurance that they’re getting the right balance.
Important notice: Breastfeeding is best for babies and is recommended for as long as possible during infancy. Breastfeeding provides many benefits to both mother and baby. It is difficult to reverse the decision not to breastfeed. We recommend that you speak to your healthcare professional for advice on how to feed your baby.
Disclosure: I am working in partnership with Britmums and I have been sponsored by Similac to try Similac Growing Up Milk and write about it on my blog. All opinions are my own.
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4 Comments
We tried the Follow On Milk and Erin loved it.
November 10, 2016 at 12:36 pmAh, look at his happy smiley face! My breastfed baby enjoyed the Follow-on milk too, so it’s obviously a winner!
November 11, 2016 at 9:14 pmGreat news that Daniel likes it and you’ve found something full of goodness for him to have when you’re not there 🙂
November 22, 2016 at 11:37 amLeanne Cornelius recently posted…Meet The Welsh Bloggers – Wonderfully Bookish
I wish I had known better but at 6 weeks my baby was so very hungry. My Paediatrician suggested I top up her feeds with formula. It worked, obviously, but I never looked back. I used to do both, breast then formula. Eventually, she weaned herself off at 5&1/2 months. I do admire moms who push through the growth spurts. They really are exhausting!
March 26, 2020 at 8:45 am