The casein-dominant so-called 'second stage' or 'hungry baby' infant formulae are in the ranges of the formula companies in order to delay early weaning, and are not designed to be given to babies before 16 weeks of age. They are really the old style infant formulae, before the manufacturers discovered how to effectively increase the whey content of the formula by splitting the proteins in the cows' milk.

It is worth knowing that in spite of them commonly being referred to as 'Hungry Baby' they in fact have no greater calorific or fat or total protein levels than the first stage infant formulae - they are simply more difficult to digest and so take longer for the baby to be hungry again.

While most of the packaging for these products carry a '2' on them, all of the different formula manufacturers say that babies can stay on the whey dominant infant formula until 12 months, and there is no 'need' to introduce casein dominant infant formula, which are the so-called 'hungry baby' infant formulae, or follow on formula, at all. Please click the link if you would like more information on Follow On Formula.

Some people do say that their babies sleep for longer on the casein dominant milks, but in all lilelihood this is because their bodies struggle to procees it, and it puts extra pressure on the digestive organs. Casein dominant infant formula are known to commonly have a greater risk of bouts of constipation, and other gastro intestinal episodes.

If your baby is between 16 and 26 weeks and seems to be unsatisifed by formula alone, then you COULD try switching to a casein-dominant infant formula, to delay the introduction of solids a little while longer. We also have some information about the introduction of solid foods.

Experts always recommend you should ease babies from one infant formula to another by slow introduction of the new one and slow phasing out of the old one.