The feeding guide on the can is meant as a guide only. Every baby is different, some babies will naturally drink more or less than the feeding guide, and this is normal. If you are feeding on demand and your baby is having around 6 wet nappies daily, growing well, thriving, and developing as expected then it is likely your baby is receiving enough formula.

If you are concerned about the amount of formula your baby is having, it is best to consult your treating healthcare professional for further advice.

a2 Platinum® Stage 1 and Stage 2 no longer state a specific temperature for preparation. This is to align the preparation instructions with the formula feeding guidelines outlined by the Infant Nutrition Council. These are specific guidelines for Australia and New Zealand, and can be found in more detail at http://www.infantnutritioncouncil.com/resources/formula-feeding/ .

There is no specific temperature to prepare the formula at, however it is best to boil the water and allow it to cool for 30 minutes to approx. 40oC. Then, pour the correct amount of cooled boiled water into a sterilised bottle, ensuring to add the correct number of scoops to water as outlined on the feeding guide.

 
It is important to follow the instructions exactly as they are stated on the can. Always check the temperature of the feed before feeding, it should feel warm, not hot. If the water is too hot, cool before feeding by standing the bottle in a bowl of cold water, or by running the bottle under cold water from the tap (ensuring none of this water comes into contact with the lid or teat).

We do not have measurements for less formula. It is best to keep to the mixing guide so that the concentration of the formula is correct. It is better to provide more than baby drinks to ensure they get as much as they need. Babies feeding needs change often so providing a lesser amount may result in baby being underfed.

Any unused formula at the end of the feed must be discarded. This is for food safety reasons to minimise any risk of food related illness.

It is not recommended to prepare formula in advance.

Any formula which has been at room temperature for longer than 1 hour must be discarded. Any unused formula at the end of the feed must be discarded.

If you are going out and need to take a bottle, pour the correct amount of cooled boiled water in the bottle and in a separate sterilised container the correct number of scoops. It is recommended to transport the bottle of cooled boiled water in a cooler bag with ice packs. When it comes to feeding your baby, warm up the bottle of water then add the formula powder.

Tip: You can boil enough water for all of your baby’s feeds for the day and pour the correct amount into sterilised bottles for storage in the fridge. Place the caps on the bottles and when baby requires a feed, the cooled boiled water is ready to use. Discard any unused water after 24 hours.

All products in the a2 Platinum® range are made with our pure and natural a2 Milk®.

a2 Platinum® Premium infant formulas and milk drinks are based on a unique and premium whey and casein protein blend. The milk used in our a2 Platinum® Premium range is our a2 Milk® from cows that have been specially selected to naturally produce milk with only the A2-type beta-casein protein. Our a2 Platinum® Premium range are nutritionally tailored to provide key age-specific ingredients which may help support each stage of your child’s growth and development.

For babies under 12 months - If you have decided to switch your baby’s current infant formula to a2 Platinum® Premium infant formula, the transition should occur slowly to allow your baby’s digestive system to adjust gradually. a2 Platinum® Premium infant formula will also taste different from other infant formulas, so this may be another reason why your little one will need some time to get used to a2 Platinum® Premium infant formula gradually. Please see the a2 Platinum® Premium infant formula product page for more information and speak to your GP or healthcare professional for baby-specific advice.

The a2 Platinum® Premium range, a2 Nutrition for mothers™ and a2 Smart Nutrition® are made in New Zealand, to the highest industry standards for quality and safety.

The a2 Platinum® Premium range, a2 Nutrition for Mothers™ and a2 Smart Nutrition® are available at the a2store.com.au. In addition, the a2 Platinum® Premium range is available at Coles, Woolworths and Chemist Warehouse.

The products in the a2 Platinum® Premium range are not lactose free – each product contains levels of lactose (naturally occurring milk sugars) comparable to that of other formulas and milk drink products made from cow’s milk.

Infant formula is a breast milk substitute. It is a specially formulated and nutritionally complete alternative to support the growth and development of infants under 6 months of age when infants are not breastfed. Whilst infant formula is nutritionally complete and supports growth and development, it cannot provide all the protective factors found in breast milk.

Follow on formula is a formula suitable for infants aged 6-12 months. Specially formulated to meet the increased nutritional requirements of bottle or cup fed babies from 6 to 12 months, it is intended to complement the introduction of solids. It is a nutritionally balanced formulation which provides the levels of key nutrients, needed to meet the needs of growing infants.

During the first 6 months of life, breast milk or infant formula should be the only source of nutrition. After 6 months, solids should be introduced in a complementary fashion alongside breast milk or infant formula. However, from 1 year of age, the focus shifts to solids as the primary source of nutrition, with milk being consumed as part of an overall healthy diet.

Some toddlers are fussy eaters and this may affect their intake of adequate energy and nutrients. Where intake of energy and nutrients is inadequate, a2 Platinum Premium toddler milk drink may be used to supplement the diet. a2 Platinum Premium toddler milk drink contains the goodness of milk, with added age appropriate nutrients to help support growth and development. A serving of cow's milk can be replaced by a2 Platinum Premium toddler milk drink, however, a2 Platinum Premium toddler milk drink should not be used to replace food or regular meals.

If breastfeeding cannot be used as the sole form of nutrition for infants, a2 Platinum® Premium infant formula may be selected by families who would like to choose a formula based on our a2 Milk®.

For infants over six months of age through to 12 months, a2 Platinum® Premium follow-on formula can be used either as a follow-on from a2 Platinum® Premium infant formula or introduced to your child for the first time if transitioning from exclusive breastfeeding. For active toddlers from 1 to 3 years whose intake of nutrients and energy from their usual diet may be inadequate for growth and development, a2 Platinum® Premium toddler milk drink may be used to supplement the diet.

Find out more at:

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing – Get Up & Grow: Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Early Childhood – Family Book

• The Feeding Guide provided on each can of a2 Platinum® Premium infant formula, is there to guide you on how much and how often to feed your baby. Different mixing ratios and scoops may be used for other infant formula products, so it is important to specifically follow the instructions on the can when preparing a2 Platinum® Premium Infant Formula.
• There is much individuality in how much each baby will drink and variation in the amount that the same baby will drink from day to day. The Feeding Guide is a guide to how much babies of different ages will need to drink and the frequency of consumption. It is important to always be guided by your baby and allow your baby to drink to satiation point, even if this means discarding any unused formula in the bottle. Unlike breastmilk which changes composition as baby grows, infant formula concentration remains constant so it is only the volume consumed which changes as the baby grows.
• It is important to prepare the infant formula with the right amount of powder and water, as per the instructions provided on the can. This will help ensure your baby’s nutritional requirements are being met. If you add too much powder to your baby’s bottle your baby’s feed will be too concentrated. This can lead to constipation, causing your baby abdominal pain, bloating and discomfort when trying to do a poo. If you add too much water, your baby’s feeds will be too diluted and they will not receive enough nutrition to help them grow well.
• Do not prepare formula with a different concentration to that which is prescribed on the can, unless under the specific guidance and instruction of a qualified healthcare professional such as your GP or paediatrician.
• Guidelines aside, around 6 wet nappies daily, as well as a developmentally growing and thriving infant indicate that your baby is likely to be receiving enough infant products.

Please refer to the product page under our products for safe preparation information.

• Check expiry date of product on base of can to ensure the product has not passed its expiry (use-by) date.
• Keep the scoop in the can when not in use. There is no need to wash the scoop after preparing a bottle. However, if the scoop gets wet accidentally, you will need to wash and dry it thoroughly before putting it back in the can.
• Always keep product in its original can and cover with the plastic lid to prevent contamination of the powder. Do not transfer the powder to another container because this is a high risk of contamination.
• Once a can of powdered product has been opened, it can be kept safely for four weeks if stored in a cool dry place. Discard any unused product after four weeks.

If you intend to bottle feed your baby you will need to buy appropriate infant feeding equipment, including bottles, teats and sterilising equipment.

Baby bottles

• You will need to have between 2 to 6 bottles.
• If you intend to use a bottle for all your baby’s feeds, it will be ideal for you to have around 6 bottles as babies typically feed around six times per day for the first four months.
• As babies grow, the volume of breastmilk or infant formula which is needed to meet their nutritional requirements increases and by four months, babies typically drink around 220mL at each feed.
• Therefore, whilst baby bottles are available for purchase in a range of sizes and smaller bottles are most suitable for young babies, by the time your baby is four months of age larger bottles capable of holding 220mL will be necessary.

When selecting baby bottles look for:

• Bottles with leak proof caps, discs and teats.
• Whilst plastic or glass bottles are a matter of choice, plastic bottles are less likely than glass to shatter or break (ensure plastic bottles are labelled ‘BPA-free’).
• Bottles with clearly marked measurement guides that will endure over time.
• Bottles with a wide rather than a narrow opening can be more easily cleaned with a brush

Teats

• If you intend to use a bottle for all your baby’s feeds, a minimum of 6 teats will be necessary.
• There is no one teat that will suit all babies and over time you will discover which teat works best for your baby. 

When selecting teats:

• Check the product label to confirm that the teat design is appropriate for your baby’s age as different teats will have different flow rates and it is important that the flow rate is comfortable for baby.
• Check and replace teats regularly. Discard as soon as you notice any signs of deterioration including discolouration, stickiness, swelling or cracking.

Sterilising

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommend that all infant feeding equipment be sterilised until the infant is at least 12 months old. Bottles and teats should be sterilised after each use and stored safely for as long as you use them.  

• If complementary feeding is needed, it is best to wait for breastfeeding to become established, at least 6–8 weeks before introducing a bottle.
• When possible, always offer the breast first, followed by the bottle with expressed breastmilk if you are doing top up feeds. Otherwise, expressed breastmilk in a bottle can be used to feed your little one by a babysitter if you are away from your baby.
• If your baby is being bottle fed while you are away from your baby, if your circumstances allow it, try to express at feeding times to maintain your supply. Adopt the practice of expressing at least the same amount of breastmilk your baby takes from a bottle to keep up your supply.

• If complementary feeding is needed, it is best to wait for breastfeeding to become established, at least 6–8 weeks before introducing a bottle.
• When possible, always offer the breast first, followed by the bottle with infant formula if you are doing top up feeds.
• Introduce mixed feeding slowly to allow your little one to make a smooth transition to mixed feeding.
• This will also allow you to keep up your own breastmilk supply. It may take at least 3 to 4 weeks to achieve the desired mix of breast and bottle feeding.

Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA)
is a serious condition. If your baby or toddler is diagnosed with cow's milk allergy, you should consult your doctor or paediatrician before giving your baby ANY foods or drinks that contain ingredients which may be derived from cow's milk. This includes certain infant formula and milk drink products such as a2 Platinum®. If your child is diagnosed with CMPA, they will need to avoid all foods and drinks containing cow's milk, as even the smallest amount can set off a reaction. Some breastfed babies may also show sensitivity due to cow's milk consumed as part of the mother’s diet, so seek help from your GP or Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD).

For formula fed babies with CMPA speak to your healthcare professional as there are modified formulas that may be suitable. Your healthcare professional can advise you on alternatives that can be included in your baby’s diet.  Partially hydrolysed (HA) formulas are not a suitable treatment for CMPA.

It is also very important to learn how to read labels to identify cow's milk protein as an ingredient. The following food labels indicate that the food is likely to contain milk proteins:

• Milk
• Non-fat milk solids
• Casein
• Caseinate
• Whey
• Whey powder
• Lactalbumin
• Lactoglobulin
• Lactose
• Rennet casein

Unsettled behaviour in infants is poorly understood. Your baby’s unsettled behaviour could be due to one or more of a variety of factors, including excess wind build-up, feeding practices, difficulty in voiding (i.e. constipation) or other gastrointestinal issues such as reflux.

Naturally occurring substances in both human milk and infant formula, including milk proteins and lactose, may also contribute to an infant’s unsettled behaviour.

You should speak to your healthcare professional if you require further information regarding the cause of your baby’s unsettled behaviour.

Baby may take a week or two to adjust to a new formula. Your baby's bowel motions are also likely to change when moving from breastmilk, they may become a little firmer, but they shouldn't be dry and solid. If the bowel motions are dry and solid then check how much fluid baby is drinking (refer to the feeding guide on the back of the can), also have a look at your baby's wet nappies - there should be at least 6 wet nappies per day, and they shouldn't be too dark or smelly.  Persistent unsettled behaviour can be an indicator that baby is not tolerating an infant formula.  It is always best to check in with a healthcare professional if you are concerned about your baby. If you are still breastfeeding as well and feel that baby may be experiencing intolerance issues, you can have your own diet reviewed by an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD), experienced in the area of allergy and intolerance. To find an Accredited Practising Dietitian in Australia, visit Dietitians Association of Australia

a2 Nutrition for mothers™ is a low in fat milk powder fortified with vitamins and minerals including folic acid, designed to meet the increased nutritional needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women. The a2 Nutrition for mothers™  formula also has added fibre and DHA which are not normally present in milk.

a2 Nutrition for mothers™ is specially formulated to support a mother’s increased nutritional needs from planning a family, throughout her pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This product is NOT suitable for infants and young children. It is designed for women pre, during and post pregnancy.

a2 Nutrition for mothers™ supports a mother’s increased nutritional needs from planning a family, throughout pregnancy and during breastfeeding. It can be started at any time throughout this period. a2 Nutrition for mothers™ is no longer required once breastfeeding has concluded.

The recommended intake of a2 Nutrition for mothers™  is 2 serves per day, or 400ml of prepared drink. One serve of a2 Nutrition for mothers™ is 200ml of prepared drink (4 scoops to 200ml of cold or warm water).