Babies born in Japan.

[Damicci]

So My mother in law is worried if our son is started on Japanese formula and gets used to it, when we bring him back to the US he will have problems switching to American Formula.

Is this a general concern or just a little superstitious?
Bringing big cans of Formula is kind of a PIA so I was trying to find out would I need to bring formula and how different are baby formulas between US and Japan.☝

 

[epigene]

Isn't breastfeeding the first choice today, in terms of immune system development and other important minerals and nutrients that only breastfeeding can provide?

My kids never liked formula (Japanese or otherwise) in the first place and had been breastfed until they weaned.

I think it really depends on the baby!
If there's nothing else to have, the baby will take anything!

 

[Damicci]

I don't know. Probably depends on the woman. If it's like my sons mom, she'll complain she cant do it or some lame excuse to not try. I was kind put in a bad mood b/c it was like my wife and her mom didn't care about my opinion "just don't ask questions and bring the damn formula". Now I am starting to get annoyed so ended our chat conversation for the night. I have my son with me this weekend and don't feel like being put in a bad mood.

 

[epigene]

I don't know. Probably depends on the woman. If it's like my sons mom, she'll complain she cant do it or some lame excuse to not try. I was kind put in a bad mood b/c it was like my wife and her mom didn't care about my opinion "just don't ask questions and bring the damn formula". Now I am starting to get annoyed so ended our chat conversation for the night. I have my son with me this weekend and don't feel like being put in a bad mood.

Okay, buy and take baby formula with you--for your peace of mind!

Since it's the first baby for your wife and the first half-American baby for your in-laws, they probably want to be 1000% sure for the baby. (Note: The number is not a typo!)

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

I think there is some truth to the idea that the formula is different, and the baby might have a hard time adjusting from one to another. I know that whenever I go to America, I have a hard time adjusting to the food, so I imagine formula could be different. My older brother said it took him about a year to completely adjust to American food after living years in Europe, too.

In your case, it's difficult. I think your opinion doesn't count much because you are a man. I'm sure most Japanese men wouldn't even have an opinion one way or the other on the matter.

Where is your baby going to live long term? If you plan on living with your baby long term in Japan, it might be best just to use Japanese formula as much as possible while in America, if only to keep the peace with the in-laws. However, if you plan on living with your baby in America for the long term, use the American formula by all means! It's too much hassle and too expensive to bother with getting Japanese formula over the long haul.

Just my opinion. Remember, my ex-mother-in-law hated my guts. (But she was a dragon lady anyway....)

 

[pipokun]

they probably want to be 1001% sure for the baby.

Add my 1% above.

 

[Damicci]

I was planning on picking up the formula today with some other wanted items.What can I expect with the new baby in Japan? Here I was 150% involved with my son when he was born up late nights and everything, but alas we had no family in the state at the time and none could come help. So I have no clue what to expect when a whole household is wanting help out.

To Mikawa<
We will be living in the US long term.

 

[nice gaijin]

Since I read about the Nestle scandal in the 70's, I have been very much in favor of breast milk over formula. That milk is created specifically for the baby, and contains a lot of proteins and amino acids that your child needs. If course it's ultimately the mother's choice and there are a number of factors to be considered, but I think it's a bit of a waste when a perfectly healthy lactating mother refuses to feed her kid in favor of some expensive synthetic nonsense.

Here are a few good breakdowns of breastfeeding vs. formula:
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http://www.americanpregnancy.org/firstyearoflife/breastfeedingandbottle.html

Sorry for the minor derailment. For the formulas in question, I would check their ingredients to see if there really is any difference. You could even perform a taste test. If you are stuck with formula, you might as well bring over the kind that the kid will be starting on, whichever that will be.