Hello, I have a 6 month old baby girl who is lactose intolerent. We arrived in Tokyo last week and have brought lactose free infant formula which can last for 2-3 months. Can someone recommend me lactose free infant formula which is easily available in Tokyo? Thanks.

I was in your situation one year ago. My daughter is allergic to all milk products. Meiji has a few kinds of formulas that you can try. The line is called "Infant Care Foods" and is carried by most pharmacies, as well as some of the international supermarkets. My daughter used "Soyameal" which is soy-based and completely milk-free, but there are also "Lactoless" and "Epitoless." Your pediatrician here can help you decide which is best.

I have a 4 month old that has no allergies but did not like Japanese formula very much. So I buy Enfamil from expatExpress or foreign buyers club (when I remember to buy it early) http://www.fbcusa.com.

Also I cannot read Kanji so cannot read the ingredients list and could never figure out if the Japanese formulas are iron fortified.

Has anyone found a maker or importer of organic infant formula here?

You could try contacting the Foreign Buyers Club (http://www.fbcusa.com). They might be able to unearth something for you.

Here is a partial list of the infant formulas offered by Foreign Buyers Club. You have to buy them all by the case form their "General Store". They are shipped from Los Angeles and the weekly order deadline is Friday. It takes about 4 weeks straight to your door.

This is actually a very efficient way to get a bunch of your favorite things from the USA (instead of getting a friend to do it) because the stuff is packed properly and the system is smooth and has all the kinks worked out of it. Often some households get together (from the same neighborhood and pool their individual wishes into one order saving a bit of money and splitting cases and so on).

Babys Own Toddler Formula
Carnation Alsoy
Carnation Good Start
Carnation Powder Follow-Up Baby Formula
Enfamil Concentrate w/Iron (Add water)
Enfamil Concentrated Low-Iron Liquid
Enfamil Lactofree Formula Liquid - Concentrated
Enfamil Plus Lipil Concentrate
Enfamil Prosobee Easy One Packets... and MORE Enfamil variations
Good Start Infant Formula, Ready To Feed
Isomil 2 Powder w/Calcium
Isomil Powder
Isomil Soy Formula w/Iron
Nutramigen Powder Formula
Pedialyte Fruit Flavored and other Pedialyte variations
Prosobee Concentrate
Similac Alimentum w/Iron Powder
Similac Isomil
Similac Neosure Powder

FBC just opened a new enterprise importing things straight from the UK and that web site is: http://brit.fbcusa.com

I'm going to check it out right now for "HobNobs" ! Oooh! They've got them! Y461 for 250g

My family is moving to Tokyo in March 2006. My baby has been feeding with Isomil (Abbott) (soy protein formula) since 3 months old and she is now 20 months.

I've checked with Abbott Japan and the answer was Isomil not sold in Japan. Does any one know any local Japan brand soy protein formula available in Tokyo?

Hi Wendy
Here is a site to most (if not all) of the formulas available in Japan. I just took a quick look and it seems there are at least some soy formulas. http://www.kenko.com/product/seibun/sei_772027.html

The formulas have a list of alergens, ingredients and it is a long list. If you can give me the exact alergens you are watching out for, I could translate and give you the best pick, perhaps.

This is an online shopping site. The regular drug store, supermarkets do not carry most of the alergen free formulas.

Natasha

Dear Natasha
Thanks for your info. I looked into the website and since my Japanese is not very good (just minimal), I can't quite fully understand the content. Could you tell me which ones are the soy protein formula (please indicate the number) and I'll print it out and check my current pediatrician who has studied in Japan for pediatrics many years ago and is very good in Japanese.

I really appreciate your help.
Wendy

Is it correct that there are basically two types of milk formula available in Japan: one for 0-9 months and one for 9 months+? I know from Germany that there are four different ones starting with "pre milk" that is adapted in its content to breast milk for newborns. Then there are milks no 1, 2 and 3 that vary in its content at different stages and also are supposed to help in the transition to non-milk food.

Recent milk formula posts have all been moved here to this pre-existing discussion.

Would anyone happen to know a whey-based infant milk formula here in Japan? My 9mo old baby is currently on S26 by MeadJohnson but since they will be here for 4 months, I would have to look for a close substitute.

Hi

we are moving to tokyo shortly and we have a 6 week old baby with a milk intolerance who is currently on nutramigen. does anyone know if i can buy this in tokyo or can i order it? i cant see it on the FBC list anymore

thanks

Is that a special type of baby formula? Even if it's not on FBC's list I believe they can usually get pretty much anything as a special order - why don't you email them about it? You just need to allow for the shipping time from the US.

Or try contacting one of the foreigner-friendly pediatricians in Tokyo (see discussions elsewhere on this board for a few names) and ask them for advice about what equivalents might be available locally.

I presume you're going to bring an initial supply with you - I don't know of any problem importing dried formula into Japan.

thanks Bethan, it is a product made by mead and johnson. FBC say they dont have it and cant order it. I will see if there is a local equivalant. thanks for your help. Ill try to bring loads in!