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If I had known then what I know now I could have saved hundreds of dollars last year. I'm a first-time mom, though, and my thinking was that if I couldn't meet my baby's needs with my own milk, I should spare no expense doing so with formula. If breast milk is best (and it is!!!) and formula is second best, would I be subjecting my baby to third best with store brand formula? Would I be subjecting him to more sleepless nights due to gas? Yikes! Of course in the beginning, I wouldn't even use a generic diaper. Ah, hindsight.
Choosing store-brand infant formula over premium brands can save you about 40%, or hundreds of dollars a year over premium brands at regular prices. But are store brand formulas as good as premium? Evidently they are. All store brand formulas marketed in the U.S. today are required to meet minimum nutritional levels set by the FDA. So how do you choose?
Most store brand formulas around here are made by one of two companies, PBM Nutritionals or Target. To me, that means there's not much difference between them.
When choosing a store brand formula, it's important to make sure the formula contains iron (and most do). You'll also probably want a formula with DHA and RHA, fats found naturally in breast milk which may be important for babies' brain and eye development (study results are mixed).
If you plan to switch to a store brand formula, you may want to do it gradually so that your baby has a chance to become accustomed to minor differences in taste. Individual brands can differ slightly in taste or texture due to differing recipes. If you've ever compared Similac and Enfamil powders, for example, you can see that one is more moist. This is because it contains a different type of oil. Other formula brands differ in the type of protein (casien or whey) they contain.
Don't be put off by the fact that pediatricians only offer samples of premium formulas. They are under a lot of pressure by Enfamil and Similac's manufacturers to do so, and they hear a lot of propaganda. Ask your pediatrician specifically about store brand formulas.
Pricing:
How do store brand formula prices compare with the best deals you can get on premium formulas?
I looked over my "top deals" for the past nine months. Every month, Similac and/or Enfamil were on sale at least twice at one or more of the retailers listed on the sidebar. The most common Similac sales price is $20.99 per can, though it's gone as low as $19.99. Enfamil is usually a dollar higher. If you stock up using those handy $5 formula checks Enfamil and Similac send out, you can get the cans for $15.99. You've got to work for it, though.
Store brand formulas do go on sale, but not as often. I've seen Walgreens' formula for $14.99 and Target's for even less. You should expect to pay $12 to $17 per can for store brand formulas (Target's is the cheapest I've found at $11.89). And that's every time you need some. You can buy premiums when they're on sale and when you have gift checks for them, or you can buy store brands any old time.
Links to More Info on Store Brand Formulas:Parents' Choice FAQ
FDA infant formula FAQ
PBM Nutritionals
About.com Pediatrics article
Want to know more about organic formulas? See this post.
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50 comments:
I actually purchase the Parent's Choice Brand. I can get the large size can for only even less than the Target formula (which is a very good price). I have been really happy with this formuala and would never buy the brand name formula unless I could get it cheaper than that (which will probably never happen). I am working on linking to your entries on organic & store brand formulas. Thanks so much for providing this info- I know our readers will really appreciate it!
I'm really afraid to try using different formula's simply because my baby has really bad gas. I've even tried the lactose and milk free formula, but I'm afraid to use that all of the time because it doesn't contain DHA and RHA.
I too am a first-time mom and I originally used breast milk but then had to supplement my milk. I originally used Similac, but my daughter had a terrible time with it so I switched to Enfamil GentleEase. But a few months later, we switched to the Kroger brand gentle formula and Lonie has never looked back. She is totally healthy and comes in at the 90th percentiles. Go for it, ladies! Switch to the store brand and save about $10 per can.
Andrea, a Nashville TN mom
I'm a stickler for buying brand name products, but I recently found out that the Target brand formula is EXACTLY the same as Enfamil. They have the comparison right there on the label, and and has the same amount of every nutrient that Enfamil has for less than half the price! I'll never buy Enfamil brand again!
I buy costco formula.
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11099613&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|48022|48045&N=4013908&Mo=27&pos=1&No=1&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=48045&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC5397-Cat48022&topnav=
I am always a bargain hunter but I am not willing to compromise quality for price. I use Parent's Choice (Walmart brand). My daughther is very healthy and weighs in the 96th percentile. Please keep in mind that all the freebies from Enfamil & Similac costs money, will you spend your hard earned money on financing the promotions of the brands!!
I am a first time mom too. I buy store brand formula and diapers. If you compare the quality of targret brand diapers it surpasses all other store brands. really soft and fully absorband as copared to walmart or HEB brand and is even cheaper.
my daughter broke out in a rash when offered the parent's choice formula
I was reluctant to try it again
I think the key is to try it gradually, give it a day or two to settle in and watch the warning signs: rashes, diarrhea, constipation, fever
I really wanted to try using the Target brand formula, so I purchased their version of the Enfamil Gentlease, due to my baby having issues with gas. Unfortunately, within three days she was having hard poops and would have likely suffered constipation had I kept it up. So, I tried switching to a soy formula for a couple of days to "ease things up" for her, but that upset her tummy and had a difficult time settling. After going back to the Enfamil, I gave it a month before trying the Target brand again. The same thing happened! Three days or so and her poops got harder and smaller! At this point I was giving her only two soy bottles a day, thinking it would help keep her regular and still saving us money. It didn't work out, though, so now we're back to the name brand. I know it is supposed to have the exact same ingredients, but something about the formulation didn't work for my daughter.
sorry you had trouble, Melissa. If you're up to it, maybe you could find a different store brand formula that works better for you.
My daughter started out on Enfamil Prosobee which is about $26 for a big can, but I tried switching to Wal-mart's brand, Parent's Choice, and it gave her constipation and took me weeks to get her body back adjusted and going regular. I would love for her to be on it because it is $10 cheaper, but am afraid to.
If you go to the Parent's Choice website right now, they will send you a free sample of their formula so you can try it for FREE and see if your baby can handle it.
My husband and I just bought a membership to Costco. Their brand formula is $19.99 for 2 cans. That's cheaper than Target, and Sam's club. Our little boy seems to be doing very well on it. Another side note, we asked the people at Costco about their brand diapers, and we were told that they are actually Pampers under a different name!!! So it is Costco for diapers and formula from now on. Bring on the savings :)
BJ's has formula for 19.99 for 51 ounces of powder. I thought that was a great deal.
We've had to stick with the big name :( formula... Similac Isomil Advance. We've tried two store brands and each time we've tried, my son gets a really bad rash. It clears up as soon as we stop using the formula so we are assuming that's what it's from. The two I've tried...Parent's Choice and Kroger (both soy). I am always looking for the formula on sale and I frequent ebay for coupons. I recently got 20 $5 off coupons for $5. It's for the Grow and Go but they also work on the regular.
You can also look for coupons at Baby Cheapskate Coupon Traders:
http://groups.google.com/group/BCCouponTraders
A great resource for free formula (if you qualify) is your local WIC office. For more information check out their website http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
WIC provides milk, cereal, eggs, cheese, peanut butter/beans and juice during and after the pregnancy and SIMILAC Advanced Formula with Iron. (You can get other specialty SIMILAC formula with a doctor's note).
Hi! I'm very interested in discovering the REAL difference between name brand and not name brand... I started with a can of Parents Choice and a can of Enfamil Advance. I found that the Enfamil was a finer powder and dissolved better, not leaving a nasty film on the bottles (more like breast milk which leaves none) and the off brand always left a film on the bottles. The milk was a different color and everything so my conclusion was: there IS a difference, and since the name brand LOOKS more like breast milk and isn't as messy, I like that better. What could account for this difference if they're "the same"?
Hmmm. That's kind of like the difference between Enfamil and Similac--one's a finer, drier powder and one's more moist.
I don't think what you're describing has anything to do with "name brand" vs. store brand. The nutrition offered is the same. The recipes may differ slightly with regard to non-nutritional ingredients.
I am feeding my son (4 mos and 16 whopping lbs.) Target formula (the compare to gentleease variety), after 3 months of heartbreaking gas, vomit you name it with similac. I am a first time mom, and everyone (including the docs) said it was relatively normal and not the formula or breastmilk (had to stop breastfeeding for the same issue), but rather "reflux" and gave my poor babe an RX for Zantac at 3 weeks old - even though he was growing and thriving despite vomiting 3 or 4 times a day. The Zantac slowed the vomit and a switch to similac sensitive helped with the gas, but nothing like what the switch to the Target stuff did. He now has normal wet burps like any other baby, and an occasional projectile exorcist session - nothing like before. I have noticed harder poops as someone else had mentioned, however he poops daily or twice daily as opposed to every other day like he did on Similac, and I noticed they have been softening over time - he also just increased his cereal intake (in the bottles at night to help thicken it to keep it down long enough so his sleep isn't interrupted by vomiting), so that might cause some of the harder poos. For the mom who had that trouble with Target gentleease, I would suggest sticking with it a few days if baby isn't constipated - my son had little pebbles for one day and gradually softened again - gas reduced after a couple days too once everything else straightened out - huge money saver. Love everything Target brand except the wipes - I always go for the huggies on those.
Store brands and name brands are NOT exactly the same. They may be equivalent nutritionally, but they're different in other ways - taste, texture, additives, etc. This applies not just to formula, but to everything. I give my preschooler Target brand vitamins... I once tried switching to the local grocery store brand, and they tasted revolting. Same nutritionally, but SOMETHING about their ingredients and processing was vastly different. I guess it all comes down to what the individual child will like or tolerate. But nobody should believe they're exactly the same. (As for the Costco diapers comment, that's way off. Costco diapers are very inferior to Pampers... I would have LOVED to use them (since Costco stopped selling Pampers after my baby #2), but they ripped easily, bunched too much, and weren't very soft. So to say they came off the same assembly line is totally false.
No, generics AREN'T the same as brand name... EVERY formula is different. My baby didn't do well with Enfamil, Target, or Costco, but is perfectly fine on Similac. I have tried gradually adding, etc, no formula works but 100% Similac for MY baby. Trust me, I wish I could buy generic!!
Also, RE Costco diapers, that comment WAS wrong, they are the same as Huggies, not Pampers. My husband works for them, and I have used both Costco and Huggies. Exact Same... Pampers are WAY different though.
it just drives me nuts that formula is so expensive. Target is the one I usually get, because it’s so close to Enfamil in formulation.
At BJ's you can get 51 oz of formula for $19.99. I think that's a really good price. Not to mention that sometimes they come out with coupons for $4 off their formula.
You mention that PBM makes Target brand formula. I was under the impression that Wyeth made Target brand formula. Is it possible that both companies are private label suppliers for Target?
I'm seeing both PBM and Wyeth listed as making Target (and Walmart) brand formula, anon. Thanks for the heads-up. I wasn't seeing Wyeth listed when I wrote the article.
You can use any formula checks at target for any formula. Like a $8 off enfamil check for similac. They don't care. Just a tip for moms who buy name brand.
I use the costco brand formula and find it to work just fine! I am glad to pay only 19.99 for two 10 oz cans of powder formula. All you ever pay is for really is marketing. Since I studied marketing it always amazes me how brain washed we can be come to think that the brand name is better our baby. Of coarse there always may be an exception...
All you really pay for is marketing? are you serious? This whole list is made of people who are explaining the differences in the forumla, as to how it affects their child.
I have a 3 month old little girl who is now in tears due to constipation from the Target brand formula, something that never happened with the Similac we had been using... maybe we'll get a check in the mail for my daughter's tears as she must have been crying to let us know we should have bought the other brand.
How can we claim that store brands are identical to other brands? Because what we see on the label?
Ok so we know the ingredients are similar.
But what DON'T we know? Well, I still don't know WHERE the milk comes from in any of the formulas. Does the milk come from cows injected with Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH)?
I know that the milk I drink says on the label, "Not from BGH injected cows". So I probably don't want my 3 month old baby ingesting the stuff either.
It's not always about what you DO see on the labels, it's sometimes what you don't see...
I think you should try the different brands and see which ones your baby responds best to. And it may change as they get older. When our baby was 0-3 months, he had bad gas from nearly all of the formulas, and we really did try most of them. We settled on the Emfamil Gentleease, though he was still pretty gassy. At about month 4, his toots settled down, and we began trying some of the store brands. He had constipation issues with the Kroger brand, but he took well to the Sam's club version. He's almost 10 months old now, and he seems to be able to handle about any type of formula we give him, though we usually stick with the Sam's Club brand.
Sooo... I guess what I'm saying is that all babies are different. Our baby couldn't handle the "premium" gentle version of Similac, but he could handle the Sam's Club version. This doesn't mean that Similac is bad, it just means that for whatever reason our baby handled the Emfamil better, and was fine with the Sam's Club later. YMMV
My husband and I use mostly organic products for ourselves, so when we had a baby we wanted to do the same. We thought Similac Organic was somewhat reasonable, but then my pediatrician nixed that siting a New York Times article on it being high in sugar (look at the first ingredient on the can). So we went with 'Earth's Best' as mentioned in the article (Walmart brand mentioned too, but our local W-Mart doesn't carry the organic formula). Well we're happy he's getting it, but the price is KILLING us! Has anyone tried the Kroger brand Private Selection Organic baby formula? SO much cheaper, but haven't done it yet cause I've heard NOTHING about it. Might have to break down and do it anyway.
Thanks for your thoughts!
My daughter has been on Target brand formula every since she was 5 months old (shes 10 months now). She is doing great, is in the 90th percentile and is even a little advance for her age; She started walking when she was 9 months. Because of medical reasons I was unable to breast feed so the hospital started her on Similac. When we transitioned to Target formula we did it slowly, increasing the Target to Similac ratio a little more with each bottle. She had no problems. She is sensitive to Lactose so we have her on the Target sensitive brand.
Also, if you call the costumer service number on the back of the Target brand formula they will send you one $3.00 coupon each month.
I consulted my pediatrician first, since every baby is different, I recommend doing the same before you switch. Don't be afraid to try the store brands.
My son takes Parent's Choice formula from WalMart most of the time. At 4 months old he weighs 21 pounds so I think that it is working out well for him. When we first started him on formula we used the gentle formula (also parent's choice) and that seemed to help with his gas issues but now we are going on the regular stuff. Since he is a very hungry baby, I am very thankful for the price break of buying the store brand!
My 5 month old son has been on Similac Sensitive since he was 1 month old (he was consuming 40 oz per day!). I have mixed and switched back and forth between Similac and Target Sensitive and he does extremely well. After being laid off I applied for WIC, which now only offers Enfamil unless there it is requested otherwise by the doctor. I bought a small can of the Enfamil Gentlease to mix with the sensitive, he's been on it for about a day, and has been vomiting up clear liquid (I believe is stomach acid). Target Sensitive is far superior to Gentlease..
Hello how can you say its the same when it looks and tasstes diff, i'm not saying which is better I use Simalac advance with omega 3 and 6 which is iron foritied and has dha rha in it I do believe correct me if wrong, but no no store brands have all this in the same formation, and if it did it would have the same taste and consistancy!!!! My baby is 3 months and is on a combo of formula and breatfed and is doing wonderful! TYher is thousonds of dollars that hospitals spend finding which formula was best, they use simalac now in sask canada for a reason, they also tod me enfamil A+ is very simular! In the past they have used store brands and had in creasing problems. Its as simple as ketchup people if you look on hienz bottles and no name brand same ingredints but totally diff taste! same goes forformula people, you pay for what you get! though the choice is yours!!
Hospitals use name brand formulas because formula companies PAY them to. The store brands are made by those same companies.
Although, to all of you who are boasting about your babies' weights... being at the 95% is not necessarily healthy and you should probably re-examine how much (not which brand) formula you are giving.
I have only tried one type of formula due to I am a bit scared to since my daughters other 2 siblings had to have Isomil due to bad allergic reactions. So I went straight to using Similac Isomil Advanced...though I am only supplementing w it. And my WIC office gave me coupons to buy it(one can a month since she is only being supplemented w it)for the formula when I explained why I did it. We are trying to go only breastfeeding, but she gets where she wants to latch constantly(for hours on end) where she will pull off and cry or fall asleep for a few min and wake up if she is taken off. It was the only way to get her to calm down. She is just shy of 6 weeks old is 11 1/2 lbs and 22" long and she was 7lbs 15oz at birth and the Dr said she is very healthy and in no way fat and she is considered in the 95% range for her weight though 78% for her height...and when I say supplement it is not an every day thing...and I didn't start until she was over 2 weeks old and we were having issues for 8+ hours and we both needed sleep...I don't offer it until after she has been breastfed and still acts like she is starving and only a few oz usually.
Has anyone heard anything about the Meijer brand. I was using Enfamil Lipil, but switched to the Meijer equivalent of Enfamil Gentlease (there is not a store brand for the Enfamil Lipil). The cost is cheaper, but I really hope that I am giving my baby a formula that is right for her.
Constipation is a BIG DEAL folks and something that can progress even when your child is older and no longer on formula. Don't be willing to "live with the hard poops" now think that there will not be any downstream effects on your children. These store brand formula's almost certainly react differently inside children in a lot of cases. Be willing to pay a premium for proper bowel function in your kids. Nestle Good Start is all we have ever used for our kids and their bowel movements are soft and easily passed.
Breastmilk is free! and is perfect for your baby!
I couldn't breastfeed with my first baby so I was forced to formula feed. I've used Similac powder and ready to feed, Regular enfamil, enfamil gentlease, target regular and target low lactose "gentlease".
I will tell you the brand does not matter, its what your baby can or will eat. The generic equivilants have the exact same ingredients and nutritional content. They are required by law to do so, ask your doctor if you don't believe me.
My baby had every feeding problem under the sun (gas, puking, alternating constipation and diareah, fussiness) and I learned, from my doctor, how I prepare the formula, how I feed it to my child and burping and posture also makes a HUGE difference in all of these problems.
The only major differences in formula that you want to watch out for is the amount of lactose. There are basically 3 kinds regular, low lactose (gentlease) and soy.
You need to start with the regular kind first (most nutritious). Make sure you have a decent bottle! The bag insert kind and dr browns put less bubbles in babys tummy. its worth it to spend the money on those.
LEarn to mix the formula properly, it needs to be VERY exact if you want a normal pooping baby. first you need to unpack the formula in the can (stir it a bit) then follow the instructions on the can for how much to use. The scoops need to be unpacked and very level. DO NOT TAP THE SCOOP ON THE SIDE OF THE CAN! you're asking for constipation issues, especially with low lactose formulas, their tecture is different than regular formula. And if you don't fill the scoop up to the top, you get diareah.
Learn to feed in the proper position. baby should be in your arms and tilted in an Up position (like breast feeding). laying baby down is not only dangerous but they get more air.
learn to burp properly! your baby is not going to make a one second little burp and be done. Keep burping until you get several large burps. it may take 5 mins.
After you do all that and your baby is still having problems, there may be a lactose problem. ask your doc.
We used enfamil gentlease with great results and when I couldn't afford it anymore we GRADUALLY (THIS TAKES A WEEK TO DO!!) switched to the target brand equivilant. i never noticed a differenc in any brand that I used other than the lactose content.
Nothing annoys me more when I hear a mom complain that their generic formula made their babies constipated, as they are scooping packed, heaping spoonfuls of the formula into the babies bottle. Or a mom who says they have a problem with spitting up and gas as they prop up their kid on the sofa with a crappy 50 cent bottle and only pat once or twice to burp.
Yes, i've been that annoying mom, but I was also smart enough to have this conversation with my doctor.....
My baby is two months old and i've tried Enfamil Soy based formula Enafmil w/ iron, and even Pet Milk. Non of them seemed to work for her (she has severe case of GERD and is colic). Saw some posts about Enfamil Gentlease and decided to give it a try. Fortunetly Hy-Vee had a generic form (Enafmil wanted almost $30/24oz can where as generic form was $15/24oz can). She's been on it a week and it's helped. She's actually having more bowl movements and is not as gassy. I'd say give Hy-Vee's Gentlease formula a try.
Try the costco brand!
Regarding the comment on Private Selection Organic Milk-Based Infant Forumla... when Earth's Best was out of stock we discovered Private Selection. We compared the ingredients letter to letter and have found they are identical except for the price. Private Selection is selling for 15.99 compared to 31.99 for EB -- I have done some follow-up research but have yet to find a reason to not use PS... my twin babies are feeling great after a bottle or two... other comments??
Does anyone know which generic formula is most similar to Similac Advance?
at first I did not want to use store brand, there a few things I will buy name brand. I always felt like the store brand would never match up to the name brand. W/our son (born 11lb now @ 2 mos 15lb), Dh wanted to use store brand b/c we dont qualify for WIC (sucks being working class parents). At first I was very weary about it. Once I did some searching store brands have to pass the same tests that name brands do. Its all FDA regulated. so now Im alot better about it. We are using Sams club brand 3lb can for 20 bucks. You cant beat that.
We use Parent's Choice milk based formula which is comparable to Enfamil Lipil. Enfamil is $25 dollars a can compared to $12 dollars a can. Our daughter has done beautifully with it and we are happy to save money. Formula snobs deserve to pay a fortune for the same product.
First of all it really drives me crazy when people use a board like this to chastize formula users and say breastfeeding is better. Don't you think we KNOW that? I would have LOVED to breastfeed my son but I couldn't do it. So my priority was to find a brand that took care of his nutritional needs while staying within our budget. I know it sounds bad but you all know how expensive having kids can be. My pediatrician told me he could not recommend paying twice as much for Enfamil. There was not enough difference in the ingredients and no difference when it came to nutrition. That was all I needed to hear. And my son is thriving and happy, which is all I needed to see.
Hi Everyone...great discussion.I'm wondering if Sam's Club offers a soy version of their Members Mark formula.After trying lots of formula that made my daughter gassy and gave her the runs, we've settled on soy which appears to work well with her whether its the parents choice version or ProSoBee. Like someone said, all kids are different which would account for constipation and other problems with formula.Thank God my little one functions well with name or store brand. Also, it might be worthwhile to post the prices of the formulas in the warehouse stores.
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