formula moms

Discussion in 'The First Year' started by newtothis, Jul 2, 2009.

  1. newtothis

    newtothis Well-Known Member

    i primarily give my kids breasmilk but sometimes i just cant keep up with their needs/demands. i feel so guilty but i have to supplement.
    we give them similac isomil. i am sure its a matter of preference but can you give me the pros and cons to powder vs liquid? we are done now with a free sample of powder and i wasnt sure if liquid was better or preferred.
     
  2. orangeyaglad

    orangeyaglad Well-Known Member

    i would say that neither is better. they are both the same except that liquid is more convenient, but more expensive. powder is just as good and it's a lot cheaper!
     
  3. june07girl

    june07girl Well-Known Member

    I think for the first couple months they recommend you use the liquid as it is sterile. After that, you can use powder. I used powdered formula starting at 4 weeks when we quit BF and my girls were fine. I'm sorry you feel guilty about giving them the formula to supplement, but know that you are feeding your babies and that is what is most important. :hug:
     
  4. ohjojo

    ohjojo Well-Known Member

    we have always used the liquid formula, it was easier in the beginning and when i tried to switch to powder DD refused it. anyway, i am fairly confident that the human body was designed to only feed one infant at a time, so if you only have to supplement you are doing awesome!! like the pp said, feeding your babies is the most important thing, regardless of where the food comes from. [​IMG]
     
  5. tinalb

    tinalb Well-Known Member TS Moderator

    I always liked powder, but just because it was generally cheaper. The liquid mixes better though!
     
  6. vharrison1969

    vharrison1969 Well-Known Member

    I always had to supplement (and I felt guilty too!!) and my guys would get horrible spit up on powdered formula, so we had to use ready-to-feed for months. Combine that with the fact that we've been on Neosure since day one because they're so small, and I was spending serious bucks on formula! I just recently switched over to powder, figuring that their bellies could handle it now. They're doing great.

    Try the powdered, but if you notice they spit up more, you may need to try liquid for a bit.
     
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  7. Specky

    Specky Well-Known Member

    Hi!
    There is no real difference other than what pp have mentioned, cost, mixing.

    we used liquid at first only because it was easier in the first weeks, and the cost was not bad because they were drinking so little.

    Since then we have used powder due to cost, and at 7mths we switched to member's mark from sam's club and have saved even more!!

    reb
     
  8. jnholman

    jnholman Well-Known Member

    I used liquid in the beginning because they needed smaller amounts and it was super easy when I supplemented while BF. But I am a FF only now. I did not make enough for 2. I am sorry that you feel bad, but don't you are a great Mommy.

    It realy boils down to what you find it to be easy when you are the only one home!
    Jenn
     
  9. twointheoven

    twointheoven Well-Known Member

    As stated in PP's powder is definitely cheaper. As for the sterile issue, I checked with my pediatrician, and that is only important when they are premature (prior to due date and still in hospital).

    I do have a question for you though, what made you choose soy formula? I was told by the nurse practicioner at the doctors office it was ok to try soy with one of my boys who has bad reflux. I had heard some negative things about using soy when it wasn't needed, but I wasn't sure, so I started doing some research and I found that soy should only be used if there is a milk alergy (and that is alot less common than we think). Research shows negative side affects in children from soy, such as early puberty. In some countries, they even ban giving it to infants. If your baby needs it, go for it, but I read that it has become an alternative for mom's to try with feeding problems, and it isn't always necessary. I have used Similac Sensitive, and recently switched to Nestle Good Start, which is WONDERFUL. I wish I would have found it sooner. I am not trying to butt in, just wanted to make sure you were aware of what they say about soy. :D

    Also... if you don't warm bottles, powder is easier, because liquid has to be refrigerated, and you need to at least get it back to room temp. (extra step for us). We just have water at room temp. and add powder to it and shake. Very easy.
     
  10. becky5

    becky5 Guest

    I always used powder as it was cheaper!
     
  11. meganguttman

    meganguttman Well-Known Member

    I used both (and was supplementing as well). It actually made me feel so guilty that got really stressed and kept producing less breastmilk. Anyway, we were on a Similac test formula for a study and it was liquid. We used that for 3 months then went to powder. The boys didn't have any issues with the transition. I saved our liquid samples from Similac (the ones you get from the ped) for home and powder for when we were out. The liquid went pretty quickly though and I found powder really convenient. We could be out all day and still have enough bottles with us w/out having to refrigerate them. BRU sells powder dispensers where you can premeasure it and then just add it to the water already in the bottles.
     
  12. tbeards

    tbeards Well-Known Member

    I think the only difference is the price and the convenience, except for that we thought the liquid formula stained clothes more??? Not sure why that would be but we bought the Enfamil liquid in the cans with our firstborn and it was more orangey than the powder.
     
  13. Danibell

    Danibell Well-Known Member TS Moderator

    As everyone said, the powder is generally cheaper. I have read where the liquid may be easier on reflux babies tummies, because it's much smoother and you have far less bubbles from any shaking/mixing. It also causes less gas if you have a gassy baby.

    I have a reflux/gassy baby and have always used powder, yes sometimes she has problems but I haven't felt the need to switch to liquid for it :)
     
  14. AimeeThomp

    AimeeThomp Well-Known Member TS Moderator

    We had to use the ready-to-serve liquid for the first few months b/c the powder seemed to make them spit up. But that only lasted about 12 weeks or so and then we switched to the powder.
     
  15. newtothis

    newtothis Well-Known Member

    thank you!
    do you ladies just buy a huge container of the liquid and store it in the fridge?

    i need to use soy b/c my pediatrician changed their formula to that in the hosital bc of excessive spitting up.
     
  16. kingeomer

    kingeomer Well-Known Member TS Moderator

    They started us off in the hospital with the liquid formula, so we kept it up. When we tried to switch to the same formula (Similac Sensitive) in a powder, my twosome would not go for it. So we just stayed with the liquid. When we had formula left over, we always stored the remaining in the refrigerator. I would make up the bottles for the next day before bed. I believe the liquid formula is good for 48 hours when the container has been opened.
     
  17. twointheoven

    twointheoven Well-Known Member

    I believe the liquid only lasts 24 hours once opened.
     
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