brand name vs. generic?

I am currently buying Similac formula, but was thinking of going to the Target brand because of price. Has anyone switched to generic and did you see a difference??

 

Hi! My twins are on Parent's Choice, the Wal-Mart brand. We did start with Similac, but that gave them constipation. So then we switched them to Enfamil and they did ok. But since they had really bad reflux we switched them to the Parent's Choice gentle with rice cereal mixed with it. Now the Parent's Choice has formula with rice starch and they are doing awesome on that. If you compare the ingredients, it is all the same. I am soo glad we use the generic brand because it has saved us sooo much money.

 

I did use Similac exclusively, but I wouldn't have been opposed to using a generic so long as it was agreeable with the babies
It really was just trial & error to figure out which brand/kind helped with gassiness/reflux etc.

Give it a try! And you can also bring it up with your Pediatrician as well & they may have other recommendations for you

 

We started on Enfamil, switched to Wal*Mart brand, and all is going well. Milk based formula's are all the same IMO.

 

I actually think they did better on the safeway generic. Similac really upset their tummies.

 

We had issues when we switched. You would think that since the ingredients are the same, you could switch between the same type of formula but it didn't work for us.

The first time we tried and it really aggrevated Alice's reflux, so we switched back to the name brand. A few months later, we tried again (slowly this time) and Alice was fine, but Royce got severely constipated. We didn't switch back and the constipation followed him into the 2nd year, so I don't think it was entirely due to the formula.

However, I've heard that most children don't have an issue. My BF's kid switched between the different generics with no issues.

 

we went from similac to target and couldn't be happier. :good:

transition slowly. we did 1/4 target 3/4 similac for a couple of days, then half and half, then 3/4 1/4 and eventually all target. basically we transitioned over the course of a week.

we've noticed no difference. we do quadruple batches in a big pitcher and mix with a whisk and the switch has been imperceptible to us. the boys didn't seem to notice either.

can't beat the cost savings, although it does obligate you to always go to target for formula, unlike similac which is available at every grocery store.

 

We switched to Target brand after using Similac for several months. My twins adjusted well and I saw no difference. I recommend slowly switching them over to it like piccologirl did.

 

The boys are on Similac Isolmil, but one of the babies is having acid reflux so our ped. said to switch to Similac RS. Should I buy the Similac RS first or just buy the Target/Walmart brand that way I won't have to switch again???

If you had to choose between Target or Walmart brand, which one would you choose??

 

I would slowly switch your baby without reflux to the Target brand(or whatever you choose).

Your reflux baby could be tricky. It could be better for him to just go ahead and make the switch. I would start with the Target brand(or whatever you choose) first instead of the Similac version so you don't have to switch again. Reflux babies are little more sensitive to food changes, so the less change the better. Is he on medication for the reflux?

One of my twins has reflux. We tried Isomil first and he broke out in a rash. So we tried Similac sensitive next and that worked(my next step would have been the RS). He was also on medication. I weaned him off meds at about 7 months old because the doctor said they usually outgrow the reflux. He was on the Similac sensitive until about 2 months ago when we switched both twins to the Target brand(the regular version). He did well with the switch and it's nice having them both on the same formula.

I think what brand you choose is really a personal preference. I shop at Target(don't really like Walmart) so I buy their brand.

 

No medication for now...my pediatrician said that they won't put him on medication unless he is in pain or not gaining weight. Right now he will spit up some of his formula and then act hungry for more. We burp him every 1/2oz. and hold him for about 15 minutes after feeding.

 

for the record, both of my boys have severe reflux and switching didn't change the frequency or intensity of their spit-ups. we do medicate, with prevacid.

 

We started with Enfamil, as that was what we received in the hospital. After two weeks, the ped recommended lactose free for us, due to fussiness, but we went gentle instead. We quickly discovered Walmart's Parents' Choice, which was half the price and made the switch. The babies adjusted with no problem at all. More recently we got a membership to Sam's and started buying Member's Mark Gentle which is EXACTLY the same as Parents' Choice, again, just a bit cheaper because it's in such a large can. It's a great deal, and definitely worth it to switch to generic.

 

The only formula that doesn't have a generic version is good start, because they have patented the extra break down of the protein in it, there's no generic available. Since I prefer good start (fewer spit up issues with all my kids and easier on the constipation problems), I have no choice but to use name brand.

We did try the walmart generic, and my dd started getting fussy and gassy all the time, so we tried all the walmart generic types in an effort to aleviate it, and none of them helped, however since going back to good start again the fussy's are gone! Maybe she outgrew it, or maybe the formula change helped...I'll never know!

 

my girls are almost 7 weeks. they were very fussy and gassy in the beginning. We switched from regular Enfamil to Gentlease to Nutramegen back to Gentlease. They still are very gassy, but much improved. I think there digestive systems just need time to develop and mature. They were very tiny. So we decided once they are about 3 months old and as long they continue to improve and eat well and digest well. We are going to try the switch to generic to save some money. If they do well, we will stick. the ingredients are the same!