formula and diaper questions

i was just curious for those of you that forumla feed, how much you go through in a week, what brand you buy and what your monthly expenses are for both diapers (again with the brand and how many you go through a week), and formula....just trying to budget.

thanks!
-kristine

 

the cost of diapers all depends on how often you want to change them. we started out using pampers swaddlers, and while they're excellent diapers it gets costly to buy them for twins. we switched to luvs and we've been happy with them. we tried target brand but found the tabs ripped off easily, which meant we would throw more out. luvs is a good compromise. we get one of those great big box value packs for about $18 and that lasts about 10 days. that's counting on about 10 diaper changes a day for each baby, which some people might do more or less often. so i guess that's around $55 a month for diapers. it probably ends up a little more than that because we also buy a case of pampers for overnight since they absorb better.

for formula we started out on similac. one of their cannisters costs about $22. right now at 8 months old we go through about 4 cannisters a week. i've never counted exactly but that seems about right. if we'd stuck with similac that would be $350 a month. since formula is the best and most regulated consumer product in america and generics have to meet the exact same standards as similac, we transitioned to target formula. $11 a cannister, and each cannister holds a few more ounces than similac's cannisters (similac transitioned to moulded plastic tubs last year to cover up the fact that it's less formula for the same price).

 

This is a tough question. In the beginning each will only eat 2-3 oz. Now mine eat 8 oz a piece per feeding. In the beginning they went through a lot more diapers too. It's hard to budget. We switched formula, a lot. Tried to find what they could eat at the best price. You will manage. My husband says about 300$ a month.

 

Your best bet right now is to shop prices. It's hard to give you a good guestimate because it depends on what diapers fit your babes, and what formula works for them.

We started out with huggies supreme diapers for the babes. My babes have no butts and big tummies, we need elastic to keep the diapers on them. We've been able to downgrade to huggies regular diapers but they are still pricey. We started off with about 10-12 diaper changes each a day. Now it's 6-8 changes.

As for formula, we started with good start, which is $24 a can, and a can lasts a hair over 2 days. Then we switched to kirklands costco formula, $17 for 2 cans, but it caused stomach problems with our daughter, we now know she has reflux so we may try the costco stuff again. Anyways, then we tried the walmart brand gentle and finally sensitive formula, $14 a can, and that's what we've been using. Babies eat about 60-70 oz a day.

My suggestion is pick the most expensive diapers and formula, and base a budget on that. Then if your babes can use cheaper stuff it'll be a pleasant surprise!

 

I cant comment on formula as I breastfed but I do know ALOT of formula companies will send you a free CASE if you call and tell them you have twins. They normally require you to send proof (like copy of birth certificate) but I figure a stamp is worth a case of formula.
Diaper companies will do the same.

When we were using disposables we did huggies and were spending 100+ a month. We ended up switching to cloth. the initial upfront cost are more, but then you never have to spend money on diapers again!

 

I'm not sure if there's a BJ's where you are, I think there is in Sarasota, but BJ's has the best prices for formula and diapers, at least in this area (central Floriduh).

As for diapers, we would buy a case at BJ's, and it would last the better part of two weeks, now even with less diapers in the package, it still lasts about the same. $40 for the case.

Formula, at first we were going through 1 1/2 cans a week, at the highest point of their consumption we were going through 4 cans a week. BJ's had Gentlease (for some reason they couldn't do the generic Gentlease for the longest time, Alice kept puking it up and Royce got really really constipated) for $23/can, now they have bigger cans and they're $33/can. So right at $100/week for formula, $25/week for diapers, $10/week for wipes (we use a lot of wipes, we use them to clean everything.)

 

As newborns, we went through about 10 diapers per child a day so 20 for each. That adds up...we started with preemie Swaddlers as the newborn and size one were way too big (and mine were 5.14 each). Once they were in a size one, we bought them at Sam's (I think around $39 for a box of 234) so the box would last us about 7-10 days depending on the number of changes...I also had to buy an extra box at a time to keep at daycare so if you're doing daycare that's an additional consideration but then you don't go through as many at home...hope that made sense). After that we switched around a few brands and settled on Luvs. As they get older, you go through fewer diapers.

I breastfed in the beginning but supplemented with formula. When they were weaned after 8 months and on formula full time, we bought the big cans for Member's Mark formula from Sam's and that lasted about a week (it's around $20).

 

We use Pampers Swaddlers because they are the only ones we have found that don't leak or come unsnapped and for us it is worth it to pay a little extra and not have to change clothes and diapers! When they were newborns we used about 10 a day per baby.

We use the Target Brand formula that is $11 a can (were on Similac Advance that was over $20 per can) and as newborns they were taking 3-4 ounces at each feeding with six feedings a day.

HTH!

 

We use Goodstart and we go through at least 2 big cans a week. I nurse one and the other gets formula. Well, one nurses all the time and I try to get the other to nurse as much as possible so we don't go through as much formula.

Diapers we use cloth but I buy Target brand now and really like them. So we go through at least 4 diapers a day, 2 at night and possibly 2 during the day if we have to run out for an errand. I am trying to figure out a system for night so we can stop using disposables at night.

 

wow... I never even really investigated the cost of formula... am really glad breastfeeding work out for us!

as for diapers... I, too, cloth diaper, by the time I tried to estimate disposable diapers & wipes it seemed like it was going to be $100/month... I probably have about $350-400 in cloth diapers and a minimal monthly cost to wash/dry at home.

I will say, in the beginning we used Pampers for a month, and a friend gave us Luvs for a diaper cake... I loved the Luvs! another post somewhere on here suggested the there's a new Target "UP" brand? that is a really good disposable diaper too. gotta love it if you like the cheaper brands.

good luck in your decision.

 

It is hard to say. I was able to use generic formula with the girls (BJ's brand, really is the best value). But Caleb had a lot of spitting up with generic, Similac seems to work better for him. So, I use that, and try to get as many coupons as possible. BJ's diapers work great for him, so we use those. With A&B, I used Pampers Baby Dry and then found Luvs, b/c generics leaked.
If you can go generic for anything, do it. It really will save you money.

 

We use Pampers Swaddlers (babies R us has them cheapest in our area) and buy the huge pack... seems like whatever size you get, the number of diapers in it corresponds with how often you change them... so it lasts about 2 weeks.

For formula, we've always used the Target version of Gentlease at $14/can, and we go through 2 cans/week. So, per month it's $120 for formula, $80 for diapers. Pampers Swaddlers are a bit pricier than others, but they have NEVER leaked, they fit the girls really well, and they are SO SOFT on their delicate skin - so for me, it's worth the little bit extra. I mean, if it were me wearing the diaper, I'd want the comfiest thing possible!

 

Our ped suggested Kirkland brand formula from Costco....we go through a big can every 2.5 days....my boys can EAT (several feedings are 10 oz each at a time!) One twin has developed pretty bad eczema so I switched him to Parent's Choice soy formula and he's doing great on it.....and the eczema has just about disappeared. Its much cheaper than the name brand stuff. I switch between Luvs and the Costco diapers which IMO are very similar to Huggies and I actually prefer them over the Luvs. I love Pampers but they are just too darn expensive. I got some free coupons for mega packs in the beginning, and that was nice, but the $1.00 coupons just don't save enough to justify the expense. I change them pretty often so its somewhat rare to have leaks, etc. Plus they start fussing a lot if they are that full.