Formula Talk (for those who plan to use it)

I've seen a lot of talk in another thread about buying Formula at places like Costco, Sams, etc. So, I thought I would start this thread ....

I plan on FF the twins. I wish I could BF, but a breast-reduction from a decade+ ago has made that impossible for even one child, much lest twins!

I learned from my friend who has twins - who goes to the same pediatrician as our son - that per the ped, Formula is FDA regulated and the generic formula is the same as name brand formula like Enfamil, Similac. So, if you buy cheaper, you aren't doing your children any injustice.

I think the biggest difference between name brand and generic is the fact that the generic doesn't accommodate as many needs as the name brand formulas. For example, when TJ was a baby, he had reflux and we had to use Enfamil AR (added rice) that was a liquid (they now make it in a powder). The WalMart brand Parent's Choice doesn't offer AR, but they do have the Lipil - DHA - ARA formula (which we purchased a can of for when the girls come home).

The Parent's Choice brand at WalMart is LESS than half the cost of the name brand!

I know a lot of first-time moms want to buy the best and most expensive for their babies. I know I did! But having BTDT, I highly suggest taking the cost savings where you can with the twins... if you have to FF, don't worry about buying a brand that isn't the most expensive... it's all the same!

 

Hi!

I too, am expecting twin girls. They are due in September. I also had a breast reduction about five years ago and will not be able to breast feed. I'm curious to see what others have to say about this topic because I have been wondering the same thing. A friend of mine said her Dr. said it was okay to use the generic brands. She uses the Target and Walmart brands of formula. I am relieved because the name brands are so much more expensive. I'm going to talk to my Dr. about it at some point. I would love to hear what advice anyone else has to offer.

 

We ended up on Parent's Choice(Walmart brand). The babies liked it and it saved a bundle!

 

I use the Walmart brand- it's 50% less than enfamil (the brand it claims to mimic)... my ped said they can keep their prices low because they don't have an advertising budget... word for word the ingredients are the same. We still spend $40 a week on it (though the price is going down now that my boys are eating more solids.) With my first, I NEVER would have given her this brand but boy have I smartened up! With 2, the price for everything is double, so I save where ever I can!

 

My friend swears by Target brand but I'm going to check out Walmart. I'm curious though how it works...if they give my babies a certain formula at the hospital is it ok to switch as soon as I bring them home?

I belong to BJ's Wholesale Club. Does anyone know what they sell there?

 

You're very right about the cost savings, but don't buy too much of anything in advance, because you never know if you'll need to switch (due to reflux, milk intolerance, etc.).

Also, it might be a good idea to have some ready-to-feed formula on hand before they're born, even though it is more expensive. For the first few weeks, you will want to save time wherever possible, and it's nice not to have to mix formula from powder. We switched to powdered at about 4 weeks.

 

We were able to save money by getting into a formula study. If your hospital is affiliated with a university, they may be conducting studies. We got 4 months of Similac for free AND they paid us in giftcards. Also, ask your doctor about Similac's free formula for multiples. Your doctor should have a form that you send in. It's only 12 bottles of ready made, but hey...it's better than nothing!

Also, keep your eyes peeled for clearance items at Target and Walmart. Similac (I keep mentioning them b/c that's all I know) changed their packaging and Target marked down their huge tubs from $26.50 to $18 AND I used a $5 gift check for each can!

 

My two are on Target's version of Gentlease. . .

They were on the name brand (cheapest place to buy baby supplies in bulk is BJs!!) Gentlease and you would think that you would be able to switch them in and out, interchangably, but for some reason, Alice couldn't keep the generic down when she was 4 months. When they started eating babyfoods, we slowly switched them to the generic and they seem to be fine.

The biggest difference that I can see is the color of the formula, like the name brand is really really white and the generic is kind of yellowish. They probably do an extra process to make it look whiter for the name brand.

 

QUOTE(becky5 @ May 30 2008, 12:02 PM) [snapback]801423[/snapback]
We ended up on Parent's Choice(Walmart brand). The babies liked it and it saved a bundle!


Same here!

 

Ditto on the not buying too much in advance. Since I have BTDT with needing a different kind of forumla, we've only gotten one large can of the Lipil/DHA/ARA for the twins when they come home. Also, my OB gave me four sample cans of Similac so we have that, too.

I am curious though - because I don't remember - can you switch out forumlas from one brand to another without too much problem? I can't remember!

I guess I keep thinking about Dogs and how you can't change their food because it will cause diarrhea and you have to do it in a slow mix... LOL

 

I use Baby's Only by Natures One (it is an Organic dairy formula)-I buy it online for $9.50 a can or $119.00 for a case of 12 or $229.00 for a case of 24. You get free shipping when you buy a case and for every 24 proof of purchases you mail in you get two free cans. They also offer a twins discount of 20% off all your purchases directly through the company. If you wanted to buy it locally though it is $10.00 a can and they sell it at Whole Foods, Henry's, Sunflower Market, and other healthfood stores. It has worked great for us and once the babies are born you just send a copy of their birth certificates to the company and they keep them on file for all of your future orders. If you want to look into it their website is www.naturesone.com They also have a soy formula and lactose-free. FYI...it is labeled as toddler formula because the company promotes breastfeeding as long as possible, but it is nutritionally comparable to Enfamil, Similac, etc. and can be used for infants as well.
Melanie

 

we used the Kirkland brand from Costco and it was half the price of the name brand formulas and out babies liked it just as much.
we also buy our wipes by the case there and save a ton of $$

 

Definitely look in to the multiples programs for Similac and Enfamil. They'll give you a free case of formula. We also got a few free cans from Parent's Choice and Healthy Beginnings.

 

Sign up for all the programs (Similac, Enfamil, Good Start)...you will get coupons. Also, PBM Nutritional (I think that's their name) has an 800 number that you should be able to call as a twin mom for coupons. We started out with Enfamil, moved to Parent's Choice and then to Berkley and Jensen (BJ's bran) which we found to be the best value for the money, if you have a BJ's membership you sometimes receive coupons for the B & J brands as well, which makes the price under $20 for a can twice the size of the regular Enfamil can. Every little bit helps (and I had a reduction, too, hence the formula feeding).

We use their(BJs) diapers, their wipes (or really whatever they send coupons out for each month), etc. It has saved us a lot of money.

 

also ... if you go to Similac or Enfamil's websites you can sign up to get coupons from them.

 

Target!!!

 

I guess I'm the only idiot that signed up for all 3 websites (Similac, Enfamil and Carnation) and didn't get a SINGLE coupon - I called Similac for Alimentum samples when we thought DS was going to need it and got NOTHING) - told them ALL I had twins and got told TOO BAD! the only one that offered "extras" to multiples was Carnation and they needed copies of their birth certificates - they didn't wind up on Good Start anyway...

I found that Similac powder dissolved the best - Enfamil was lumpy and they both barfed up the generic soy so I stuck with Isomil - a few bucks more certainly, but worth every penny in my sanity!