question about which formula

I cannot remember what happened with my DD, so I have to ask this question: How do you decide which formula to use? I recall that DD ended up on Alimentum fairly quickly due to reflux, but I don't know how we used what we did in those first few weeks before we figured it all out.

Does your ped tell you? Can you switch between brands?

Thanks!

 

I had gotten a PILE of Enfamil samples by mail but our hospital had Similac (because that is what WIC uses) so we started them on Similac...I tried Enfamil once after that and it didn't dissolve well in water (powdered) but the Similac did...we wound up on Isomil after a while and stuck with that until a year

 

The hospital gave me the choice of Enfamil, GoodStart, and Similac. I was bfing, but supplementing, and quickly went to straight formula. We learned fairly fast that we had a milk intolerance and switched MANY different times, and finally ended up on Isomil. We tried just about all of them though. I went to WalMart's version of soy, called Parent's Choice, later on, once we knew that they were fine with the soy formulas.

 

We used Similac because the girls were started on that in the hospital. We tried Isomil and Alimentum with no luck and went back to straight Similac Advance. I would just take a load of samples from the hospital and then see if it works with their tummies.

 

We started on Enfamil in the hospital, then switch to Target (regular) when we got home (great stuff and so much cheaper), but ds had to go on Alimentum for 2 weeks due to reflux, but since it didn't make a difference (and therefore was not allergy related), we took him off again (GI specialist agreed) and he went back to regular Target (and Prevacid). They're still on Target. They take Similac as well ... they'll take anything as long as it's food.

 

If you've got a choice early on, I'd go with a generic store brand-- they're SOOO much cheaper. I actually researched this quite a bit before switching to the generic. They're all made by the same retailer that used to be a big forumla distributer (in the 70's I think). Pretty much all the store brands are this same company and just private label it. So whether you go to Walmart, Target or CVS if you buy the store brand, you're getting the same thing. Our ped said they save you $ by not spending tons on advertising and getting them into hospitals and doctor's offices.

Here's a link to the website of the company:

http://www.pbmproducts.com/content.aspx?ID=48

there used to be a link with all of their private label retailers but I can't find it now.

Their digestive systems would rather you didn't switch it around early on but sometimes it can't be helped. My little guy was on 3 formulas before we settled on the one we've been using.

 

My boys started on Enfamil Enfacare because they were premature. We now use Good Start (purple label) and are going to try parents choice. It really just depends on what the baby can take. Some get gassy on certain formulas and some dont.