Baby formula...

[mi_corazon]

Ok...so I would love to continue to breast feed my 6 week old, but I am going to have to return back to work and don't really want to do the pumping thing. With my first son I weaned him at six months and used Enfamil the whole time, but it is freaking expensive! I started my second son on Enfamil and it has been fine, but the other day when I went to Sam's they have their brand, Member's Mark that has all the same nutrients as Enfamil (listed on the label) and it is much cheaper (for a 27.5 oz can of Enfamil is like $23 and for a 51 oz can of Member's Mark is like $20). I bought it thinking this is going to be fabulous...twice the amount for the same price. I have started it and seems to be fine, but I have this thing that well...it's not brand name so is it really good enough...has anybody else used this formula?

[ARodrigues]

I have not, but I know people that have used "off-brand" formulas and liked them. I only recently switched to good start because I went back to work and my daycare provised that formula during the day for free, so I don't have to send premixed bottles.

(Mine will be 8 weeks on Wednesday)

[Marie]

i used the store brand and it was fine. I used the soy cause the regular constipated my daughter too much because of the iron content.

[epm525]

I think it should be fine. I read in a magazine that baby formula is regulated so carefully that any brand will have the essential nutrients. Let us know how it works out!

[J.DeLaRosa]

Does your state not have the WIC program through your health department? There should be something out there that can help out with the formula.

I work for the Department of Human Services so I am all about the "if you can get it from the government then get it before the government gets you!"

It will not effect your spouses INS B.S. because it is not the immigrant getting the service it is the US Citizen getting the service.

[Salsa2]

Pumping really isn't that bad! I spend 20 minutes total pumping during my entire 9 hour work day. I bought a great pump from a friend for $100 and just bought new hoses and attachments. The cost of the pump is minimal when you consider the cost of formula for a year! The milk you make for free is so much more healthy than any formula.

This is just my opinion...please don't be offended. You must do what is right for you and fits your lifestyle. I just wanted you to know that I have found that pumping really isn't too much of a nuisance, is great for your baby and saves TONS of $$$.

[Marie]

pumping didn't work for me and it was a pain. I took a lot longer for almost nothing and that's probably because i couldn't afford the up front cost of a good pump.

[ARodrigues]

I have a high dollar pump that my best friend got me (she's a lactation consultant) and found that pumping or breastfeeding wasn't for me, either.

I breastfed for the first 6 weeks, but gradually went to formula feeding. I was having to supplement so much that it became so time consuming that I was feeding him almost around the clock. When I went back to work two weeks ago, I needed my sanity through some amount of sleep at night, so I only formual feed now and thats what allowed me to get him on some sort of schedule. Breastfeeding is very hard work and I commend women who can do it for very long, though.

[mi_corazon]

Does your state not have the WIC program through your health department? There should be something out there that can help out with the formula.

I work for the Department of Human Services so I am all about the "if you can get it from the government then get it before the government gets you!"

It will not effect your spouses INS B.S. because it is not the immigrant getting the service it is the US Citizen getting the service.

Yes the state has WIC, but I am not sure that I would qualify based on the amount of money that I make a year. Unfortunately those applications don't take into account the debt that one has too...I think...am I wrong here?

[mi_corazon]

Pumping really isn't that bad! I spend 20 minutes total pumping during my entire 9 hour work day. I bought a great pump from a friend for $100 and just bought new hoses and attachments. The cost of the pump is minimal when you consider the cost of formula for a year! The milk you make for free is so much more healthy than any formula.

This is just my opinion...please don't be offended. You must do what is right for you and fits your lifestyle. I just wanted you to know that I have found that pumping really isn't too much of a nuisance, is great for your baby and saves TONS of $$$.

Not at all offended, and I have considered it. My work even has a room especially for it. I however work a nine hour day, and have an hour commute to work, making it an eleven hour day...when there isn't traffic. I am also a corporate trainer, so I am in front of people and don't want to leak. I also don't really control the times that I can get away from a class for twenty minutes at a time, so I thought that the best bet is formula.

I breast fed my first son for the first six months and then supplemented with formula, but situation was different then. Now I live far away and have a different position in the company. So far the Sam's Club brand has been great. Go figure! I also think that things happen for a reason right!?! So I went to get my newborn enrolled in child care and they provide the same brand that I have switched him to...and I didn't even know it...so I think that it is for the best. So far too he has spit up less (don't get me wrong he still spits up) and less gas. So I think that it is for the best and double the amount for a bit less overall I think that it is going to be a win win situation.

Thanks to all for the advice I truly appreciate it.:)

[J.DeLaRosa]

Yes the state has WIC, but I am not sure that I would qualify based on the amount of money that I make a year. Unfortunately those applications don't take into account the debt that one has too...I think...am I wrong here?


They may take into consideration things like rent/car payments ... I was making nearly 34,000 a year and still qualified ... it never hurts to try!

[mi_corazon]

Hum...well I will have to try. I am making right around the range of 35-40k and have always thought that it was too much to qualify for anything, but to little to afford anything:)

[J3NNI]

i have heard on the news that alot of the store brands are made by the leading brands but just have a different label, i used the same enfamil then switched to the sams brand and my daughter did great.

[J3NNI]

i was looking through old posts for sayings and came across this and as i know there are many new mommies and to be mommies so i wanted to get this one back out there, you dont have to pay top dollar for baby stuff, walmarts white cloud diapers are great i started with huggies and i can definitly say the white cloud are better.

[dnatej]

I just think that all kids are different, and if it works for yours then go for it, everything is so well regulated that you know either way he will be getting all his nutrients. As for me well certain things did not work. I brestfed for the first month and a half, and then pumped until he was about 6mnths, then I switched him to formula, he did fine w/similac or enfamil, but the Good Start he didnt like the taste and would spit it out, like wouldnt even swallow it, as soon as he sucked it in, he shot it right back out, and made yucky faces to. And as for store brand diaper, well....when my hubby got backlogged, I said I have to make some cuts somewhere, so that is one cut I decided to use, switch from Huggies to Walmart brand Parents Choice diapers, and he got a HORRIBLE rash, in a matter of just days of wearing them, and I ended up spending more on a prescribed diaper rash cream (100.00), w/insurance! So I went back to Huggies!

[RMJM30]

I have 3 children and have breast fed all of them. to me it was the most convenient most awesome thing in the world and like someone else mentioned it's free. I went back to work after 6 weeks and I would pump during my 2 15 minute breaks and then during my lunch time and it worked out perfect for me. every now and then we would have to throw in a formula bottle but it was rare the occasion. They have those pads for leaking that work great as well. Just wanted to put in my 2 cents.

[brezarenee]

I mostly breastfed, but after he was 3 months old I usually had to give my son one bottle of formula a day because my milk supply was not enough for him anymore. We used the Target brand formula - half the price of the namebrands, and well you can look at the ingredients, they are exactly the same. My sister actually works for Target Corp and tells me that the majority of their store-brand groceries are made in the same plants as the name-brand and that the only difference is the label on the can, and of course, the price!

[Marie]

see i hated the huggies. They just didn't work for us. I bought the Albertson's brand (can't remember the name) and never had a problem with them at all.

I'm seriously thinking if I have enough money whenever I get pregnant again of doing cloth diapers. The cost in the long run is cheaper and it's not as big of a pain as you would think......so they say :D

[jessfs8]

I breastfed my son as well and I think it is awesome that we could do that. I took a few hot showers during the day and that helped so much. The diaper thing I started using Pampers and for some reason they were not strong enough for my son (leaks) and had to change him like every 30-40 minutes which was not a good thing especially at night time, then switched to the walmart brand and he got a rash too so then I switched to Luvs and those were great, they are not as expensive as Pampers and a lot stronger so for my next baby Luvs it is.