Does anyone use store brand baby formula?

Samantha - posted on 01/28/2009

My son Ethan has been on NAN1 formula since 5 weeks, he is now on NAN2 from 3 and half weeks.....its all okay ! The BVC in sweden agreed its okay.

Angel - posted on 01/28/2009

I think it greatly depends on your baby. When I switched my son to formula for the same reason you are (I just didn't have enough breast milk for him) I went through Good Start Similac and finally stuck with Enfamil. My son would throw up everything he ate on the other 2 formulas. I think you just need to find one that works for your baby. A lot of the store brands have the exact same things as the name brands, just make sure you look and see what's in them. Also know that when you change baby to formula, his/her poop will change considerably and they will spit up more right after the switch just because their stomach is not used to the formula. I would also recommend finding one with DHA and ARA (proven to help develop visually and mentally).

Rachelle - posted on 01/27/2009

I agree. No name brands are just as good as long as you check the ingredients. I read this in a pamphlet once and it said as long as it has the nutrients you are looking for then you're good to go. I found the Costco brand has the both omegas (3&6) in it and it is way cheaper than any other brand, even after the coupons. Parents' Choice is also coming out with the omegas and it too is a lot cheaper than the popular name brands.

Terri-don - posted on 01/27/2009

Hi i use presidant choice. My doc. told me that the only diffrence was .01 percent in iron. which they didn't need much at this age. so it was a good formula.

Amanda - posted on 01/27/2009

You know what Dawn!?? When mylittle guy was born, i had a health nures visit, which i guess is regular for first time moms to talk about how your doing and how the baby is....but the nurst told me there is NO DIFFERENCE whats so ever in formula, just the different wehy (i dont know if i spelt that right) content. All the ingredients are the same other than that. So your pretty much safe to choose any formula and try it. I think the constipation factor in some formulas is to do with the wehy content, Im not to sure. So maybe try a formula for a little while, and see how your baby reacts, because you know he/she is going to have a different reaction to it since it isnt breast milk:) They say you should only switch a babys formula once.

Tina - posted on 01/27/2009

honestly? I use target, at 15 bucks a pop its alot more economical then buying the name brand at 25, even with the 5 dollar coupons I get. And he's been on it as a supplement since birth, now he;s on it full time. He's 26 inches long, 18.2 pounds, I see no difference on whether or not it has that name brand label

Molly - posted on 01/26/2009

We buy the Sam's brand, members mark. It comes in a huge can and save's you money. We haven't had any problems with it. It does have a different consistency, but baby is doing great!! She had no problems switching from enfamil to this store brand.

Lora - posted on 01/26/2009

We too have needed to supplement with formula because of my return to work. We bought the Kirkland (Costco) brand, and he seems to like it as much as the Similac Advance (that's what the hospital gave us), but it's half the price for more volume. I did a quick search for melamine issues, and a Canadian study said the Kirkland one was one of the few without melamine. Some Enfamil and Similac have been tested positive for melamine, even the powders. He may have constipation issues with the Kirkland one, though. Our pediatrician didn't have any issues with the Kirkland brand.

Krista - posted on 01/26/2009

I've used Target brand in the past. We now use the Kirkland brand from Costco. It has the same nutrition content as Enfamil with iron. I actually prefer the Kirkland brand because it has a slightly denser consistency, so it sinks into the water when you add it and makes it easier to mix. Plus, it's two cans for $19.

User - posted on 01/26/2009

My daughter is on Similac Advance and it seems as though Parent's Choice is the closest generic. I found it at Wal-Mart. I'm switching her slowly, though, to make sure the slight difference doesn't upset her tummy.

Kim - posted on 01/26/2009

I've seen a lot of comments that Target brand is the same as Infamil - anyone figure out which generic is the same as Similac? I started my son on similac, then gave him some enfamil (thanks freebies) and he dealt with some constipation. We switched to the Target brand, and he had similiar problems - he was only more "loose" with regular apple juice. We went back to similac - and it all seems OK. I have coupons, but they'll run out. I'm willing to try generic again if it's closer to similac.

Anna-Marie - posted on 01/26/2009

We originally had to use Nestle Good Start with Omega 3&6 because he had such a sensitive stomach. Now he's older we've transitioned him to Parent's Choice (walmart brand) with Omega 3&6, We did our research and there are the same vitamins and nutrients in the Parent's Choice brand and it is less than half the price. It's true though that it's whatever works for your baby!! We tried lots of different brands before sticking wth good start in the beginning cuz of constipation. I found that the liquid concentrate is easier on their tummies and easier to mix (though a little bit more expensive!)

Andrea - posted on 01/26/2009

We switched to the Target brand after reading labels. It's the same as the Enfamil. My daughter has had digestive issues and the Soy Target brand has worked well with her. We were using ProSobee. I've seen no difference. Even the pediatrician said there's really no difference because it's all FDA approved.

Lesley - posted on 01/23/2009

I agree that you get what you pay for....we are using Enfamil Lipil based on our pediatricians recommendation. He says it is the best formula out there. Costco is the cheapest I have found it.

Hayley - posted on 01/23/2009

I would be worried to try a 'no-name' brand, My daughter was on SMA which gave her terrible tummy trouble and we put her on Aptamil which she is finding better but I still have to give her drops about once a week to help her poo as she really seems to battle. I had to give up breastfeeding after only a few weeks as I wrote exams when she was just 3 weeks old, so her granny was feeding her bottle *& with stress I wasnt producing enough. She seems happy otherwise.

Monie - posted on 01/22/2009

My husband got Parents Choice after we had tried Enfamil, and our baby seems to react better to Enfamil. I told my husband that it seems that formula is one of those things that you get what you pay for.

Also, depending on how much your income is, you can get WIC, and they'll pay for most, if not all of your formula.

Michele - posted on 01/22/2009

I also agree with the above comments - I started using the off brands, depending on where I was shopping for that day, But my little guy hasn't noticed a change at all. He takes it whether it's Target, Walmart or HEB. Plus it doesn't hurt to save that $ and buy more clothes!! :)

Allana - posted on 01/22/2009

I agree with a lot of the above comments. My little girl has really bad gas (gets that from her daddy! LOL) We ended up on soy formula and the only one that easily digests is the Wal Mart Soy brand called Parents Choice. In addition, the baby wipes are really nice too!

Jillian - posted on 01/22/2009

We use Parent's Choice Gentle formula b/c my son had trouble digesting the regular Iron-fortified formula. He is a perfectly healthy 4 mos old....with a 3 yr old brother who was raised w/the same. I honestly believe it is what works the best with your child...but as far as ingredients and nutrition, it's all the same. And you can't ignore the price difference.

Christina - posted on 01/21/2009

I use the walmart or Sam's club brands.  I asked my ped and she said they are just as good as the more expensive ones.  I use dit with my older daughter too, and she's the picture of health, always has been.  I wouldn't worry about it, they are just fine, and the name brands are outrageously expensive.

Maureen - posted on 01/20/2009

I currently use the Similac Isomil Advance (soy) and get it at Sam's Club which helps huge with cost. I have heard that the costco & HEB (grocery in TX) store brands are great!

Stephanie - posted on 01/20/2009

I use Walmart's brand Parent's Choice and every study I could find compares it ingredient to ingredient with the super pricey stuff. Its seriously half the price, and my little guy (4 mos.) loves it.

Erica - posted on 01/16/2009

I supplement with Enfamil but found that organic is actually a lot cheaper than Brand name. I sure wish I knew that when I started supplementing. I don't want to mess with he rlittle tummy and switch.

Jennifer - posted on 01/16/2009

All formula is has to be approved by the FDA whether it is store brand or name brand.  I used wal-mart brand or Hy-vee brand (which are both made by the same company).  If you compare the labels they are pretty much the same to enfamil.

Antoinette - posted on 01/16/2009

I use the Target brand for my first and am currently using for my second. Although you can get coupons for all the popular brands (including Good Start) from the company websites, after awhile the coupons stop. My pedi told me to check the ingredients, but said that they are usually the same product. I've had no problems. I also know quite a few moms that have used the Costco or Sam's Club brand and like those too.

Jennifer - posted on 01/15/2009

I used Sam's Club brand called Memebers Mark and it has the same ingredients as Enfamil and is SO much cheaper.  It seemed to work well with my little one. Good luck!

Kayla - posted on 01/15/2009

i use the wal-mart brand and all the ingrediants are the same as some of the more expensive brands but the best advice i can give u is to find what works for your bby best

Windy - posted on 01/15/2009

I use the Target Brand and have no problems whatsoever!  It's sooo much cheaper and it has all the key nutrients in it that's required!  He's thriving and doign well, so I'll continue with the store brand to save abotu $10 or so a canister - well worth the money I'm saving!

Dawn - posted on 01/15/2009

Thanks. I have been using Similac since we got so many samples and it took us a while to get through it. My daughter spits up most of it though. I will check out the Enfamil website

Mirna - posted on 01/15/2009

I use formula, but I use Enfamil for my youngest (who is 4 months old). I used Nestle Good Start for my oldest (who is now 4 years old). Good start is more expensive and you can't get coupons for it, but I used it because it was gental on her stomach. Enfamil works for my youngest and you can sign up for Coupons on thier webiste. I get them in the mail every so often and you can buy it at Costco. If you have one near you. Sorry I don't know about store brands. I just feel more comfortable with the more known ones. I hope this helps you.

Cristna - posted on 01/15/2009

I was wondering the same thing because the Target brand is so much cheaper. I have a Pedi. appointment next week so I'm going to ask him. I suggest you do the same.

Alicia - posted on 01/15/2009

I haven't used any formula yet, but I would check the ingrediants...and the nutritional guide. Alot of times the store brand is the exact same thing with other products, so this may be the same.