Formula Question - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

cmarie313 · 10-09-2007, 12:48 PM

How did you decide what type of formula to use (powder or concentrate)? What are the pros & cons to either one? It seems that it would be easier to use the "already made" cans of formula. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
cmarie

athome1 · 10-09-2007, 01:29 PM

I always use the powder. If you are on a budget, powder, I find, is MUCH cheaper. You only get a few bottles out of a prepared can of formula. I buy the generic powder. The FDA has to approve all baby food. My pediatrician even suggested going with the generic. To buy a can of Similac Advance powder it's approx $24. To buy the same size can in Parents Choice (Walmart Brand) it's $12.89. When your buying a can a week, it helps out a lot! Not to mention that if I am going out, I do not need to pack a cooler with pre made bottles that need to be used by a certain time. I put powder in each bottle and fill it with some bottles water when I am ready to give it to the baby. It makes, for me, traveling much easier. You also don't have to heat it, which can be a huge pain when in a car.

baj406 · 10-09-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmarie313

How did you decide what type of formula to use (powder or concentrate)? What are the pros & cons to either one? It seems that it would be easier to use the "already made" cans of formula. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
cmarie

I agree, the RTF (ready to feed) is by far the EASIEST way to go. You can even get RTF in single serve sizes now. I use a combination of different forms. If your baby is able to take regular milk based formula you might think about using Parent's Choice. Around here, it's available in all 3 forms, so you could be able to feed RTF for the price of powdered name brands. (My son has to have hypo-allergenic formula so that's a no go for us.) Anyway, the only disadvantage to Parent's Choice is that they don't have nursers (single serve RTF bottles you just open when you're ready and screw a nipple on.) Anyway, my son gets really constipated off the powder (don't worry, it's not very common) so we only use that when the liquid concentrate starts to run low. The liquid concentrate is the most expensive form of the type of formula I use. (Most formulas, it's in between the powder and the RTF in price.) So, once DS doesn't need extra calories in his food I'll switch to the RTF because it's less per ounce. It's ultimately up to you, and plenty of people never use ANYTHING except powder but it's whatever works for your lifestyle.

koukla3 · 10-09-2007, 03:13 PM

Hi cmarie,

I use Similac formula powder. It is really easy to use/measure and definately less expensive than the concentrate liquid formula. I do have a few of the liquid concentrated pre-made formula bottles on hand just incase I need (if I run out of powder etc). My pediatrician recommended the Similac brand. It is a little pricey but we definately like it. similac also sends $5 coupons often in the mail so that helps out a bit too! If you have a costco or sam's club near by you get can a much larger can for the same cost of a small can at a regular grocery store =).

I used to boil the water before mixing the formula but recently my pediatrician told me to use bottle water. I buy 3 gallons of distilled water for about $2 and use that to mix the bottles...much easier and less time consuming than boiling the water.

I don't really think it matters what kind of formula you buy the important thing is to stick to one kind. You can't just change a brand of formula b/c that can cause your baby to have some GI upset. I started my dd out on Similac regular milk brand (blue can) and she was lactose intolerant, so the pediatrician told me to switch to soy and we have been on that ever since. If you do have to switch brands or types of formula you are suppossed to give it about one week to determine if there is improvement.

Good luck!

Koukla

P.S. when r u due?

liloulou · 10-10-2007, 08:15 AM

I think the brand you choose is completely up to you. I supplement the bf with Enfamil Lipil.
I wanted to use the powdered kind since I thought it would be the most practical and cheaper, but my DD is allergic to it and can only drink the ready made (not concentrated) kind. The company says the two kinds are identical, but clearly they're not.
As for the cost, I think it depends on how much your baby is drinking. In the beginning I remember comparing how many 6 ounce bottles I could make with a can of powder versus how many 6 ounce bottles I could make with a 32 ounce ready made formula. After comparing the costs, the 32 ounce can of ready made was actually cheaper! It shocked me and I had to check again, but that is what was cheaper in my area.
So, don't naturally think the powder is cheaper. Check ounces per ounces in the cost if you're really concerned about price.
As for ease of use, I ge tthe 6 ounce glass jars and throw them in the bad with an empty bottle. When it's time to feed, I just empty the formula into the bottle and voila, done. No need to make sure I have water, or mix or anything.
Otherwise, you can always ask your Ped. if she/he recommends a certain brand.