Question about generic formulas

EnglishMajor03

For a variety of reasons that I won't get into, I had to give up BFing this week....I'm absolutely devastated and hate it

At any rate we bought some Similac Advance and Rowan's been doing fine with it, but I wondered about the WalMart generic that is similar to it.  I'm generally really wary about generics, especially for my kids, but times are tight and I'm thinking about checking out the unit prices for Similac at my wholesale club and the Parent's Choice brand.  

Any thoughts on formula would be appreciated.  I EP'd for Parker so this is all new territory for me. 

MainelyFoolish

Generics are fine if your baby can use them (i.e. she's not on one of the speciality formulas that don't come in generic).  Formula is strictly regulated in the US. 

BJ's makes a house label generic formula that's half the price of the name brand stuff.  Their BJ's brand drop-ins bottle liners are good, too.

DiAnne82

I use the Target formula - I really like it - and WAY cheaper.

goillini823

I tried generics with DD, and if she hadn't had an allergic reaction to milk I would've stuck with them. I compared the ingredients, and seriously it's all the same. I breastfed DD for the first 9 months, and than she self-weaned so I had to do the formula route, and I wasn't in any position to afford the "name-brand". I even asked our pedi about it, and she was fine with the generics. Unfortunately we ended up having to do a soy based that I couldn't find in generic.

Stacyc625

Pediatricians totally give the thumbs up to generic formula- i would try and see how it goes. ask your pedi if you need even more reassurance.

Don't sweat the BFing thing- you need to do what is right for you.

Barneso

I've heard the Costco is priced really reasonably, too.  I would compare with them, too.

brightning

Ditto on formula being closely regulated. Every formula is slightly different and some babies don't tolerate certain ones, but otherwise you should be fine with any formula. We used the Kirkland brand (Costco's generic) and it was half the price of Enfamil.

mrsdiamonds

brightning:

Ditto on formula being closely regulated. Every formula is slightly different and some babies don't tolerate certain ones, but otherwise you should be fine with any formula. We used the Kirkland brand (Costco's generic) and it was half the price of Enfamil.

Ditto everyone else on the generic formula being fine.  I had to use formula the last 2 months before A turned one year and I used Kroger's Private Selection Organic Formula and it was so much cheaper than a name brand.

And don't worry about the breastfeeding   I know it is hard to not feel guilty but you have to do what is best for you too.

Kim&Jim

The boys were on Similac for about 4 months and then we switched them to the Costco generic version.  They didn't have an issue with it at all.  The only difference I noticed was that there were more bubbles if you shook the generic to mix it up.  I just started stirring it with a butter knife (spoon couldn't get in the hole on the Dr. Brown's bottles) and problem solved.

Sorry you're having to quit breastfeeding.  I tried it for about 3 weeks and it was a hard decision to give it up but with twins and NO milk supply, it was causing too many other issues for me.

meyemn28

DD is on Similac Advance.  At one point I tried switching her to the Target brand and she didn't take to it at all.  She was spitting up a ton, her poops were rock hard, and she was super crabby.  I don't get it since the ingredients appear to be almost the same.  As soon as we switched back to Similac everything went back to normal, so that's what we're gonna stick with unfortunately.

MrsPreK

DD uses Walmart brand Parent's Choice. She is on the Gentlease version that is supposed to be the same as Enfamil Gentlease. I really like it. Parents Choice also has coupons out for their formula (Walmart - go figure, lol!!).

DD's version is more expensive 14.88 for a 25oz can but the regular stuff (same as Similac/regular Enfamil) is only 11.88 for a big can!! THAT is the major reason I switched!

Top that off with the $5 off coupon or a $3 off coupon and you have some CHEAP formula 

There is also a 1-800 for PC on their website. You can call once a month for coupons 

2dogmom

DiAnne82:

I use the Target formula - I really like it - and WAY cheaper.

same here!

we switched from enfamil soy @ 3mo.

SusanluvCharles

Hello, it's my first posting here, but I use Sam's "Member's Mark" brand which is the same as Parent's Choice.  DS loves it.  Large can for 19.00,  They do have the "Gentleease" for 24.00.  Very reasonble, and same quality as Enfamil.