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Multiples
Formula feeders
Q1: Did you use tap water? filtered water? or bottled water?
Q2: Do you know how much it cost to formula feed your twins?
TIA!
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Re: Formula feeders
i used bottled water early on - but then tap water. We used to heat the bottled water in the microwave (in a glass measuring cup)... but then started to use the hot tap water which worked fine, too (our singleton would not drink the tap water but the twins will).
no idea what it costs - i never did the math b/c frankly it doesn't matter b/c it has to be done
I do use generic formula which saves about 1/2 the price.
I used bottled for the first couple of months, then filtered, and then tap.
When they were eating their most, we were buying around 20 cans a month. Mine are on Similac Sensitive and were on Similac Sensitive RS so it is a little more than the blue can (not sure what brand you are using). We buy ours at the Commissary so I don't know what it would cost at Walmart/Target/Sams. Definitly go for generic if you can, so much cheaper!
I've posted this before, but I seem to be the only one - my lactation consultant (who was a NICU nurse) said that the powder is not sterile, so I should only use the liquid formula for the first 3 mos (4 mos adjusted). Risk, according to her, is menangitis. So that's what I did.
At 4 mos, we switched to powder and use filtered tap - still do.
1.) Tap
2.) About $200/month (Similac)
After 2 rounds of IVF & 2 rounds of FET, we were blessed with identical twin girls!
Q1 - we used tap when home, bottled when camping. Ask your pedi, what you have to use all depends on whether you are well or city and also the quality of your city water. we never had to boil water.
Q2: a 2 pack of big containers of Kirkland brand formula from Costco is about $20.
I was instructed to use the liquid until they hit their EDD (were exactly 1 month early) and we extended that to 2 months because it was easier for us.
gallon jugs of purified water, i would use tap but our water in Houston is very hard and tastes bad
right now it comes to about 8-9 bucks a day for our twins on enfamil gentle ease powder based on a calculation on kellymom
1) Tap water
2) I would guess around $150 a month right now? I haven't really kept track but we buy Enfamil from Sam's Club and get a big container for about $27. It takes us less than a week to finish one.
We have a reverse osmosis water system that my husband installed in our home so that is the water that we use for their bottles, and to drink with, make ice, cook with, etc. The tap water where we live is no good, I wouldn't drink it so I am not going to use it for their bottles. If we didn't have that I would be using bottled water, which is what I have done when we have traveled.
No idea the cost. To me, it's like gas in the car...we need it so it doesn't matter what it costs. We buy it at Costco.
We have A TON of the liquid ready to serve formula, but when the time comes we will use tap water. Our NICU dr. said if you have city water its more regulated than bottled water. ( I had no idea)
With goldie on that one I would get sick if I did the math on that one.
)
My DH is budget crazy and has a budget for every aspect of our lives...I've been pumping like crazy after every feeding, eating a ton and drinking like a fish and I'm lucky if I get an oz.
I am beyond frustrated and thinking formula may be the way to go from now on so I was just wondering what it costs roughly....
1. We debated this a little bit and decided to go with a Brita filter. We just put tap water into the Brita pitcher. I also liked it because we were using room temp water to mix the formula. We have a filter on our refrigerator, but it's chilled water.
2. I never calculated cost because it was just something that we needed to do to (I pumped/breastfed some until 9 months but my supply was crappy so we supplemented a ton). We started with Similac and then switched to Kirkland/Costco brand which saved a ton.
***Twin fraternal girls born at 35w6d in 12/2008***
We followed Baby 411, a book co-written by a pediatrician which had pretty specific recommendations on what kind of water to use when mixing formula. We used distilled water (no fluoride because of the risk of dark spots on babies' teeth). Then when the babies reached 6 months, they need to start getting a certain amount of fluoride for their teeth. I found out how much fluoride my city puts into its water, then I did the math and calculated that they should get 1 bottle per day with tap water (we put it through the Brita first).
If you are struggling with low supply, definitely look into fenugreek and blessed thistle. If those don't help, you can move on to something stronger -- Reglan (you can get a Rx from your OB) or domperidone (not approved by the FDA, but approved in Canada and Great Britain, so you can order from inhousepharmacy.com).
Good luck!
Per our pedi, we used bottled "Nursery Water" until they were 6 months old. After that we just used tap water.
Our twins were fed both formula and breastmilk until they were 10 weeks, then until 6 months of age were on Neosure per their pedi. From 6 months until 12 months they were on regular formula (plus solids). By the end of the time they were taking formula, we were going through about $60/week in formula cost (about 2 large containers of Similac from Sam's Club). If they'd stayed on the Neosure until 12 months, it would have been pricier for sure. I don't even want to calculate what we spent on formula over that year!
They arrived at 36 weeks after PTL and bedrest for 14 weeks.
Q1: Did you use tap water? filtered water? or bottled water? room temp bottle water always
Q2: Do you know how much it cost to formula feed your twins? Don't want to even think about it right now. lol-
I would definitely sign up for the formula programs like similac, enfamil, parents choice. I know also that if you tell them or search free formula for multiples and I am sure that will help. Get all that you can. Also I found alot on craigslist for free or cheap. GL and congratulations.
we used bottled H2O until they were 3 months old, then tap water.
right now they are going through one powdered can every other day, which is around $250/month.
Q1: Did you use tap water? filtered water? or bottled water?
I used bottled at first and then I started boiling water. I would boil a large batch and store it in gallon water bottles. I stopped doing that at one year. I have city water so I think I was being overly cautious.
Q2: Do you know how much it cost to formula feed your twins?
I think we were going through a 24 oz can of powder about every other day. My boys were on Enfamil GentleEase and it was about $25/can. But I would find as many coupons as I could and I would buy in bulk when it was on sale so it is tough to put a dollar amount on our budget.
Q1 - Our water has a lot of lime in it, so we use spring water and they get vitamins that contain flouride.
Q2 - Their formula is covered by our insurance. We only have to pay the co-pay and we get 8 cases of formula for them for the month. $35 a month for us.