formula question?? $$

mollylila

How much would you say you spend each week on formula?

 

Amberzxoxo

Roughly $50 I don't use the powder, rather the concentrate and sometimes the ready made when I go out.

ougrad1

90 bucks a week.  i'm formula poor.  lol-

RunningWife

Probably about $35 every week and a half, for now.

We also use the concentrate; go through about a case of 12 cans every week and a half, making 4 oz bottles.

This of course will increase as DS begins eating more...

Amberzxoxo

My DD is all over the place with the amounts she eats. She wastes.

mollylila

holy moley.... i guess i have just never even thought about it, but thats more than i expected!!

 

I was *considering* switching, we have been having such a rough time with BFing.... but since I have milk, I think I will try to stick it out. 

Wilwarin

mollylila:

holy moley.... i guess i have just never even thought about it, but thats more than i expected!!

 

I was *considering* switching, we have been having such a rough time with BFing.... but since I have milk, I think I will try to stick it out. 

What sort of issues are you having?

ames71

Around $20 a week. We use Up & Up powdered formula from Target.

emsrdh03

mollylila:

holy moley.... i guess i have just never even thought about it, but thats more than i expected!!

 

I was *considering* switching, we have been having such a rough time with BFing.... but since I have milk, I think I will try to stick it out. 

I was shocked at these answers....apparently it depends how much LO eats and what brand/type you use.  We use the Target Up&Up brand that's comparable to Enfamil.  A 40oz can of the powder is $18 and that lasts us 10-12 days.  Obviously when he starts eating more we'll go through it faster...but even at $18 a week I'm not complaining.

Khoulton

We use parents choice from Sam's and its $20 we can go 2 weeks

My daugther eats 4 oz bottles every 3 hrs

dec341

We use Similac and we don't spend THAT much.  Not sure how much others LOs eat or what they are buying but we spend probably around 25-30/week depending on whether we are using powder or rtf.  We also go to the swap spot to swap coupons for checks which helps.  I look at it as we'll need to purchase food for LO as she gets older and starts eating solids, regular food so it helps us to budget now.  It doesn't really seem that bad.

As far as still having milk, could you pump if BF is that difficult for you? I pumped pretty much from the beginning b/c DD couldn't latch well but my supply died and we needed to exclusively FF.

mollylila

Wilwarin:

mollylila:

holy moley.... i guess i have just never even thought about it, but thats more than i expected!!

 

I was *considering* switching, we have been having such a rough time with BFing.... but since I have milk, I think I will try to stick it out. 

What sort of issues are you having?

 

She just never seems satisfied... She used to appear full when done, but for most of this week she has been really fussy before, during, and after feeding. Anytime I hold her, all she wants to do is feed. I tired a paci, she spits it out. But when she feeds, she doesn't feed long. Its like she is a constant snacker, and never gets full. She naps well during the day, but when she is awake, it is so rough!

Her cluster feeds have been really bad too, last night she screamed on the boob, screamed if I put her down, but if I hold her she wants to feed again... and then gets upset while feeding. I have to hold her to calm her down, but she starts rooting and wanting to feed... its a horrible cycle that ends in a very over-tired baby. 

618mom22boys

This week I spent $1.72 and I really didnt even need it.  I am the coupon queen!  We use RTF Similac formula and I use a $5 check and a coupon when I get it. Thanks to some awesome bumbies for trading/giving me their coupons and checks!

Right now I have 11 quarts of RTF formula stock piled. 

Laura_Lee

Around $20/week.  We use Parent's Choice version of Enfamil Gentlease at Walmart. 

I honestly will never understand why people spend so much money on brand name formula.  Do you not realize it's the same thing?!

springbreak33

mollylila

 

According to your ticker it looks like your going through a growth spurt...I am not  going to lie the first few weeks are a tough. You basically need to just feed on demand, my Lo is a snacker too but it def has gotten better with time.

 

As long as baby has enough wet and poopy diapers then you are doing everything right! Stick with it! GL!

MelH926

We use the Up & Up brand and spend about $50/month.  One $20 can lasts about 10-12 days or so.

toyah81

emsrdh03:

mollylila:

holy moley.... i guess i have just never even thought about it, but thats more than i expected!!

 

I was *considering* switching, we have been having such a rough time with BFing.... but since I have milk, I think I will try to stick it out. 

I was shocked at these answers....apparently it depends how much LO eats and what brand/type you use.  We use the Target Up&Up brand that's comparable to Enfamil.  A 40oz can of the powder is $18 and that lasts us 10-12 days.  Obviously when he starts eating more we'll go through it faster...but even at $18 a week I'm not complaining.

OMG, this. Those are some big cans and I thought maybe it was just me thinking the pp's amounts were high per week. Ours last at least a good 2 weeks!

mollylila

springbreak33:

mollylila

 

According to your ticker it looks like your going through a growth spurt...I am not  going to lie the first few weeks are a tough. You basically need to just feed on demand, my Lo is a snacker too but it def has gotten better with time.

 

As long as baby has enough wet and poopy diapers then you are doing everything right! Stick with it! GL!

 

thanks. i hope it was a growth spurt... she just didn't seem to actually eat when she fed. she had 3 poopy diapers during her fussy hours alone, but with so much poop its hard to count the wet diapers.  

Stacyc625

mollylila:

Wilwarin:

mollylila:

holy moley.... i guess i have just never even thought about it, but thats more than i expected!!

 

I was *considering* switching, we have been having such a rough time with BFing.... but since I have milk, I think I will try to stick it out. 

What sort of issues are you having?

 

She just never seems satisfied... She used to appear full when done, but for most of this week she has been really fussy before, during, and after feeding. Anytime I hold her, all she wants to do is feed. I tired a paci, she spits it out. But when she feeds, she doesn't feed long. Its like she is a constant snacker, and never gets full. She naps well during the day, but when she is awake, it is so rough!

Her cluster feeds have been really bad too, last night she screamed on the boob, screamed if I put her down, but if I hold her she wants to feed again... and then gets upset while feeding. I have to hold her to calm her down, but she starts rooting and wanting to feed... its a horrible cycle that ends in a very over-tired baby. 

yup- that is a growth spurt. i would try to hang in there with BF'ing- because it goes soooooo much better when they are a little older. I am going through the same thing- cluster feeding- tons of poopy diapers and eating all the time. it gets better. PROMISE!!!!

Haven1

We do 50/50 bm/formula for twins, and we go through a can of Neosure every 1.5-2 days.  I guess that means about $70/week.  Hopefully we can switch my bigger one to regular formula soon, but my peanut will be on Neosure for awhile.

Mrs.Eisensmith

DS latches for about 10-15min per side and is still hungry.  I've tried pumping, and I can only get around 2oz, and he should be able to get more than that out, but if he just has formula, he wants around 4oz.  The pedi and the LC suggested that I try an ounce of formula after nursing to see if that fill him up, and it works. 

I've been supplementing since he was born. I'm getting slightly more milk, but was suggested that my hormonal and thyroid problems might be causing it.  I plan on BF him as long as I can even if he only gets a bit, but I do give him formula as well.

Because I do nurse him, I go though one of the small Good Start cans (the ones that are $10 at Walmart) in around a week or so.  If he gets to needing more, Sam's has big containers of powder store brand pretty cheap.

Wilwarin

Molly, your baby sounds 100% normal.  Yes, like other posters have mentioned, it sounds like a growth spurt.  Breastfeeding didn't really get easy for us until pretty recently, but damn, I am so so so glad we stuck with it (especially after reading the costs of formula from this thread-my gawd!).

I think you should consider seeing a lactation consultant.  She should be able to put your mind at ease as to normal breastfed baby behaviors.

KellyD01

We spend about 40-50/week... and that's for two! My girls eat 4-5 oz per bottle and eat every 3 hours during the day. We almost have their reflux under control so we may soon be dialing that amount back by a bit. They take the Enfamil AR, but I just found out both Walmart and Target have a store brand AR so we'll be switching to one of those once we're through what we have in the house already.

LCB34

About $65 a week.

K is on spciality formula (Alimentum) and we have to use the RTF.  We go through about 6.5 containers a week and they are $10 a pop.

ougrad1

Haven1:

We do 50/50 bm/formula for twins, and we go through a can of Neosure every 1.5-2 days.  I guess that means about $70/week.  Hopefully we can switch my bigger one to regular formula soon, but my peanut will be on Neosure for awhile.

i'm so glad you chimed in.  we use neosure as well.   i started thinking i may be paying to much.  the dr said i needed to keep hudson and landry, both, on it for the first year.   

MrsMucker

We probably spend about $35 a week.  he drinks 4oz every 3 hours.  

SuperCuteBenz

I would say around $40 but that includes (2) 3lb cans and a can will last us almost 3 weeks. However, I sometimes by smaller cans at Walmart as well. Last night, I bought a 23 oz can of Goodstart (normally $20+) for $6 using coupons. That can will easily last us about 2 weeks.

max1563

ougrad1:

90 bucks a week.  i'm formula poor.  lol-

Ummm Emerson is gorgeous! Soo angelic. Your twins are seriously so precious too! Beautiful, fam!

MrsP052909

I spend about $50 a month.

Katemarie1

We use Similac Advance ready to feed, which is about $40 for a case of 6 bottles. I would estimate that we use about 6 bottles per week, so I'm going to estimate about $40 per week.

Wow. That's a lot.