how much do you spend on FF?

KelsnEm · November 2011

So we getting ready to make the switch to FF after 6+ months of EBF. I've totally fine with it. In fact, I'm ready. The thought of not pumping so many times at work makes me really happy. The only problems is my DH doesn't want me to stop. He keeps bring up the points of how health BM is for LO and how expensive F is. I know both of these things are true, but i don't always thinks he really understands how much work it is pumping while working FT.

So, I'm just curious...how much do you (if you ff) spend on f? what would you say weekly or monthly?

bluesapph · November 2011

$13/week.

suzyqjmu · November 2011

Funny ... My DH is the opposite, he has wanted me to FF since the start. He hasnt made a big deal about it, but it has been mentioned a few times. I just don't think that he understands the benefits. Anyway, congrats on making it so long. That's a great accomplishment. Will be watching this post because with supply issues already, I know I won't be able to keep up when I am gone 15 hours/day for work.

missamelia5 · November 2011

You probably don't want to hear what I have to say, but I feel the need to warn you... I BF my DD for the first two months then switched to formula exclusively because of her sensitive stomach. I eliminated everything from my diet, and she was still getting sick. She had terrible problems with EVERY formula we tried, until her doctor recommended Alimentum. She can't use the powder form, b/c it comes right back up (too thin?). Long story short, we spend $10 on each bottle of RTF Alimentum, and she goes through a bottle every day. $70 each week, up to $300 each month. If I had it to do over again, I honestly don't know what I would have done differently... but if you are BF and have a good thing going, I'd think twice about giving it up. You never know how their tummy might react to formula. Tongue Tied

chelle1980 · November 2011

I buy the Enfamil Premium Infant powder and spend $17 a week. First I got the tub, which is $25 and comes with 1 pack of formula. Now, I get the box with the two refill packs. Each pack lasts a week and my DS eats 26-27 oz per day between bottles and mixing with cereal. I found Babies R Us to have the best price. It is $34 there for the 2 pack and Target is $36. Babies R Us has sales a lot and I have bought it for as low as $31. They run sales where you buy 2 boxes and get a $5 giftcard. Also sign up on the website of whichever brand you chose. I sometimes get Enfamil checks in the mail and can use one with each box of formula I purchase. Congratulations on making it this far. I had a very low supply and was completely dry by 6 months. I had so much guilt about my bad supply, but my baby is happy and healthy with formula. I do admit that I love not being tied to the pump and I have so much more time to spend playing with DS.

hmontty · November 2011

I buy the 6-pack box direct from Similac for about $120 with a coupon code that gives 15% off. We go through one container maybe every week at this stage. Maybe a little more. It's not that bad.

KelsnEm · November 2011

we're starting to make the switch, or at least researching about the switch because my supply sucks and the freezer stash is almost out. we haven't started any f yet, and i'm not sure when we will. while at work, i pump 3 times and if i'm lucky, i get 1 1/2 to 2 oz each time. I pump before work and then nurse before work, nurse once i'm home until lo's bedtime and then pump again once or twice after lo goes to bed. i've tried fenugreek, power pumping, extra nursing, skin to skin... it's soo draining! i enjoy being able to nurse while i'm home, but the pressure to be able to produce enough to leave while i'm away is killing me and inturn, adding to the stress that's killing my supple. i'm just done with it.

Mrs.Saxy · November 2011

We use playtex drop ins and target brand formula. A large can costs us $19 and whatever the drop ins cost. I guess about $80-100 a month.

LadyXaverian · November 2011

missamelia5:
You probably don't want to hear what I have to say, but I feel the need to warn you... I BF my DD for the first two months then switched to formula exclusively because of her sensitive stomach. I eliminated everything from my diet, and she was still getting sick. She had terrible problems with EVERY formula we tried, until her doctor recommended Alimentum.

This, except 3 months and I use Baby's Only Organic Lactose-Free formula. It works out to $14 per can and we spend about $170 a month on it.

katlizabeth · November 2011

KelsnEm:
we're starting to make the switch, or at least researching about the switch because my supply sucks and the freezer stash is almost out. we haven't started any f yet, and i'm not sure when we will. while at work, i pump 3 times and if i'm lucky, i get 1 1/2 to 2 oz each time. I pump before work and then nurse before work, nurse once i'm home until lo's bedtime and then pump again once or twice after lo goes to bed. i've tried fenugreek, power pumping, extra nursing, skin to skin... it's soo draining! i enjoy being able to nurse while i'm home, but the pressure to be able to produce enough to leave while i'm away is killing me and inturn, adding to the stress that's killing my supple. i'm just done with it.

Do not stress yourself out. I honestly feel it's not worth the stress in your life. (and I bf'd my 1st child for 17.5 months, no formula, so I AM pro-bf). Right now, I just can't deal with the stress of pumping, so dd gets formula during the day (just started a few weeks ago). So far, I've been able to nurse 3x a day so she's still getting bm. You need to somehow make your dh realize how stressful this is (if it's anything like my situation and how I felt). Do what's best for you and your LO.

(oh, I have no idea how much formula costs b/c we're using up samples and dd only takes 2 bottles a day at this point)

p1nklemonade · November 2011

we use costco brand formula, which is $16 a can. a can lasts us just about a week. it's not that bad. we switched from similac because of the expense.

Dreamsicle23 · November 2011

I would combine the BRU sales/coupons, a formula check, and a mfr coupon. I probably only spent $200-$300 on an entire year of formula.

etude de la vie · November 2011

If I price shop I find $19-23 a container and he goes through about a container a week with eating 3 meals a day.

Jeremy'sMom · November 2011

I spend about 30 dollars a week. DS uses store brand soy formula, which is cheap at 15 and change a can for the powdered stuff. He really isn't into solids that much yet so he drinks more formula, which is why I have to get more than one can a week. I can't wait until he is eating more solids so I only have to buy one can a week, lol.

SecondTimeinMSU · November 2011

KelsnEm:

So we getting ready to make the switch to FF after 6+ months of EBF. I've totally fine with it. In fact, I'm ready. The thought of not pumping so many times at work makes me really happy. The only problems is my DH doesn't want me to stop. He keeps bring up the points of how health BM is for LO and how expensive F is. I know both of these things are true, but i don't always thinks he really understands how much work it is pumping while working FT.

So, I'm just curious...how much do you (if you ff) spend on f? what would you say weekly or monthly?

Try hooking him up to a pump 3-4 times a day for a week and see what he says at the end of the week. But seriously my DH is very appriciative of all the work I've done pumping so far and he is supportive of whatever my decision is since I am the one doing it. He says it is up to me when I feel like what I am getting is no longer enough to justify the work/stress of pumping. Right now we are spending only about $20 a month on formula but that is because I am still pumping 3 times a day at work. I made a decision about a month ago that i wouldn't sacrifice any of my time or attention with DS to pump so I only pump at work now and as a result I need to suppliment about a bottle a day of formula (even if I pumped more I still would need to suplliment since I just don't pump enough). We get the up and up target brand sensitive for $20 for a huge can which will last a month, if he was on exclusive formula I would estimate maybe $80 per month, less if I stocked up on sales but when he drinks so little I don't want to stock up. He started formula about a month ago, he drinks it straight with no mixing and has no problem switching between breastmilk and formula, our transition to supplimenting has been fine. One formula seemed to upset his tummy but now that i switched it we've been good. At over 6 months you've done a great job. You need to make the decision for yourself. Formula isn't poison, I am a very healthy intelligent person that was formula fed myself.

greyt00 · November 2011

It's nice that your husband is concerned about your baby's health, but sometimes I think men really need to GET A CLUE about the impact on the mother's life. How many men would do what we do as women?

Tell him how much hypoallergenic formula costs (i.e. Neocate, Nutramigen) and maybe he will get over that part of it. I spent $250 on EIGHT CANS of formula powder. They contained 14 oz of powder each. At a low estimate of 24 oz mixed formula per day, Neocate would cost $61 per week. That's at least twice as much as brand name formula.

I'm EXTREMELY lucky and thankful to get free formula from my pediatrician. The reps bring samples and I guess she doesn't have too many families that need it (my insurance won't pay). We've only had to place 1 order so far... but still, $250 would buy a heck of a lot more normal formula than what I got.

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