Best Baby Formula to buy? Just in case...

Momcryss · April 2012

I am a FTM and i have intentions of breastfeeding-- however I was wondering just in case I am not successful-- what are the best baby formulas out there to use... I remember hearing about the recall with baby formula at walmart a few months ago-- and am not sure what is the best and safest one.

LittleApple · April 2012

They are all safe. Honestly, I suggest you hold off on buying it. Most OB offices give you a gift bag from formula makers before you give birth and you can also sign up at

enfamil.com

Similac.com

They will send you sample containers around your due date.

J'snewwife · April 2012

I needed to supplement, and we used Enfamil, but as mentioned they are all just fine. The hospital has a supply of liquid formula, and you can take a few home with you if needed. I also received a gift bag at the hospital that included a few "one bottle" sized bags of formula - they looked like crystal light single servings. That will get you started as you may only need to supplement at the beginning, or not at all if you're lucky.

Rhenna · April 2012

When I had DS I just kept him on whatever the hospital started him out on. It was Similac but it could have been anything since it depends on what the hospital gets from the formula companies. I did end up switching him over to generic formula to save money when he was around 7 months and he was perfectly fine. The recall that happened at Walmart was a precaution. They were unsure if the infant in question died because of the formula so they recalled it while they investigated just to be safe but they found nothing wrong with the formula.

sassysally1 · April 2012

Like PP's said, they're all fine. The thing is just like diapers and everything else, each parent/baby will have a different preference. Some brands may work better with your baby than others and that will be more of a trial by error type thing. I BF'd but had supply issues so I needed to supplement too. I used the samples we had first, which was Enfamil.

LouRN09 · April 2012

Just as pp mentioned, I wouldnt go out and buy a bunch of formula. Although I BF DS1, I still got all kinds of samples in the mail from Similac and Enfamil. When I did need to start supplementing, we used Gerber Good Start and were really happy with that (funny how that was the one brand that I never got samples for!)

Tash13 · April 2012

I agree with PP on holding off on buying any. You're bound to get some samples from the doctor, hospital, or sent to you from the formula companies. Plus, if you end up having to suppliment the hospital will usually provide you with some to leave the hospital with.

It's also a little discouraging if you struggle with breastfeeding to have formula readily available. I wish I hadn't had any to make it less tempting to use it. The first couple of weeks can be really tough so even knowing that I'd have to go out and buy formula instead of it being in my kitchen would have helped. If you plan to breastfeed, I recommend not having it around unless you absolutely need it. On the flip side, if you plan on formula feeding I wouldn't stock up because you never know how your baby will react and you may have to switch a few times to find a match.

PepperStick · April 2012

We used Gerber Good Start to supplement and give me a break when DD was still a newborn.

I will say though, that since I was breastfeeding, my doctor and hospital did not give me any formula samples because they didn't want me to go the "easy route" or something to that effect.

BethPSU · April 2012

Like everyone else has said- don't buy any. I received a sample canister from Similac. I didn't introduce any formula to either of my guys until they were about 9 months old, but then it was nice to have on hand. I think I only bought 1 or 2 cans that I supplemented with before weening and transitioning to milk.

Cozfijibride · April 2012

None !

If you intend on BF you'll succeed at BF with plenty of support and help !

If for some reason you need formula you can always go out and buy it. There are a lot of formulas on the market and you never know what you'll need.

ELCJet · April 2012

The hospital will amost always send you home with a few bottles of ready-to-feed formula, which will be more than enough if your pediatrician tells you to supplement a few days after birth. (My son hadn't gone #2 for 5 days and lost a lb, so I gave him formula for 12 hours on top of BFing and it kick started everything -- that's all we needed until I started supplementing at 5 months) I had read quite a lot of good feedback regarding the compatibility of Gerber Goodstart with breastmilk.....and while Goodstart smells nasty, DS made the transition pretty easily.

hmp1 · April 2012

We got a lot of samples before we left the hospital. I BF for a couple of months and then went to formula. We used Similac Sensitive Ready to Feed. It was expensive but it worked best for DS's reflux. I wouldn't worry about buying any now.

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