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Generic vs Name Brand formula, diapers

DelitachanDelitachan member
in May 2016 Moms
My son is currently on Enfamil Soy (Prosobee) and he's done wonderful so far aside from clumped poop (constipation). The cost is a bit heavy and I've always wondered whether store brands like Up & UP and Parent's Choice work just as well. My son's pediatrician says that the ingredients should be the same before we use it, but I've noticed that the generic brands have the same ingredients, but I don't know about how much. For example, Enfamil has 26% vegetable oil, but Similac uses less I think. The generics say nothing in regards to how much of each ingredient is in the formula.

I worry since my son spent his newborn days in a bad mood when awake and even having crying episodes lasting hours after bowel movements. After the GI put him on Soy, he now cries once every 2-3 days just for his bottle or when he wants to sleep. I'm just afraid of hurting his tummy by trying to save a few $$s. I'm curious to know what your children's doctors have said regarding this or any mom who has a sensitive baby and is using generic.

Same goes for diapers. Do all babies tolerate diapers the same?
My son is 4 months old.

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Re: Generic vs Name Brand formula, diapers

  • jessib899jessib899 member
    As far as the diapers, you may just have to buy small packs of different brands to see what works for your baby. I don't care for parents choice, but the family dollar kidget brand and the white cloud brand from Wal-Mart both work well for us, and my son hasn't broken out using those.

    You may also have to do some trial and error on the formula brands. I wouldn't think the ingredient percentages would differ a while lot going off brand, as long as they match, like your doc said. Like mine, your son also might not be as sensitive as he was as a nb, his digestive system has probably matured some. 
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  • janeen1689janeen1689 member
    I tried the generic version of Enfamil from CVS and it was terrible. You could even see and smell the difference. Other generic brands might be okay but I don't know if i would take the chance again. As for diapers, the CVS brand, and shop rite worked well
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  • itsbrookejonesitsbrookejones member
    I live in Texas, and I just switched from Enfamil to the HEB brand and it is less than 1/2 the price and has been amazing! Also, started buying diapers from Aldi! So glad I did. They don't leak at night (or any time) and are similar in thickness to pampers! 
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  • judithsr1983judithsr1983 member
    I can't give a formula opinion, but we've used a variety of diapers, name brand, store brand, and just cheap, and they all seem fine.  Name brand are usually fluffier, though store brand/cheap do seem to work just as well.  We primarily use costco brand, because that's the most cost effective.
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  • MerinmacMerinmac member
    We use the Target brand soy formula and it works great, plus it's $13 cheaper than Enfamil! That's bananas. It says "Compare to Enfamil and Similac" on the can so I don't know which it's more like, but I'm of the mindset that they're pretty much all the same. I know some people are more concerned about that. We didn't have any major bowel problems to start with, just a sensitivity to dairy.

    I have a question: Did you do anything about your baby's constipation? My LO has pretty dry clumpy poops and I'm not sure if I should do anything about it. It's not painful for her to go, but she does have to put some effort in. Most of the constipation ease remedies I've seen say not to use them before 6 months. Obviously I don't want to give her the opposite problem but it would be nice if she didn't have to strain so hard.
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  • swflJDswflJD member
    I second the Target Up and UP brand of formula.  We used Similac Sensitive at first but we later switched to the Up and Up Sensitive.  I talked to our pediatrician before we switched, and he told me that, of the generic brands, he would recommend the Target Up and Up or the Sam's Club Member's Mark.  I have a Target right next to my office, so we went with their brand.  We've had no problems with it, and it's so much less expensive.
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  • DelitachanDelitachan member
    I'll let you know about the dry poop. My son has it but we have an apt with the GI specialist on Wednesday. 
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  • teshatolleyteshatolley member
    We tried the sams club brand of formula and hated it. It smelled awful and my baby reeked like it all the time. I haven't been brave enough to try any other off brand formulas since then. 
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  • DelitachanDelitachan member
    The specialist did confirm that store brand formulas were pretty much the same as the brand name. Soy constipates, but my son's on prune juice to help him.
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  • tt8mpowelltt8mpowell member
    Our pediatrician said it was fine to use store brand formula. I was using Enfamil infant until about one month ago we switched to the Sams Club brand bc of the price and have had no issues. 54oz (2 cans at 27oz each) of Enfamil is $50 at Sams club while 48oz (1 tub) of Members Mark is $22 and some change. 
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  • gracesmamagracesmama member
    Hey! I use Up and Up (Taregt brand) infant formula and have since my daughter was 4 weeks! The label on the up and up does a comparison of Enfomil and it is identical! We get double the formula for the price of one can of name brand! However, the up and up diapers are awful IMO! We used 2 and threw them out :( we do huggies snug fit.

    Every 2 weeks though it seems, target runs a special and typically it's like "spend $100 on diapers/formula and get a $25 gift card" we've done that multiple times and save the gift cards for the next go around, you can't use them instantly, but you can use them the next day. That seems to be the best deal! Especially because you KNOW you will need the formula/diapers anyways and saving $25 is literally a free can of formula or a box of diapers next time in addition to the deal and ANOTHER gift card. Look out for the deal! 
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  • DelitachanDelitachan member
    kannairb said:
    Hey! I use Up and Up (Taregt brand) infant formula and have since my daughter was 4 weeks! The label on the up and up does a comparison of Enfomil and it is identical! We get double the formula for the price of one can of name brand! However, the up and up diapers are awful IMO! We used 2 and threw them out :( we do huggies snug fit.

    Every 2 weeks though it seems, target runs a special and typically it's like "spend $100 on diapers/formula and get a $25 gift card" we've done that multiple times and save the gift cards for the next go around, you can't use them instantly, but you can use them the next day. That seems to be the best deal! Especially because you KNOW you will need the formula/diapers anyways and saving $25 is literally a free can of formula or a box of diapers next time in addition to the deal and ANOTHER gift card. Look out for the deal! 
    Yes, that's what we do with the diapers. We use the $10 gift card for two boxes of diapers and we used to do the $10 gift card with three formula cans, which would save us money with the Enfamil Prosobee. We moved to Up & Up formula and it's been good so far. My son seems to like it. The Up & Up formula also carries a $10 gift, but only the 36oz cans, which are sold online. 
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