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August 2019 Moms
cato99
member
Product Spotlight: Formula
cato99
member
Hello and welcome to Week 2 of our "Baby Feeding Products" series at Product Spotlight! Last week we discussed breast pumps and accessories, so this week we turn to FORMULA, for when we need a little hand from science to keep our babies fed! (Next week we will discuss bottles to figure out where to put all that pumped breast milk and formula, so hold on to those recommendations if you have them!)
What brand of formula do you use? Any help navigating the three million options of formula types within each brand? Do you transition through different ones as your babies grow? (Note: per my doctor, formulas are very regulated in terms of nutritional setup so you won't choose a WRONG one, but people may have tips on different brands to help with, e.g., colic or gas or certain allergies!) If a family knows they are going to formula feed, what should they have ready beforehand? And if a family does not expect to formula feed, is there anything they may want to know ahead of time or have prepared just in case they do wind up supplementing or using formula?
What about the mechanics of formula-administration? Do you use pre-mixed or powder formula? What's your set-up at home, and what's your set-up on the road in your diaper bag?
Where and how do you acquire your formula? Do you have a good source for coupons? Certain stores to keep an eye on? Mail-order options? Assistance from medical offices?
Whether you exclusively formula-fed, or supplemented for part or all of your little ones' babyhood, any experience is appreciated! Obviously we are here to support each other with useful info, and are luckily past the tedious "o no formula bad, only breast" stance from prior mommy wars: there are a thousand reasons why different families use formula, so let's help each other do it in an informed way! Please share!
Prior and Upcoming Product Spotlights
What brand of formula do you use? Any help navigating the three million options of formula types within each brand? Do you transition through different ones as your babies grow? (Note: per my doctor, formulas are very regulated in terms of nutritional setup so you won't choose a WRONG one, but people may have tips on different brands to help with, e.g., colic or gas or certain allergies!) If a family knows they are going to formula feed, what should they have ready beforehand? And if a family does not expect to formula feed, is there anything they may want to know ahead of time or have prepared just in case they do wind up supplementing or using formula?
What about the mechanics of formula-administration? Do you use pre-mixed or powder formula? What's your set-up at home, and what's your set-up on the road in your diaper bag?
Where and how do you acquire your formula? Do you have a good source for coupons? Certain stores to keep an eye on? Mail-order options? Assistance from medical offices?
Whether you exclusively formula-fed, or supplemented for part or all of your little ones' babyhood, any experience is appreciated! Obviously we are here to support each other with useful info, and are luckily past the tedious "o no formula bad, only breast" stance from prior mommy wars: there are a thousand reasons why different families use formula, so let's help each other do it in an informed way! Please share!
Prior and Upcoming Product Spotlights
Re: Product Spotlight: Formula
What about the mechanics of formula-administration? Do you use pre-mixed or powder formula? What's your set-up at home, and what's your set-up on the road in your diaper bag? This is totally kid and parent dependent. Not only is ready to feed convenient, but if you have a colicky baby, using the ready to feed can possibly help with their tummy issues.
Where and how do you acquire your formula? Do you have a good source for coupons? Certain stores to keep an eye on? Mail-order options? Assistance from medical offices? If you call customer service of the bigger formula companies, they will usually send you checks if you ask. Also, signing up for their programs will help. Make sure you choose high income levels--lower income levels put you in their file as potential WIC and formula companies are not allowed to market to WIC recipients (another regulation). Each state has a contract with a different formula company and the program is such an amazing and wonderful program, and they don't want marketing to affect their choice of contract.
Another thing to consider--Similac is the only formula regulated by the FDA. Because the umbrella company is a pharmaceutical company, everything that company makes is monitored by the FDA--this includes their marketing statements. Enfamil, Gerber, and others can say whatever they want (their formula is regulated but their marketing tactics and execution are not), but Similac is bound by much stricter laws. Marketers can usually get away with saying whatever they want, but the FDA will not allow companies to say something unless it has been proven true, so it's just another thought.
I am team there's no wrong choice. But there are differences to consider when choosing a formula. DS1 was formula fed for three months and I used Earth's Best organic because it was the only thing he would drink after I exclusively pumped for nine months. Formula and breast milk do not taste the same--so if you're supplementing, a formula made for supplementing will taste sweeter and smoother.
Because my formula use was very limited both in quantity and in length of time, we went the waaay lazy and expensive route: Similac Opti-Gro ready-to-feed 2-oz bottles (which we chose simply because that's what they used in our NICU). We used this infant one, and this supplementation one. They come in little pre-made tubes, and all you do is unscrew the top and put a nipple on it (you can also pour it into a bottle). What we did was get these special slow-flow nipples instead of the regular ones that came with the formula packaging, which reduced nipple confusion.
So I could just stash a few bottles on our nightstand for middle of the night feedings without having to drag myself to the kitchen. In the early days I would sleep with the bottles next to me so that they'd be warm for MOTN feedings. It also made transportation convenient: I'd always have a bottle or two and a screw-on nipple in my diaper bag.
ALSO, to note: I had NO idea that formula expired after a few weeks of being opened. So, if you're new to formula feeding, keep this in mind! For that reason, I mostly bought the single pre-measured packs since we were supplementing and not going through even half a carton of formula before the expiration.
With DD I had to supplement from the very beginning (was an underproducer and stayed that way) and then at 8 months I stopped pumping and she went to full formula. DD never seemed to have an issues going between the two and was fine with all-breastmilk and all-forumla bottles.
We used Enfamil Gentlease pretty much the whole time, because Enfamil is what they gave us in the hospital and we just stuck with it. She had reflux early on and then was what they refer to as a "happy spitter" -- constantly spitting up but doesn't seem bothered by it. I'm not sure if it made a difference, but I liked at least trying. Definitely think I'll try Similac first now.
We used the powder because it was cheaper than the pre-mixed and just bought it from target. This time around if I need to use formula (most likely), I am thinking of trying this mixer. I don't feel the need for a full keurig-type machine, but something like this for mixing a bunch of bottles at once might be nice. Formula can be mixed and refrigerated for 24 hours so you can do that and heat it up for a minute after pouring in a bottle.
I'm also thinking of getting a cart like this as a bottle station to keep everything organized.
TTC #1 5/13 BFP #3 5/2/14 DD born 1/19/15
NTNP #2 8/17 BFP 12/13/18 ED 8/21/19
As I mentioned, we used Enfamil - primarily powder from the tubs b/c it is way cheaper and it has a longer expiration than the pre-mixed. On the go, I used two bottles - one with pre-measured powder, one with pre-measured water. When it was time to feed I just dumped the water into the powder and shook it up. Pretty simple.
At first our pediatrician’s office offered us samples of formula and I almost turned them down. I was so convinced I could do this breastfeeding thing, and I thought having formula in the house would be a bad temptation. But I took them, and it saved us a bit of money and saved DH a trip out to the store in the evening when my kid was hungry and had completely exhausted my supply. Fed is always best. I guess what I’m saying is that if you’re a mom that really really wants to breastfeed and then it doesn’t completely work out...a) be prepared and have a bit of formula hanging around and b) try not to feel too guilty about supplementing or completely switching your child to formula. For some people breastfeeding comes easily and naturally...but I think for many of us it takes a lot of effort. Do what you need to do to keep your child fed but to also keep your own sanity.
We got those bottle blender things that are typically used for protein shakes to make one day worth of fomula. We'd make it early in the morning and by the time she drank it the bubbles we're gone. I later was told not to shake formula due to broken proteins, but not sure the truth of that. We still used that method.
DD2 was given formula until my milk came in. She only latched a few times ever, so I pumped. After a month or 2 we started giving one bottle of formula at bedtime and the rest was pumped milk. She slept so much better with the formula at night and it allowed me to build my stash a bit for when I went back to work. We did that for 9 months then switched to formula. Used Similac to start then switched to Target brand. She wasn't very sensitive to the brands and was getting lots of table food already so I didn't feel the need to stay with the expensive Similac.
After both kids turned a year we used the toddler formula for the road or vacations because it was easier than dealing with the logistics of cold milk. We even gave my older daughter some of that when she was in the hospital after heart surgery when she was almost 4 because she hated the hospital milk (ultra pasturized) and wasn't allowed anything except milk, water, and juice butneeded the calories. I don't think toddler formula is really needed once they switch to milk and eat a good diet, but it sure was convienent in certain situations.
What brand of formula do you use? Any help navigating the three million options of formula types within each brand? Do you transition through different ones as your babies grow? (Note: per my doctor, formulas are very regulated in terms of nutritional setup so you won't choose a WRONG one, but people may have tips on different brands to help with, e.g., colic or gas or certain allergies!) If a family knows they are going to formula feed, what should they have ready beforehand? And if a family does not expect to formula feed, is there anything they may want to know ahead of time or have prepared just in case they do wind up supplementing or using formula?
We did Earth's Best because organic was important to me. For both my girls, they received almost exclusively breast milk until 8/9 months. They had no issues transitioning to formula. I think we did gradual introductions but neither ever refused that brand of formula.
What about the mechanics of formula-administration? Do you use pre-mixed or powder formula? What's your set-up at home, and what's your set-up on the road in your diaper bag?
We always did powder since it lasts longer. For travel, I always just put the amount in one bottle and the nursery water in the other bottle and then mixed that way. We never had luck with these contraptions: https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwj7zqy65_rgAhXEJIYKHbdyB2UYABAKGgJ2dQ&sig=AOD64_0nNgwdi2LER0LmQxggZC7mUgkAUw&ctype=5&q=&ved=0ahUKEwiHzKa65_rgAhUDy1kKHVHPDnkQwg8IPw&adurl=
Where and how do you acquire your formula? Do you have a good source for coupons? Certain stores to keep an eye on? Mail-order options? Assistance from medical offices?
I think at the time I knew where the best prices were (maybe Kroger??) and we'll see with this baby. Honestly, formula HAS to meet certain standards and I had many, many, many friends get their formula from Costco because it was far more affordable. Some of those kids are smarter than my kids. With this baby, when we eventually make the transition to formula (because we will), I imagine I will be a lot less weird about brands.
AFM, I'm mostly going to reiterate what everyone else is saying because we didn't supplement until after they were eating real food, but if your baby doesn't take to it right away definitely try other brands, DS#1 did not like formula, then we switched brands, and he took it no problem.
Also, we'll probably have a thread about it when it gets closer, but one of my pet peeves is how FTMs are told that breast feeding is such a beautiful and natural thing, and your baby will just latch on. Most moms I've spoken to have struggled with it at first, and it definitely wasn't a pleasant experience for me at first. So if you need to supplement there is absolutely no shame.
Eventually, a nurse said positive things about Gerber, so that's what we went with.