akc
03-21-2004, 06:52 PM
Hi all -
I've been on a formula thread but compiled this chart which I thought would be useful for everyone in the Feeding Baby category. Short story is that now that I'm on my second daughter and can't breastfeed b/c of a medication I take, I wanted to see if we could go to a generic/private-label formula vs. Similac Advance to save money.
Boy, did I learn a lot. End analysis:
1) There are a lot of good private-label (store-brand) formulas out there that are virtually the SAME as the brand names when you compare nutrients - see for yourself on the chart,
2) The brand names are ridiculously expensive b/c they use the "anxiety factor" to get you to avoid the store-brands,
3) CLIFF NOTES ON THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY...(as you'll see on the chart, this assumes the largest size available, purchased from a warehouse store - this means powder b/c the prices only go UP when you go to RTF or Single servings).
WINNERS AT 47 CENTS/OZ!!!
Costco's Kirland Signature with DHA / ARA
Wal*Mart's Parent's Choice w/a Blend of Lipids
(NOTE: Parent's Choice is made by Wyeth, which also makes the DHA/ARA brand for Target, Healthy Baby but you'll have to check their nutrients and prices to be sure they are exactly the same.)
74 CENTS/OZ
Enfamil Lipil
84 CENTS/OZ
Similac Advance
88 CENTS/OZ
Carnation Good Start Supreme DHA / ARA
There are differences in consistency and the way they mix, so that is still a matter of personal preference as well as how you baby reacts to the formula (of course).
Finally, There are A LOT of new Moms who have come 'round since I joined the BB boards, so I thought I'd refer to an old thread that I started a thread back in Nov of '02 (oh boy, a long time ago) called THE BASICS OF BOTTLE FEEDING. (((EDIT: I moved the post and all its replies from Maternity Clothes where it had ended up with the boards were changed, to the Feeding Baby forum.)))
Well, here I am in Mar of '04, second DD newly arrived, and I echo my original thoughts: I REALLY felt that there needed to be good information and support for those bottlefeeding, for whatever reason. It's already a difficult position because of the large amounts of literature that encourages breastfeeding. We know the advantages of BF, but aren't always able to and shouldn't be left in a vacuum of info (or worse, criticism) because we need/choose to bottle feed. This isn't a rant, just a way to provide support - like we do all over here - for bottle feeding Moms. Here's my original post with some additions:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=86&topic_id=1716&mesg_id=1716&page=
OK, that's it for now. If you would like to do this comparison for the other types of formulas (Reg w/iron, soy, or stage 2), let me know b/c I have some of the information in Excel.
Hope this helps!
Alexa
Attachments:
HTML - the chart
JPEG - my girls: Since I've only had two DD for a a month, I can't help it...
I've been on a formula thread but compiled this chart which I thought would be useful for everyone in the Feeding Baby category. Short story is that now that I'm on my second daughter and can't breastfeed b/c of a medication I take, I wanted to see if we could go to a generic/private-label formula vs. Similac Advance to save money.
Boy, did I learn a lot. End analysis:
1) There are a lot of good private-label (store-brand) formulas out there that are virtually the SAME as the brand names when you compare nutrients - see for yourself on the chart,
2) The brand names are ridiculously expensive b/c they use the "anxiety factor" to get you to avoid the store-brands,
3) CLIFF NOTES ON THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY...(as you'll see on the chart, this assumes the largest size available, purchased from a warehouse store - this means powder b/c the prices only go UP when you go to RTF or Single servings).
WINNERS AT 47 CENTS/OZ!!!
Costco's Kirland Signature with DHA / ARA
Wal*Mart's Parent's Choice w/a Blend of Lipids
(NOTE: Parent's Choice is made by Wyeth, which also makes the DHA/ARA brand for Target, Healthy Baby but you'll have to check their nutrients and prices to be sure they are exactly the same.)
74 CENTS/OZ
Enfamil Lipil
84 CENTS/OZ
Similac Advance
88 CENTS/OZ
Carnation Good Start Supreme DHA / ARA
There are differences in consistency and the way they mix, so that is still a matter of personal preference as well as how you baby reacts to the formula (of course).
Finally, There are A LOT of new Moms who have come 'round since I joined the BB boards, so I thought I'd refer to an old thread that I started a thread back in Nov of '02 (oh boy, a long time ago) called THE BASICS OF BOTTLE FEEDING. (((EDIT: I moved the post and all its replies from Maternity Clothes where it had ended up with the boards were changed, to the Feeding Baby forum.)))
Well, here I am in Mar of '04, second DD newly arrived, and I echo my original thoughts: I REALLY felt that there needed to be good information and support for those bottlefeeding, for whatever reason. It's already a difficult position because of the large amounts of literature that encourages breastfeeding. We know the advantages of BF, but aren't always able to and shouldn't be left in a vacuum of info (or worse, criticism) because we need/choose to bottle feed. This isn't a rant, just a way to provide support - like we do all over here - for bottle feeding Moms. Here's my original post with some additions:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=86&topic_id=1716&mesg_id=1716&page=
OK, that's it for now. If you would like to do this comparison for the other types of formulas (Reg w/iron, soy, or stage 2), let me know b/c I have some of the information in Excel.
Hope this helps!
Alexa
Attachments:
HTML - the chart
JPEG - my girls: Since I've only had two DD for a a month, I can't help it...