Which Is Best?

Hi - We use Parents Choice formula - sensitive brand/lactose free - great product - great price. Available at Walmart.

A formula has to be FDA approved to be on the market. I used the "generic" with my daughter and she did fine. I didn't use it at first, but that is just because my hubby was weird about it. Finally he did some comparing and realized they were pretty much the same.
Generic diapers are fine too if they work for you.

We had the same debate for our twins and I was nervous about using something I perceived as not as good. Then we asked our pediatrician and he told us the Sam's Club / Walmart brand is the old "formula" for the formula. Hee hee. Apparently, they buy the recipe and use it after the big brands develop a new one. Switching to their brand saved us tons of money. We did the switch slowly and never had any regrets.

I've compared the ingredients in the formulas and haven't noticed much of a difference. My kids had to use the Similac Neosure when they first came home because they were preemies, but once they hit their due date the doctor cleared them to use whatever we wanted. We used the Wal-mart brand and it worked great. My sister's kids were also formula fed and she usually used the Wal-mart brand, but sometimes the Target brand. Her kids are older now and have had no "impairment" problems - they're actually quite smart and very healthy. I have another friend who used the Costco formula with her kids.

Every kid takes to the formulas differently so you just need to find what works for your baby. For instance, both of my kids spit up a ton when they drank Enfamil, they did the regular Similac great, but my son had to use the lactose-free Wal-mart formula (he's on cow's milk now and has no lactose problems - it was just the formula).

So I guess I'm saying, don't worry about the brand - they're all held to very strict regulations and will be great for your baby - just find the one she seems to digest the best and you'll be set (and it's great when she can the generic brand because it's so much cheaper!).

Good luck!

Walmart's Parent's Choice is nutritionally identical to Enfamil and half the price. I was skeptical about using generics but I checked the nutrition label very closely and worried no more.
If your little one has any tummy troubles, the Nestle Goodstart seems to work better than the Enfamil Gentle Ease, but otherwise save your money by going with an equal generic.
Congratulations, and enjoy your precious baby girl - mine is now 3 1/2 going on 13! Remember, you can't spoil a baby so give her as many kisses and as much love and affection as possible - you will blink and she won't be a baby anymore!

Ask your Pediatrician for coupons (even ask for samples) for Similac or Enfamil, they send them TONS. I can say the first six months for both of my kids I got big time savings after the Dr started me on the coupons, one had where I filled out my information then they sent me them in the mail, I am talking $5 to $10 off on it. My daughter was on Nutramigen too (which is very expensive) at three months and that saved us big time. Logon on the compaines sites too to see if they have coupons you can download. If she has no allergies then you should be fine with any brand. I was paranoid and kept it brands I knew and trusted...that isn't always 100% guarantee but I felt better then generic brands or store brands.

Hi K.,

We debated this when my daughter was a little one. We ended up using the Target formula and it worked great. It saved us a lot of money and the doctor said that as long as the ingredients were the same it was fine to use.

Good luck and have a great day!

Maggie

Hello! My son could not hold Enfamil down when he was born. If he had too much of it he would throw it all up. When we left the hospital I switched him to the Nestle brand, and he did wonderful on it. He was always in the high 90% percentile for height and weight, and he did really well keeping it down. I recommend it.

S.

The WalMart brand- Parent's Choice was rated #1 in Parents and Parenting magazine! It's SUPER affordable, and nutritionally equal to Enfamil!

Wow! $10 off Nestle? I've never gotten one of those and it's all my daughter will take! I'd do the generic and save the money if they're the same, or close enough you're willing to compromise, and your dd will take it. $10 adds up really fast when you're talking formula.

Most formulas are pretty much the same, so going from Enfamil brand to the store brand really isn't a big deal. Just use the cheap stuff. ;)

Love this question because I have been there. Before switching my now 2 1/2 year old daughter from Similac, I spent about 45 minutes in the formula aisle comparing labels. We then decided on the Parents Choice from Walmart with the DHA ARA supplement. The texture was really soft, almost fluffy and airy and very easy to mix. We did not like Enfamil as the texture was very grainy, almost sandy. The Wal-Mart brand only cost about $12ish a can and saved us a ton of money in the long-run! I would try switching...do it slowly to avoid any tummy issues. Good Luck!

I really think they're all kind of close. We used to get Costco's Kirkland brand and saved money that way. You'd probably be just fine with your idea.

With my first child, after several months of buying expensive formula, I switched to the King Soopers organic brand. I looked into it- there are federal laws that govern the quality of baby formula (as well as prenatal vitamins). They must contain ALL the vitamins, nutrients, etc that are recommended. I think the only reason to go with something more expensive is if your baby digests one brand better than another. My friend's baby digested cheaper formula much better than the expensive, so it just goes to show . . .
and, btw, my son couldn't be more perfect. I only regret that I didn't switch to the King's brand sooner.

It does not really matter what brand, at least for most babies. If you do decide to switch, though, it's a good idea to do a gradual change so the flavor is not "odd" for baby, and to minimize tummy upset from the change. Start with one scoop new to three scoops old, try that for a day, then half and half, and finally 3 scoops new to one scoop old. The slow change is easier for picky babies.

Pretty much all the baby formulas are the same. Don't waste your money on the name brands.

legally all baby formulas have to have the same basic nutritional and caloric content per the FDA. Difference come in additives (like DHA and ARA), but basically, all formulas, name brand or generic, are the same. We fed my DD Parents Choice from Walmart with the DHA ARA additive. It only cost about $12 a can and saved us SO much money. I would try switching... do it gradually to avoid tummy troubles and give a little time. You won't be short changing your baby by giving generic formula... jsut chort changing the formula companies. =)