Formula brands

[lasawyer91]

I woke up this morning after a good 6 hour stretch of sleep (so nice!) and when I went to do my morning pump, my milk had dried up! I of course broke down and cried for like an hour over it. I have a little bit of milk stored up but I guess we will need to get some formula. What brand are you guys using?

[Deleted]

First off, I'm sorry your milk dried up, lasawyer91. I have no advice, but I do have hugs for you.

We use Enfamil Newborn right now; that's what they gave us at the hospital. We'll switch to Enfamil Infant sometime in the next 2 months. We tried a generic of Similac Advanced and that resulted in a very constipated DS on our part, so we're sticking with the Enfamil. My suggestion would be to call your pediatrician and see if you can get samples of the main brands to start off with; it doesn't hurt to ask. If they don't have any, only buy one tub at a time because you never know how your LO is going to handle it. Also, sign up for coupons/samples on Similac and Enfamil's website.

The formula feeding board here (users who used to be the FF board on TD) is really good at helping diagnose problems when they can and are a load of support. You'll also occasionally find people requesting coupon trades which can help out a lot, too.

[grumpycat88]

We use Emfamil Newborn as well. We had the most free samples of that one so started there. We got a bunch from our ped too, good advice to ask for samples! I'm sorry your milk dried up target usually gives good coupons for formula and right now bru has $8 off two refill boxes ... but don't stock up til you know what works for your lo. @happywigglecmb -- wanted to make sure you knew about the bru deal!

[Deleted]

Feb 16, 2015 13:05:53 GMT -5 grumpycat88 said:

We use Emfamil Newborn as well. We had the most free samples of that one so started there. We got a bunch from our ped too, good advice to ask for samples! I'm sorry your milk dried up target usually gives good coupons for formula and right now bru has $8 off two refill boxes ... but don't stock up til you know what works for your lo. @happywigglecmb -- wanted to make sure you knew about the bru deal!

grumpycat88, I did! Thank you. Here's a semi-better one for you... Target: if you buy two of the refill boxes, it's a $10 Target gift card. Plus, you can stack that with Enfamil coupons if you have them and the 5% red card discount if you have that as well. Deal is good until Saturday, 2/21, according to the flyer I have.

We actually went with Enfamil for the same reason- the most samples- so when the hospital asked what brand I wanted to start with since we EFF, that's what I went with. 

[grumpycat88]

Oooo I may be running out to target this week! Thank you @happywigglecmb! We need a baby deals thread.

[Deleted]

So sorry to hear! When I needed to supplement I used the similac advanced.

[wishuponastar]

We use Gerber Good Start- (it's what they gave us in the hospital, and I didnt want to change anything since LO was doing very well on it)

I will say- that I only ever seem to find Similac and Enfamil coupons- so I am curious about he would do on another formula, but I dont want to fix what's not broken.

[ladyprof]

We started supplementing with Enfamil Supplementing for moms who breastfeed on the suggestion of my LC but it made her more spitty than usual so we switched to Enfamil Gentlease. She still spits some but gets great burps and just seems to like the Gentlease better.

For the boys we did Gerber Gentle (now Soothe I think) and then soy for our kid who was sensitive to Dairy. Combined with gripe water and probiotics we never had trouble but LC said Similac or Enfamil this time and recommended it over Gerber.

[FiliaRitae]

I'm really sorry.

We currently supplement with Good Start (it's Nestle here, but I believe they own Gerber in the US). We started on Enfamil and he reacted horribly to it, so the doctor recommended we try the good start because... something about proteins being broken down an extra time and therefore theoretically easier to digest. It does seem to agree with him better, and it looks and smells more like breast milk than the Enfamil.

[lasawyer91]

Thanks for all your input guys! I'm going to have to keep my eye out for more deals. And I'm definitely sending DH to target!

[nemomof2]

I was going to say what pp have said.
Just wanted to add that I am sorry

[kellimark]

Simulac sensitive. It helps with lo's colic

[Deleted]

lasawyer91, check the weekly flyers online. Target has the gift card sales on formula quite often, usually bringing the overall cost to less than that at a warehouse type store (Costco, Sam's, etc.), so that seems to be the best time to stock up on what your LO drinks. After a while, if you can slowly switch to a store generic of whatever one works for you, that will help save, but do note that not all babies can handle a full switch to the generic versions (I saw that be semi common over on the FF board).

One thing you might want to invest in is the Dr. Brown's formula pitcher (amazon and BRU have it). You can make up to a day's worth of formula and keep it in the fridge, pouring as needed. I love ours, especially since we're at 3 oz. bottles instead of an even number of ounces at a time; that, and the fact that DS will take it straight from the fridge so we don't have to heat it.

[heidih21]

I'm not formula feeding at this point but I would to to the websites of the big brands. Through my pregnancy I got free samples of all of them. Obviously you need something right now but this will get you a couple cans of each kind.

[lasawyer91]

Feb 16, 2015 15:59:37 GMT -5 @happywigglecmb said:

lasawyer91, check the weekly flyers online. Target has the gift card sales on formula quite often, usually bringing the overall cost to less than that at a warehouse type store (Costco, Sam's, etc.), so that seems to be the best time to stock up on what your LO drinks. After a while, if you can slowly switch to a store generic of whatever one works for you, that will help save, but do note that not all babies can handle a full switch to the generic versions (I saw that be semi common over on the FF board).

One thing you might want to invest in is the Dr. Brown's formula pitcher (amazon and BRU have it). You can make up to a day's worth of formula and keep it in the fridge, pouring as needed. I love ours, especially since we're at 3 oz. bottles instead of an even number of ounces at a time; that, and the fact that DS will take it straight from the fridge so we don't have to heat it.

I might have a formula pitcher. My mil bought us a Dr Brown's gift set that had bottles, a warmer, and a blue container with a lid ( that I think is what you are taking about). How long do you keep it for in the fridge? I heard 24 hours was the max

[Deleted]

Feb 16, 2015 16:11:21 GMT -5 lasawyer91 said:

Feb 16, 2015 15:59:37 GMT -5 @happywigglecmb said:

lasawyer91, check the weekly flyers online. Target has the gift card sales on formula quite often, usually bringing the overall cost to less than that at a warehouse type store (Costco, Sam's, etc.), so that seems to be the best time to stock up on what your LO drinks. After a while, if you can slowly switch to a store generic of whatever one works for you, that will help save, but do note that not all babies can handle a full switch to the generic versions (I saw that be semi common over on the FF board).

One thing you might want to invest in is the Dr. Brown's formula pitcher (amazon and BRU have it). You can make up to a day's worth of formula and keep it in the fridge, pouring as needed. I love ours, especially since we're at 3 oz. bottles instead of an even number of ounces at a time; that, and the fact that DS will take it straight from the fridge so we don't have to heat it.

I might have a formula pitcher. My mil bought us a Dr Brown's gift set that had bottles, a warmer, and a blue container with a lid ( that I think is what you are taking about). How long do you keep it for in the fridge? I heard 24 hours was the max

The formula rules I was told to follow are these: 1 hour max at room temperature, up to one day (24 hours) in the fridge, 1 month (30 days) per can of powder. 

I make 16-18 oz at a time, which will generally last the majority of the day. I do that to make sure I don't waste any by going over the 24 hour mark. Some days, I have to mix two pitchers since I prep the nighttime bottles right before bed, but most days, I only do one.

This is the pitcher: www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Formula-Mixing-Pitcher/dp/B001I481LM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424121550&sr=8-1&keywords=dr+browns+formula+mixing+pitcher

[ladyprof]

Second the pitcher. It is fantastic.

[kellimark]

Yup pitcher is really nice

[elleno95]

We use enfamil prosobee. LO spat up in the hospital terribly so they gave us some to try since it's soy. No problems so we've stuck with it!

[nolagirl]

Lurking over from Jan14 (have serious baby fever again).

I'm sure you already know, but when you find what formula works for your LO email that company's and go to their website and get registered for their new mom program. They will email samples and coupons every month.

My LO ended up on Enfamil Nutramigen due to mspi. She's still on it at 13 months as we are slowly introducing WCM.

Best of luck to you!