I haven’t bought baby formula in about 13 years. My oldest was strictly a bottle fed baby and my youngest was breastfed for 6 months and then switched to breast milk in a sippy cup for a few months before switching to formula in a sippy cup until he was ready for whole milk. I do remember that the cost of baby formula was one of the factors that played into our decision to breast feed our second child, but I forgot how expensive formula was.
Fortunately today there are more choices in baby formula, for those who choose to use it. One of those choices is Parent’s Choice.
According to Consumer Reports:
“We found that the store brand of formula at a local Wal-Mart (Parent’s Choice) cost 50 percent less per ounce than a leading national brand (Enfamil). According to the FDA, all formula marketed in the United States must meet the same nutrient specifications, which are set at levels to fulfill the needs of infants.”
“This is a powerful endorsement for store-brand baby formula coming from an unbiased advocate that wants to help parents make wise purchasing decisions,” said PBM Products CEO Paul B. Manning. “We encourage parents to purchase this important guide and consider two options that make nutritional and fiscal sense: breastfeeding and/or store-brand baby formula.”
To see how much money you can save by using Parent’s Choice instead of other national brands you can use their baby formula savings calculator. I tried out the calculator based on what we used for our oldest son and WOW! I would save $59.99 per month or $13.79 per can of powdered formula. That is a savings of over $1075 in a year.
What to feed your baby is a very personal decision and should never be made lightly. Breast milk is best for your child’s health, but it is not always a plausible choice.
I will have to check this out. Thanks for the great info!