Monica of MommyBrainReports.com understands you want to give your little one the best, but she’s here to show you that the best doesn’t have to be the most expensive. Let’s extend a warm welcome to Monica!
“When I had my twins in 2005, I knew I was not going to be able breast feed them. I was disappointed 
because I knew that was the best option both nutritionally, for them and financially, for us. But, I knew there were many options out there to help us save money.
While we were in the hospital, we used the formula they gave us. I can’t remember what brand it was at this point, but I know it was one of those big name brands. The girls did ok on it, but we did deal with some gassiness. We figured it would pass eventually. When we got home, I instantly signed up for every coupon program I could find. We saw how fast the girls were going through formula and just didn’t know what we’d do. Weeks went by, and we saw they were going through a can of powder every 2 days. The coupons were helping, but only taking a few dollars off here and there. We needed a better solution. I decided to look into store brand formulas.
I’ve heard many people tell me that store brand this or generic that is not as good as the real thing, but in this case, I had to see for myself. I had heard many people talking about Parent’s Choice products and thought it was worth a try. I did some research on the internet and found out that the FDA has really strict guidelines as far as what nutritional value infant formulas carry. Sure, every store has their brand products, but for me, Walmart was closest and easiest for me, so it made sense to check them out first. It was quite surprising. We took a look at the nutritional information on the name brand infant formula label and then looked at the Parent’s Choice infant formula label. They were exactly the same. Could it be true? The Parent’s Choice formula was 1/2 the price of the name brand formula! We instantly made the switch, and my girls seemed to love it! I know I loved it because I was able to save the money for other things.. like diapers, and clothing. Over a year of formula feeding, that savings really added up for us!
Looking back, I know now that all of my worrying about going with a store brand was really for nothing. In fact, and article recently came out from Consumer Reports, an advocate for helping parents make wise purchasing decisions, saying that they recommend buying a store brand, powdered infant formula over the National Brands, if you must, or choose to formula feed. Even Consumer Reports did the research: “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.” That’s a huge endorsement for store brand products coming from an unbiased source.
If you’re looking for ways to save money, you can learn more by using an online baby formula savings calculator at http://www.parentschoiceformula.com/baby-formula-savings-calculator.aspx.
I know that some babies have special formula needs, like sensitive tummy, or soy formulas. Most store brands will have you covered there also. Check out http://www.parentschoiceformula.com/parents-choice-formula-finder.aspx to see what formula you might need. You can also request free samples of the infant formulas so you can try them out to see how baby likes them!
Coming from personal experience, I can say that we did struggle with saving money, and we made decisions that would benefit our children and our family as a whole. I’m very glad I took the time to research more about store brand vs. name brand, and was able to save some money while not sacrificing their nutritional needs.”
Filed under: Frugal Tips, Guest Posts
August 12th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Hi Monica, I appreciate this article and you touch upon some key points.
Breast milk is considered the gold standard in infant nutrition. Many women, however, are unable to breastfeed for the duration of the first twelve months or so, especially if they are on medication, have multiple births or must return to work early during these difficult economic times. To save money, there is a solution — store brand infant formula. I am very encouraged that more moms realize that store brand infant formula is nutritionally equivalent to name brands. The FDA requires that all infant formula be “created equally” with respect to the nutrients contained. As an Associate Clinical Professor of Nutrition at Weill Cornell College of Medicine in New York City I have educated new moms about this information for many years. These infant formulas contain DHA the important omega-3 fatty acid necessary for cognitive development and visual acuity. The money saved may help support healthy food choices as your child adds solid food to his or her diet. You can learn more about store brand infant formula and raising a healthy baby on a budget by watching one of my recent interviews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9LuOYntqy8. Thanks again.
August 13th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
If theres any women reading this who need free baby formula and other baby things you can get it here
August 22nd, 2009 at 9:39 am
Monica I read the Consumer Reports Best Baby Products guidebook and was shocked to learn that the unbiased group recommends store brand baby formula. I shared the book with my pediatrician and she said CR was right and that store brands are just as tightly regulated by FDA as Enfamil and Similac. Don’t let the clever and pricy advertising fool you: Parent’s Choice Infant Formula and other store brands are required to have the same nutrients as the brand name formulas by federal law. The Infant Formula Act mandates it! Great posting.
August 27th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Thanks so much for posting this Monica…and to Dr. Levine for chiming in! I have seen her videos on You Tube when randomly searching infant nutrition issues and her credentials are incredible. What it comes down to this this. My husband and I want to do the best for our baby. That is first and foremost. If we can be sure that we are doing that AND find a way to also save money (cuz let’s face it, this whole baby thing ain’t cheap!) then all the better. I am totally confident, after doing some research, listening to Dr. Levine and then most importantly, talking to my own pediatrician…that using Parent’s Choice is the right thing for our baby and for our family.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Ditto…Parent’s Choice turned out to be the right choice for our twin boys and what a savings over Enfamil: nearly $1,400 for the pair! Consumer Reports is independent and knows the industry’s dirty little secret, that there are no generics when it comes to infant formula. Our doctor backs store brand formula and knows that FDA had to set standards because in many cases formula is a baby’s sole source of nutrition, remarks uttered by Dr. Levine on YouTube. Seems like more parents are catching on to this and realizing store brands offer premium nutrition at a value price.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:07 am
Thanks so much for sharing this helpful information. I work for a leading infant formula company that supplies store-brand formulas to U.S. grocery stores, drugstores, and other retailers. We believe breastfeeding is the best way to feed an infant. If you choose to formula feed, keep in mind that all infant formulas marketed in the United States are subject to the exacting standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pursuant to the Infant Formula Act of 1980. This legislation vested FDA with the authority to ensure that all infant formula products sold in the United States provide the necessary levels of identified nutrients required for the growth of healthy babies.
Read the labels on the back of the cans, compare the nutritional information, and see for yourselves.
Thanks again!
September 28th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
There’s some really good information here in these exchanges. I would like to add as a follow up that the store-brand message is more important now than ever because of changes in the WIC program. As of October 1, 2009, a new WIC initiative aimed at increasing breastfeeding rates among families reallocates funding for all currently provided foods, including infant formula, juices, and fresh fruits and vegetables. This program will also mean a reduction of up to 20 percent in infant-formula subsidies. I think it’s great that WIC is encouraging breastfeeding and still providing some infant formula subsidies. If you participate in WIC and your vouchers run out, remember you can switch to a store brand formula because they are nutritionally equivalent to name brands. You can learn more by visiting http://www.storebrandformula.com. Thank you!
October 30th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Thank you so much everyone for all of the great comments! I was checking in when I saw Dr Levine’s comment about WIC’s regulations changing. It’s true! With WIC giving parents less for formula allowance now, more of your formula is going to come out of pocket. When buying that formula, you definitely should consider store brands.
Check out my last blog post on my personal site. I actually break down the cost per ounce, month, and year. The results are just crazy! It really shows you how much you can save with the Store Brands!!