Parent’s Choice Baby Formula
August 11, 2009 by admin - Jennifer
Filed under Odds & Ends
After you have your precious new baby you start to worry about everything that you will put in their systems. For me switching from breastfeeding to baby formula was a big step, I wanted my baby to have the best of everything. Let me tell you that best doesn’t have to mean most expensive!
Consumer Reports has been urging parents to save money on baby formula by purchasing store brands at retailers. “If you choose or need to use infant formula, buy powdered formula. It costs less than concentrated liquid or liquid formula. And keep in mind that all infant formula sold in the U.S. must meet the same basic nutrient requirements specified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so if your baby likes store-brand formula, buy it—in the largest-size cans you can find.”
Consumer Reports recommends buying store-brand formulas because they are nutritionally comparable to Enfamil® LIPIL® and other name-brand formulas:
“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.”
I know in this economy that things are tough, especially for those of us that need to buy formula, diapers, pull-ups and wipes. The cost can be staggering, but it doesn’t have to be. I am so comforted knowing that my daughter can have the best and I don’t have to pay so much!
I tried out some of the Parent’s Choice formula as well as gave some to one of my friends who just had a baby and we both agreed that there really is no difference, and yes we even tried it. We couldn’t tell and we are pretty sure the kids couldn’t tell either because they drank it anyway!
I also checked out Parent’s Choice baby formula savings calculator and just look at this:
Just look at that savings! I know that will make a lot of families very happy. Go ahead and give it a try, there are other brands you can compare the Parent’s Choice formula to. So the next time you are looking in the stores for baby stuff, please check out the store brand formula, it really will help you save money.
I had no idea these store brands had the same ingredients as national brands. Makes me mad to think of all the money I have wasted on my first two kids! No more…my little girl has officially now become a store brand kid. Target here I come! Did a little more research on this and a friend told me the difference in price has to do with just marketing…like paying for those fancy bags they give you when you leave the hospital.
I totally agree that you should try breastfeeding first but if you can’t or choose not to do this there is no reason to be held up for ransom by these high prices. I did the calculator and it came up over 50 bucks a month for us! Who couldn’t use an extra $50 these days???
Good posting, Jennifer.
Breast milk is the gold standard, however, many women are unable to breastfeed for the duration 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.
Nice post Jennifer. I also Know of another great site For Formula to help out with struggling mothers out here
http://ayenif.com/babyworld/freebabyproducts.php
We used Parent’s Choice with our twin girls! When we saw how much formula they were taking in every week, we knew we had to do something to save money. We compared Parent’s Choice labels to the Enfamil, and saw that they were really the same thing, and not even 1/2 the price! Many people don’t realize that the FDA has such strict regulations that EVERY formula manufacturer has to follow. According to the savings calculator, we saved approx $1300 in one year of formula feeding. We were going through a can every few days… It was just crazy! Thanks for a great post!