Baby Formula. Generic or Name Brand?
@JulietsMom777 (1182)
United States
54 responses
@jswendler (21)
• United States
3 Oct 06
I used the Walmart brand with my daughter and it seemed to do the job. I checked the ingredients between the name brand and the off brand and saw no different, even her doctor couldn't tell me one was any better than the other.
1 person likes this
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
24 Oct 06
I haven't actually looked at the price of the soy but I think all their store brand formula is like $10 cheaper then the name brand.
@kristineholm (14)
• United States
3 Oct 06
with my first daughter i tried the name brands, enfamil with iron, lipil, similac, and everything made her spit up really bad. the only thing that worked for her was the walmart brand, and it was cheaper so that was nice too
@sunrisekn (1466)
• United States
2 Oct 06
I used Similac Advance with Iron when my son was first born. I asked his pediatrician about the different between name brand and generic and he said--PRICE. He challenged us to read the labels and find the difference there, and we could not. Now, I use Parents Choice (Wal-Mart) 10.88 compared to 21.88. He is just fine on Parents Choice. This is just my experience, he never had a problem with spitting up, so his transition was smooth. I believe that they are pretty much the same and it just personal preference.
@baileym11 (887)
• United States
25 Oct 06
I don't think it really matters much. I switch around and use a little of everything. My baby has never had a problem with any of it.
@MamaMiaNC (40)
• United States
8 Jan 07
when i stopped nursing i switched to a generic brand as well...shw was also eatig at that time...and reading the ingrediants on brand over generic convined me there was no reason in the world to pay twice the ammount for a "name"
@kdarrell (1562)
• Canada
26 Oct 06
I used the brand name because that's what they were put on in the hospital. So when I got home I didn't want to change what they were already used to. I do think in forumla, the best way is with a brand name. I think they get all the essential minerals and vitamins they need. I'm not sure if they would get this with a generic brand.
@JulietsMom777 (1182)
• United States
26 Oct 06
They also get it with generic, my daughter is on Target's Soy with DHA and ARA. All the ingredients are the same as the other formulas.
@JulietsMom777 (1182)
• United States
4 Oct 06
I need to start buying her formula from Costco. You are a life saver.
@tntvdm (186)
• United States
26 Oct 06
I've always been a baby product snob, LOL, but we switched to Sam's club diapers and love them, so with that being said, I'm sure all of the formulas, name brand or generic have to adhere to the same standards, so I think generic would be fine. You're probably just paying for the name with name brand versions.
@i_agree_but (1183)
• United Arab Emirates
4 Oct 06
Question not yet understood.
Before I answer this question, I like to think about, why this thread was created ? And what was the real motive for this question? When I find nothing wrong, immediately I prefer to answer. However I like questions on science and politics but don't ignore other members requests. I'm thankful to mylot for giving such opportunity to share our views with international members.
@JulietsMom777 (1182)
• United States
4 Oct 06
Well I have my daughter on generic formula but I was just wondering is it better to buy the name brand formula is it actually better than generic. In the end result I want the best for my baby and im trying to figure out do more people choose generic or name brand formula.
@JulietsMom777 (1182)
• United States
26 Oct 06
Quality always hooks me in. Im not into brand names for to much unless I know the name brand is true quality and nothing else compares to it.
@KisaMommy (132)
• United States
4 Oct 06
We only use name brand.. only because one of our children had a reaction to a generic that was supposed to be "just the same as!" the name brand.. it is one area we firmly believe in not "skimping" on is formula for the baby..
we do however by target brand diapers.. since they work just great and are a good price. ^_^;;
@JulietsMom777 (1182)
• United States
4 Oct 06
I wonder why some children do better on name brand formula while others do better on generic? My daughter had a hard time with name brand she spit up alot she seemed alot fussy also. I also buy Target diapers they are great and affordable.
@tentwo67 (3382)
• United States
25 Oct 06
With medicine and store brand groceries I have absolutely no problem going with a generic. With baby formula for my son, I always bought the name brand even though I strongly suspected that the generic was not just equivalent but maybe even manufactured in the same factory.
When I was a child we took a field trip to a local bakery and saw the same exact loaves of bread go into three different brand bags, including the store brand, and that image stuck with me. When it was my baby in question, though, I was not willing to take any chances!
@JulietsMom777 (1182)
• United States
26 Oct 06
I understand you wanting to take chances which is great. In the beginning my husband and I only bought name brands and one day im like they have the same ingredients, so we tried the generic formula which she did better on. We also buy target diapers and wipes for her, they basically are the same and worked better for her. With Huggies and Pampers she kept coming through them I was constantly changing her also washing baby clothes.
@JulietsMom777 (1182)
• United States
26 Oct 06
I agree with you totally. All of my daughters clothes are so cute and people are like you only payed that much for it. Im like yes im not going to spend all my money on one piece of clothing for her.
@New_CNA (116)
• United States
24 Oct 06
i like generic kind:) because brand names are just brand names. It doesnt mean anything. You just end up paying more then you really have to. Its just clothes. Plus your baby isnt going to stay small forever....to me, as long as my baby looks good in whatever clothes i buy her or him than its all good:)
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
24 Oct 06
I agree. You are just paying for that "name". In fact if you look at some items and compare store brands you will see a lot of different store brands are made by the same company and some of those are made by the same people that make brand name stuff. They just label it different and sell it at different stores.
Like when we first started using store brand formula for our now 4 year old. I was buying from our local grocery store. They stopped selling the generic stuff so I went to wal-mart. Wasn't I surprised to find that the back label of both canisters was identical except for the coloring. They even had the same mailing address for the packing company. They were distributed by the same people.
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
24 Oct 06
I believe wal-mart now has a store brand similar to that formula. I was surprised to see it and probably could have used it for my son 5 years ago. it might have helped his spit up.
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
25 Oct 06
The generic brands are just as good. If you prefer the name brands there is a way that you can get them for FREE. There is a program in my state(CT) called WIC(Women, Infants and Children) They gave me vouchers every month with enough formula to last you a month or more depending on your childs appetite. You might want to see if it is available in your area it was very helpfull to us in saving a few hundred bucks every month.
@JulietsMom777 (1182)
• United States
26 Oct 06
Yea but if you make to much over that amount the require for you to get it then you don't qualify. That is what happened with my husband and I. But after I tried all kind of name brand formula , Target's Soy is what she handles the best and she loves it. But that is a great program for women.
@MINDY0882 (2302)
• United States
1 Oct 06
I used similac with my kids , never used the name brand i think the regually name brand is best . i always kept mine on what ever they was put on after delivery in the hospital
@mythmoh (3984)
• United States
2 Oct 06
I usually prefer name brand than the generic one.Not only for formula but also for baby wipes,diapers i use name brand.you will be having various options in name brand say for example enfamil--with lipil--with dha,for child who spits,etc.But i dont think there will be more options like this in generic powders.Further you cant tell that they are costly as most of the brands are giving discounts and buy one get one free offer also.
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
24 Oct 06
The store brands pretty much carry all the variations now, except the really expensive hypo-allergenic formulas. I was quite surprised. When I used store brand with our middle daughter all they had was with iron, with iron and dha/ara and soy. Now they have soy, soy with the dha/ara, easily digested stuff (equvilant to good start) and organic too. We use the plain with iron. Our last two didn't tolerate the dha and ara stuff.
@sunrisekn (1466)
• United States
2 Oct 06
When my son was born the hospital had him on Similac Advance with Iron. I used it for the first 3 months, then I lost my job and 22.96 per container was alot, so I asked his pediatrician about Parents Choice (Wal-Mart) and he said it was absolutely fine to switch him. It only cost 10.88 per container. Of course, I would have preferred to stay on Similac, but after my husband and I compared labels and the ped said it was fine we thought why not?
So, that's what we use now with no problems at all. On the label, they are almost exact in the nutrients and amounts.
I did sign up at similac.com for coupons, and every 4 weeks similac sends me a 5.00 check to use at check out.
