Brand Name Versus Generic Formula

Hello S.,

I switched my 9 month old to generic brand formula about 2 months ago and we have not had any issues. I was suprised too that the formula was yellowish in color but I could no longer afford the expensive brand names. She only has a couple more months of formula and then she can start drinking cows milk, yipee!

We used Costco brand as well with no problems.

Hi S., I really don't think there is a differece, between the two, the name brands cost more cause you are paying for the name. What kind of formula did you buy, some formulas do have a yellow tint to them, I always tell new moms when in doubt ask the peditrician. J.

Hi S., i feel as long as your baby doesn't spit it up constantly you should be fine. I used even more generic formula than that and yes it was yellowish and my son is 2 1/2 now with no problems. It really depends on your little angel. Good luck S. c

I went from brand name to the Costco "Kirkland" baby formula.
I had no problems with it, same ingredients. My son also had no problems with the switch.. my Pediatrician said it's fine too.

For me I switched due to cost, and budget. As many perhaps do. I'm a SAHM, so any way to reasonably/safely/healthily save $$ is a help.

All formulas, will have a different appearance.. go by the ingredients. ALSO you want to make sure the formula has in it: 1) iron 2) DHA's in it (this helps with brain development/vision development etc. THIS is what my Pediatrician says is very important. If there is no iron in the formula, babies can get anemia. And DHA's are very important in baby/child and even adult development and overall health.

Good luck,
~Susan

Generic and brand name formulas are, for all intensive purposes, exactly the same. They are regulated by the FDA so strictly in what nutrients, etc they have that there is little to no difference- the expensive brands are more expensive for two reasons. 1) they advertise and send out samples, which the generics don't. And 2) many of them (although so do many generics if you look) have "extras" like DHA and ARA, but if you look it up you'll find that, while these are fine and don't hurt, they haven't been proven to be beneficial to babies in the long term. But most formulas have them, so it's really not an issue. I used the Target brand, and besides the fact that it's harder to mix it was fine. I used both the regular and the soy and had no problems with either. If you're ever bored in a library/bookstore pick up the book "What to Eat" by Marion Nestle and skim or read the chapter on baby food and formula- very interesting.

Hi, We loved the Sam's Club brand actually. You get a 3 lb. 3.4 oz container for $19.99. It is comparable to the Enfamil Lipil, including DHA and ARA. The Kirkland formula was fine too, however it was really foamy when I'd shake it up and more sticky if we got it on our fingers on accident... doesn't mean it wasn't good though. Those are the only reasons we switched to the Sam's Club brand. All in all, they really are all the same. Good luck. :-)

Some of my mommy friends swear that their child got more gas on the generic, while other moms swear that the gas went away on the generic.

I've always used brand name for both my boys. It cost more, but it was their main source of nutrition and I felt strange using a generic. But, that is me.

i used costco brand formula (after about 7 or so months of bf'ing) and my son adapted well to it. absolutely no problems.

rah