Formula - Aurora,IL

The best formula I have found is the Mom to Mom brand. It is at Safeway. I am a foster mom and every baby that comes into my care with spit up/gas problems and is on Similac or Enfamil have made a complete 180 when I switch them to Mom to Mom. It is usually $14 compared to $25 for the big name brands.

When we introduced formula to supplement breastfeeding and then when we switched completely I used costco's brand. I was blessed that my son had no sensitivities. It was equal to enfamil but was a third the cost.

Just to piggyback on the breastfeeding advice, many hospital lactation consultants aren't board certified - isn't that amazing? Make sure they have IBCLC after their names - makes all the difference. The one I had with my first daughter at Northwestern didn't help at all. The consultant I found through La Leche was a miracle worker. The biggest thing I learned is if you feed them and then they cry afterwards, it's not that you didn't produce enough milk - it's nature's way of telling you to put your baby back on the breast so that you produce more. With my second, I had a much more successful time at nursing armed with that knowledge - and while it seemed like he lived on my boobs for the first six weeks, it was well worth it! Best of luck to you!

I used Enfamil lipil, I liked it because it seemed to mix very smooth with no clumps, but I have never tried the store brands so they may be just as good. Maybe buy a couple kinds and compare the texture and such before you start?

Loved the Enfamil products plus the company will send you free samples if you call them. The nurse at the pediatrician's office said she wasn't suppose to say anything but said she thought Enfamil was better than Similac..However, I don't want to debate about it...You have to make the choice. Also, don't fee pressured into breastfeeding. If you can exclusively BF great choice but if you can't...I didn't choose BF because of medication I was taking. Chose the formula you think is best based on your research. I had to use Enfamil Nutramigen when they were born and once my kids transitioned onto solids I was able to switch to the regular Enfamil which they were able to handle quite well without gas or stomach upset. I am a little uneasy about generic/private label formula..I would hate to say they cut corners but you do tend to get what you pay for at least the majority of the time. I wouldn't go generic unless your circumstances only allow for that option. Best wishes and congrats on your impending birth.

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Loved the Enfamil products plus the company will send you free samples if you call them. The nurse at the pediatrician's office said she wasn't suppose to say anything but said she thought Enfamil was better than Similac..However, I don't want to debate about it...You have to make the choice. Also, don't fee pressured into breastfeeding. If you can exclusively BF great choice but if you can't...I didn't choose BF because of medication I was taking. Chose the formula you think is best based on your research. I had to use Enfamil Nutramigen when they were born and once my kids transitioned onto solids I was able to switch to the regular Enfamil which they were able to handle quite well without gas or stomach upset. I am a little uneasy about generic/private label formula..I would hate to say they cut corners but you do tend to get what you pay for at least the majority of the time. I wouldn't go generic unless your circumstances only allow for that option. Best wishes and congrats on your impending birth.

I have never used formula for my kids, but if I had had to because of a lack of milk I think I would have started with my pediatrician. He or she could probably let you know what is currently recommended and would have your family's health information in mind. I think formula is something that children can either handle as a generic or they require something specific, but you probably won't know until the baby seems to be affected one way or another. You could run your concerns about Similac by your pediatrician and ask what, based on your experience last time and current issues, would be best. It might also be a good idea to connect with a lactaction consultant (if you are delivering at a hospital they often have some who work there) and see if you can head off some of the breastfeeding issues this time around. Maybe there was some other issue that could be addressed, or not. Good luck!!

I used Enfamil Gentlease for my son, no clumping, easy smooth mixing and eased the gas in my son who also had acid reflux.Then I used the Walmart Generic brand and I had the SAME results at a fraction of the price.

I used Enfamil Gentlease with my first and I REALLY wish I had tried a few other store brands on him to see if they worked! With my 2nd, I used soy formula because anything lactose-based caused problems. However, I found out between the two children that the FDA mandates ALL baby formula have the exact same nutritional makeup so that poorer children don't suffer nutritionally from having to have store brands. You can compare labels and see. I used all Kroger and Target brand soy formula and it costs HALF of what brand names cost -seriously! There are exceptions -if you have a preemie and can't nurse or something there are highly specialized formulas your doctor may tell you to use. If not and your baby just needs regular or soy formula -go store brand -just always make sure that it's made in the USA.

Just an fyi - the similac recall shouldn't sway you against the formula. I know it's gross (larva found in formula = bugs but not bugs that transmit disease) but still nothing that would've harmed any child who consumed it. What's good is that it is made in the USA, they saw the issue and fixed it. Anyway, start with the basic milk-based formula of whatever brand you want. It can be store brand. I use Similac Sensitive for my son but also buy the store brand. If you buy a store brand do your research to ensure that it's made in the USA!!!! I continue to notice products that are made in China and I don't personally want to consume or have my family consume any food or drink from China, period. If you recall, in 2008 there was a private label formula recalled which was made in China. That actually caused kidney issues and children died as a result. That's just horrible.

I second the La leche and going there first, but I know how it is with little milk. I use Similac. I think that it's fine. They have recalled the problem ones and are now producing good stuff. I think that there is a risk with ALL products of recall. Just now I gave my information to Hylands Teething Tablets because they just recalled them. Joy. I wouldn't fret about it to much. BUT it also depends on your baby and what he/she likes. I did like Enfamil, but it has that formula smell worse than Similac. And My son didn't like Enfamil. So go with what you AND your baby likes. Good luck!!! :D

We have used Enfamil with both our kids. One recommendation, don't 'stock' up because you never know what formula your babies tummy will agree with. With my son we went from regular Enfamil then at 4 weeks needed to swith to Gentlease. With my daughter who is now 4 months, we switched 5 times before going back to regular Enfamil addind probotic drops. We usded 3 different Enfamils and 2 Simalac products. It just depends what works with your baby. Good luck.

I used the Up & Up/Target brand purple gentle formula. It is the same formulation as Enfamil Gentlease for about half the price. My daughter thrived on it until she moved to milk at 12 months.

i say you do a lot of research to find a great breastfeeding group now, that you can start attending to have all the support you need when your next one comes. only 1 in a 1,000 women have a true milk production issue...most are created by doctors giving you the wrong advice. they are not lactation consultants, they are not educated in the workings of breast feeding. please find a La Leche League or a hospital breastfeeding group around you and begin attending now.

I don't know anything about formula but I just wanted to chime in. I recommended a breastfeeding class and getting in contact with a lactation consultant so you get a refresher. Every baby is different and you may actually be able to produce sufficient supply this time around. Get a good start and that will be your best chance of breastfeeding. Start nursing within the first 30 minutes if possible and don't use any bottles until baby has had plenty of practice latching on. I encourage you to try to succeed with breastfeeding before resorting to formula. I also commend you for trying to be prepared. Good Luck! and Congrats!

I love the parent's choice formula. my son is on similac from wic, and he eats more than they give so i use the parent's choice afterwards. he has no problems with gas or poop when he eats the parent's choice...

All 3 of my kids have been on formula almost exclusively and we have had very good results with the Sam's Club brand formula. It is labelled as "Compare to Enfamil". We have used both the regular and the gentle formula and both have worked out great for us. They sell it in a really big can and it is only about $20 per can and I think a can makes 89 four-ounce bottles. Our 7 month old goes through 3 to 4 cans per month. He weighed 10 pounds, 15 ounces at birth (at 38 weeks) and he weighed 23 pounds, 2 ounces at 6 months, so he is a big baby with a big appetite!

We used similac and our daughter did very well, and so did my nephew and my cousin's daughter. My other cousin used the Target brand and her son has done just fine with it. The key is to pick one and stick with it. Switching formulas up on your baby is a bad idea, it hurts their little systems.