Name Brand Vs. Store Brand Formula

I felt guilty too for considering switching from Enfamil to a grocery store brand (Meijers). But all ingredients but one were the same and listed in the same order. The vitamins and nutrition were the same as well. Plus the Meijers' brand was about $10 cheaper! So, we switched and my daughter had it for probably the last two months she was drinking from a bottle. Now, I have a 4 month old and we're using all the free samples (Similac, Enfamil) slowly as she's only supplemented with formula up to one time a day. But when that runs out, I'll be heading back to the generic stuff.

I used the Target brand for both my kids with no problems. Loved the lower cost! Most of the generic brand formulas are made in the same factory as the name brand anyway. Try it.

I used the enfamil soy formula for almost a year before i was willing to try the target brand. My son had some medical issues so he had to be on formula longer than usual. I had no problems with the switch, my son seemed to not even notice. I would try it.

I used Target and Kroger brand formula for my son. I had switched from Enfamil and had no problems whatsoever. He was on the Gentlease because of acid reflux it worked out great. The price savings was unbelievable!

We used the Sam's brand with no issues. Ingredients/nutritional value was the same as what we were using. Price savings was terrific!!

I myself haven`t used it-I think I was scared to switch too.(my youngest is now 6 yrs.) I do have a daycare, and have had a couple parents switch to the Target brand with absolutely no problems at all! I think you could try it, and if there aren`t any problems GREAT! But if you notice the baby spitting up more or crying more, then switch back to the Enfamil.

I would still watch this as I am finding the "up and up" brand at Target is NOT the same as what the 'target' brand used to be. My husband purchased some gummy vitamins for my son and when I took them, on an empty stomach - it was like eating regular gummy candy. Most times when I eat gummy vitamins (name brand), I feel a bit sick in the tummy if I do it without something on it. And I compared these vitamins to the others (that make me ill) and the labels were the same - there was less sugar in the 'Up and Up' brand. Doesn't always mean it works the same.

The same can be said for the paper towels as well. Target used to have very nice store brand towels that were rather durable. Now, the 'Up and Up' version fall apart if you just look at them the wrong way (so it seems) and they are very, very linty.

Just something to bear in mind~ It's great to save and I will not be against saving money, but just be aware that after Target has changed recent, so has the quality of their store brand items.

The FDA regulates the nutrition content of all formulas sold in the U.S.
When you read the cans you will see that the store brands say things like "packaged for/by........" That means that some other company is making the formula and packing it in the store brand containers.

All of the store brands are regulated just as the name brands and are made by the name brands. It is the same exact stuff. Why do they do this? well, they want as much $$ as possible, and price the name brand stuff higher so that those people who refuse to use anything but name brand will pour the $$ into their pockets. And they still make $$$ off of the store brand and the poorer people.

Go ahead and switch. Our ped. dr told me that she used the target brand formula for her 2 kids. :-)

Use the store brand my doctor told me to use the target brand. She said it was the same but cheaper. If you have a Sam's club membership you may want to try the members mark brand there. I used it with my second and third children and had no problems and saved a lot of money

Try it! I sent my hubby out to get formula once and he came back with the Kroger brand. I crinkled my nose and protested. "This isn't good enough" I proclaimed. "It's the same stuff" he insisted. "I'm not going back to the store."

I was trapped, I had to use it. My daughter didn't notice a difference. She was just happy to eat! From then on it was store brand for me, and my wallet was happier for it =).

I would start with a small container of it. That way if she doesn't react well to it you won't have spent as much money.

Good luck and Happy Saving!

Hello! From the time she was little we used to Sams brand, it was like $19.30 for a 2 or 3 lb jar of it, so cheap! We never had any issues with and and they even compare it to Enfamil on the back label! Save yourself some money!

I used Target brand soy formula with my 3rd child and I wish I would have done it with the first two! I had no problems with it. I was leary as I had tried the Meijer brand with my son and not only did it look totally different (it was yellow) but he did not tolerate it at all.

I would highly recommend the Target brand formula, it's a great value plus you get one more excuse to go to Target. :O)

God bless!

If you do decide to switch, you may want to do it gradually. When I switched formulas, both of my boy refused to drink the bottle. They were too accustomed to what I had been using. When I made the bottle with the old stuff, they drank it up w/o a problem. Also, when switching, I actually encountered more spit up b/c of the change, so don't be suprised. My boys I guess needed time to make changes. Just something to look out for.

Its the same. Honestly, if you can save some money, I would give it a try. Diapers on the other hand, be careful.

I'm with everyone else - use the store brand! As a first time parent, we used Enfamil but once my daughter (our 2nd child) came along we decided to try the Sams brand for the savings and it was just fine!

The formula is the same and is typically made by the main brands but labeled differently to make them a little cheaper. There were many times I couldn't afford to buy Enfamil or Similac and bought Meijer brand. Good luck.

Hi S.,
We used both the Target brand and the Meijer brand formula for both of my daughters without a problem. My youngest had a very sensitive stomach the first few months and would spit up with horrid gas constantly. We switched to the playtex nurser system (with drop-ins) and after that, gas and spit up were not an issue anymore. Convently Target also makes their own brand of the drop-ins you use with those bottles. :) Merry Christmas!

Use the store. It's regulated by the FDA just like the name brands. Our pediatrician said there is no difference, and we used the Meijer brand.

Hi S.:
I had the same issue and was using the exact same formula as you. I checked with my doc and she said the genaric brand is fine. We use Meijer's verison of Enfamil and it's the exact same ingrediants as the Enfamil. The Meijer version is $14 and I believe the Enfamil is around $24. My son is 9 months old and we have been using the Meijer brand since he was 2 months old and have never had a problem.

Hope that helps!

Take care,
H.

Hi S.,

PBM Nutritionals manufactures the Target brand formula. They also make their own formula brand which is Bright Beginnings. Bright Beginnings is one of the best formulas. The only issue is that it cannot be bought in stores anymore as Walgreens no longer carries it. You have to order it online at Diapers.com. I used BB formula for my oldest son who is now 4 because he had tummy troubles with most of the formulas on the store shelf. His pediatrician suggested BB--and it worked. This brand of formula tastes good, doesn't smell bad, mixes easily and doesn't bubble like Enfamil. Now, my baby also had issues with Enfamil and Similac, so I switched to BB and voila!, issues no more:) For a 25.75 oz. can it costs $17.99 at diapers.com. If you order 3 cans, shipping is free ($49 or more). I encourage you to read the reviews on this brand of formula on diapers.com. If you place your order, the formula arrives 2-3 days via UPS or Fed Ex. I think it's worth it:)

M.

We used Costco Brand. We didn't start using until 9 mon. It was fine, should have used it from the beginning.

Just checking in to see how she transitioned.

My first son did GREAT on the Target version of Gentlease, but my second did not. So, I thought I'd check in with you.

Hi S.,

I used the Target brand formula and LOVED it! With my first baby, I refused to use "store brand" formula. Nothing but the best for my son! I had breastfed him for the first 6 months and had only supplemented with formula a few times before that. But once my daughter was born, I had decided to stop breastfeeding after just 5 weeks, which meant I'd be spending a whole lot more on formula over the course of an entire year, not just 6 months like with my son. I had read a lot of good things about the Target brand formula and had decided to give it a try. So glad I did!

Not only is it cheaper, but it turns out I actually PREFERRED Target brand over Enfamil. If you shake a bottle of Enfamil formula, it gets all bubbly / foamy and stays that way. But if I shook a bottle with Target formula in it, it got a little bit bubbly, but those bubbles disappeared in about 2 minutes!

Check the prices of the Target stores you go to...I've learned that some Targets are actually more expensive than others! The one I went to at 23 & Gratiot was only $11, but the Target at Hall Rd & Schoenherr was $14!! I asked an employee why, and she said it had to do with...well, I forgot the term, but it basically came down to Target basing their prices on the other local stores and what they were selling their store brand formula's for. Sure, I can see a big price difference between two different stores an hour away, but 20 minutes away? Oh well, I just stuck with the cheaper Target store!

And you're right about the ingredients being the same. My doctor told me it was perfectly fine with her, which made me feel better about the switch to store brand. Hope this helps!!

D.

I can understand your wanting to save money, but here is some "food for thought". Just because they appear to have the same ingredients doesn't mean the quality is the same. If your daughter is right where she should be and is spitting up less frequently, isn't it worth the extra money to have her healthy?

If you do decide to switch, you may want to do it gradually. When I switched formulas, both of my boy refused to drink the bottle. They were too accustomed to what I had been using. When I made the bottle with the old stuff, they drank it up w/o a problem. Also, when switching, I actually encountered more spit up b/c of the change, so don't be suprised. My boys I guess needed time to make changes. Just something to look out for.

infant formual is highly regulated by the FDA .. It must mee minimal and maximum standards for nutrtion. Store brands are equivalent to name brands..

some babies may do better on one formula or another.. but that is jsut the babies system. Your baby is probably outgrwoing spitting up.. They all stop spitting up sooner or later.. my son was breastfed and he spit up for 14 months.. every single day..

go ahead and try the store brand save some money..

however I cant recommend store brand diapers.. they dont work as well as the name brands..

Hi S.,
I have 6 kids and I used Meijer brand formula with one of my kids, she is actually the best eater of the bunch so far and by far the healthies. I don't know if it's the native american in her or what but she is the one child that only seems to get colds, and not often. Our doctor has told me time and time again that they are find, that the same companies make the store brands it's just sold for less, because parents will buy the name brand for more. Dump us right! lol Also if you are looking for deal babies r us/toys r us do deals when you buy so much you get some free, if you have one of their rewards cards, they do it with diapers too. I'd say use the store brand and save the money:D

If you checked everything and all the stuff is normal and the same percentage that do it if its cheaper try it out if she starts having problems again go back to lipil if not than continue with the economic things going on you have to do what you need to do.

It has been a while now but we used the Wal-Mart brand with no problems from the day they came home from the hospital. Other than the freebies you first get that was all we used. Who do you think makes the "off-brands"? The same companies that make the name brands!!!