Thanks for all the responses. I appreciate everyone's advice. I am definitely going to try to use the brands we have at home, b/c I hate to waste them and buy more of "our brand" which is so expensive anyway! Really glad to hear that a pediatrician said switching was okay!
Okay, I switched from Similac Advance to just Similac with iron (which was 1/2 the price) over the weekend with no problem. Thanks again for all the advice!
Switch to the store brand equivalent should be no problem and will save you a bundle. Brand switches may cause her some belly problems...I think similac advance is sim with iron.
Our pediatrician told us that switching formulas is no problem, however, my son reacted horribly when we switched him from Similac to Enfamil (he had "the runs" and was fussy all day). Give it a shot...the worst thing that happens is you continue with the Similac! :)
I did, all the time. Every baby is different of course. I always tried to pick the cans that said "advanced", but my kids always had a different store brand at any given time. I honestly don't know if the added iron will make a difference. I'll guess she'll "tell you" if she doesn't like it!
Hey M.
I think it depends on exactly what the switch is. Similac Advance has Iron and DHA and ARA. Similac with Iron does not have the DHA and ARA. If you feel like her sources of DHA and ARA are adequate from other sources then it shouldn't be a problem. If you are switching from brand to brand for cost purposes what my pediatrician had said was that brand to brand you just have to play detective to figure out which is the same formula because they are all pretty much the same as far as the name brand formula's go. Similac and Enfamil both have an Iron/DHA/ARA formula which is milk based, both have a Soy based, both have a formula for digestive problems and for preemies etc etc. The store brands may not have the same amount of certain ingredients or vitamins/ minerals as the name brands. Basically you have to read the labels and compare ingredients. Have fun with all that!
Why are you interested in switching? Just curious. If she's doing well on the Advance, why change? I would check w/the ped before switching. Good luck!
My pediatrition said it doesn't matter the brand of formula as long as it still has iron in it. Check the labels and make sure the nutritional requirements are still the same percentage.
I switched all 3 of my kids with no problems. I did it because when I was pregnant with all 3, I got quite a few samples of different brand name formulas, and hated to waste any. I would kind of mix them up a bit (a little powdered Enfamil, and a little powdered Similac) until it was all gone. Then to save money I switched to the generics. My pediatrician said that most of the generics on the market are acutally made by the brand name manufacturer (look for "Ross" or "Wyeth" on the label). My kids had no problems with these.
I know where you're coming from. I'm all about the store brand formula. My daughter (now 8 months) originally was on Similac Advance from her first week, because breastfeeding just didn't work for me, and that was the first formula sample I got in the mail. The pediatrician said to stick with it to be consistent. The name brand was getting so expensive, even from Sam's club, so I talked to the doctor and she said that I could try the store brand and it shouldn't be a big deal. Maybe after she was about 3 or 4 months probably we started on the Member's Mark formula from Sam's club (I wish I had known about it sooner and I could have saved a ton more money!), it's way bigger than the Similac or Enfamil cans, and it's only about $19.95. It is vitamin by vitamin exactly the same as Enfamil, it just uses a different oil so the powder is a little different consistency when dry. My little girl is growing rapidly and I have absolutely no qualms about giving her the store brand, because all formula is FDA regulated to meet the nutritional needs of babies. Enfamil actually even sued the makers of the Sam's Club formula because they said it was an unfair competitive advantage selling it at such a low price point, which just goes to show that they are defintely comparable. And if the Sam's club size is too huge for travel, you can pick up the Walmart brand (Parent's Choice) which is the exact same thing with a different label and it comes in smaller sizes. Best of luck with the formula switch if you decide to go for it! :)
After you check with your ped, you might find that it makes an easier transition if you slowly switch-- we would do (for a 6 oz bottle) 2 scoops of the old formula, and 1 of the new for a couple days, and then 2 scoops of the new and one of the old for a couple days. They can have digestive issues if you just switch them all of a sudden.
No, you should be able to switch with out any problems. Just make sure the ped. is aware and you should be fine. Be aware that she may not like what you switch her to, so it might take time to find the right one again. Buy the smallest cans you can find. We switched my son around four or five months because they discontinued his formula...he was on Similac Low Iron (medical reasons). I hope you make out well.
C.
you can do generic formulas. i bought the generic of infamil lipil. i bought it at bj's and i bought a big can around 3 lbs for $20. sam's club also sells the generics.
You can switch no problem-just use the the current formula and add one part new formula to three parts of the old brand. Continue adding more new and less old every 4-5 days or so. She might have a little constipation. If this is the case, give her more time to get used to the new formula by waiting a week between the adding of more new brand of formula for the old formula, new formula ratio. Good Luck! R. C
You can always try. She just may get bound up with the added iron. My daught couldn't have any other formula than what I started her on. She would projectile vomit. My son on the other hand was fine as long as it's the same brand.
Be careful about switching to a formula "with Iron" unless directed to do so by the pediatrician. For a normal, healthy baby, too much iron can cause constipation. The regular formulas have as much iron as baby needs already in them. And I may be wrong, but I think Similac Advance is the "regular" Similac formula, but these days there are so many different kinds and variations, its so hard to keep track. I would run your decision to switch by the pediatrician first and see what he/she recommends. Good luck!
Consult your doctor before you change formula's. That's what I have always done. Congrats!
