Generic Formula

Not only are they "basically the same" -- they are EXACTLY the same. When my oldest was born I did not like the Similac we had been started on and asked my pedi about it. They told me that WalMart brand and Similac (or Enfamil, I forget now) are exactly the same -- made by the same company with two different labels. Most other generics you will find the same thing -- made by the same exact company as one of the bigger names with a different label.

I had really good results with Nestle Goodstart for my two kids. Smelled better and less gassy than the bigger names. Plus I got on the company mailing list and they sent me tons of $11 and $5 off coupons which made it comparable to a generic.

You have absolutely NO reason to feel guilty. Often, the generic brands of products are made in the exact same factory by the exact same people and the only difference is which label they put on it in the end. The reason for the price difference is ADVERTISING. Enfamil and Good Start pay for magazine and television ads, etc. whereas generic brands don't. Generic formula has the same nutrients and the same ingredients.

As mothers, we have plenty of different things to feel guilty about; don't let this be one of them.

funny, I felt the same way. With my daughter I gave her Similac advance for the whole first year. I had several friends who had used target brand ans swore by it but I was still feeling guilty. I spoke to my pedi as others wrote and he said that the formula industry is so heavily regulated that they are all virtually the same. In fact, the reason that it is exactly the same as the ingredients for Enfimil is becausee enfimil makes it and puts a target label on it and sells it for half the price.
Good luck!

Hi C.,
Absolutely use the generic formula. There is no difference in generic vs. brand name except for the hefty price that those formula companies make you pay. I too felt guilty at first switching from the brand name to generic but my daughter thrived on generic formula as she did on the brand name. I had my daughter on the Target brand and the Parent's Choice brand. My daughter is 14.5 months old and doing great in all aspects of development. I highly recommend to all my moms in the infant support group I run now to buy generic and save your money for something else you would like to have. Hope this information helps.

Mom to a well rounded thriving developmentally 14.5 month old who totally is FOR GENERIC FORMULA.

T.

I stopped breastfeeding my second baby at 6 months of age because I had to have a radioactive treatment. At that time, our pediatric nurse practitioner told me to buy the store brands of formula because they were all made by the same manufacturer and they were closer to breastmilk than the name brands. That daughter never got anything but store brand formula. She's eight now and doing very well. Hope this helps!

Relax - if you checked the ingredients and they are listed in the same order, it is virtually the same product without the marketing costs. it is likely that it was manufacuted inthe same plant - next time you are comparingthel abels compare where they were made too. We pay the extra $$ for nationally marketed products and very oftenthe generic of store brand is made in the same plant with the same ingrediants as the name brand product. you are not shortchanging your little angel, you are saving where you can to provide for your family and you are nto harming anyone.

we used generic with our second and there was absolutely no difference except the PRICE! The ped agreed and sid there is NO difference so save the money and buy yourself something for you!

All formula sold in the US has to pass the same tests

15$ is alot of money if the ingredients is the same go for it...... don't feel guilty your pediatrician may also have some samples and i bought my formula at bj's in bulk that was also alot cheaper as long as baby doesn't rejuect the taste.... go for it and at 12 mths you get to switch over to milk heay!!! mother of 14 11 8 and 22 mths K. d

C.,
Legally speaking, the generic formulas have to have ALL the same ingrediants as the brand name. There are minimum requirements that all formulas have to have in order to be sold in the US. I breatfed as long as I could and when my daughter just gave up (lack of supply), I went to the BJ's brand of formula. It, too, is the generic form of Enfamil.
As long as your baby can tolerate the generic, that use it!!! Every baby is different and the same goes for what she can drink for formula or what kind of diapers she can wear.
Good luck to you and don't feel guilty. Why spend almost double for the brand name when the generic is exactly the same?

Take a bit of the savings and put it away for your children's education and you won't feel guilty any more!

I used BJ's and my son is fine! LOL Don't waste your money on the name brand.

Hi C., we did the same thing - our daughter was about 7 months when we switched over to Target and it's totally fine. Same ingredients, she does not react differently at all. I was fine switching over, our daycare provider suggested the Target brand so she obviously knows many moms who have done the same thing. We still use the enfamil sometimes for the special sizes (travel packs), and using those on occasion doesn't bother our daughter one bit.

C.,

Your child will be no worse for wear because you've gone with a less expensive brand of formula. Your little girl will be just fine and hopefully she'll take to the less expensive brand. After my first was about 6 or 7 months old I went for a cheaper brand and she is fine and turned out just fine. Don't be upset or worried about. Just think of how much you just saved and put that money aside for a rainy day! :)

C. - I used BJ's brand generic through both of my little ones. You're right - it's exactly the same. Please don't beat yourself up!

Also - generic diapers are great too. I used BJ's or Walmart brand diapers with both - again, huge savings over the brand names.

D.

When I noticed the huge price difference, I called my Pediatrician to ask if there was a difference between the brand name and BJs brand. They told me that they are all the same. If you need reassurance you can always call your pediatrician.

Good luck

Don't fret! Store brand items are just as good as name brands! The ingredients can be/are the same. Half of the time, store brands ARE name brands that were surplus and were bought, cheap, by the store.

Go ahead, check the ingredients, I'd bet my life there isn't any difference!!!

Crista dear, if the ingredients are the same, in the same amounts comparing the generic and the Enfamil, why do you castigate yourself so?
Relax.
One has to do what one has to do these days with the economy so unstable.
If you and your doctor are satisfied that the generic company is producing a formula exactly the same as the brand name....then STOP !!!
Relax and pat yourself on the back for saving all that money.
Best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell

Hi C.,
I am a mom of 3 and I used Enfamil with my first 2. My third I decided to try Parents Choice. It cost 15- less and was absolutely fine. I had checked with her dr before I switched and they told me it was the same thing only cheaper.

I did the same thing with my second child as well. I felt bad at first, too, but he is perfectly healthy and happy, he never even noticed that it changed.

I used to buy the Walmart brand - Parents Choice. It cost me less than $14 for a huge canister. If you read the labels, at least the Walmart one had it, it had a chart that compared the national brand versus their brand and it was identical. In fact, I think that Parent's Choice had more of one or two nutrients. Don't beat yourself up over trying to save money in this awful economy. You are not depriving your little girl of anything. In fact you are providing her more by freeing up some money to buy her other things she needs!!

I'll keep it really simple.

We used TARGET's baby line all the time. (Diapers & wipes are really good, too. And I think at the time the most inexpensive around!)

We did use their formula. And I can attest that my daughter did not suffer. She is bright, intelligent, and very healthy.

All of these products have to go through strict tests and adhere to industry wide standards.

But.. of course, consult with your pediatrician & keep them in the loop !
Go for it, though. Do not feel guilty.

Good luck!

we used the costco brand (kirkland) and it seemed to make our daughter less gassy than Similac (which is what we were using). It was half as expensive and our daughter did just fine on it!

you are totally fine hun! it is ok to use the generic - i promise. my oldest had such a hard time when it came to formulas - that i tried them all - top brand names, prescribed brands & yes, even generic brands - and my son is 100% fine. =0) dont worry about it! i say do whatever you can to save money in these times - when i had my 2nd child - i too used generic b/c it really DOESNT matter - it's all the same .... enjoy being a mom - you're doing fine. Have a great day!

I know what you mean about feeling guilty- it's the Mom's way of life! But try not to feel too badly about using generics. Most of the time they are no different. You compared labels so that means you care about ingredients- and I would say that's a sign of a smart and frugal mom- not one that should feel guilty.
All formulas must meet nutritional guidelines- so any one you choose is safe. Just stick to one brand only- and don't switch around.
Be proud that you are providing proper nutrition for your baby and saving money for your family! Maybe each time you buy a canister of formula- you could put away that extra $15.00 in an envelope or separate bank account. I would bet that at the end of your daughter's formula feeding days- you'll have a little nest egg that will make you feel pretty good about your decision!
-S.

Our pediatrician said its the same stuff, and said it was no problem using it. I went and got BJ's brand for $20 for one significantly bigger than Enfamil!! We used it for several months with no issues.

Hi
No worries! I have 4 kids, the first I nursed an used only similac. The next round was twins which I did not nurse, and it was too expensive so we used either Costco brand or parents choice from walmart. Our fourth, who is the only girl and is soooo spoiled still only got parents choice from walmart. All are fine and developed the same! Good luck!

I was just like you at the beginning with my first child. We started using brand name formula but it was so expensive that we changed to the generic ones with no problems. My husband and I are both pharmacists and realized this is just like using generic prescription medication. In fact, with some of the formulas the same company makes both the generic and the brand name one. You can use generic, save yourself some money, and cause no harm to your child. Good Luck!

Don't feel guilty! I did the same thing and with my second went straight to the cheap Walmart brand. My kids are very healthy 8 and 4 yr olds. Money is an issue, esp. now a days. You child will be fine.

H.

I used the Enfamil w/ Lipil when my daughter came home, too. That's what she was on in the hospital so I continued to use it. But, as time went on we had to switch to the Walmart Brand because of finances, etc. I consulted my doctor prior to switching and he was perfectly fine with that. In fact, he's convinced they are all the same and most likely made in the same plants! Don't worry about using a generic. With the money that you will save you can provide other things that your children need. BTW, my daughter is 1 1/2 and very, very healthy. She has only had 2 colds her entire life, eats great, sleeps well...Good luck!

I used the Costco version of Enfamil for 6 months with my youngest and it was fine! I compared the ingerdients and they were exactly the same. Much cheaper and worth it!! Go for it! And yes, my daughter is 21 months now and great!

A lot of store brand stuff is actually made in the same factory just a different label. You are paying for the advertising when you buy name brand. So don't feel bad at all.

Hi C., I understand what you are saying on the guilty feeling, with our first he had name brand everything!! From diapers to formula to clothes and toys. Well, when the twins came along, we had to make a decision that was best for our whole family and that was to try and save money in every way we could. The twins drank generic formula, used generic diapers and even shopped for clothes and accessories at walmart/target that allowed us to have money to do some of the extra fun things that were nice for all of us together! And my kids are still well-fed, clean diapered, cute as a button in their clothes kids! It's hard to feel like you are not giving to one like you gave to the other...but really your love is what they NEED! M.

With all the stress in the world, don't add more to yourself. Check with your pediatrician but I'm sure the generic formula is perfectly fine. Relax for now, there will be plenty of time for guilt later, like when they say, "But, MOM, all the other kids have an XBox, why can't I?"

I just switched to Costco formula and also read the ingredients and amounts and saw that it's almost the same as what we were using. don't worry about it. It's just a marketing issue, not a real difference in quality. I'm sure the generic brands have to hold to the same quality standards.

To be honest. I used the target brand after one month. and It made my son less gassy than he was with the enfamil. We were at a friends house a few months later and they said instead of running to the car to just use theirs cause it was the same ( enfamil) and he hated it. He liked the target brand better. and My dr actually told me about the target brand telling me that it was exactley the same but MUCH cheaper so i should use it.

Hope that helps.

B.

I gave my daughter generic formula almost from the beginning. The Costco brand, talk about cheap! It's absolutely fine. In fact, like with other foods, the same manufacturers make the generic brands as the name brands. If your child can tolerate the brand, then it's fine!!