Name Brand Formula Vs. Generic

Save the money!! If the labels match up, go for it! That goes for Tylenol, Advil, most anything! We've got to save the green whenever we can!!

There is no reason why you should not buy generic/store brands. They are pretty much the same and usually if you look close enough you'l see they're made by the same company!

Happy Shopping!

Hi K. I use the Walmart brand of formula instead of the name brand stuff and it has worked really good for me my son is 7 months old and that is all I have ever used for him it so much cheaper especially the powdered

Hi K.!
I used Targets Brand as well. I read the nutrional value and ran it by my piediatrician and we have had no problems. My daughter didn't have any digestive issues, but didn't have any from the beginning either. So, if you are not brand loyal and your child doesn't have any digestive challenges, then I would go for it.

Best of luck!

I used the Enfamil while my sister-in-law used the Target brand with her son (who is only one day older). Her son had a lot of digestive issues, while my son never did. I don't know if it's related, but it seemed like the only difference was their formulas. Also, after using our formula on a family trip (they ran out of theirs), their son was very fussy when they tried to get him to take the Target brand again. This is my only experience with this - hope it helps. = )

Take a close look at the Target one. It's made by someone -- usually, generics/store brands are made by the same companies that make the brands. Crazy but true.

One of my best friends asked her pediatrician the same question... he said the Target brand is pretty much the same.

Hi, after exclusively breastfeeding for eight months I slowly introduced formula to my daughter. We used Enfamil Lipil, after she was used to it and weaned from me I then tried the Target brand as it was half the cost of the other. After using half a can she broke out in a rash on her back and diaper area. I hadn't changed anything else I was using but the formula, so I stopped using it and the rash went away. All I can say is try it and see if it works for you.

we use the target brand of similac for our Lo. We have been on it for 4 months and have no complaints. Lo still is healthy and his weight gain is appropriate. I would say try it! We had no problems getting it into solution.

I used and still use the Target or Walmart (parent's choice) brands of formula for both of my kids. My son who is now 3 actually tolerated it better than the Simalac. I am all for it. Another thing you may want to consider is Sam's or Costco brand. You get a bigger can. It is all FDA regulated and like you said, all the nutritional guides are almost a perfect match. Advertising usually plays a big part in marked up prices. Just be sure to get the iron and DHA. Best of luck with your baby boy.

Good morning fellow mom,

I used the Wal-Mart brand with my little girl, and she was great. I like yourself looked at the nutritional values and they were almost exact so I went with it.

Have a blessed week,

I would get the small can to try first- I tried to do the same thing and my little one wouldn't drink the generic. It also doesn't mix as quickly (or to me it didn't).

With my daughter who is now 3, after a few months on the expensive name brands I switched to the Sams Club generic brand. I too checked all the ingredients and they matched up exactly, and we had no issues on the generic brand. I am now 4 months pregnant and plan on starting on the generic formula much sooner than I did with my daughter to save money. I believe when you buy name brand you pay for the "name", and with the generic you do not have that extra cost, but get the same product. So in my opinion, I do not see why you would not use the generic brand. I hope this help!

Hi K.,
I did the same research on brand and generic formulas. We like the Enfamil Lipil. If you can get to Sam's the larger can of Member's Mark has the identical ingredients and amounts as the Enfamil at nearly half the cost. We found that the Member's Mark was actually a better deal all around because the quantity was greater and the price was cheaper than the brand name. Try it out. There's no harm in comparing the labels side by side. Ask your child's doctor if unsure.

No idea.... the only thing I ever noticed was the generic brand was harder to use, it clumped together and got lumps in it. Other than that they are pretty much the same!

I always use the generic formula. Never had a problem.

I personally don't think there is any reason not to go with the less expensive brand, in fact it just might be the same exact thing. From my understand, some manufacturers make a product that will supply a product for more than one company.That means, Similac, Enifiml, and the Target brand may all be the same thing.

Go for it!!!!! There is no difference, unless your baby needs to be on a speical formula. Walmart is also good and if your baby is having problems with gas walmart has a gentle formula that is great!

I switched my daughter to Target formula at 12 weeks - she is doing great and it is literally half the price of comparable Enfamil I was using. My doctor gave the okay as well

I remember Clark Howard mentioning this. He used the Costco brand...he didn't use the name brand formulas. They are pretty much the same thing and you can get it cheaper without having to pay for the name. Go for it!

With my second, I used Kroger brand and got double points with the baby club! Never had a problem.

Hi! I am sure that they are chemically similar but you may want to combine some of the top-shelf brand w/ the generic to easy the trasition from brands in the begining, this was my husband's suggestion( he is a chemist/Pharm D.) Hopefully you are nursing also? I am a R.N. Lactation Consultant, let me know if you have any questions? Good Luck!

Just as with everything else that's name brand vs. generic, there is hardly a difference! Sure, there are a few things that I choose to purchase the name brand over the generic, but for the most part, I am a generic buyer. Just a quick glance around the kitchen will prove that point in my house. If everything matches up on the label on the Target brand as the name brand, then go for it. Save the $10, think of this...after buying 5 cans, you've saved $50!!

If you're still not convinced, next time you're at the pediatrician, ask him and I'm sure he'll say it's perfectly fine.

I'd switch, they are all basically the same. Our doctor even recommended buying the cheapest kind. My son actually preferred the generic Walmart kind. He had no problem switching between brands. Hope you son likes the generic kind too.

Just as with Generic medications, the ingredients are almost identical. Also, they have to meet the same nutritional standards set by the FDA as the name brand ones. I used generic formula for my last two children and they are perfectly healthy! No problems at all. Save the money - use generic!

My happy, healthy daughter was on generic Wal-Mart formula as soon as the free similac samples ran out! They have to meet all of the same guidlelnes and her pediatrician said there was absolutely no difference nutritionally. If I were you, I'd save that $10!(and you may want to check Wal-Mart b/c theirs was even cheaper than Target when I bought it)

I asked my pediatrician about upon meeting him for the first time when I was pregnant. He told me to use Similac or Enfamil, no Nestle or store brands. These two manufacturers hold themselves to higher standards than the FDA.

I don't know of any reason to use the more expensive brand.

From personal experience, compared to cheaper brands (never used Target's brand), Similac was always much easier to mix-up because it didn't clump together quite as badly.

Also, you may be able to get an even better deal on formula from Amazon.com along with free shipping for orders of $25 or more.

God bless!

HI K.,
I had the same question when my daughter (now 2) was on formula. I was stuck on using name-brand soy formula. Then I started doing research like you. I did switch to the Target brand soy formula and saved tons of money! But I switched slowly. I bought the smallest container of the target brand, and would mix it with the enfamil each bottle, slowing increasing the target brand and decreasing the enfamil. I noticed no difference in the way my daughter took it once we were finally just on the target brand. Hope that helps!!