Is it okay to start buying formula early?

Question

My baby girl is due in nine more weeks and it is expensive!! Plus I love being prepared!! Any suggestions on what kind is best for a newborn??

Answer 1

I personally wouldn't do it because you never know what kind of formula your newborn will require. Some babies are allergic to EVERYTHING and require realllly expensive formulas, such as Alimentum. You won't know until the baby is born.

If I'd stocked up before my babies were born, I'd have been making LOTS of exchanges because I'd have gone w/a basic formula like Similac or Enfamil, when it turned out all my babies had milk allergies and required Isomil or Prosobee.

But if you want to take that chance and stock up, more power to you! Maybe you'll luck out and it'll be the right formula for your baby. If not, be prepared to cart all that formula back to the store to exchange it.

Answer 2

If money is a concern for you (like everyone), I hope you'll give breastfeeding a try. There is support out there (free) and you're already prepared. Breastfeeding is also what happens to be best for a newborn, and every baby. It's also good for your health. I recommend breastfeeding mostly because I can't stand the thought of making and cleaning bottles. Bottles are a hassle; I wouldn't wish that on you. Congratulations and good luck!

Edit: bored, are you suggesting that the risks of formula were invented by the press, or do you think that I forgot my meds this morning? I can't speak for anyone else, but I support mothers. My sister bottlefed. It's a shame that she missed out on something really cool, but I'm not calling anyone names over it. We insist that breastfeeding is best because it is. Most babies thrive on formula. It's weird stuff. Would you rather drink freshly squeezed orange juice or Tang?

Bored is right about one thing. Breastfeeding saves resources. No packaging, transportation, manufacturing, refrigeration, warming or money wasted on replacing real milk. Breastfeeding is the ecologically sound choice as well as the healthy choice. Who could argue with that? Someone who owns an oil company? I stand by my answer. If you really want to bottlefeed, I won't name call. You were concerned about cost and quality, so I suggested the cheapest and highest quality method there is. Breastfeeding is really cool.

Answer 3

I don't know what your income is like, but have you looked into WIC(Women, Infants, Children)? It is a government program for babies that will provide you with formula, as long as your income is below the required level. Call your local family services agency if money is a problem. As for formula over breastfeeding, formula has everything your baby needs, so don't feel bad about making that decision. It won't be your last as a parent. Your baby can be perfectly healthy on formula. Babies who are breastfed stand just as much chance with the common baby problems as any bottle fed baby. I have seen it first hand. Don't stock up on formula, you may get the wrong kind. If you choose to breastfeed after reading the OPINIONS posted, good for you. Just don't let anyone bully you into a decision.

Answer 4

Stocking up on formula can be a problem. I did that before my first child was born, but then she couldn't have that formula. I had to exchange all of the formula and they would only take what had been purchased within the last 4 weeks with a receipt. Many people receive free formula through WIC and then try to return it for $$$ so the stores have become fussy about returning formula. My first child I nursed for only 3 months and then went through 3 formulas before finding one that worked well for her. My second child I nursed for 9 1/2 months and couldn't supplement with any formula, she wouldn't drink ANY of them. If I wasn't nursing she would have been forced to eat formula... fortunately this wasn't an issue.

Answer 5

I wouldnt stock up on tins of formula, what if the brand you buy doesnt agree with your little girl. Maybe instead get an envelope and put away each week what you would spend on formula that way when the baby arrives you have the money there ready for a purchase or just thought instead of putting the money in an envelope instead when you go to the store buy a 'gift card' with $20 on it or whatever is the closest amount of $$$ to your formula that way you still have the money there to spend not just on formula but other baby needs (nappies/wipes) Good luck with the birth - how exciting!!!

Answer 6

I wouldn't do it. You don't know what kind of formula your baby will like and tolerate, and most stores *won't* let you return formula, even if it's unopened. So either way it can be expensive. I'd recommend looking into getting samples either from your doctor, or from the websites. (Enfamil and Similac both send free samples, but Good Start you can only get a sample through your doctor).

And like others have mentioned, breastmilk is free, and it really is the best. I'm not trying to guilt you into breastfeeding since I'm a formula-feeding mom myself, but it is something to try if you can. (I had to stop breastfeeding myself two weeks after my son was born for medical reasons.) But no matter what your choice, your baby will get good nutrition. Breastmilk is best, but formula is just as good.

Answer 7

Breast milk is the best-- and the cheapest!
I'd check out La Leche league on the web, try to go to some local meetings, and get all the info you can (since you like to be prepared), and then seriously think about it, at least in the beginning.

And no, I would NOT recommend buying formula early. Being that formula is not a newborn's natural food, some babies will not tolerate certain formulas. You may have to experiment a lot to find what will work. (Yes, this gets expensive.)

Answer 8

I started my now 19 month old, on solids when he turned 6 months. You can buy starter cereal and baby jar fruit jars, its perfectly safe. If your baby has teeth try giving some real food mash-peas, tiny minced chicken. Its also dependent on weight factor aswell, if your baby weighs enough sometimes that could be a go ahead aswell. watch for spitting up, the first time I gave my son cereal before 6 months it was too heavy for him and he vomitted it up. NOT NICE, and since your baby is already 9 months, its more than ok to start. But if you want to keep your mind at ease, go see a health nurse or dietician. at my visit, the nurse told me at 6 months its ok. whole milk should be given when a child is near 1 years old. I gave my son whole milk at 11 months old, before that I gave him formula. Now I still give milk, but also supplement him with enfagrow toddler formula so he gets complete nutrition.

Answer 9

Breast is best, but it is your choice. Not all children like the breast, and not all women can produce enough milk. Don't feel guilty because of what others are saying. I have 3 kids. Each one took the breast differently. I found that Soy formula was a safe alternative, however, not all babies can tolerate soy. I would just set aside the money you plan on spending on formula for the next 9 weeks. You never know how she'll react. Another mom made a good point, diapers and wipes are expensive. Stock up on Newborns and size 1. Pampers and Luvs are the best. All 3 of my kids leaked out of Huggies. Good luck.

Answer 10

Stocking up sounds like a good idea in theory. In most cases it would be okay but if your baby is allergic to the kind for formula you stock up on you could be out a lot of money. So I wouldnt buy too much. Don't let all these people make you feel bad about not breastfeeding. It is a personal choice.