Question for those who formula feed...

[jo&sean]

How much do you spend on formula each month? DH was asking and I have no idea. I know it may vary depending how big of an eater your baby is and what brands are used but I am just trying to get a general idea.

TIA :)

[Chylynn]

We spend 23.59 a week for Similac Advance with Iron, but we try to use $5 coupons whenever possible. I always share other Formula coupons that I don't use because formula is so expensive.

My DD eats 27oz of formula a day and she is 3 1/2 months old.

[SlvrPhenx]

Before Ds was 2 months old we were spending about $50 every two weeks, but he was on Alimentum which is really expensive.

Apperently the middle months are a blur but from 9 months to 1 yr we spent $35 bucks a week but we also used Isomil ready to feed which is a little more expensive than regular formula and more expensive than powdered.

If your lucky you can get WIC and then get your formula for free. We werent lucky

[twinnyme]

he was on Alimentum which is really expensive.

So is DD (6 months) and we got insurance to cover it. Our pediatrician wrote a prescription and we get ready-to-serve free each month (5 cases of 6 jugs each so 30 jugs). Now that she's eating more (about 27-31 oz. a day) we run out by the end of the month but since I'm used to ready-to-serve we still sometimes buy that (which I think is about $8 per jug for 32 oz) and I think the powder is about $22 - but I don't know how many oz. it makes because I've never used a full jar of it.

[BTB]

Generic formula with DHA/ARA costs less than $50/month. It was discussed some in this thread: http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=2685&highlight=generic+formula

There has been some discussion as to whether generic formulas ought to be downplayed as the accessible price might discourage breastfeeding, to which all formulas are inferior. I've found that most formula-feeding parents elect to use it for reasons unrelated to cost, thus the high cost isn't a deterrent but for some families is a real struggle.

The only advantage to national brands is the variety of types of formulas available: thickened feeds for babies with severe reflux, hydrolyzed formulas for babies with sensitivities, and so on. Store brands are usually only available in four varieties: standard milk-based and standard soy-based, each with and without DHA/ARA.

[Brady]

We buy Enfamil at Walmart, it's $21 a can there. I haven't had to buy it without a coupon check yet (I have them in $3, $4, and $5 off), when I run out of coupons, I'll probably switch to generic!

Anyways, I didn't start really using formula until I went back to work (at 3 months), his daycare actually provides the formula during the daytime bottles, so I'd say we are currently spending about $60 a month.

[Phen]

I would buy six or so canisters of Similac Advance from amazon about every 5-6 weeks (cheapest online: $21 and free shipping), but I would also use the checks to buy canisters and RTF at WalMart (cheapest in local stores: $22.50).

I hate to sit down and figure out how much we've spent on formula this past year. LALALALA don't make me! I'm not listening! LALALALAAA!

~ phen

[jo&sean]

Thank you ladies! The info is very helpful and gives me a general idea. You have me cracking up Phen - I have been going over baby costs on a monthly basis and not an annual basis. Monthly seems so much more manageable :p

[emschwar]

So is DD (6 months) and we got insurance to cover it. Our pediatrician wrote a prescription and we get ready-to-serve free each month (5 cases of 6 jugs each so 30 jugs).
Just FTR, not all insurances will cover specialty formula. Noah takes alimentum (but not full time, we BF and supplement, so it works out to about 2 cans a month) and our insurance (Aetna) won't cover it unless there's a state mandate requiring them to (and there's not).

If we were to feed Noah alimentum full time, it'd be upwards of $200 a month. Yikes.

[April1234]

Lily is 8 months old and takes Alimentum although we are weaning her but this is what she left the NICU on at 3 1/2 months. She has been on it full time since then. We pay $250 a month. Thank goodness that weaning is going well and she hasnt had any reactions to the Similac Advance. Our bill will go down to $120 a month when shes fully weaned. :)

[DanaLynn]

I would say we spent about $125 a month. I always used the checks we got in the mail and as pathetic as this sounds I used to buy the coupons off of Ebay. The pediatrician always gave me like four cans at every visit.
We used Enfamil Pro-sobee.

[linda_loo]

I think we bought 3 cans of the generic (at Costco) each month... so we spent around $90/mo.

[Sarah]

If your lucky you can get WIC and then get your formula for free.
Not sure I'd call being low-income enough to qualify for WIC "lucky." WIC also supports BFing moms with extra food coupons, BTW.

[jo&sean]

Was that last comment really necessary?

[Sarah]

I am just saying that being low income is not "lucky" and it's kind of a flippant, hurtful remark.

[jenn0911]

I used Target brand soy formula...It was half the price of Enfamil and Isomil and Similac.