Seeking the formula for parenting

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Monday, September 25, 2006

The Big Decision Part I: What Formula Do I Give My Baby?

I have been asked the question in many encounters with other parents: “Oh you formula feed?” (If it’s asked by another formula-feeding parent, the questioner usually has a relieved looking expression). “What brand do you use?” Just like breastfeed moms can bond over tales of sore nipples and mastitis, formula feeders inevitably compare notes on brands of formula and bottles. I think all of us are looking for that golden elixir that really will be just as good as breastmilk, and be on sale and come with coupons too. It would also be nice if it would guarantee that our kids would be well behaved, pick up their dirty socks and get into Harvard. Unfortunately at press time none of the formula companies were offering that guarantee. Of course the best choice ultimately depends on your child, but I have learned some tips from formula feeding two children that I plan to spread out over several posts. So now for the big moment (deep breath): What type of formula do I give my baby?

With my older son (OS) I used Similac Advance with Iron. At the time he was born, my hospital gave Similiac to boys and Enfamil to girls. They switch every year. The hospital sent us home with a nice amount of the 2 ounce Ready to Feed bottles and nipples, and OS did just fine with them. When he ended up in the ER due to a large weight loss, we were given Enfamil Nursette Ready to Use Bottles. We used those too. In fact, because no one ever really talked to me about formula, I gave him both brands interchangeably, sometimes one right after the other. He seemed just fine. However, when I happened to mention this to a nurse at OS’s pediatrician’s office, she told me to just pick one brand and stick with it (more on that later). We picked Similac because we had more samples.

When OS was about 11 months, he got the stomach flu and threw up Similac. He refused to take it after that. I started give him Nestle Supreme because it’s supposed to be easy on the stomach, and it was cheap. They also gave out great coupons. OS thrived on the Nestle for the rest of his formula feeding stage.

When younger son (YS) was born, the hospital had switched its marketing strategies, and now the boy babies were given Enfamil Lipil. Fantastic coupons from Nestle Supreme have tempted me on more than one occasion to consider switching. However, YS has done so well on Enfamil that I’m scared to rock the boat. The Enfamil coupons aren’t as good as their competition right now, but it is tough to argue with a happy and healthy baby.

Despite the preference for staying consistent in what formula is used, I know many children who have had to switch brands at least once during their infancy. While any questions ought to be directed to a pediatrician, in my experience the best approach to choosing formula is to stay with what is working at the current time.

A. Elliot’s Lesson Learned: Just because you used a particular formula with one child does not mean that you have to use it with the next child

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posted by Alex Elliot @ 10:49 PM   3 comments
3 Comments:

  • At 9/25/2006 11:10 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I'm curious, what's the rationale about giving boys and girls different formulas? Is it a random thing given your hospital switches year to year?

     

  • At 9/26/2006 7:20 AM, Blogger A. Elliot said…

    The way it was explained to me is that the hospital gets the formula for free and it's just how they decide to distribute it in a way that's fair to both formula companies. Now that Nestles makes the pre-made small bottles, I'll be curious to see if the hospitals start handing their formula.

     

  • At 9/28/2006 12:41 PM, Blogger Suzanne said…

    Craziness. Another annoying way to gender kids and remind folks that boys and girls are "different." Or at least I think that is what they are doing. If they want to be fair, they can just give a different brand to every other kid. Harumph!

     
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Name:Alex Elliot
Home:MA, United States
About Me:Professional Mom of two cats, a dog, an ant farm, and oh yeah...two boys: a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Also found in my house is my husband who is known on this blog as The Big Giraffe.
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For those of us who didn't get an instruction manual with our babies and for whom parenting hasn't always gone as planned. On a more serious note this blog is about supporting a woman's ability to make her own choices about parenting including the choice, for whatever reason, to bottle feed her babies formula.

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