Store Brand Formulas vs. Name Brand: What's best for your baby and why.

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

Like it? Share it!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

By: Elizabeth Donovan, M.A.

We all want the very best for our babies. The best toys, the best clothing, and – most importantly – the best nutrition. If you’ve decided to formula feed, there are lots of choices and very little time for new parents to comparison shop for the best price.

Understandably, new parents are often shocked at the cost of formula. Name brands like Similac and Enfamil can be quite costly for the average household income and can run the average family approximately $600 more per year to feed their baby. So are the name brands worth it? Turns out, not so much.

Popular retailers like Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, and Babies R Us are competing with the formula giants to help cut the cost of formula while still providing the same value and nutrition your baby deserves. In terms of ingredients – store brand formula provides the same nutritional content as their name brand counterparts because the FDA has set stringent guidelines for the U.S. markets that require all infant formulas to provide the same nutrient specifications. The only difference parents will see is the price. Store brand formulas can afford to charge consumers less because they are not typically marketed or advertised. Thus, the savings gets passed on to parents.

Recent recall information:

Before you set out to purchase formula, it’s always a good idea to make sure there are no current recalls on any formula brands. For example, Similac had a recent recall issue in the fall. Specific Similac powdered formula was recalled due to the possible presence of a small common beetle. At the time the FDA announced that the beetle posed no immediate health risk to infants, but some infants could experience symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort (If you’d like additional information about the Similac recall, you may contact them at: (888) 376-2054). So be sure to buy wisely and check- as you would when buying anything for your baby – for any recalls.