Moms who formula fed - how does this work?

[brymolmom]

Wanted to add DEFINITELY do not warm bottles - room temp all the way from day #1 and they never know any different. It was by far the simplest and best advice I received from another mom before I had mine - and I passed it onto others and they also loved it. Never having to ask to have it warmed places and never having to think about it - priceless. All I would do before leaving to go somewhere was pre-fill a couple of bottles and fill the divided powdered forumla containers with the right amount. Then when we were out - plop the pre-measured formula into the pre-filled bottle - shake a few times and the baby's eating away! SO EASY!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I just wanted to say how happy I am to see a thread like this -- when I had ds we tried BF and it just didn't work for us. I was made to feel like such a failure, and coupled with postpartum hormones, I was afraid my baby would be behind everyone else and sick all the time.

Turns out, he tests off the charts for intelligence (and height, who knew?!), and he's (knock on wood) never ill.

Congratulations on your new baby, and enjoy every moment of those precious first few days!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Not all babies can take all formulas, so I would recommend trying out some at the hospital. They should ask you if you have a preference, if not you could ask for a specific kind.

We had both babies on Enfamil Lipil and they were fine. DD started on Similac in the hospital, but we made the switch to Enfamil (really pleased with the brand) and that's what she's been on ever since.

 

[LoveKermit]

Just wanted to add---

we stopped using the bottle warmer pretty much when we went to all formula (3 months) and did room temp. We did an on-the-go day in NYC when DD was 3 months and we just filled a water bottle with nursery water from the store and added powder.

The ready-to-go bottles didn't come out till she was about 6/7 months. We ended up buying these on vacations because she could drink the whole thing (no measuring), the math was easier (how much to buy), and then there wasn't any to take home. I always had the to-go powder packs with me just in case. Forgot about those.....

But at home, Similac "milk" powder from Costco.

 

[connorlevismom]

Wow - such great, supportive advice from everyone! I fully expected to be eaten alive for admitting I was FF from the start. It is so nice to not have to deal with that and just get good sound advice about what I am asking about.

Thanks so much for the advice about the room temp water. I am FOR SURE going to give that a whirl, it seems like it works great for lots of moms!

Kristine

 

[tadamom]

If I were to have to do it over again, I would not warm the bottles. Room-temp is just fine. My nephew is 8 months old and my SIL is still warming his bottles to warm and that is just too much for me (just my opinion). With DS I had to warm them b/c of the ready to feed formula but with DD I didn't since I used powder.

 

[barrett7890]

hi, can't say anything about the hospital bit as i'm in the UK so it may different!!

BF didn't work for us and we were FF before we left the hospital. As the milk they gave us was at room temperature I never heated my daughters when we got home, and she was fine. I have to say, made the night time feeds much easier!!!! no having to run down and heat a kettle!

cami
x

 

[ccgirl]

Just wanted to add that I used room temp bottles for both my children and LOVED it!!! People would look at me crazy when I didn't warm them up - MIL especially. I asked if there was a medical reason to warming the bottles and that is the last I heard of that. With my DD6 I had to use somewhat special formula - Enfamil A/R. It had rice starch and she had reflux so that helped. With my DS1 1/2, I used BJ's brand at $19 for an enormous can (compared to $28 for the can 1/3 the size). I did ask the pediatrician and she said if you hold the formulas side by side and read the ingredients 99% are exactly the same. If the baby tolerates, there is no need to use the more expensive brand. Again, all pediatricians are different, as are all babies, parents, etc. Good luck with your new baby and have fun. I am still amazed at how quickly it goes by.

 

[Piecey]

. or currently Enfamil as it has the WIC contract and so it is the default. If you are using WIC you should start the baby on the WIC formula as it is the only formula they will provide until there is clear proof your baby needs something different.

Similac is the WIC formula here.

Definitely check with your state if you're eligible for WIC. We're not, and I always get a bit frustrated when I look at those "WIC Approved" stickers when I get DS's Similac.


That said, room temperature all the way! Lucas has only ever had room temperature and he doesn't care.
He also couldn't tolerate the formula (Enfamil Lipil) the hospital started him on. Actually, he wouldn't even eat it... so they switched him to Similac's Isomil Advance (soy) and he's doing great!

They should have everything there that you need... and then some.

 

[maraki527]

Dont forget to register with all of the formula companies so that they can send you coupons and free samples.

 

[emma'smom]

Just wanted to say that we always microwaved our bottles to warm them and I know lots of others who do this too. We had to experiment to figure out the appropriate time for our microwave, but once we had it...we just shook it well to even out potential hot spots. We never had an issue with either kid. Also, we would give them room temperature and switched formulas occasionally (using the free samples that come in the mail occasionally when we ran low on formula and didn't want to run out to the store). Our kids were very flexible since we did this from the beginning....

About room temp--absolutely and go for it. All the babies at the hospital are fed room temp bottles. If you have city water you do not need to boil the water. You can mix powder with water right out the tap, you can choose slightly warmer if you want. If you are concerned about your water, the age of your pipes or you have a well you can get a water test kit from the county, I think WIC , or you can purcase one. Never micro bottles. If start your baby with reg temp from the get go it makes it easier because you do not need to warm the bottle and can prepare one anywhere.

 

[LWatson]

I've seen WIC in diff states have diff things. Here in TX its Similac. In TN it was Nestle Good Start. In KY it was Enfamil (I believe). In ND it was Nestle Good Start. If you are going to use WIC see what they are giving and I would say start with that. If you are going to buy it all then start w/ what you want if they have it at the hospital. I know we werent able to bring in anything when I gave birth. I was planning on BF but I just dont produce (yeah 2hrs of massaging them, pumping, etc we didnt get ANYTHING out) so I gave them the WIC formula. Corbin had to change to Enfamil Nutramagen (just hope you dont have to pay out of pocket for that at $25 a can).

 

[Piecey]

Just wanted to say that we always microwaved our bottles to warm them and I know lots of others who do this too. We had to experiment to figure out the appropriate time for our microwave, but once we had it...we just shook it well to even out potential hot spots. We never had an issue with either kid. Also, we would give them room temperature and switched formulas occasionally (using the free samples that come in the mail occasionally when we ran low on formula and didn't want to run out to the store). Our kids were very flexible since we did this from the beginning....

Not all kids are going to be able to do this.

They started DS on Similac's soy formula in the hospital because he wouldn't eat the regular stuff. (He's got a lactose intolerance, we figured out that was why he wouldn't eat it- upset his stomach)
I never got checks/coupons/samples NOTHING from Similac so I used a Good Start check I got to buy their Soy formula. Everyone told me that as long as I stuck with the type (soy/sensitive/whatever) it wouldn't matter, they're pretty much the same thing.
No way on this planet will I ever do that again. A change that small-- just the manufacturer!.... upset his stomach/caused more blood in his stool/made him the fussiest kid alive.
Switched back to Similac soy and he's fine.

 

[momofrrr]

I was never interested in BF either. I tried with my first because that is what all my inlaws did and thought it was horrible that I would even consider anything else. Well, I never had any milk and he was starving so we went with formula and never looked back. I think night time feedings are my husbands favorite memories. On more than one occassion I found them snuggled up in the recliner when I got up in the morning and none of my SIL ever complained about their chance to sit down and give the babies a bottle. They are all 3 perfectly healthy (and were during their childhood, I can count on one hand the ear infections between the 3) and intelligent. They do well in school and are very athletic. Go with what works best for your family and don't worry about what anyone else has to say. They don't live your life. Good Luck with your new little honeybun!

 

[Jdougherty]

We used Similac with DD who is now 18 months and is at 24 monthold Learning level. I tried to BF, we had issue, I pumped for 6 weeks. I now know what a dairy cow feels lile LOL . I like Similac because we could get the larger cans of powder at sams or cost co, daycare would provide it, when the FDA did the testing for melamine it came out the lowest or unable to detect. Plus they have a bridging formual that aides moves from the regular to milk at 12 months-24 monts.

 

[Ephany]

We were offered 3 choices in the hospital, the Similac, the Enfamil and Good Start. DD never would breast feed and my milk supply dried up within weeks (even with pumping regularly) so we used Enfamil until I found out that she liked the Costco version just as well and it was $ compared to $$$ for the Enfamil. Good Luck to you! I took a lot of $#@ from strangers for not breast-feeding, even though if was none of their business why we couldn't. Oddly enough my family was very supportive, probably because DD was the first grandbaby on either side and it meant more cuddle time for them.

 

[Saturn23]

I was planning on BF but had major problems with it so the hospital provided Enfamil lipil. My son loved it! Poor baby was starving and dropping weight for two days before we tried it. He was on that for about 8 months until we switched to Enfamil lipil Premium (I guess that's the new version of it, and it seems like they might phase out the regular version so we were probably going to have to switch anyways). He didn't have any problems switching and the new version dissolves SO much better than the older version. I never warm my bottles either. He doesn't seem to mind. If I try to warm his baby food jars he makes a face and doesn't want them.

 

[millerpjm]

It looks like your question has been answered, but I did want to chime in my support for FF. DS was FF, and he's smart as a whip! Also, my favorite benefit of bottles was that everyone got a turn! Grandpa especially got a kick out of giving my DS his bottle....I have some darling pictures of the two of them snuggling over a bottle.

Congrats!

 

[pooh4evr]

I also exclusively FF all 3 of my girls- we didn't microwave either- just room temp tap water with powder. We used about every type of formula from Similac, Enfamil, and Parents Choice (WalMart brand) and all were fine! Good Luck!!

 

[lissawynn]

I used formula with both of our children. My son, 4, drank Enfamil, and my daughter, 2, drank Similac. The hospital provided us with the formula and sent us home with some, too. FWIW, I bought the generic Similac/Enfamil at Wal-Mart and Sam's. It saved us a fortune as both of our kids were serious eaters. Both did very well with the generic brand, and we never had any problems because of the switch. Also, be sure to sign up for coupons on the formula company's website. I still get coupons, which I pass on to my co-workers.
Good luck!