Enfamil Vs. Members Mark Vs. Target Brand...

Updated on August 13, 2008
M.I. asks from Saint Cloud, FL
24 answers

I really would like to save money on formula. I'm currently using Enfamil, which is costing $100 a month. I've just ordered a free sample of Member's Mark formula -- its the Sam's Club brand. I've also seen someone make a comment on this website that the Target Brand is just the same as Enfamil. Is this really true? I'm a bit concerned about giving my kid a formula that is much cheaper than all the other formulas since it's his only source of nutrition. Any thoughts?

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K.H.

answers from Pensacola on

Hi! I used the Target brand and it worked great! I used the Enfamil GentleEase..It's the puple one. I have twin boys so it really saved me a lot. I always joked that I gave them cheap formula but spent a fortune on diapers because everything leaked excpet pampers. You can compare the cans and they are the exact same. There is NO difference besides the label. I say if you live close to a Target then by all means go with the Target brand. Much cheaper!!

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C.J.

answers from Jacksonville on

my son could only drink soy formula and I forget what brand. But to save money I called the company and told them how much my baby loved the formula and they sent me coupons. Also they would send me certificates for free cans of formula from time to time.

I hope this helps

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P.B.

answers from Orlando on

I wised up after many months and used the Target brand. My daughter actually did better on it (less spitting up).

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C.H.

answers from Jacksonville on

Hi M.,

My daughter just turned 8 yesterday and I had her on the Member's Mark formula when she was an infant. Like you I was concerned about the difference in name brand formula, so I asked her pediatrician. She said there was no difference in the formula. And there was no sence in spending more for the same thing. I checked the ingrediants and they were practically identical. My daughter is healthy and happy. Never had any problems at all.

C.

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S.W.

answers from Orlando on

Hello M.,

Pretty much the generic brands are the same as the brand formulas. I have not tried the Sam's brand, but the Costco brand (Kirkland) is great. My daughter has been on it for about 6 months and she loves it. Hope this helps.

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T.K.

answers from Jacksonville on

Definitly go with store brands! SOOOO much cheaper and exactly the same. Compare the labels, ask your doctor, they will say its the same. I started on enfamil and was overwelmed with the cost. I have used walmart brand as well, but prefer Target. Targets regular formula is 11.49 or pretty close to that and walmarts "Parents Choice" is around the same price. Save money and go with the store brands. You will wish you would of done it sooner!

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A.M.

answers from Panama City on

Hi, I am on baby # 3, he actually just got done with formula. If you read all the info on the back of all of those cans, they are made at the same company just distributed to the different stores with different names. I used them all for all of my kids and they are healthy giant happy kids:)The nutrition lables are the same as enfamil and similac. When I was on WIC here they gave us carnation good starts and it was clumpy and he didnt like it. I went back to walmart and bough thim the Parents choice and we stuck with that. They also have Kuddles at Winn Dixie. If you are military the PX/BX has the same type of stuff too.

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M.D.

answers from Jacksonville on

I used both the Target brand and Parents Choice (which is the Walmart brand). If you compare the labels side by side you will see they are exactly the same. I did notice that the store brands were a little more difficult to mix up (clumped a bit more) but that was about it.

I checked with my pediatrician before I switched and he said there was absolutely nothing wrong with using the cheaper store brands. It's quite a savings!!

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S.K.

answers from Pensacola on

I used the Walmart Brand for my 10 yr old and 6 yr old. I checked the ingrediants and they are the same. I was told by a friend that the same factory makes both formulas. The powder is put in a can with a different wrapper. I don't know if that is true, but it sounded likely to me.

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T.R.

answers from Pensacola on

There's nothing wrong with buying store brand formula. The FDA is pretty strict when it comes to food guidlines. If you look on the back of each can they all contain the same thing, just in differing amounts. I raised my daughter on Wal-Mart brand (Parent's Choice)which has been the most cost saving formula that I have seen. She is perfectly healthy and has never had a problem with drinking store brand formula.

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J.S.

answers from Orlando on

Hi Melisssa, I'm sure you've heard this by now, but the FDA HEAVILY regulates infant formulas and baby food, ets, so the generics pass all the same standards without the fancy packaging. also, look at the Manufacturers' info on the can, it's the same address as the name brands, ergo, same stuff, different box. absolutely try it, we all have to watch our dollars and cents these days. god bless and best of luck to you!

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I am not familiar with Target or Member's Mark but when ours were babies (after discontinuing breast feeding at 6 months with one and 3 with the other) our Ped. said that Carnation was just as good. If I remember correctly, they had one formulation for infants and one for babies a little older. We used it and they liked it fine, and it was MUCH cheaper. Our kids are the healthiest kids I know (10 yrs and 7 yrs now). I imagine that the other "off" brands are fine as well, but if you have concerns, your doctor is the best source of information. The good ones (doctors) actually keep up to date on this sort of thing and will be happy to help you find the best choice for your baby...
If you are curious, go to Target, pick up a container of each, and read the labels side by side...

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B.P.

answers from Orlando on

My son is breastfed except for a nighttime bottle and my doctor said that the Target brand was just fine. I switched from Enfamil to Target and he's doing great. I slowly made the transition (started with 1/4 Target 3/4 Enfamil then upped it from there every other day). The slow transistion made it easier on his tummy. I've not had a problem and it's a heck of a lot cheaper! Good luck.

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J.C.

answers from Jacksonville on

enamil is good but good start the wic gives you is just as good ... if not better enfamil gave my baby a hard time...... if you haven't already try applying for wic ....... but i definatly recommend good start formula... altough its not a generic it is cheaper than enfamil... but the generic should be the same.... and just as good as the pricy stuff

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K.W.

answers from Orlando on

FDA has really strict guidelines on formula and most generics have a name brand "equivalent." But some babies take better to some brands and different formulas better than others.
I do know that it is good to find just one that agrees with your baby and then stick to it. So if the member's mark or Target brand agrees with your baby--go for it!
BTW I used to buy the Enfamil powder in the giant can from BJs that saved a lot too, but I'm sure going the same route with a generic brand would save even more money.

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L.P.

answers from Jacksonville on

all you can do is try and see what happens. I have an 8 month old who was breast fed but didn't seem to get full enough so we started supplementing with Enfamil because we had a lot of free samples. He seemed to spit up more and have gas so we tried Similac Sensitive. We saw a slight change but nothing drastic and at the same time, he still didn't seem full enough. Next we tried Enfamil A.R. which has a rice starch that is supposed to keep your baby fuller. Well that stuff would not mix and my hungry baby would get very upset while I tried to unclog it. Finally, we were in Wal Mart one day and saw that their large can is like $11 cheaper so we tried their Parent's Choice Gentle and it's great! He spits up less and it mixes great. I absolutely had my reservations at first about store brands, especially when it had a distinct smell, but we tried it and it's been working for 3 months now. Good luck mama!

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B.L.

answers from Jacksonville on

we wanted to do the same thing when my son was on formula. we always used the members mark brand, bc it is so much more for your money, and jayden did fine on it. good luck!

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R.W.

answers from Orlando on

I had the same problem. I switched to the Target brand and used Member's mark, both of them made my son break out in a rash and constipated. The process of these two are different, the doctor said the machines they used must have contained what he was allergic too. I bought the Enfamil Nutramigin and he thrived on that. Try it out, but if the baby is acting different, change back. The Nutramigin was $25 for the small can and he consumed about 1 1/2 a week, so I know your struggle. Sometimes pinching a penny is not always a good thing when it comes to your children. Cut costs on something else.

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S.J.

answers from Gainesville on

Formulas are very highly regulated by the FDA so even the generic brands pass the test. You are just not paying for all the advertising and perks given out by the name brand companies!

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C.T.

answers from Gainesville on

Hello M.,
I don't know from personal experence but , My best friend/ sister in law has switch from similac to the target brand and said she hasn't seen a difference in her daughter. her daughter is 7 months old and is thriving. just thought I would put in my input . good luck !!!!

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K.D.

answers from Orlando on

Hi..I have a 17 month old boy and I used Member's Mark for him when he was a baby. He spit up with that formula maybe twice. I think it was the best thing I could have done to save some money . I mean you have diapers, wipes, food etc... You should always look for the best bargain. BUT>>> even though it may be cheaper that doesn't mean it is not as good as the more expensive brands. FDA has very strict guild lines. So read the back of the different formulas and you will see that they have the same thing in them. My son has only been sick twice and has only had one ear infection. Hope this helps and good luck!

I am a mother of two. Two sons, eight and seventeen months

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E.F.

answers from Jacksonville on

My son is 19 months and healthy as can be. I was worried about the same thing, but I'm a single mom and formula was very expensive. So I switched to the Wal Mart brand, Parents Choice, and he was fine. It took a second for me to get used to it because I had many concerns, but I talked to my doctor and noticed that he was perfectly healthy even on the cheap formula. I would say don't worry, it's going to save you a good chunk of change in the long run =) Good luck!

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J.J.

answers from Jacksonville on

I have used the 'no name brands' before and compared the ingredients. The ones I compared are the same as Enfamil. (I use that on from time to time...I breastfeed as well.)

The only difference that I see in the enfamil and the no-name comparable brands is how fine the formula is ground up.

Nothing wrong with trying them to see if your baby will like them.

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F.R.

answers from Pensacola on

Brand is not really relevant when picking a formula. The thing you don't want to "switch" between without consulting anyone is the type. Such as with iron to no iron or soy, etc. I've got 4 kids and they've all had different needs. Some needed soy and I was on WIC, so I got that free. One of mine needed to have the ready to feed liquid form so he would spit up less. That was definitely not free and there were no off brands for that. The youngest started on the similac, then enfamil because those are what I got most of the free checks for. Then when the samples and free checks ran out, I switched to generic. I've never had a problem. And he has medication allergies, but no response to formula changes.
Save yourself some money and go with the more cost-effective brand. As the other moms said... look at the back labels... they've all got the exact same stuff in it.

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