Generic Formula??? - Plano,TX

Updated on May 24, 2011
Z.M. asks from Plano, TX
23 answers

My baby girl is almost 4 mos and is on Enfamil GentleEase...I am wondering if anyone out there has used the generic formulas and if your child had any issues with it. $$ is tight for us and I'm looking to save where ever I can - but don't want to do anything that might not be the best thing for her. Thanks!

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K.W.

answers from Dallas on

As stated before, look at the back and see many are from the Same factories. We liked Sams, Wla Mart, and CVS best. I only used generic with all three kiddos after breast feeding. My pedi said don't waste the money on the brand.

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J.G.

answers from Dallas on

My pedi told my that the name brand and generic (he especially stated Walmart brand) are produced in the same factory just a different label is put on the container.

More Answers

G.T.

answers from Modesto on

Read the label. Most generic anything is equal to the name brand.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.K.

answers from Madison on

I tried the Target Up&Up brand and liked it.

1 mom found this helpful

T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

Are you signed up to receive the checks from Enfamil? If not I would recommend it they help out a ton. You can also call them and ask for a free sample and they will send you a free can. Sign up all of your friends and family members to get even more checks. Also check out ebay for coupons.

With these checks and coupons the name brand is usually cheaper than the generic formula. Just some fuel for thought.

1 mom found this helpful

K.D.

answers from Sacramento on

Generic brands are required to be equal to name brands. I love the jumbo huge mega tub of Kirkland formula from Costco. OK, I may have exaggerated the size, but its about double the size of the regular Enfamil tub for around the same price!

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

We used the Up and Up (Target) brand of the Similac with our daughter and it was the same exact thing. In fact, we did not have to worry when the recall happened last year because it was not the Similac brand. We asked our pediatrician and he said to compare the ingredients but they should be the same and it was fine. If you have a Sam's Club membership they sell the Club brand of the Enfamil GentleEase there for 1/2 the price.

G.W.

answers from Orlando on

Sorry if I'm repeating, haven't read the other responses....all infant formula is regulated by the FDA and must meet certain nutritional requirements...all three of my kiddos used generic formulas, their pedi was adamant that it was fine and that parents way overpay for formula with the main names (think of all that advertising that's done all day long on TV, who pays for that?? You do when you buy their cans!) Anyway, give it a try, it could take a couple days to get adjusted to a new formula so don't freak out if you notice a change in "gas patterns" or poop :-)

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

We didn't use generic with much luck because after switching from breastmilk to formula the girls were very picky. They only liked the Carnation Goodstart. We had good luck with my middle daughter who was a profuse spitter upper (which we didn't realize was lactose intolerance, we were told it was just "bad reflux") with Carnation Goodstart Soy.

It's the least expensive name brand and is really gentle on the digestive system. If you go to their web site you can sign up for some really valuable coupons, many of them as much as $5 and $10 off per powdered canister with lots of $2 coupons.

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L.H.

answers from Dallas on

I used the Target brand on both of my babies. Both of them are perfect and healthy. Check the ingredients and nutritional values on both containers, you'll see they have the same nutrients.

E.S.

answers from Asheville on

After the girls left the NICU and the Neosure they sent us home with ran out, we just couldn't afford to stay on Neosure with our twins, so when the pediatrition said we could try something else as they had reached a normal birth weight, we started trying others.
We liked GentleEase, but not the price and everything else seemed to make one of the twins vomit.
Parents Choice (WalMart brand) Gentle was the one we used. DD still vomited, but not near as much and it ended up being a milk allergy. The Gastroenterologist said that the only reason she didn't throw up every day was because the proteins that she was allergic to were broken down small enough that her body could handle them for a little while. (Pediatrition kept telling us it was reflux! Glad I listned to my mom instead!)
LSS- we now use goat milk, straight from the farm, unpasteurized, and she loves it! It's the closest thing in nature to human milk.

S.R.

answers from Kansas City on

I have never used generic but I have always heard wonderful things about Parents Choice Formula. (Wal-Mart Brand)

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

My pediatrician said the generic is the same, BUT, if your daughter is on GentlEase for a reason, I'd check with her doc before switching to the cheaper stuff, only because if she's already having a hard time with formula, and even though it's still technically the same stuff, you might not want to confuse her little belly.

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D.P.

answers from Greenville on

Love the Target Partially Broken-Down Whey brand. I think it's equivalent is the Enfamil GentleEase. My daughter definitely took this the best after the "Great Similac Recall of 2010". She was breastfed, but due to medications I had to take for a mrsa infection, I had to stop. She did great. Give it a try. It's around $20.00 for the value size (2lb).
Take care!

C.S.

answers from Redding on

we used enfamil with our son, then noticed the Parents Choice (Walmart) brand had the same ingredients and was 1/2 the price. We switched and never had a problem. Try finding a generic brand that is comparable to the formula you use now and gradually switch over.

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S.S.

answers from Daytona Beach on

i used enfamil with my oldest until the very end and she actually did better on the generic. it seemed easier on her belly. it didn't look as good as the enfamil, seemed lumpier at the time but that was 6.5yrs ago. when my son was born the generic (i used walmart) it looked a lot better and he did perfeclty fine on it.

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S.P.

answers from Seattle on

depending where u live and ur financial situation you can apply for WIC. i was on it with my daughter and they supply 9 cans a month for the child. it was a huge help since i was a single mom with very little income. WIC is a lifesaver for some people. if you are not able to get on WIC then i agree with Racheal D and consult her ped doc. some babies have issues switching formula. hope this helps. Best of luck.

M.M.

answers from Chicago on

Target and Cosco brands do just fine for us! (And at less than 1/2 the price!)

My kids were on Enfamil until their little digestive systems matured, and then I went cold turkey to the cheaper generics with no issues.

S.H.

answers from Spokane on

My oldest was able to use any brand of formula without issue, but my youngest could not. He tends to get constipated and for some reason the generic brands would make him miserable. I had to stick with Enfamil.

M.M.

answers from Detroit on

Our doc advised that we use generic for our 1st. She stated the contents are the EXACT same if you hold the cans side by side. Ened up using the same generic (Meijer brand) for both kids and they did fine on it. Saved us a LOT.

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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

I also think the WIC program is wonderful when formula is so expensive.

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wichd/

WIC — Women, Infants and Children Program

WIC is a nutrition program that helps pregnant women, new mothers, and young children eat well, learn about nutrition, and stay healthy. Nutrition education and counseling, nutritious foods, and help accessing health care are provided to low-income women, infants, and children through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program, popularly known as WIC.

D.D.

answers from Dallas on

Generic Formulas are required by law to have the same nutritional values as their name brand counterparts. We found Parent's Choice to be a very good generic brand. I have also heard that Kirkland's is good as well.

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A.V.

answers from San Francisco on

I also use the Target Up & Up generic formula. At first we started out with Earth's Best Organic formula but quickly realized how crazy expensive it was. The Target brand is half the price and my son seems to like it just the same. I think its also comparable with Enfamil too, they have a whole bunch of different types of formula in the Up & Up brand.

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