[ramnds]

I want to be totally prepared--I know that doesn't actually ever happen, but I want to be prepared as I can be.

I want to pick up a can of formula, in case we need to travel fast, or I guess we could pick it up on the way. Any way, with my bson, I breastfed. And when I got sick and could no longer do it, he went to Isomil ( soy ) . We had been given it by somebody. So it was what we had at the house and he was hungry. He didn't have a problem with it, so we never experimented with any other. That was 5 years ago and so much has changed since them. I was wondering if anyone could share their favorites with me or the not so favorites also. Are there some that are better than others?

Okay the next question.. Bottles. We lucked out and our bson was kind of a piggy--he didn't care how he got fed as long as he was getting fed! I know some babies are quite picky about the nipples on the bottles that they will use. How are we going to know? Should we just buy a couple different kinds of bottles and newborn nipples and see which they prefer? Any suggestions?

We are not matched, but have been asked about now (so excited!). So the call could come any day. We packed what we are calling our "baby basket" ( I haven't bought our diaper bag yet.). All we need is the diapers, and the formula and bottles. So please help me out here ladies...
Thanks.
Rachel

[chrisandaaron]

Similac Advance is what most of the hospitals seem to use. Enfamil Lipil is another popular choice and a very similar basic formula. Honestly, I'd just wait until you get to the hospital and see what they are using. You can stop at almost any grocery or Wal-Mart and pick it up once you find out what baby is already on. Plus, the hospital will usually send some home with you so you don't even need to get it right away (unless you aren't picking baby up at the hospital). As for bottles, I suggest picking one you like and if baby doesn't seem to be doing well with it then switch. Personally I like the Platex with the drop-in liners. Less gas and less bottle washing!

I would also suggest going to the websites for each of the major formula retailers Similac, Enfamil, and Nesle Good Start and sign up for their parent clubs. Just pick an expected due date that you hope to have baby by (the sooner the better). They will start sending you checks that work like coupons to buy formula ($1, $5, and $10) as well as samples. I used the checks to buy the ready to feed formula (Cost $5.25 - $5 check = cost me 25 cents). Then I stocked up on the basic formula in each brand. If you can use it for your baby it will save you tons of $$ and if you can't use it, you will make someone very happy if you donate it. I breastfed until ~9months when my son just quit. As it turned out all the different formulas suited him just fine, so we used up each brand and then just switched to the next until my stash was gone

Good luck!
Chris

[AwaitingBeloved]

I agree.. wait till you get to the hospital. When DD was born they gave us cases and cases and cases of formula/diapers/wipes... tons of stuff. They knew we'd be staying at a hotel and they made it so we'd have more then enough to get us through. The hospital DD was born at used Enfamil Lipil. I really think all the formulas are pretty good and equal healthwise.. it's just what your kiddo can tolerate or not. You probably don't want to buy any formula in case your little one has a sensitivity to something. DD did great on the Enfamil. We were lucky.

However.. if you're looking to stock up, you could get some Mylicon drops (for gas), infant tylenol and motrin (for fevers and later for teething), bottles, extra nipples, etc.. I hope your wait is short!! You sound as anxious and needing to do SOMEthing as I was. ;-)

[SL&RL]

I waited (at the advice of this wonderful board) to see what the hospital would be feeding him. They definately sent us home with enought to feed him for another couple of days. Actually they gave us the whole bottle w/nipple the disposible kind. But I had at home Avent bottles (just small package) sterilized and ready to go.
Luckily he took them within a try or two.
Good luck!

[court5505]

Since we were there for DD's birth, the hospital asked us what kind of formula we wanted her to be on. Luckily we had spoken with our ped. ahead of time and he said either Enfamil Lipil or Similac Advance. I think he MAY have mentioned Carnation Good Start too, but don't quote me on that! He said to stay away from generic brands when it comes to formula. We chose Enfamil Lipil and had no problems.

As for bottles, we used the Dr. Brown's based on the recs from many people here. DD took to them right away. Since she was never breastfed, she wasn't picky about the nipples.

[Leigh131313]

First of all...here, the hospital does not give the babes what they feel is the best, they give them the formula that they receive for FREE.

I would wait and see how he does with the formula the hospital uses....In our case, it was much too rich for ds, we switched to the formula that the doctor and nurses recomended to us. It was MUCH better. DS couldnt keep any of the first stuff down, no issue with the other. Oh, and it didn't stain!!So, i highly recomend Nestle Good Start

As for bottles....I dunno. We chose the playtex with the disposable liners (far less gas if you press all the air out). But ds didn't like the nipple that comes with the bottles, he preferred the one looks like a more traditional bottle nipple - i think it is the one that is most like a breast....I forget the actual name tho.


Pick up bottles, but hold off on the formula....thats my advice

[definitelyjulia]

We ended up trying 3 different formulas. Our baby ended up having a milk allergy so she's on Nutramigen. She also had reflux and so we used the Dr. Brown's bottles. They're a pain to clean but work great.

[srusse24]

I agree on waiting to buy formula. The hospital will give you plenty of formula to get you through the first couple of days. Formula is expensive and if you buy now, you may have just wasted the $$$.

DS has used Avent bottles from the start. We also use Avent pacifiers because they have different stages that are appropriate for the child's mouth as he begins teething.

I have also heard great things about Dr. Brown's bottles (especially for babies with reflux). My opinion is Avent and Dr. Brown's are the best bottles.

[blessedbybug]

Originally Posted by ramnds

I want to be totally prepared--I know that doesn't actually ever happen, but I want to be prepared as I can be.

I want to pick up a can of formula, in case we need to travel fast, or I guess we could pick it up on the way. Any way, with my bson, I breastfed. And when I got sick and could no longer do it, he went to Isomil ( soy ) . We had been given it by somebody. So it was what we had at the house and he was hungry. He didn't have a problem with it, so we never experimented with any other. That was 5 years ago and so much has changed since them. I was wondering if anyone could share their favorites with me or the not so favorites also. Are there some that are better than others?

Okay the next question.. Bottles. We lucked out and our bson was kind of a piggy--he didn't care how he got fed as long as he was getting fed! I know some babies are quite picky about the nipples on the bottles that they will use. How are we going to know? Should we just buy a couple different kinds of bottles and newborn nipples and see which they prefer? Any suggestions?

We are not matched, but have been asked about now (so excited!). So the call could come any day. We packed what we are calling our "baby basket" ( I haven't bought our diaper bag yet.). All we need is the diapers, and the formula and bottles. So please help me out here ladies...
Thanks.
Rachel

Buy the diapers but wait on the rest.

Our first time around, I bought bottles that "I" thought we would use. DD refused any nipples but the ones she originally received, which was from the hospital. I ended up using those nipples for awhile and found bottles to match. They ended up being the cheapest (Gerber)... works for me!!! Second time around, I went ahead and did the same thing.... used the bottles with the nips from the hospital. He ended up using Gerber as well.

As for formula, the hospital gave him what they had which I'm sure they got from the company and of course, it was the cadillac version. We used all they gave us (the hospitals were both very generous) and then switched to Good Start and have had no problems. My DS even had colic but our Ped and family doc were certain it wasn't related to the formula (and they were right) so we didn't switch and switch and switch.

So there you have it... buy a pack of dipes and be done with it. Good luck!

[redbonec]

Originally Posted by blessedbybug

Our first time around, I bought bottles that "I" thought we would use. DD refused any nipples but the ones she originally received, which was from the hospital. I ended up using those nipples for awhile and found bottles to match. They ended up being the cheapest (Gerber)... works for me!!! Second time around, I went ahead and did the same thing.... used the bottles with the nips from the hospital. He ended up using Gerber as well.

Same here as well!

A friend, a neighbor, and a family member all gave us their Avent bottles, with some nipples. I ended up buying some new nipples.

THe hospital started K on Enfamil Lipil, with the disposable nipples to go with it. When we were home, K had a terrible time with Avent bottles. After 15 minutes she barely had any food--she would "bite" on the nipple instead of suck on it. She also always only put her mouth on the upper part. Then we would need to transfer the formula back to the hospital bottle and the wash the disposable nipple to give her so she could eat. We tried a nipple with more holes from the Avent. We tried for a few days with the Avent.
Finally, I sent my husband to the store with the hospital nipple, and told him to find something simliar. He came back with Gerber.
K loves the Gerber bottles. After a month, I thought we would switch back to Avent, since we had everything we would need for it. It worked for a month, then later, terrible feeding times again. We have now been back on the Gerber, and won't switch back again. It is amazing when you find the bottle/nipple they like--she actually enjoys eating now, and is so much more relaxed--before it was like a torture session for both of us.

I have just washed and packed up the Avent bottles in case the next baby prefers those. Personally, I like the Gerber myself as well--you can fit many more into the dishwasher, they are not as bulky in the diaper bag, and the savings in cost is tremendous. Oh yah, and they don't leak like the Avent.

Our ped. told us generic was fine. We use generic, but organic.

[allanacw]

We use the Dr. Browns bottles and Good Start formula, but not the one with Omega (which, of course, is the one they send all the coupons for!). That one gave him a lot of gas, so it's just the regular formula.

From the reading I did the most important factor is that the formula is iron fortified. A lot of the formula's are the same. It seems that introducing solids at the right time has a much bigger impact around allergies that the brand of formula being used.

We picked the Dr. Browns b/c I had colic as a baby and wanted to try and avoid it after my mother's horror stories! We don't find them hard to wash, which I had heard, and we just put them in the dishwasher. They do leak if they are screwed on too tight, but as long as my husband doesn't get overenthusiastic they're great.

I HIGHLY recommend buying a dishwasher rack for the nipples, pacifiers, etc. to go in. In face, buy two! We got ours at Target.

And keep the packaging for EVERYTHING. I could have returned well over $100 in gear that didn't work out if DH hadn't been so enthusiastic about getting everything set up.

Allana