I’ve never bought baby formula in my life. However, a local shelter is asking for it to assist with refugees from the hurricane. They’re asking for Similac with Iron. The first thing I’ve noticed is baby formula is very expensive. That’s ok. I have something, the people fleeing to the shelters here have nothing. Is Similac simply a brand name or are there less expensive identical generic versions? I’m guessing formula is what is given to the baby through the bottle? Is it usually kept behind the counter at grocery stores? I remember a Kroger that I used to go to and I could see the signs about formula being available only at the Customer Service Desk. Finally, is one can (I’m guess $25.00) enough to make a difference? How much formula would an infant use?
Frequently stolen, expensive, and a baby can drink anywhere from 24 - 100 ounces a day, I suppose. How much do babies drink?
Well…“Depends”…because infants use it, but some folks keep their kids on it for a long time.
With Iron is standard, unless a doc tells parents to avoid it as some kids don’t need it or are sensitive to it.
Sure, a can can last a week sometimes…maybe a few days. But if the parents can stretch it in an emergency, it could mean life or death.
I’m guessing this is a can of powdered formula that can be added to water. You use a couple of teaspoons per bottle so it makes a lot.
The kind that comes in 8-oz (or so) cans and is ready to serve would probably be more helpful as clean water may also be a problem. “Similac” is a brand name and there are other brands. I never heard of it being behind the counter–it was always on the shelves but my “baby” is 10 and he was mostly breastfed anyhow. (And for that reason I have no idea how much he drank per day.)
If it’s for a local shelter, could you ask them what they want (i.e., ready to serve or powdered)?
One can is enough to make the difference to somebody.
I got an email response. They prefer powder because it can be combined with water and will last longer. It is in the Dallas area so we have plenty of clean water. I’ve donated to several relief agencies so I can only afford a couple of cans for this week. Hopefully, it can make a difference and help keep someone alive.
An infant eating no other food would use up to 32 ounces per day. Babies need mother’s milk or formula for up to one year as the primary food. Older children can eat a variety of table foods to obtain needed nutrition.
The national brand formulas and the store brand formulas contain the same nutrients.
Similac is a cow milk formula, available with and without iron supplement. Cow milk formula with iron is the default recommendation for a baby who is not breastfed.
Some babies can’t tolerate cow milk formula, and need the even more expensive “hypoallergenic” formula (e.g. Alimentum®).
It is tragic that formula is needed in a place where there is so little access to good water. If moms were breastfeeding, the baby would be getting the best without all the dangers of contamination.
Formula is locked up because of the cost and the fact that drug dealers use it to “cut” certain types of dope. There are also evil SOBs selling contaminated or bogus formula for the $$$$.
Similac, Enfamil and Good Start are three major name brands of infant formula, and each brand offers lactose-free, soy-based, and some other varieties, for babies who cannot tolerate a milk-based formula. With iron is pretty much the default now, and low-iron is almost never prescribed. Can’t find the cite right now, but some pediatricians have recommended that it be taken off the market. The Parent’s Choice brand, from WalMart, is nutritionally equivalent, but I can’t speak to how well it’s tolerated by young infants.
The powdered formula will keep for 1 month after opened, but I’ve never heard of a baby who didn’t go through a can of powdered in a matter of days. An older infant might drink up to 40 oz. per day, but even the small can of powdered (12 oz) makes 87 oz of liquid formula. I pay about $9 for the small can, and about $20 for the huge can. I figure I spend about $100-$120 per month on formula. (Just checked, the huge can is 25.7 oz, and makes 186 oz of liquid formula.)
And thanks for helping out some hungry little babies. They’ll appreciate it. 
I have decided to buy 3 large cans and donate them to the shelter here. Unless I am so far from wrong, every shelter can use powdered formula so I’ll try to buy at least 3 large cans of Similac with Iron and give them to a local shelter in Dallas. From all the responses, most infants can use this formula.
As long as I know the shelter can put them to use, I’ll buy them tomorrow and donate them.
If I am wrong, please someone correct me. I honestly don’t mind spending my own money to try to help people in need.
Each “Scoop” (comes in the can) is about 5.5 tsp, and makes only 2 oz of formula. That stuff goes quickly.
Powdered formula is good if there’s adequate clean water. If not, consider donating the premixed. It’s more expensive and heavier, but you can’t use the dry stuff if you don’t have clean water (or you shouldn’t, anyway.)
“Stretching” formula by adding too much water can be life threatening, especially for young babies. They need a very specific ratio of milk solids to water. Messing with that ratio can lead to diarrhea and death very quickly. Even a few days on watered down formula can leave you with a malnourished baby.
Agreed. But not all of us can exclusively breastfeed. Some choose not to, and some of us are up at 3:49 pumping for the twelfth time today because even Domperidone doesn’t work to increase our supply and we know we’re still going to have to supplement with formula when the baby wakes up. Sucks.
Let’s not get into the “breastfeeding vs. formula” debate. Under normal circumstances, breastfeeding is the ideal. But these aren’t normal circumstances. There’s little food and water, and these women are under tremendous physical and emotional stress. Neither of these are conducive to breastfeeding.
Robin
I think it’s wonderful that you’re donating formula. babies can go through a lot (my 9 month old twins went through a big can in like 2 days when we were in the US a few weeks ago). It’s damn expensive too.
Trust me, there are parents out there who will improve your karma enormously for the gift.