# I pit WIC **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 25, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491 "2007-09-25T23:34:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/1 "2007-09-25T23:34:14Z")
Don’t get me wrong, WIC is the kind of social program I tend to like, in that it fulfulls a specific need, generally on a short-term basis. Plus, it’s specifically designed to help children. But it really pisses me off to see what kinds of baby formula are given out for free in the WIC program. Baby formula is expensive. Those of us who don’t qualify for WIC, but aren’t made of money, put out a fair amount of effort trying to get formula at the cheapest possible price. We save the coupons religiously, we always buy the powder in large cans, which is by far the least expensive on a per-ounce basis. We measure out scoops into special little containers and take them with us on-the-go (along with bottles with pre-measured amounts of water to mix it with), rather than buy the very expensive individual bottles of ready-to-serve or even the individual packets of powder. It’s all pretty much a royal pain in the ass. Which is why it irks me to no end to see moms get the extremely convenient ready-to-serve, no mixing, no extra bottle needed, individually-sized bottles FOR FREE! :mad: I would love to be able to buy a ton of those and never have to mix another bottle. It sure would save me a lot of time. It would also cost me a whole ton of money, so I don’t get that convenience. Sure is nice that some people do, without even having to pay for it. Arrrggh! ---
**Author:** ![MissGypsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/2 "2007-09-25T23:59:25Z")
Don’t know if you’re aware of this, but powdered formula is not recommended for infants under three months old, because it’s not sterile, while ready-to-feed is. Also, some babies with reflux or other issues can’t tolerate powdered. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/3 "2007-09-26T00:02:59Z")
You get a certain amount of “money” on WIC. If you choose to get the more expensive formula, then you’ll have to suppliment it with your own cash. You do not get more ‘money’ if you buy the more expensive formula. Believe me, I know. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/4 "2007-09-26T00:04:49Z")
[QUOTE=MissGypsy] Don’t know if you’re aware of this, but powdered formula is not recommended for infants under three months old, because it’s not sterile, while ready-to-feed is. Also, some babies with reflux or other issues can’t tolerate powdered. [/QUOTE] That’s interesting about the under-3-months rule…my pediatrician never mentioned that to me, probably because I was nursing when my kids were that age. I grant you that there are times when ready-to-feed may be medically recommended, but this does not seem to be the case with the examples I see at daycare (it would be strange, don’t you think, for ALL the kids on WIC to have a medical indication for ready-to-feed, whereas NONE of the kids not on WIC do?) ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/5 "2007-09-26T00:06:15Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] You get a certain amount of “money” on WIC. If you choose to get the more expensive formula, then you’ll have to suppliment it with your own cash. You do not get more ‘money’ if you buy the more expensive formula. Believe me, I know. [/QUOTE] But in that case, WIC is funding convenience, not necessity. That doesn’t seem right to me, either. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/6 "2007-09-26T00:10:26Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] But in that case, WIC is funding convenience, not necessity. That doesn’t seem right to me, either. [/QUOTE] No, WIC is funding food for the baby. There is a formula to how much you get based on what your last year’s income was. Instead of eating beef, my husband and I ate Ramen so that we could afford to give our kids the formula they needed. What, people on WIC should buy the cheapest stuff available just because it bothers you? Fuck that shit. You’ll just have to deal with your petty anger. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/7 "2007-09-26T00:16:01Z")
I took advantage of WIC back in the day, but other than that fact that it was very helpful, I remember next to nothing about it. I was working, but pretty poor. I’m not even sure how I purchased it. I didn’t use it during the formula days…that much I do remember. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/8 "2007-09-26T00:17:03Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] That’s interesting about the under-3-months rule…my pediatrician never mentioned that to me, probably because I was nursing when my kids were that age. I grant you that there are times when ready-to-feed may be medically recommended, but this does not seem to be the case with the examples I see at daycare (it would be strange, don’t you think, for ALL the kids on WIC to have a medical indication for ready-to-feed, whereas NONE of the kids not on WIC do?) [/QUOTE] The daycare we first sent the sprog to requested ready-to-feed; at minimum, we had to provide some form of liquid formula. RTF was just easier for some parents to deal with. They’d buy a bottle to bring to daycare and used powder at home. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/9 "2007-09-26T00:23:23Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] No, WIC is funding food for the baby. There is a formula to how much you get based on what your last year’s income was. Instead of eating beef, my husband and I ate Ramen so that we could afford to give our kids the formula they needed. [/QUOTE] If a person has enough money to supplement what WIC supplies and upgrade to the more convenient form, then WIC is funding that convenience. > [@](#): > > What, people on WIC should buy the cheapest stuff available just because it bothers you? Fuck that shit. You’ll just have to deal with your petty anger. Yes, people on WIC should buy the cheapest stuff available _just like I have to_. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/10 "2007-09-26T00:25:40Z")
[QUOTE=MsRobyn] The daycare we first sent the sprog to requested ready-to-feed; at minimum, we had to provide some form of liquid formula. RTF was just easier for some parents to deal with. They’d buy a bottle to bring to daycare and used powder at home. Robin [/QUOTE] My daycare doesn’t make such a request, and yet the moms who are on WIC all provide them with the individual ready-to-feed bottles, while the rest of us provide them with the giant cans of powder. If WIC doesn’t cover the most convenient and expensive forms, as **Biggirl** says, then don’t you think the moms would keep the easy-to-use bottles for themselves, for nighttime feedings and such where the convenience is really helpful, and supply daycare with the cheap stuff? ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/11 "2007-09-26T00:26:50Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] I took advantage of WIC back in the day, but other than that fact that it was very helpful, I remember next to nothing about it. I was working, but pretty poor. I’m not even sure how I purchased it. I didn’t use it during the formula days…that much I do remember. [/QUOTE] I just want to make it clear again that I have nothing against WIC in general…it’s a good program that has helped a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/12 "2007-09-26T00:34:00Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] Yes, people on WIC should buy the cheapest stuff available _just like I have to_. [/QUOTE] Could you explain why? ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/13 "2007-09-26T00:38:23Z")
[QUOTE=KayElCee] Could you explain why? [/QUOTE] I could, but I can’t believe I’m being asked to, quite frankly. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/14 "2007-09-26T00:38:34Z")
Sarahfeena, I don’t follow why you are bothered by it. If WIC allows $5 toward powdered formula and the RTF costs $7, and you give up something in order to make up that $2, what difference should it make? Everyone fiddles with their budget to do this or that with their available funds. I think that’s all these folks are doing. I see nothing wrong with, say, buying cheap soup instead of better soup, and using that savings to get the better formula. Can you explain a little more where you’re coming from? ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/15 "2007-09-26T00:41:20Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] I could, but I can’t believe I’m being asked to, quite frankly. [/QUOTE] Let me rephrase that then. _Would_ you explain why? I was thinking that your argument was basically that “poor people aren’t allowed to have anything I can’t have”, but that seemed kind of petty, so I assumed I must be mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/16 "2007-09-26T00:41:35Z")
People who don’t have all that much money surely are also going to have less time, I would have thought. I’m not entirely sure that’s a good enough excuse to save however much extra hassle it is, but if money is something it’s acceptable to support (in this case) I think time should be also. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/17 "2007-09-26T00:42:25Z")
I know what you mean. Poor people are so lucky! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/18 "2007-09-26T00:42:30Z")
So your arguement is _since I buy cheap stuff everybody on WIC should buy cheap stuff too_? That sounds like pettiness to me. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/19 "2007-09-26T00:45:31Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Sarahfeena, I don’t follow why you are bothered by it. If WIC allows $5 toward powdered formula and the RTF costs $7, and you give up something in order to make up that $2, what difference should it make? Everyone fiddles with their budget to do this or that with their available funds. I think that’s all these folks are doing. I see nothing wrong with, say, buying cheap soup instead of better soup, and using that savings to get the better formula. Can you explain a little more where you’re coming from? [/QUOTE] Sure thing. This is the way I see it… Let’s use your example of the $5 powdered and the $7 RTF. Both WIC people and non-WIC people have to come up with the extra $2 to get the RTF. But the difference is that I’ve already had to come up with the $5 to get the formula in the first place. Therefore, I am less likely to upgrade to the convenient form, because I’m already out of pocket 5 bucks, whereas the WIC person is out nothing. I’d love to spend only $2 to get the easy stuff, but in reality, they are paying $2 for it, and I’m paying $7 for it. So, in essence, what WIC is doing is making the convenient type of formula affordable to people on WIC. This doesn’t seem quite fair to me. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491/20 "2007-09-26T00:47:40Z")
[QUOTE=KayElCee] Let me rephrase that then. _Would_ you explain why? I was thinking that your argument was basically that “poor people aren’t allowed to have anything I can’t have”, but that seemed kind of petty, so I assumed I must be mistaken. [/QUOTE] See my response to Kalhoun…I tried to explain it as best I could. Let me assure everyone that I do not begrudge at all baby formula being paid for by WIC. I do believe, however, that people getting free money to buy formula with should economize with that free money just as much as they would if they had earned it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-wic/420491.md?page=2)