Powder vs premixed liquid formula?

Question

I have 10 weeks left until my son will be here and I',m trying to make a few decisions. I plan on formula feeding only, no breast feeding. What is your opinion of powdered vs premixed formula? For those of you that used/are using formula only (no breast milk), what is the cost difference between the 2. Also, which is more convinient? I feel like the premixed liquid kind would be more convinient at home, but powdered would be better when we are out because you don't have to worry about keeping it cold until baby is ready for it. Anyways, which do you prefer?

Answer 1

Ready-to-Feed is slightly more money. I paid a little over 9 dollars for 32ounces of Ready-to-feed, and for 115ounces made from powder, it's 27.99, so for 28 dollars, you would only get 96 ounces of formula. But don't use my numbers, I have to use Similac Alimentum, and I'm just using them because I don't know the prices of the other stuff.



Ready-to-Feed is great because you don't ever have to measure, it's always perfect, and great for odd number of ounces. Like if you baby is drinking 3 ounces, you don't have to try and measure half a scoop of powder. The down side is it sucks to travel with. You have to keep it cold, and try to find a way to heat it up. If your baby is on a good schedule with eating, which my daughter wasn't for a while, then you can plan ahead of time, and use a car bottle warmer, which takes 30min to heat up a 6ounce bottle.



The powder is easy to travel. You can just bring a thermis with hot water, and mix it where ever you like. You do have to mess around with mixing, and measureing, and it never comes out exactly the same. I've also heard it stains less, but this is somthing I really can't agree with, because my daughters clothes don't have any stains on them from when I used powdered before, or Ready-to-Feed now. I just take care of her clothes good. The RTF does have sort of a darker color to it.



So if your somone who is out and about a lot. I would say go with the powder. It is also cheaper. It would be a pain to do both, and more costly. The RTF in a normal formula needs to be used within 72hrs, the one I use is 48hrs. So unless you out all day for 3 days in a row, you'd be wasting a ton.



Hope I helped!

Answer 2

Well I breastfed but in the early months I always kept formula on hand. The premixed formula is WAYYYYY more expensive. However it is easier and in a way safer because you don't run the risk of using contaminated water or contaminating your powdered formula can.



But since I'm sure you will be very careful to use boiled water, wash your hands, and keep the formula can clean then there is really no need to buy the premixed. You might carry a few small bottles (they have ones that pre packaged bottle nips attach to) in your car for emergencies, or bring some small cans when you are out and about. Good luck and congrats!

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.



RE:

Powder vs premixed liquid formula?

I have 10 weeks left until my son will be here and I',m trying to make a few decisions. I plan on formula feeding only, no breast feeding. What is your opinion of powdered vs premixed formula? For those of you that used/are using formula only (no breast milk), what is the cost difference...

Answer 4

While the powder is alot easier when your out and about but i found that the powder gave them more gas and they spit up more often so we switched to the liquid concentrate and with the brand we are using i actually figured out that we save about 5 dollars a month by buying the liquid concentrate rather than the powder. They dont have alot of options for premixed formula around here its pretty much liquid concentrate or powder that you add the water too.

Its alot easier to mismeasure with the powder as well and it doesnt mix easy so sometimes the nipples get clogged. We just got a large ice pack and if you sign up on Good Starts website they will send you a little freezer bag thats pretty handy for free. They dont have alot of options for premixed formula around here its pretty much liquid concentrate or powder.

Answer 5

Enfamil Premixed Formula

Answer 6

Ive used both because the hospital says only use premix for the first 6 weeks beause of something in the packaging in the powder that can make them sick. Premix is VERY expensive about 8.00 a container and it would last about 1-2 days if that and that was when he was eating less as a newborn. We switched over to powder and that runs about 25.00 a week or so. Yes the premix is easier but not by much but saving the money was worth the extra minute it takes to make the powder.

Answer 7

I am 3 months pregnant with baby #2 and also at a total loss on what to do. I had to use the Ready to Feed formula for my daughter so I never had to deal with the powder. I loved it. It was so smooth. No bubble, lumps, or mixing. I Just opened the can, filled the bottles, and stuck them in the fridge. A minute (or less) in the bottle warmer and we were set. When we went out and about I had a bottle cooler that held 2 bottles and took that with us. I either ran the bottle under hot water or used the car bottle warmer to heat it to room temp and we were good. I even had the "Night and Day Bottle Warmer" that I kept in the nursery that kept two bottles cold all night and had the built in warmer. It was the best.



I am so in love with the ready to feed formula that I want to use it again, even though it was pricey. I am actually looking into a third option: concentrate. The 13oz can that you mix with 13oz of water. I can just mix the bottles at home and keep them in the fridge. and that would be the same for on the go....cold bottles in bottle cooler and have to heat them when out. But it would give me the liquid that I have gotten so used to. I would strongly recommend the liquid if you can afford it.

Answer 8

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/av8b4



they are both pretty much the same except the powdered keeps longer and is a bit less expensive. If you have a baby who needs a special formula like mine who needs the gentle ease brand they only come in the powdered variety. As for the breast feeding, any breast milk is good for your baby, even as little as 2 bottles a day. It does take longer to breastfeed, 30 minutes is about average. They do not recommend mixing formula in unless You have a lazy eater who is not getting enough calories. i wish you the best, my husband did 2 tours overseas and it is hard to deal with, adding the newborn must make it 10x worse. and by the way proud mommy...formula is NOT cheap by any means. Some of us are unable to breastfeed also.

Answer 9

Powdered formula is alot cheaper but the premixed is more convenient. Do you want convenience or to save money? Good luck!

Answer 10

I use powdered, but if you are very busy here is what I do: I make the powder formula in a pitcher(based on how many scoops he uses a day) and refrigerate it and pour it for my son throughout the day. Just make sure to wash the pitcher well because formula is stinky!

Answer 11

I'd get the powdered..it doesn't smell as bad. The liquid formula they use in hospitals is horrible in getting out of clothing.

Answer 12

i prefer powdered; less expensive, easier to take along; you just get one of those little dispenser cups, avent makes a great one that can be a snack cup later, with the powder in it, and bottles with room temp water and mix only when you need it....and at home i have a 'dr brown's formula pitcher' and i can make 24hrs worth at once......

Answer 13

powdered is the least expensive and actually easier even at home.

Just make up a days worth of bottles and put them in the fridge.

We did this for nth of ours and it worked out great.

Answer 14

if your baby will drink room-tempeture water than powder is easier. all you have to do is pour bottled water into a bottle, and add the powder and shake- no warming it up.



but if he/she will only drink warm formula that premixed is easier, so all you have to do is dump it into a bottle and warm it up. instead of mixing and warming.



it all depends on the baby. but powder is better if your going to be away from home for a long time (so you don't have to worry about it spoiling)

Answer 15

Powdered has less of a chance of being subjected to the BPA used in formula packaging, premixed is more likely(but still rare) to absorb BPA particles. Though every situation is different (I'm not trying to be an advocate or offend you at all), please consider the benefits of breast feeding--you never know, you may enjoy it.

Answer 16

the pre mixed in the can only last 48 hours the powder last a month after opening

Answer 17

to answer your question, i would choose the powdered, it just seems to me that a premixed forula might go bad sooner. I am jsut curios though, why are you so against breastfeeding?

Answer 18

Powdered because it is cheaper.

Answer 19

Powdered formula is not sterile, it can and frequently is contaminated with disease causing bacteria before you even open it. For this reason it is NOT safe to mix it with hot tap water.



Nor is it safe to use hot tap water to mix any formula because hot water heaters can contain many contaminants at high levels such as lead because the water evapourates and heavy metals build up.



Liquid formula (ready to eat and concentrate) is contaminated with BPA because the can linings contain BPA which leeches into the formula when it is heat sterilized. I don't believe that any formula companies have replaced the can linings with BPA free linings as of yet.



http://www.infactcanada.ca/Newsletters/2007-Winter/safety_guidlines.htm

E. sakazakii is a highly virulent bacteria which is resistant to the high-temperature processing methods used in food production. If infants, especially those who are newborn, low-birthweight or premature, are infected with E. sakazakii, it can cause meningitis, necrotizing entercolitis, and sepsis, and is potentially fatal. As a result of reports of baby deaths from E. sakazakii contamination in recent years the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have declared this a significant public health hazard and have convened two expert meetings on the issue: one in 2004 and more recently in January of 2006. After reviewing the scientific evidence the 2006 meeting produced a report noting that both manufacturers and governments must act to reduce the health risks associated with the intrinsic contamination by E. sakazakii. Studies reviewed by the meeting noted that up to 14 per cent of formula packages may be contaminated by the bacteria.





http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/pif_guidelines.pdf

Powdered infant formula (PIF) has been associated with serious illness and death in infants due to infections

with Enterobacter sakazakii. During production, PIF can become contaminated with harmful bacteria, such as

Enterobacter sakazakii and Salmonella enterica. This is because, using current manufacturing technology, it is

not feasible to produce sterile PIF. During the preparation of PIF, inappropriate handling practices can exacerbate

the problem



[...]



In general, sterile liquid infant formula is recommended for infants at the highest risk of infection. Where sterile

liquid infant formula is not available, preparation of PIF with water at a temperature of no less than 70 °C

dramatically reduces the risk. Minimizing the time from preparation to consumption also reduces the risk, as

does storage of prepared feed at temperatures no higher than 5 °C.

Users of PIF are made aware that powdered infant formula is not a sterile product and may be contaminated

with pathogens that can cause serious illness. Correct preparation and handling of PIF reduces the risk of illness.



http://www.akwater.com/operations_faq.shtml#babyformula

Q: Is it okay to use hot water from the tap to make baby formula?



A: No. Hot water may contain impurities that come from the hot water heater and plumbing in your house. To avoid this, use cold water and let the water run for a couple of minutes before you use it if that tap has not been used for a while, overnight, or all day. You can then heat this water on the stove. Catching the water you flush out of the tap in a container and saving it for plant watering is a good conservation measure.



http://www.dcwasa.com/waterquality/faqs.cfm

Is it okay to use water from the hot water tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula?

Hot water generally comes from a hot water heater that may contain impurities that should not be ingested. Some of these impurities might be metals from household plumbing that are concentrated in the heating process. Additionally, these impurities from the household plumbing dissolve more rapidly in hot water than cold water causing the amount of impurities to be higher in hot water. Therefore, cold water should be used for all drinking and cooking uses, as well as for baby formula.



http://www.ewg.org/newsrelease/Infant-Formula-Makers-and-Canned-Food-Producers-Called-On-To-Remove-BPA

“Liquid formula is the biggest culprit in exposing infants to a toxic hormone-disrupting chemical, but kid-friendly foods like canned chicken noodle soup and ravioli also have high levels of BPA,” said EWG Senior Analyst Sonya Lunder. “BPA was initially used as a sex hormone. It should never have been allowed to come into contact with infant formula.”



http://www.theattachedparent.com/21/bpa-the-danger-lurking-in-baby-bottles-formula-cans-and-sippy-cups/

Breastfeeding would reduce or even eliminate the need for bottles or formula and subsequent exposure to BPA. For parents that need to use formula though it is hard to find companies that are not using BPA to line their cans of powered or liquid formula. A new study from the Environmental Working Group has discovered that 4 out of