Mastectomy Photos Banned in Another Facebook Fail
Arrest in Etan Patz Missing Child Case (VIDEO)
A Chilling Past Life Experience Recounted
3 Red White & Blue Cocktails
Controversy: Gwen Stefani Bleaches Her Son's Hair
A '50 Shades of Grey' Shortcut for Busy Moms
Latest on Baby in Washing Machine Case (VIDEO)
Are People Who Eat Organic Judgy & Mean?
A Dad's Perspective on Playdates
Bagged Salad Recall Sparks New Fears
Help Dying 4-Year-Old Fulfill His Bucket List (VIDEO)
Melissa McCarthy & Sandra Bullock's Buddy Cop Movie
Do Working Moms Have It Easy?
Your Morning Coffee Could Save Your Life
Join the Fight Against Toxic Kids' Products
The economy is really bad and formula is really expensive. But as tempting as it might be, dietitians and health care professionals give this warning loud and clear: Do not water down baby formula to make it stretch. Doing so could cause serious illness and even death in babies.
A 23-year-old Florida mother diluted her 5-month-old baby's formula with water and he almost died. When she realized he wasn't breathing she performed CPR and he was rushed to the hospital. He was diagnosed with water intoxication and put on a ventilator. He did recover, but how scary is that?
What happens when you add too much water to formula? According to Lillian Beard, a Maryland pediatrician, who is also medical adviser and consultant to the International Formula Council, "The water will occupy the space in the stomach that the milk or infant formula should be occupying. When there is too much water, it can cause a dilution of the body chemistry and electrolytes. The brain actually needs everything in really perfect balance. Too much water can cause seizures that can result in death.”
Baby formula manufacturers provide a careful balance of vitamins and nutrients for infants when the formula is mixed with the correct amount of water. And you want to make sure your baby is getting everything he needs.
If you find yourself in an economic pinch:
1. Ask your pediatrician about the possibility of getting free samples of infant formula to tide you over.
2. Call the formula manufacturer. Dial the 800-number on the back of the can to ask about getting help. Maybe they'll send samples or coupons.
3. Choose less-expensive store brands over popular name-brand formulas. They're all FDA-approved and include the same ingredients.
What are you doing to stretch your dollars these days?
I Named My Kid SpongeBob!
Emma Lives with Severe Food Allergies
How to Pack a No-Waste Lunch
Memorial Day Survival Guide
Comments (21)
I add a half of a can of whole milk and a another half of a can of water to my sons milk. But i also make 2 cans of baby milk at a time cuz doing it that way he uses it in less than 48 hours.
Good Lord.. are we still talking about this?
I get WIC and we get the Enfamil Lipil in the yellow can. But they only give enough to supplement we still have to buy some. Does anyone know if I would be able to give him store brand when I have to buy it?
Natandnatebsmom, ask your pediatrician what store brands they know of are the equivilant to the enfamil lipil. If they can't tell you, go to the store and compare ingredients. Buy a small can and see how your son does. When my daughter was on formula we often ran out and so if I really needed to I would use some of the saved samples we got from the hospital. Some worked wll, some didn't. It's trial and error.
But before a baby is 1 year, there isn't too much you can do when you run out. When we would get low, I would save formula for when DD really needed it. I'd fix her water if she were just thirsty or wanted to suck. Often times just before her nap time, it would only take a little to get her to sleep.
If you have an older baby who isn't completely relying on formula it gets easier. Since they can have some sort of baby food or solids the hunger is actually taken care of and bottles aren't such a necessity.
When you make formula, make it EXACTLY the way it says on the container. DO not do ANYTHING else unless your doctor tells you to. Too much powder can choke your baby and dehydrate them. Too little can kill them from deficiencies.
If you're going to choose formula, choose to at least make it right.
What am I doing to stretch dollars? I breastfeed.
Also, if you get food stamps, it covers baby formula.
For me what I do and always do is the Walmart I go to I always bought the other expensive brand and I was doing that up to a few months ago but now I buy the ready made baby formula where you add the water now you don't need to much water. But with one can it makes 2 bottles. I now buy the store brand that is called Parent's Choice it is a Canadian company. I always buy that and it usually last two weeks with the case of 12. So I get 2 bottles ready for him and if there is leftover I would pour the rest into a small baby bottle and if it is tiny bit I throw it out. I go for everything Parent's Choice it is better, cheaper and affordable.
I never had to worry about how to afford my baby's formula because he was exclusively breastfed. Moms who don't have much money to spare should DEFINITELY breastfeed. Not only is it free and always the right mixture and temperature, but breastfeeding supports a baby's immune system, resulting in fewer expensive doctors visits.
OK, I'm sorry, but that kind of thing just yells "DUH!" for me.
I think it would be obvious that when you water down formula, you're taking away nutrional value.
I'm not going to get into the whole 'breast vs. bottle' debate...to each her own. But please, for crying out loud, mix the formula like the container says.
Geesh.