just so i know

[porkpie1981]

Ok im really posting here like mad but im in the swing of this bf business now

Do any of u know the overall cost of bf equaipment compared to bottle feeding eg over the 1st 6 months

eg the bfing pumps look more expensive but then u dont need to pay for the powder etc.

If im expressing the i still need bottles and a sterilsier so is it just the formula that im saving on?

P.S I know the real cost is the nutrient but im just interested for talks sake

 

[Alexas Mommy]

Here in Canada, the Medala Electric+Hand pump costs 299$ which costs a lot less than what you would be spending on formula-even if you have to buy several bottles, it will still save you tonnes of money. Since Alexa was not formula fed (sometimes supplemented in the earlier days though) I do not know how much formula would cost over a month, but I would think that some of the formula would go to waste, if bubs didn't finish the bottle-again more money spent there, whereas it does not cost money to pump more milk!! I have no clue how much money I have saved going the breastfeeding route, but I know it is a lot... But then, like you said, it is about nutrients, not costs!!

 

[ryder]

Cost shouldnt be the issue... What makes you and your LO happy in the end is the main thing.

FF is definately more expensive...

 

[BlackBerry25]

Formula is super expensive. $30 a week at this point. :/

 

[Mervs Mum]

I got my Medela pump off ebay for £15. I think FF is bound to be more expensive if you look at everything from exquipment to formula to water to power etc. You also dont know if your baby will have special feeding requirements - I have a friend on here who spends £9 every second day on formula alone!!

But like Ryder said, its about what you want really more than cost.

 

[marley2580]

BFing is essentially free - you don't need a pump, you can do it by hand; you don't need breast pads, muslins can do just as well etc. That said they can make your life a lot easier. I think my biggest expense was all the new tops I had to buy because 1. my breasts were too big for my old tops and 2. I couldn't get the baby's head under them to feed her lol.

 

[jenstar]

Formula is approx £8 a tin here and that lasts approx a week, plus maybe some cartons at 57p each for out and about.

My HV says "remember that breastfeeding is not the cheap option." Because I find I am eating loads more, always hungry. It is not so bad now (baby is 4 months old) but no joke I would easily have eaten well over £8 worth of extra food a week.

You might be able to borrow a pump from hospital or from sure start and I'm told it is completely hygenic.

 

[Lucy&Pard]

I bought my pump for £24 and its really good (Avent one) and the little bfeeding milk bags which were really expensive at £7 but they have lasted ages but you dont need to use those. I buy expensive breast pads (johnsons ones come in a pink box) but only because they are super comfy and the other make me itchy! And I dont find I eat that much more to be honest I ate more when I was pregnant. You can breastfeed free but these things are just for convenience really!

 

[Wobbles]

About £8 a week formula as someone said ....although at the beginning it would last more than a week because she wasn't having 8oz bottles!

Sterilising depends how you want to go about it either way you need the equiptment or the tablets like milton etc so imo either way costs

Pumps Go from £10 to £100 (some+) depending if you want manual or electric or if you can pump without as someone said!

Put cost aside go with what is comfy for you!

 

[Samantha675]

I spent $20 on a pump and $5 on bags and $8 on bottles. I never use any of it now. Bren is totally a booby boy.

 

[Miss Duke]

Cost shouldnt be the issue... What makes you and your LO happy in the end is the main thing.

FF is definately more expensive...

Great answer

 

[porkpie1981]

Cost shouldnt be the issue... What makes you and your LO happy in the end is the main thing.

FF is definately more expensive...

I know cost isnt the issue, im just discussing it thru interest

 

[Sarah88]

I bf, and express so I can work on saturdays, anyways i bought a pack of 20 sterilising bags for like $20 or something. I only need one bottle, which is a Tommee Tippee and cost about $16. My mum had a pump spare (she's a LC), and I also got one from my cousin to lend. So in all, i've gotten out of it pretty cheaply. I store my frozen bm in plastic bags inside tuppaware containers, didn't see the point in buying special bags for it.