Nestle Good Start???

My doctor told me a little secret - the Costco Kirkland's brand is made by the same people (Ross Labs) that make Similac Advance, so if you have Costco near you, or know someone who's a member, you could go that route and save the money.

Also, since I see you decided to stay with Similac Advance (which is what I used too by the way) sign up for the baby club through the similac website. They will send you $5 off coupons all the time. It's really nice. And watch for sales. I found that by doing that, and then using my coupons, I saved a lot of $$.

J. i used Nestle Good Start for my son who was breast feed for 6 month and it was great. Before that i used other brands and he didnot like them.
Good luck

Go for The Walmart Brand. My girlfiend's Pediatrician told her it is as good as Good Start and half the price! My sister had a horrible time w/ formulas and it worked for both of hers and for mine also! I think it's called Parents Choice! the friend who recommended it has used it for all 4 of hers too!

I had my daughter on Similac Advanced until she was about 6 or 7 months old. I bought my formlua at Sam's since it was cheaper. Money was tight and I noticed the Members Mark formula there that was $10 a can cheaper (and came with an extra lb), read the label and saw that they had the same nutritional numbers and bought it. Switched her over when the Similac ran out and she didn't have one problem.

Hi,

We used the expensive Similac at first as well. Our doctor said that all formula is regulated by the same government standards and that they are all equally good. He gave us the green light for the generic brand at Sams Club. We saved a bundle. (We have 2) We had no problems switching over immediately.

Good Luck!

L.

My daughter started out on breastmilk then switched to Enfamil and then to Good Start and finally to the Costco Brand. Everytime I just started slowly adding the new formula. I would do most of her feeding with the old formula and add one bottle per day until she was totally switched. I did the same thing when I switched her from formula to milk.

Well, to be honest.....I went from name brands to generic. I talked with my doctor, and he explain that formula is government regulated therefore there isn't much of a difference. Sometimes the generic brands (like Kroger brand) offer a full guarantee. So even if your baby doesn't handle it well, you're not out any money. It saved us A LOT of money in the long run! Hope this helps.

We have used Nestle Good Start with both of our children. That is because my SIL had problems with other formulas and finally ended up with Good Start... it was the only thing her daughter could take. So, that's what we used. If you switch formulas you should do it slowly... over about 10 days. Replace one bottle at a time with the new formula... I think we did 1 bottle for 2 days, 2 bottles for about 5, 3 bottles for 3, and then switched to the 4th and last bottle.

Good luck!

For our fourth daughter, we decided to switch to store brand formula and it was just as good as the more pricey ones. But as with any major change, you should always consult your pediatrician. Walmart has a great formula that is the same thing as Similac Advance but it's about 5 - 7 dollars cheaper! I see that this is an old post and you have already decided not to switch so I am really just writing this for anyone that has the same question and is reading it for their own curiosity! LOL

I would ask your pediatrician - they will be your best source of information on something like this, and it could be a simple phone call to the nurse to get the accurate info for your particular child. :-)

J.,
When my daughter started using formula we used some of the free ones we got first, similac and enfamil. Then we started using Good Start. We liked it the best. It mixed easier, it smelled better, and she liked it as well. It was also easy to finally transition to milk from it as well, after our peditrician recommended that she could start drinking cow's milk.
J.

We had WONDERFUL success with Good Start with our first daughter. It was the only formula she would tolerate; she had been on 4 different formulas by the time we switched her to this one (she was colicky and acid refulx)and it was great. Nothing cured the colic but she definitely had less gas, etc with this formula. We slowly switched her to this formula from the one we were previously using, but our doctor told us just to abruptly switch and it wouldn't hurt her. I just didn't agree with that, so we slowly incorporated it and within a week, she was all Good Start. Good luck and I hope it works for you like it did for us!

I have five children. All were breastfed with formula suppliments and then eventually weaned to just formula. I would use nothing but Similac or Enfamil with my first child, but they were expensive compared to many others. My oldest daughter is almost 18, so there weren't as many choices then as there are now. My two youngest children (4 & 5) were both given Nestle Good Start and we did not have any problems with them at all. Read the formula labels, they have the same ingrediants in them. I agree with the mom who said the Good Start actually mixes up better and it didn't seem to stain the clothes nearly as bad as some of the others. Also, go to the Nestle Good Start website and sign up. They will send you coupons monthly...great coupons! I think the best thing you can do is buy one can, try it and see what happens. You will know within a few days if it's not agreeing with your daughter's digestive system and then you can change back to the more expensive formula.

Have you tried Sam's Club? A can twice the size of a normal can of Similac advance was the same price nearly. Similac in a store is 24 oz at about $24.00. I paid $27.00 for a 48 oz can at Sam's. Also my sister-in-law says the Wal-mart verse of the Similac Advance is half the cost and the same containts.

My 2 girls both took Good Start which was a good thing because I always had coupons for it and it was less expensive. Hope she does well with it. (if you want coupons go to www.verybestbaby.com and sign up for their free magazine which has coupons in it. I remember signing up in my name, my mom's and my sisters at separate addresses so I could have more coupons) :)
J.

First of all be careful switching. Keep an eye out for her reach to it. Secondly try the store brands like Kroger, Walmart and Target have their own brand, it can be much cheaper. If you belong to Sams Club they have their own brand. 3 pound can for less than $20. I think Cosco has there brad also.
Also when you switch brands you should do it gradually, like one scoop of the old and one scoop of the new. Her body will not go through shock from the difference between the formulas.

Good luck
A.

I gave my younger daughter Carnation Good Start. She's almost 5 now, and healthy as a horse. She had no trouble with it whatsoever. Formulas are all generally the same (unless they're soy based or another special type), so unless your daughter has an otherwise sensitive tummy, she shouldn't have any trouble switching. Good luck!

I loved Nestle Good Start for my son! I switched him from Similac Advance because he was spitting up a lot on the Good Start he didn't spit up at all! And it does mix easier and taste better. But the only thing is, I don't think it is much less expensive than the Similac....

The Wal-Mart Parents Choice is the same as the Similac and soooo much less expensive. I have been luck enough to be able to breastfeed so I have not used much formula but my friend has used the Parents Choice with three of her four kids and all did great with it. You also should not have to worry about the transition because it is the same thing.

I nursed my son until he was five months old, and the Nestle Good Start was all he would take after that. You should be good to go - good luck!

J.,
I have always used Carnation b/c my 1st one was allergic to similac and we have just used it since then. I love it. It never gave them gas and they even seemed to burp less. If you register on Carnations web site they will sen dyou free samples and free coupons (for $8). And yes, I think you can just switch. Well I did and it worked out fine. Good luck

It's a good choice.. That is what I gave my daughter. She started out on Similac as well, and it was a smooth transition for her. Good Luck!

J.,
I can not tell you how many times I switched formulas LOL!
Lets see breastmilk first, then simailac advanced, then enfamil lipil, then similac soy, then prosobee, Finally Good Start Soy. Which she was on for 9 1/2 months. I wouldn't recomend ANYTHING else. It was the only one that didn't upset her stomach. Every child has diffrent tastes. Most formulas are the same (FDA regulations) I have heard the Mejier brand is good.
I would just try them out. Just make sure you give it 3-4 before switching again. Watch for weird reactions. I would replace just half the feedings the first day (or mix half half of each)
Good Luck!!!
Remember follow YOUR instincts not the dr's only YOU know your baby best.

My twins were on Isomil Andvance and it was insane the amount of money we had to spend on name brand formula. We swithed to Sam's Club version. The container is huge and is about $10-$12 cheaper. We have not had any problems. Plus your daughter will be starting solids soon if not already. So I really don't see any problem in it.

But to actually answer your question...I have never bought the Nestle Good Start.

Hi J.. I have no input on what type of formula to use, it has been too long. I do know that when I shop at K-Mart and buy baby things I always get coupons for baby formula, a certain kind that I throw away. If it helps at all, you might want to shop there and get the coupons and try using that brand b/c they are like $4.50 off and I do know that the prices for formula are OUTRAGOUS and I have only bought one in the last six months. Best of Luck!

Similac Advance is very expensive. The Walmart brand, Parents Choice, is exactly the same thing. If you look at the label it's the same stuff and it's like half the price. Parents Choice is the brand I always used for my Son and he's perfectly healthy.

I would check with your pediatrician to see what they suggest.

I breast-fed both of my children, but had to supplement with formula. I used Enfamil with my first and he had no problems with that. With my youngest, I used Good Start and he also did fine. It doesn't sound like your daughter has any special needs, so I would suggest trying it slowly, replacing one bottle at a time, until your daughter is only having Good Start. I have never tried generic/store brands, but I think it makes sense to compare the ingredients in them to the name brands, so you can save some money if possible.

Hi J.,

If you're going to change formula, I would add it to her regular formula slowly over a period of days. If she takes 6 ounces normally use 2ounces Good Start to 4 ounces Similac for a few feedings increasing it if she tolerates it until you have all Good Start.

Some babies have no problem with a formula change, others need to take it slowly. Watch for increased gas, diarrhea, constipation, spitting up or increased fussiness. Most of that will go away after a few days on the formula as long as the symptoms are not excessive.

Good Luck!

K. :)

My oldest two used Good Start and are just fine. My youngest two I used Parents Choice at walmart. It is just the same as similac or Enfamil, but MUCH cheaper. Also you can use the Kroger brand, or Member's Mark at Sam's club, all three are made by the same company, same formula just a different label. My doctor assured me that they are just fine. My younges was born 6 weeks early and has been on the Parents Choice, he will be a year in a couple weeks. When i brought him home he weighed 4 lbs 8 oz, he know weighs 22 lbs, so I have no complaints about it.

I would not suggest switching at all until you talk to your doctor about it.

I used to work on a labor and delivery unit and, though my daughter is breastfed, so I don't have any long term advice on the subject, the newborns that took the Good Start formula spit up ALL THE TIME. They cried more than the babies on Enfamil or Similac and sometimes were in obvious gastrointestinal discomfort. We called it "Bad Start."

I tried switching around w/my daughter when she was born and the dr. got mad at me! lol! Anyhow, i wanted something cheaper too and I had her on similac but when I changed her to Nestle she got the runs. Then I tried Enfamil and she got constipated. So back to Similac I went until she turned 10 months then I switched to the Enfamil one that's for 9-12 months. She did fine w/that. I've been weening her over to whole milk this 11th month and now she'll be 1 in a week and I'm only giving her whole milk. Boy, $3 as apposed to $23 is so nice!

S.

I have not heard anything bad about that formula. We tried it with my baby because of how spitty he was. I had heard the whey protien might be easier for him to digest. But it did not help him, it actually made him worse. I found that parents choice from walmart is the same as similac and much LESS expensive. Because it is the same, I don't think your baby would have any trouble adjusting at all.