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Subscribe to RSSMany low-income parents feel they must resort to “formula stretching,” to keep their infants fed, even with government food assistance programs, a new study shows.
The study found that 30 percent of parents who brought their infants to an inner city children’s clinic didn’t have enough food to make it through each month. And a full 15 percent, or about 1 in 8, made ends meet by watering down their babies’ formula or by feeding less frequently, according to the study which was published in Clinical Pediatrics.
“We knew this was a high-risk population,” said study co-author Andrew Beck, a fellow in general academic pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “But these numbers are still staggering.”
Up till now there has been little research on infants in families that don’t have enough food, Beck said. Studies of hunger and food shortages across the nation have found that 16 to 22 percent of American families come up short some months.
Beck and his colleagues surveyed 144 parents of infants who attended the hospital’s Pediatric Primary Care Center. The vast majority of families who come to the clinic are covered by Medicaid and receive food stamps as well as assistance getting infant formula through a program called WIC.
The researchers asked about food availability and feeding behavior in a 37-question survey that also looked at sociodemographic characteristics such as patient age, race, parental age, education, ethnicity and source of insurance.
Even though the majority of parents were receiving help through foods stamps and WIC, many did not have enough food to feed their families. In fact, some 65 percent of families ran out of WIC-supplied infant formula most months. And the result, in many cases, was that parents diluted or cut back on formula for their infants.
This kind of formula stretching may have consequences for the infants, Beck said.
“There will be a subset of children who will have what is called ‘failure to thrive,’” Beck explained. “More often, though, the ramifications of this tend to be less visible -- problems with cognition and behavior. In some it may lead to obesity later in life.”
While some might point to breast feeding as a solution, not every mom is in the position to do this for her child. In some jobs it’s virtually impossible to express milk during the day when a mom is away from her baby.
“Clearly, we encourage and actively support breastfeeding,” Beck said. “The reality is that a relatively low percentage of our patients breastfeed by the time they reach us. If they do, we continue to encourage it and have a breastfeeding clinic if they need it. Although they likely wouldn't require formula, we need to do education and a nutritional assessment for mom. Also, as the first year progresses, even fewer families continue to nurse.”
Many of these patients may be slipping through the cracks, Beck said. At his hospital, residents reported problems with food availability in only 2 percent of parents attending the clinic.
It was clear, Beck said, that residents didn’t know how to ferret out these kinds of issues. In a second study, published in Pediatrics, the researchers showed that the numbers shot up when doctors were given the right questions to ask of their patients.
Right now Beck and his colleagues are working on finding solutions for parents who don’t have enough to feed their kids. But those solutions will only work if doctors can figure out who needs help, Beck said.
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Formula is a waste of money. There's a better alternative. It's an old method used by my grandmother, my mother, on my kids, and on my grandchild now. We tell new mothers about this all the time.
It's really easy to make your own 'formula'. All formula is, is powdered milk and vitamin suppliments. All you need is evaporated milk, water (distilled or filtered), and Caro syrup (used to sweeten, and help with constipation later on).
In an 8 oz bottle, add 3-4 ounces of evaporated milk, fill the rest with water, and then add a teaspoon of Caro syrup (clear syrup) to sweeten if desired. The syrup will give a bit of sweetness which they'll love. Suppliment with vitamin drops once a day.
And that's it! It's a fraction of the cost, and they'll spit up a LOT less with this over the use of formula. Formula is garbage. Try this one week, and you'll see a difference. The only ones that can't use this, is if the baby has a problem with cow's milk, and they have to go to soy.
Actually, Hate, my mother fed this homemade formula to me and my sibilings. There are five of us. We are now all fully grown, well developed adults with no developmental problems. This was in the 50s and 60s and I know my family could not afford baby formula. So, it seems you are the one who should do the research.
Believe it or not, hatehatehate, there was a time before formula was around.
Oh, and I survived, my kids did, and by gosh, my grandson is doing very well also. All the vitamins and minerals are supplied by the vitamin drops. They're not losing anything. Anything else needed is obtained by the foods they eat (forgot about that, did you?).
And there's nothing 'medical' about this. It's called common sense. Something you're lacking by defending the formula industry. So you're telling me there were whole generations that suffered because people gave their child milk and vitamins? You're crazy.
Go back to the store and waste your money on formula, hatehatehate, and let the big parents who know what's good for their kids to comment here.
And thank you Katie for backing me up on this. This is a tried and true method that needs more press about it.
The World Health Organization has posted a recipe for homemade infant formula that is suitable for short-term use:
"The recommendations when using liquid cow or goat milk in infants less than 6 months old and for each feed are the following:
* For the one-month-old mix 40 ml of milk with 20 ml of boiled water and add 4 g of sugar
* For a two-months old mix 60 ml of milk with 30 ml of boiled water and add 6g of sugar
* for infants 3-4 months old mix 80 ml of milk with 40 ml of boiled water and add 8g of sugar
* For infants 5-6 months old mix 100 ml of milk with 50 ml of boiled water and add 10g of sugar
The following is recommended for preparing a substitute using evaporated milk and for each feed:
* For the one-month old mix 16 ml of evaporated milk with 44 ml of boiled water and add 4g of sugar
* For the two-month old mix 24ml of evaporated milk with 66 ml of boiled water and add 6g of sugar
* For infants 3-4 months old mix 32ml of evaporated milk with 88ml of boiled water and add 8g of sugar
* For infants 5-6 months old mix 40ml of evaporated milk with 110ml of boiled water and add 10g of sugar"
Key word - short term use. And DaveT, you know about survivor´s bias ? And yes, there was time before formula was around, my great granmother often told stories about that time. Back then, if woman was unable to breastfeed, she had to find someone else to do it for her or chances were that baby would not live past 6 months.
I am 68 and was also given the evaporated milk and Karo syrup "formula" as was probably everyone I knew. Sometimes "perfect" is the enemy of "good".
Of course they say short term use. They want you to buy the formula. I'm just not buying into it. I know what works, it's affordable, and the kids did very well.
Everyone is convinced that they have to buy the formula. Like it's some magic elixir that babies just HAVE to have, to survive. The masses have been brainwashed to believe that this is the only way to feed your child, and it's not true.
Read the ingredients on those formula cans. Tell me what you see. How many parents have had to switch formulas because the one they have is making their child sick? How about the dangerous formulas that had to be recalled? You do realize that formula is just processed cow milk, right? We are both providing the same thing, just yours is thinned, broken down, fortified, etc.
But go ahead. Feed them that dry powder. It's your child. Do what you think is best. I just know a way that works. *shrug*
Actually, Dave, formula is little bit more than just a processed cow´s milk. There are stuff added into it - to mimic breast milk - which of course cannot be done completely. I have done some research on the topic. You know there is a good reason why these supplement occurs naturally in the breastmilk and why standarts have been set to duplicate at least some of them in formula. I have done some reading and apparently the evaporated milk formula you are suggesting got popular in 1930, when some studies suggested babies do on it as well as on breast milk. By 1950, half of the babies were fed this formula, because it was cheap. And with increased incidence of using this formula came increased number of infant malnutrition. See, Dave, there is a BIG difference between surviving and thriving. Yes, there have been recalls of formula and you what ? All things considered that might not be such a bad thing. Who will recall your awesome formula if you mix it incorrectly and or if it becomes contaminated ? And btw, I have three kids, they were all breastfed and formula fed, so yes, I have read the can of formula. Also, if formula is making baby sick it is most likely because of cow milk intolerance. You do realize that evaporated milk is cow´s milk , right ? So if baby doesn´t do well on regular formula, then chances are that switching to your great homemade formula wouldn´t do much good. So, since I have read the can of formula, why don´t you go and read about breastmilk, what is in it and why some of it is beign added to the comercial formula. As I said, there is over 100 components of breastmilk we currently know of that cannot be duplicated - and mother´s milk actually "adjust" to her baby´s needs - how cool is that :) But there are some beneficial nutrients in formula that you cannot duplicate with vitamin drops. And again, breastfeeding rocks :)
It is a shame that formula prices are too high and WIC isn't allowed to give you more! I don't think they really understand that some babies eat a lot more than others. I know when my kids were formula fed we always had to buy more cans by the end of the month and it would cost us a lot. My oldest and my twins had 8 ounce bottles before they were even a month old.
With my last son, I breastfed for the most part, but at about a month I decided the pain was too much and got WIC checks for formula that month. I used only a can and talked to my doctor, my son's pediatrician and someone at the hospital where I had him about my problem and did what they said and I continued breastfeeding until he was 16 months old. As for the formula, I donated it to the local food pantry here. Also, the unused baby food.
Something needs to be done to ensure these babies are getting what they need!
DaveT-2289071 agree with you nothing magical about these very expensive formulas just cow's milk and vitamins essentially. Of course BREASTFEEDING is free and much better for these infants people!
I can't stand the "in my day" argument. In my day we didn't use helmets, car seats, pasteurize our milk and it was okay to slap my many wives and I turned out okay. What about those who didn't. Doesn't make it right or beneficial. Breastfeeding is the best way too feed a baby. Next is properly prepared formula. Evaporated milk and caro syrop simply ridiculous.
Breastfeeding doesnt work out for everyone. It didnt for me, twice. Both my sons would go through several more cans of formula than I would receive on WIC. Unfortunately, we get 25$ to much to qualify for WIC, and its getting really hard to feed my youngest. His formula will always come first. I will skimp in other areas, but I wish it wasnt so hard. BUT I will NEVER water down his formula, to save a few bucks!
Regardless of DaveT's (or anyone else's) background, one should *always* talk to their "real life" doctor (at least on the phone) before feeding their infant anything besides breast milk or properly-prepared formula (even what qualifies as "regular" formula may need to be defined by your doctor). Because of their developing organs/systems, most important of which is the brain within the nervous system, infants have *very* specific needs. There is only one chance of getting an optimal start. Giving advice, even if well-intentioned, on a topic as important and complicated as infant nutrition, is irresponsible.
I hope this problem of not feeding an optimal diet is soon solved.
Just wanted to put my cheap two cents worth in. Not all infants are alike. My oldest child had to have a special predigested formula with small chain poly polypeptide due to intestinal issues and allergies that was $24 a can back a decade ago.. plus real hard to find. Not all moms can breast feed.. All my children were allergic to my breast milk. My youngest child also has allergies and required a special formula. So although I understand your saying my grandma, mama and everyone else has done this... Do Not give out free medical advice.. some people should not procreate while others are desperate (when it comes to feeding a child) and may actually take your advice. Had I listened to people like you when my oldest was born and not followed my gut, argued with the docs to get her tested she would have died by the time she was 2 weeks old. Please the point of the article is not to bash on parents who are incompetent. But to make people aware that there are families who cannot feed their baby adequately and how the situation can be addressed. So please be aware not every case is the same as was for you. There are plenty of children with sensitivities and allergies and a plethora of formulas that address these issues. Formula can mean life or death.
I guess I should qualify "always talk to your doctor" with: regarding a very young infant (one that is liquids-only--AAP says this should be at least until they are 4 months old). You should then follow the guidelines your doctor gives you on earliest/latest timeframes for introducing solids for your baby, then follow his/her advice (hopefully his/her office can give you something in writing regarding the introduction of solids, or you can write their guidelines down). When giving solids, you should still be following your doctor's advice on how much/what type of formula to give if they are receiving formula, or how often/much you should be breastfeeding.
Listen to all you people. If someone is watering down formula, to you suppose they can just visit their doctor for advice, stop working so the can breastfeed, or even buy the ingredients to put in this stuff? How many of them even have internet access?
Of course, the GOP has the answer, as usual. Those babies should be scrubbing toilets to bring in money to feed themselves.
Reality: people are poor, system is inadequate as it is, and they want to cut it more. If these kids end up without properly formed brains, in 15 or 20 years, they'll be entering the workforce, and people will be attacking them for being stupid.
This is just another small step toward America being little China.
Almost every formula distributor will send out coupons monthly to anyone who calls and asks. Use a slightly different address #1 vs Apt 1 or Ft. vs Fort and you can get double coupons in a month if you really have to. Subscribe to free online baby magazine things and they'll mail/email more coupons as well. These will often give 50% off and sometimes even buy one get one free. Add this along with grocery store and newspaper coupons to WIC and food stamps and there's little reason that one should have to dilute formula to make it last. Unless, like I've seen too many times someone uses WIC for baby food, food stamps for groceries, and then purchases alcohol and cigarettes with cash.
That and mothers should be breast feeding anyways! This is especially true if you can't afford the formula. No reason to supplement the formula industry with more government money!
Its hard to get enough coupons to buy all the cans of formula needed. Not everyone gets WIC, and coupons or sales for formula are really hard to come by.
Caro syrup mixed with evaporated milk was what my mom fed all 7 of my bothers and sisters too. Yes, breast milk is best! Yes, formula is 2nd best! However, the old tried and true mix of milk and caro syrup is old school.
NEW MOM'S!!!!!!!!!! NEVER!!! EVER!!! WATER-DOWN BABY FORMULA!!!!
If you can't afford formula, consult a doctor and/or Nurse and ask for help in getting your baby fed right!
There are people who will help you get baby formula, you just have to get it. Don't give up. Your baby deserves the best!
Becca, Hard yes... impossible no. I lived through it. It can also help to join a coupon club as TONS of women without kids will send you their coupons for formula for free. :) Some grocery stores will also help out.
If someone has to do this, perhaps birth control ought have been first considered.
Some people are saying to mix Karo syrup to make homemade formula!
NEVER EVER GIVE A BABY YOUNGER THAN 1 KARO SYRUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some OLD pediatricians still suggest it for constipation and that is how you know you need a new pediatrician. They should read up to date information. Although the chance for botulism is slim, Karo does carry the botulism spores as does honey.
All the old timers need to shut their ignorant mouths because even the mayo clinic states that Karo syrup's consistency has changed over the last few years.
Education people!
Birth control fails quite often....
theCavalier,
I just wanted to mention again that you can always call your physician. That's obviously far better than going ahead with guesswork, like giving watered-down formula to an infant.
@Becca R. Hang in there. There are some folks on this thread that don't know how to do anything but criticize and have no empathy, whatsoever, for those who might not be able to have the money making job that they do. If you read through other comments on other articles, you will start to see a trend...There are those that do the best they can and do get assistance from the government. Some don't and hurt the rest because there is a stereotype. Bottom line, unless one has walked in another's shoes, they have no idea. Thanks for your posts.
Ok, let's break this down: First, formula is not and never can be equivalent to breast milk, breast milk is a living food specific to each mother and baby. Second, every woman can breast feed unless of course she does not have breasts or rare congenital malformations of the breast or she is receiving chemo therapy. It is a matter of desire and will. The shift in our thinking that a powdered cows milk formula is somehow better or more desirable than breast milk is misplaced. Now lets explore the reality for a moment and look at the long term effects of these babies who are not getting essential nutrition because a government subsidized program of "free" infant formula for indigent families is not working. Formula fed babies are more likely to need more medical care for childhood illnesses, diarrhea diseases and as they get older diabetes, obesity etc. so the government is paying for an inferior product that will contributes to poor health. Lets contrast this with a government that supports families indigent or otherwise to stay home the first year and breastfeed; by supplementing the family income through perhaps a tax credit or some other incentives. In the first year to support the breastfeeding relationship you have less medical care needed for chronic and long term illnesses, a healthier more productive population. Until we stop looking at a problem in the same old way we will continue to have the same old problems.
I have 4 children and can not breastfeed. I was on only the WIC program with my last 3 and they suplement formula, they do not provide all formula needed during a month. Now I have foodstamps and do not use WIC and we get plenty of "foodstamps" to feed my family of 6. I dont understand why people do not have enough to feed their childred!! When I was working in a grocerystore I would see these people with foodstamps coming in a purchasing candy, soda, snack foods, ie junk food for themself and their kids, then hear them complaining they never had enough foodstamps to last the month! This would piss me off because there I was with 3 kids (at the time) and my husband and I made to much to qualify for foodstamps but not enough to feed my kids the foods they really needed and these other people who were getting free food waisting it on junk!! I think the Foodstamp program should have classes on how to shop for you family, and how to use your money wisely!
momof 4girls: I also worked in a grocery store and saw the exact same thing. People buying garbage instead of healthy food choices. And now most convenience stores accept EBT cards too!! Oh well, guess I shouldn't complain, right?? I and my husband ARE the working poor. And no, we do not have children. I never wanted any, mostly because I couldn't afford them. We qualify for no assistance, even though our home is on the verge of foreclosure, because we (get this) make TOO MUCH MONEY??? Sick sad world. Best of luck to you momof4girls!! You're doing great and your attitude is awesome!!
I love how everyone is an expert nutritionist.
I am college educated, but nutrition is confusing. There is one pundit after another telling you what to eat, what to avoid...etc. I have no idea how to count calories, and without a label on it I have no idea what vitamins are in an apple or how many calories it is.
Eating healthy is not easy..unless you have the funds to hire a nutritionist, or take a couple of classes. What you all assume is common sense requires learning, and access to someone knowledgeable.
Check a book out of the library...
i really think the govt. needs to make restrictions on what food stamps can be used for, like you mentioned candy? if they want candy it should be purchased seperately, & not covered by food stamps. I know of a gir who does, or used to sell her foodstamps for 1/2 their value for cash so she had $ to support her meth addiction. it's people like her that makes anybody who needs/uses foodstamps look bad. i do think that people who get foodstamps,&, or any other govt. assistance should be required to wear those drug patches randomly,& if they fail the test, they should get their kids taken away for being a neglectful parent,& no longer recieve their food stamps, or other government assistance!
I am about as liberal as they come. I am a single parent of one child and it can be VERY difficult. I don't make a lot, but I make way too much to qualify for any assistance. I also remember how expensive diapers and formula are. That being said, how on God's green earth can someone that qualifies for food stamps, WIC and probably welfare and/or childcare assistance EVER not have enough formula? I honestly can not wrap my brain around this. Even if the parents work and get very little assistance, I still can't understand this. I am not trying to be mean, but most of the people I have known personally that would be considered really "poor" are overweight.
I would starve before my child went hungry. I mean this. NO EXCUSE.
I totally agree on the comments of people using food stamps for junk food. I use to work at a grocery store as a cashier and one easter this couple came in and bought about $150 worth of easter candy and used their food stamps for it, the wife had to nerve to look at her husband and say- I don't know what we are going to feed the kids with the rest of the month, that was all the food stamps we have and then they went to the cigarette aisle and bought 4 cartons with cash. So may first complient is they should restrict was food stamps are used for, no candy or junk foods; and second it is a shame when people complain they can't afford food then spend almost $200 on cigarettes and snuff,etc for a week and that money could probaly feed a family of four for a week. People like that just irrate me to no ends.
I struggle to get formula for my youngest. I dont get WIC or foodstamps. Its called not making enough money... No one will hire me. I have been lucky so far with getting my formula for cheap so far. On average, 4$ a can. My coupons are running out, and I also cant rely on buying it for cheap from others.
I can totally understand how someone would have trouble doing so...
I don't qualify for any of these programs but the people I do know who qualify (at least in NYC) for WIC get more than enough to cover all the formula they could ever need (We have had friends who had too much stuff left over from their WIC sponsored baby food). I suspect a lot of these people who get this assistance and still don't have enough for formula are somehow using WIC to buy other items and are not using it as required for formula or whatever the rules are.
No matter what, you feed your kids. My husband and I went through the meatgrinder financially over the years, and never once did our daughter go hungry. We went without many things, but never food. We now have guardianship of 2 young grandchildren, and what I want to know is, when our daughter's generation isn't there to pull their weight for their kids, who will be there for our grandkids kids.
I guarantee you, our grandkids will never go without. We know how to live on the cheap, and it is really not a big deal once you get used to it. Between food pantries, thrift stores, networking with other parents, our church, and just plain hard work and paying attention to it all, you CAN do it!
Why are you having children when you can't afford to feed them. Seriously, your last 3 children you received WIC and now you receive food stamps? What the hell. I'm sick and tired of paying for people's poor choices.
@mrsl-2925877
Agreed.
Ok, so if you're poor you shouldn't have kids? Maybe, but sometimes it doesn't start out that way. Scenario: John and Jane are a married couple, both have jobs, both make, let's say, $45,000 a year approximately. Jane gets pregnant. Six months later, John's hours get cut in half, reducing their total income to $67,500. They could live with that, $67,500 is still a respectable income for a couple, soon to be family of 3. But then, right after little Bobby is born, the company John works for folds, and he's out of work. Jane, who is unable to breastfeed and feeds little Bobby formula, is still on maternity leave for a month, goes back to work, and she now gets her hours cut in half. John has been looking for a new job diligently, but no luck so far. Guess what? That couple making a total of $90,000 almost a year ago now makes only $22,500, AND they have another mouth to feed. Sounds like a worst case scenario, but in this economy, it is all too possible to lose it all just when you have everything going for you. Don't judge people without knowing their story.
@ Matt: WIC vouchers state right on them what each voucher is to be used for. There is no way parents are able to use a WIC voucher for anything other than it's intended purpose. The grocery store will reject the voucher if the parent tries to get a bigger can of formula or even a different brand. This is the same for the type of food the parents are allowed to get as well. WIC vouchers are completely different from food stamps. Food stamps essentially act as money as long as the store takes them the individual may purchase anything except alcohol and cigarettes.
The bigger problem with WIC vouchers is there is a "date to use" on each of them. The parent cannot use the voucher until the 7 day period for purchase date has arrived. So if the baby runs out of formula the parent cannot buy anymore until the date of use. If they wait one day after the date of use the voucher is voided. There is also a limit on how much formula per voucher the parent can get. Not every baby has the same appetite and to group them all together and regulate their eating habits by date of use vouchers is not a good idea.
Maybe if the makers of the formula didn't make so expensive, then formula wouldn't have to be watered down.
While you're right, it's definitely expensive, a lot of times parents could cut back and spend their own money on buying extra formula and choose not to. As a nurse, I constantly had patients tell me that they can't afford formula, asking for extras from the hospital, all while talking on their iPhones. A lot of the patients had new cars, satellite TV, etc. Not everyone does this, so don't go biting my head off, but a lot of times there are unnecessary expenses that could be cut out to pay for formula, but the parents just don't prioritize.
I do agree that formula is too expensive but that is NO excuse to water it down. Watering down formulas as stated in the article can cause developmental delays along with issues in growth but it can also be deadly. It can cause "water intoxication" Yes there are parents that are on their iphones & driving nice cars saying that they can't afford it... But knowing the issues that watering down formula can cause, it would be more cost effective to make sure that these kids are being fed correctly. Imagine how much it costs taxpayers for the services that these kids may require later on.
I understand that it is the parents responsibility but what do we tell a child that for an extra $35 of formula a month that they would not have the issues they do? Do we tell them that their country doesn't care? Or here is a good one, you are not worth that $35.
I have 2 kids. One was breastfed exclusively and the other was breastfed for 6 weeks then formula because I needed to have breast surgery to remove a lump. Formula was REALLY expensive and my daughter ate a ton of it. I never needed WIC or Foodstamps but I can't imagine being in a position that would require me to even consider watering down formula. I would starve before I denied one of my children the nourishment that they need.
Iphones require a cell phone plan with a 2yr agreement... Many cant afford the penalty to break that contract
That they probably have to pay a bill for monthly... Maybe they havent been able to sell it yet?
Another contract required... Maybe they cant afford to shut it off?
Or, the parents have bills to pay. Contracts to fulfill... Maybe there are other places they can save on money... But the examples you gave, were horrible examples...
Becca, are you serious!?
Someone can't afford to cancel an IPhone contract? That really makes no sense. It costs 100+ a month to have an IPhone. With ATT the cancellation is $325 less $10 for each full month of the contract. If they just got the contract they should have realized they can't afford it so we must assume they have had the contract for a while. Let's say they had the contract for 6 months, then the cancellation would be $265 or equal to about 2 months of service. By month 3 they are ahead of the game.
Same analysis would probably apply to Satellite TV.
A car you may have a point, but then the question is, when the got the lease did they know they would have money issues. Also, even if you can't cancel a car lease you can sell the lease on the second market, which will reduce or eliminate that monthly bill.
Your arguments are excuses not reasons.
It doesnt cost me 100$ a month for my smartphone. I have 5 lines and our total is about 200. It averages to less than 50$ a line. Yea, its not an iphone, but its basically the same thing. If it cost 265 (Id like to point out that not all cell companies start reducing the cancellation fee right away, mine doesnt) PER line. That would be more than 5mos of service just to pay to cancel 1 line.
As far as I know, my satellite doesnt offer a reduced amount to get out of contract. However, my fee currently is 200$, and I pay about 50$ a month. Thats 4mos of service, that needs to be paid all up front. If Im struggling to pay my portion of my cell, and my satellite, what makes you think I can pay 4 or 5mos of each upfront?
Then the car...
When we bought our car in 2008, I did not know I was pregnant. The economy hadnt tanked yet, and we were financially sound. 500$ a month was NOT an issue for us to pay. Then, I found out I was pregnant (BC failed). No big deal... We saved for my leave, I went back to work, and was laid off within 2mos. Now, were getting by, but not as easily. I struggle to find a job for months and months. Then, Im pregnant again (IUD failed). At 5mos pregnant, I find another job. Finally start at 6mos. Quit at 8mos, due to complications. Now, we have 2 kids in diapers, and 1 on formula (breastfeeding didnt work out) NOW Im struggling. My work told me when I quit, that I could come back as soon as I had the baby. They lied. I didnt try really hard to find another job, because I planned on going back. Now, they wont take me back. I expected to be back to work by now, and so we would have been fine.
We decided to trade in our 500$ a month car, for another vehicle that would cost as much. We wanted to sell it, but couldnt sell it for what we owed, and we refuse to still have to pay for a vehicle we dont have. Our car payment is now 325$ a month. Much better than it was, and our insurance is better. However, I still cant get out of my satellite bill, nor can I get out of my cell bill (which, I kinda need the cell in order to call places for jobs, and receive calls, but thats besides the point) without paying a ridiculous amount of money. @!$%# happens. It can happen suddenly, even if you were doing great before, you could suddenly be struggling.
So yes, I am serious, and no, it is not an excuse. I cant afford to pay several months of a bill upfront. Thats my reason
@ Becca, in regards to your response to Mike, sorry but a cell phone is not a necessary requirement, neither is cable or satellite TV. If you cannot afford it how about not purchasing it to begin with. It's all about PRIORITIES!!
..AND in response to your second post after Mike, who pays 500.00 a month for a vehicle???? You're kidding right, obviously you couldn't afford it to begin with or you down payment would have been enough to lower your monthly payment. Couldn't sell it for what you owed? There is the answer...500.00 a month wasn't a big deal for you so you were driving the nice vehicle with a little to no down payment, and we wonder what is wrong with this country? Just because your credit score says, you qualify does not mean you can actually afford it.
Hate,
You were a waste of sperm and an egg...
No, seriously, I agree with hatehatehate. As a single parent, I put my own needs aside for the good of my children. Many people are very selfish and they should not be parents. I suggest skipping the gas station potato chips and the $2 soda at McDonalds. Drink water instead and buy your kids real food.
jw - crappy example. That's what, maybe $4? Tell me, oh great and wise one, what $4 will buy that will feed your kids?
Go on - I'll wait.
(That said, if your kids can't eat, you shouldn't be either).
Digital noise $4.00 to spend and feed a family of five one meal no problem.
We will assume there are a few things in the house with this as they are very common items.
One bag of egg noodles $1.00 --------------------Bag of white rice $1.75
one cans of Tuna $1.25----------------------------One pound hamburger $2.50
Quart of milk $1.75 --------------------------------Ketchup Common
Flour Common --------------------------------------Salt Pepper Common
Salt Pepper Common ------------------------------Season all if have if not dont matter much
Tuna hot dish --------------------------------------Hamburger rice hot dish
Ive made both and both will feed a family of five.
A pound of spaghetti noodles and sauce
2 boxes of maccaroni and cheese
Actually, liberal that I am...I agree with hatehatehate. If you have children...breastfeed them. If you can't afford children...don't have them. I know...there are a lot of people who say they "can't" breastfeed...and while I am somewhat sceptical about that..am sure it happens.
I live in a town with a lot of immigrants who have a lot of babies (a lot of babies - believe me) which seem to be formula-fed and Huggies-diapered. My kid worked at a discount grocery store during high school and said that the EBT card customers who were new parents always seemed to buy cases of formula. She thought that was weird especially since she grew up in a house where her mom was one of our town's founders of La Leche - the group that encourages breastfeeding.
Just Wondering, breast feeding doesn't always work. I know several mothers that had 'defective boobs' -their words not mine- and HAD to feed their child by formula. It's never as black and white as it seems. What does kill me is seeing people getting public assistance and driving around in 40-50k cars, having nicer computers then people who work hard and don't collect it, and then complain that they don't get enough for their kids. While I agree that you shouldn't have kids if you can't really afford them, it's never going to work that way. There are plenty of parents with children that CAN afford them...but they never should have had them simply because their parenting skills are.... severely lacking. If you love the child, expected or no, and you do your best for it then who is anyone to tell you that you shouldn't have it?
Beans and cornbread, even if you throw in a bit of ham or bacon you can feed a large family for less than $5.00.
What we really need is to encourage breast feeding more, and make it much more convenient for women who need to express milk at work. There really is no excuse for a company not providing a place and a half hour or so for this. I had to put my babies on formula years ago to go back to work, and I can tell you, we ate a lot of beans, chili mac, and potato soup but we never, ever skimped on formula.
Chili--
Where do you buy hamburger at that price? Even the cheapest (80 lean/20 fat) ground beef costs at least $4.99/lb in Connecticut. You must be putting down your own cow and the $2.50 is for the bullet.
I bought hamburg 70/30 on sale at albertsons in WA for 3.50/lb...
1 out of 8 seems low. Look like they watered those stats down a bit.
I see it all the time,same parents that say they can't afforf the formula are the ones wasting food stamps on crap,using a super expensive instead of the bare minimum phone,expensive clothes etc. If they budgetted better they probably could afford formula. And if they had more laws ensuring that these moms could have time to express breastmilk while a work then that would help a great deal too. Any mom that wants to express breastmilk while at work should be guaranteed to do so while at work by law. It's for nourishing a baby. It's not like these moms are taking a break to goof off. Seeing as how you can borrow hospital grade pumps from WIC for free,they already have access to the equipment,they just need the breaks at work to use them. Personally I wouldn't feed my kid that formula crap unless I physically could not breastfeed.
According to the new health care law, a non-bathroom place must be set aside at workplaces fro mothers' to express milk and/or breastfeed. From what I read, this law went into place on March 10, 2010, so there are laws on the books.
Hey on my birthday LOL. But does this law also require the boss to give you a 15-20 minute break to pump? If not then you might have a spot to do it but no time during the work day to do it.
there are federal laws in place that if you work more than 4 hrs in a day then you must be provided a 15 minute break, more than 5 hrs and you must be provided a 30 minute lunch break. speak up to you boss if your not getting this. it's called LABOR LAWS and applies to all workers not just breastfeeding/pumping mommies.
God made tits for a reason. Use them to feed your child. Watering down formula. Of all the stupid things.
I guess there are 2 reasons for tits then.
I think that a lot of people who think they can't breastfeed didn't try long enough. I figured this out on my second child. I gave up with my first after about a week because he was a big hungry baby and when I pumped only a tiny bit came out. With my second child, I was broke and determined to nurse. For the first few weeks I didn't produce much and it was like a 24 x 7 nursing session. When I pumped it was only a half ounce or so. I didn't supplement, I just kept going. Within a few weeks, I was able to pump entire bottles and nursed my child for a year. After a few months it was wonderful because it was effortless, no bottles to wash and no store trips. If you can just make it past a month or so (and it's SUPER HARD, I know!).
I am not blaming moms at all. Like I said with my first I couldn't do it. But I don't think the lactation consultants at hospitals educate new moms about nursing very well AT ALL or explain how much work it can be at first. I think a mom expects to immediately be pumping 6 oz. bottles and when it doesn't happen and the baby needs to latch on 18 hours a day, they assume something is wrong and give up.
My daughter stuck with it for her new baby (Nov) and now she feels like a milk factory! She has so much stockpiled that its crazy.
While I agree with you that breastfeeding is best, it really isn't that easy, and Jen, even using your example, sometimes it just doesn't work. I breastfed my baby exclusively for the first 3 months, didn't have any problems. However, when I went back to work, that's when things started going downhill. My boss was VERY accommodating, but even with pumping EVERY 2 HOURS for 20 minutes each, I just didn't produce enough. Every week my supply went down, until eventually, I would only get about 5oz a day. Again, that was with pumping every 2 hours, for 20 minutes each time. I took supplements, I breastfed when I was at home, I did EVERYTHING I could to keep my supply up. But... I couldn't. So even though I probably would have been okay if I had stayed home and breastfed (which wasn't an option, we need my salary), but when you have to pump at work, it becomes a LOT harder. I felt like a complete loser and actually broke down crying when I had to start feeding him formula, but I didn't have a choice. So no, sometimes it's not because of a lack of trying, trust me.
Put yourself in the mother's shoes before you judge her for using formula, because many are using it out of necessity, not choice. I fully support breast feeding, and our 3rd child was completely breast fed and was all the better for it, however there are many reasons that mothers have to use formula. I supplimented with formula for the oldest 2 for attachment and supply issues (I had plenty of milk but it enough wouldn't come out) and our youngest was fully breast fed until he became a "failure to thrive" because between my 40++ hour a week job (that is not able to provide breaks) and going to nursing school 20+ hours a week, I did not have adequate time for pumping or eating balanced meals.
People on here saying that everyone can and should breastfeed are ignorant. Have you ever thought that some women cannot breastfeed because they have to be on medication, which would travel through the breastmilk and the baby. This happened to my sister. After she had her baby, she developed PPD and had to be put on medication. The doctor told her she would not be able to breastfeed because the medication could harm the baby. WIthout the medication, something serious could have happened. With my other sister, she tried and tried and tried to breastfeed, but her breasts weren't producing milk effectively. While I think breastfeeding is the best way to go, I don't think it is anyones place to tell someone that they have to. Ultimately, it is the mothers choice. With that being said, I think it is reckless and irresponsible for a mother to water down formula. There is always some organization, church, assistance that you can get. I also agree that it is ridiculous that families who complain about not being able to afford formula, drive around in nice cars, have nice phones, internet, tv, computers, expensive clothes, etc. I would give up everything before I let my child starve, or give them inadequate formula. No excuse.
Even worse, I have seen formula listed for sale on ebay and craigslist. Turns out this formula was given to the family through WIC and similar programs, and yes, it has been verified in several cases. So some of these families are taking food out of their babies stomache, selling on ebay, and taking the money to buy useless crap for themselves, smokes, snacks, sneakers, etc. How screwed up is that.
Formula is paid for...don't spend the assistance on junk food (kool-aid, chips, candy, TV dinners, McDonalds etc). If the Mom can (health issues, employment issues considered), she can breast-feed...When people choose to be parents they chose to give up things for the kids. Watering down the formula only makes the babies sick or underdeveloped...
All infant formula is inferior to human milk for the nutrition of a baby. Carefully made homemade formulas cannot be recommended for newborn infants, but should certainly be acceptable for normal infants over 2 months of age. I suspect that most of the watering down occurs with older babies who drink more. A better solution would be to alternate between commercial formula and a cow's milk homemade formula in a child over 2 months of age.
The real problem is that commercial formulas have become the normal method of feeding babies to many lower socioeconomic people in this country. Breastfeeding must be promoted as the normal and best method of feeding babies.
Do you support laws and regulations making it easier for working moms to express milk during their workday?
If not, you're being hypocritical.
Breastfeeding is already being promoted, far too much in my opinion. All the unhealthy pressure (oh, excuse me, the word is "support" isn't it?) to breastfeed at all costs, plus the expectation that one should just whip it out anywhere, anytime is just ridiculous.
Promoting bf is only a partial answer. Many mothers CANNOT breastfeed. Lactivists everywhere, you will have to get this through your thick skulls: not everyone is exactly like you. There are a significant number of mothers who cannot exclusively breastfeed due to medical reasons and, at the same time, cannot afford formula. What are we supposed to do, just let those babies starve? Not everyone is comfortable using another mother's milk for their baby, so milk banks aren't the answer either.
I'd recommend that mothers who choose to formula feed make cuts elsewhere in order to afford the formula, even if you're on WIC. WIC doesn't quite give you enough to make it through the month, so you have to make some budget cuts elsewhere.. Live without paper towels and that money saved will cover the formula that WIC falls short of - how do I know that? Because that's what I do....
@su
I agree, if one physically can not breastfeed, one should not be pressured and feel uncomfortable, but in the same vein, studies show that the less educated a mother is, the less likely she is to breastfeed. We need to educate, but sometimes people confuse education with being pressured.
Not all mothers *want* to breastfeed. I bottle fed both of my sons and they are healthy, happy kids who rarely get sick. I made the decision to bottle feed because I did not feel the desire to breast feed. If that makes me a bad mother, so be it.
My husband and I were both full-time college students when my first son was born; I was working a part-time minimum wage job. We qualified for WIC; the thirty cans of formula we were given each month was enough. We bought formula for my second son. He did not get flashy, name-brand formula; he got the store-brand, just as he wore store-brand diapers. Yes, even though we bought the cheaper brand, it was still expensive, but we made do just the same. There is no excuse for not properly feeding your children.
Just using cloth diapers when you can will save a lot of money. If you can replace the disposables you use while at home with cloth you will save money. It is more work, but not that much. Paper towels, yes, I never bought paper towels until I was fairly financially secure. There are a lot of things that the ad companies have convinced us are necessities that really aren't. A warm wet washcloth cleans a baby bottom as well, if not better, than cold pricey wipes.
I think we really need more education in how to stretch money along with the foodstamps and the WIC programs. A lot of young parents grew up on prepackaged, disposable everythings and don't have any idea what to do with a bag of beans or rice, or a cheaper cut of meat, or how to prepare fresh vegetables etc. My generation was taught this by our depression era parents and grandparents.
Many of these people watering their children's formula are themselves morbidly obese. Many of their children turn out to be morbidly obese too, despite watered formula. See them waddle through Walmart.
Food stamps is one of the most abused government welfare programs. We should return to the days of handing out government cheese, rice, milk, sugar, flour, beans, and other surplus commodities instead of handing out vouchers that can be converted to cash. The latter is just a
source of corruption and a subsidy to the processed junk food companies.
I agree. Where I work, I see people buying soda with their EBT, then dump the pop out (our bottle returns can measure weight now, won't take bottles that are full) and return the bottles for the 10-cent refund. My sister seen a family come in on the public bus system, pay for their groceries with their food stamps, then turn around and buy a giant TV in cash. Her roommates are a different story altogether. I know there are legitimate families out there that play by the rules, but it sure doesn't seem like the majority. People are not honest, and I hate paying for that dishonesty. I wonder if they get into the situations they're in because most can't budget worth a damn.
I agree with vouchers - FOR EVERYTHING. In Massachusetts, twice a year, you would get a "clothing allowance" a/k/a check. They should give out vouchers and you should only be allowed to shop at the stores that accept them. You want Uggs, North Face, Coach, pay for it yourself.
I agree completely! I work as a nurse for a county health dept and you'd be amazed at the brand new cars, name brand clothing, iphones and ipads, and frequently manicured nails that come in for free healthcare because they can't afford it
Yes, breast milk is free, and best. But, in such a situation, it's also likely that mom isn't getting enough to eat, either, and her milk supply will suffer.
Actually, that's not true. Your body will make milk first even if it means depleting you no matter what. The only exception are women who are so malnourished they're at risk of death.
And how long will a nursing woman take before she gets to that point? Nursing requires a woman to consume 500 calories per day more than their pre-pregnancy caloric requirements. Wouldn't take long for that to add up to a severe caloric deficiency, if mom's food supply is already inadequate.
I was on WIC with my daughter and she was on several expensive formulas due to food allergies. I'm a single mother and although I qualified for WIC only while on maternity leave the amount I got was more than enough to pay for her Alimentum and another one that was even more expensive. I think a big part of the problem is poor parenting. I have a friend who thought everytime her child cried he was hungry. She was feeding him every 3hrs almost when he didn't need it but she was unaware. I tried to explain that she overfed him. Then I had a niece who stayed with me for a short while with her infant and she was so ignorant that I went out and bought her Ready to Feed formula for her baby because she was not measuring the powder correctly. There are many deficiencies here that are causing this problem. Another issue is the fact that some people sell the powder to drug dealers that use it to cut their product with. For those of you that don't know what I mean, that means they mix cocaine, etc. with the powder to dilute it for mass production. Many people that get food stamps also don't know about budgeting, if you can't budget money you can't budget food stamps. When I received food stamps I got $567 for a family of 3 and I never once had a problem making it last, this included getting fruits and vegetables. Excuses, excuses, excuses. Ignorance, ignorance, ignorance. People give me a break. Unfortunately (as a social worker) I can verify without a doubt that the Medicaid and Food Stamp programs are highly unmonitored and under regulated and nobody wants the task of doing it. I will however admit that they have made some positive changes but there's still rampant fraud.
I like you. I also love that you have personal experience backing you up. Glad to see someone who used the system correctly, I'll pay to help you out any day. :D Also, it helped restore my faith in humanity. A little bit. :P
But I bet none of them water down their liquor.
I don't understand how people getting foodstamps IN ADDITION to WIC, do not have enough to feed their families. A few years back I lost my job and had to get foodstamps until we got back on our feet. I was getting over $700 a month for a family of 5! Most months we would have some foodstamp money leftover because we didn't spend it all. Oh, I know why... maybe because of people like I saw at the grocery store yesterday using foodstamps to pay for 2 salads from the salad bar ($5.69 a pound), along with a couple 2-liters of soda and a Vitamin Water. I guarantee these people that are having to water down their baby formula have plenty of foodstamp money, but are not using it wisely.
How about some of these low income folks have fewer kids for the rest of us to pay for?
I understand some people can't breastfeed, but seriously if you aren't working why should I pay for your kids formula in the first place? People on WIC and foodstamps should only receive money for formula is their doctor signs something saying they cannot breastfeed. One of my best friends went into it with her first daughter thinking it was gross and she gave up very quickly, though she did at least pump until the baby was 3 months, but we all drink cow's milk which is even grosser to think about. With her second child she almost died from undiagnosed preeclampsia and could not breasfeed because of the meds she has to take and because that baby was born early, she's on the most expensive formula and they can barely afford it. She started that baby on cereal quick early to make feeding times farther apart.
My sister went into her pregnancy with the attitude, this is the best thing for the baby and I'm going to do it and while the first few weeks aren't fun, after that she loved it. When she was out and about all she had to do was find a bathroom or go to the car to feed my niece. No finding somewhere to heat up water and hauling all that stuff around. Another friend had the same attitude and even after learning her son was allergic to dairy, she just cut it all out of her diet. Most of the people I've known that have chosen not to breastfeed did it for selfish reasons, mainly they wanted to drink and smoke again and didn't want the bother. Why the heck have a kid then?
When I was little my mom was on foodstamps for herself, me and my little sister. She also had a friend also on foodstamps with two kids and they would go shopping together. My mom bought healthy food and the friend would buy chips and pop and then complain when she ran out of food by the end of the month but amazingly my mom never did.
Umm, breastmilk anyone?
It's free!
It's better!
It's always ready to go!
The poor don't need formula, they need to read a book on how to take care of their kids while saving money in the process. Too busy to breastfeed? That's what a breast pump is for. It's way less than buying a years worth of formula.
are you aware that some women don't produce enuff breast milk... I didn't for my first 2 children......
Overly simplistic. I breastfed my baby the first 3 months, while I was on maternity leave. When I went back to work, I pumped every 2-3 hours. Even with that, my supply went down daily. When he was 6 months old, even pumping as much as I did (and really, how many jobs will let you do that?), I would only get about 5oz a DAY. Not even enough for one feeding. So even though I tried EVERYTHING (supplements, increased pumping, breastfed at home), I had to go to formula. I could afford it, but still... not everybody uses formula because they don't want to breastfeed.
this country is soooooooooooo f@#%ed!!!!!!!!!!
I breastfed but, I do know formula is expensive. My sister in law breast fed 3 out of 4 children. On her last she had no breast milk. The baby could not take many formulas. $20/can is very expensive. But, she did what was best for her son.
I don't have my own kids because I can't afford them and somehow I'm supposed to feel bad because these women have to water down the formula I'm buying them. Cry me a river.
No, but you should feel bad for the kids. It's not their fault.
Just as my prescription plan requires I use generics when available, food stamp users should be required to use lower-priced store brands on many items. There was a story, on the ABC site I think, a year or so ago about a Chicago grocer who opened at midnight on the 1st of the month so that people who'd been going days with little food could use their new month's food stamp card. The photo of a shopping cart accompanying the article was full of high-priced brand-name foods. Several times, I've shared negative shakes of the head with others in checkout lines while a food stamp user is checking out with steak, Ragu, expensive cookies, etc. while we cash-paying people have the day's on-sale chicken, store brand sauce, and Oreos in our carts.
If you can't afford them, don't have them. I can't believe how proud people are talking about receiving food stamps. That's why this country is so *****ed.
Amen!!!
It is so easy to say that, but the fact is...............that's never going to happen. Just like some poor people should not have kids, rich people should stay away from having kids also. Just because they can afford to raise them, does not make them good parents.
Lets try and contribute a solution to the problem instead of opinions that are not going to change anything.
I contribute by volunteering at my local free clinic. What do you do??????????????????????
So you have a good job and 2 children. You lose your job and can't find another one that pays enough to support your family. What's your suggestion for the kids? EBay? Craigslist? Euthansia?
They don't water down their cigarettes though. Go figure.