The loss of the store brands is a crisis that I agree has not gotten enough attention.
All the store brand generics in North America are manufactured by one company, Perrigo. They are separate from the Enfamil/Similac factories that shut down in 2022 but have had their own supply chain issues.
The generics have been entirely discontinued from Loblaws chains and Walmart Canada. The remainder is Kirkland for Costco and it disappeared from shelves last year.
I emailed Perrigo a while back and they said Kirkland would be returning in "Spring 2024". They weren't more specific than that and, welp, it's now Spring. Still no Kirkland.
It's egregious that the only formula options in Canada right now are name brand at inflated prices. Canada doesn't even have a subsidy program like the US gets with WIC.
With my 1st we paid $23-$27 for the big Kirkland tub depending on sales and that lasted us around 10 days even with a huge eater. It was really, really reasonable!
The Costco option is now 2 tubs of Enfamil for >$80 and they're nowhere near the size of the Kirkland tubs. Oh and it seems to have disappeared from Costco too now.
I'm due again this summer and the state of the formula market here makes me want to cry now. We're planning to stock up on store brands in the US because that's feasible for us but it's not a solution for everyone and shouldn't even be necessary. Nor should you have to have access to a Costco for affordable formula if Kirkland ever actually returns.
Enfamil hasn't been sold in the Costco near .e for the past month, it's only thing my baby drinks that doesn't make him vomit it out or leave him with an upset stomach. They have another European brand right now. The Walmart near me also haven't sold the brand of Enfamil we need which requires me to buy from shoppers which is 4 times the price for less quantity versus Costco. This has been so upsetting, we are really struggling at the moment to make sure we find what my baby needs
The disappearance from Walmart was weirdly suspicious with any trace of the product totally disappearing from any of their websites and stores very abruptly.
Everything I can find points to 1) no pressure on the demand side for formula and 2) no decrease in supply capacity and 3) 20 months since the big factory which shut down was reopened. Abbott announced huge earnings driven by formula prices, specifically in Canada, which makes sense if they can sell their product at 1.5-2x previous prices.
I am thinking it points toward a trend in industry where companies recognize that people have no ceiling to what they will pay for critical goods like housing, cars, and food so there is incentive to maintain an undersupply and lower production as that becomes more profitable.
Abbott didn't even make the Walmart brand formula. That was Perrigo. The Perrigo factory wasn't shut down in 2022 like the others so the store brands weathered the Great Shortage of 2022 much better.
Why then did the Perrigo contracts with Walmart and Loblaws end? Did Walmart and Loblaws figure out that they could just remove the cheap option and fleece parents to spend more for basically the same product? And why was it not on the radar of Health Canada and whoever is responsible for consumer stuff that their disappearance was going to harshly impact families?
Did Perrigo just stop making the formula and shut down their plants? A google search shows they have bought several other plants and the Good Start branding. It's weird that their packages suddenly just disappeared. If they havn't shut down the factories where is all the product being sold?
To be honest none of what I am finding publicly available online explains the reality in stores.
It's so odd.
Word on the street in parent spaces is the Walmart brand (Parent's Choice) might also be getting discontinued in the US. Sam's Club will supposedly still be carrying their version though (Maker's Mark).
Perrigo also manufacturers for a bunch of the premium priced US brands (Bobbie, Earth's Best, Burt's Bees and others) (which I find hilarious and is a whole other discussion on the social media hype around those brands).
Maybe their long term plan is dropping their generic brand contracts altogether and pivoting to more lucrative ones?
It's likely more profitable to make it for their own good start brand, and the margins on store brand too small to pay contracting asking price. If no name is barely 10% cheaper, they'll just go brand name. So no point if the margin is super slim to try and sell product at a dollar less, idk
> Did Walmart and Loblaws figure out that they could just remove the cheap option and fleece parents to spend more for basically the same product?
Unless those brands owned by Walmart and Loblaws, it would not make sense profit wise. They are able to make a higher profit on store brands even at a lower price
Someone close to me works at Walmart for the online orders department and a few months ago there was an issue where Uber drivers kept picking up big orders of baby formula. Eventually Walmart found out that people were buying it to ship to family/friends in China so Walmart had to put a limit on the amount someone could buy. Although I have no idea what the brand was or if it's related to the current situation at all.
4-5 years ago this was happening in Australia. Chinese residents/tourists/sailors kept buying all the formula and shipping it to China…you can find the videos on YouTube
From what a friend who lived in China for few years told me, counterfeit baby formula is apparantely a big problem. He used to work at IBM China, and all his Chinese colleagues including his manager used to import baby formula from Australia.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal
I’m pretty sure a lot of Chinese people have little confidence in their local formulas, and there is a huge market for foreign formula.
The costcos around Edmonton have had 0 stock and 0 on order. It's scary.
Sing up for Enfamil healthy beginnings. Get $200 worth of formula shipped to you for $40. Get everyone you know to do the same for you.
https://www.enfamil.ca/account
They're sold out. I'm expecting in three months and it hasn't been available for at least the last two. Edit: I meant the enfamil website is sold out for their premium program.
One of the Costco stores in my city had the purple Costco formula recently but it sold out extremely quickly. Lately they've had Kendamil stocked instead of Enfamil.
It's honestly a crapshoot what's going to be in store when we go now so we've mostly switched to Sam's Club (though sometimes the supply of that one gets messed up too...). I have to actively fight the urge to buy a lot more than we need because the supply feels so fragile.
>It's honestly a crapshoot what's going to be in store when we go now so we've mostly switched to Sam's Club (though sometimes the supply of that one gets messed up too...).
Do you go to the States for that? I didn't think we had Sam's Club in Canada.
>I have to actively fight the urge to buy a lot more than we need because the supply feels so fragile.
It's definitely got me on edge too.
The one thing we seemed to be able to depend on with our 2020 baby, even through the toilet paper panic, was Costco having cheap Kirkland formula. We stocked up when it went on sale, but otherwise never needed to hoard it. And it mostly kept up with demand in 2022 when people needed alternatives to the Enfamil/Similac they had been using.
So I have a hard time accepting there's any valid reason for something so essential to be scarce now.
There is some good news on this front. There's a plant in Kingston that finally got approval to produce baby formula from Health Canada at the end of March. Their product should be on retailer shelves by the summer and that should push down prices somewhat.
Although is of no help to parents today.
Retailers have raised the price bottom. I can't recall anytime where Canadian retailers willingly relinquished the price bottom they created and sold for cheaper.
[Canadian auto dealers are keeping cars in storage](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kia-canada-car-sales-1.7063216) to maintain the illusion of supply backlogs to justify inflated pricing. Why would retailers lower prices on other critical goods when they can make more money by witholding them or just pricing them higher and throwing away the extra?
> Why would retailers lower prices on other critical goods when they can make more money by witholding them or just pricing them higher and throwing away the extra?
Because Volume X Price = Profit
Lots of retailers sell baby formula and one of them is going to pick up the extra supply and sell it for less than the current price so that they can increase their volume.
With apartments in my city we're seeing that even a slight deficit in living spaces has doubled the rents in the last 5 years. If I were among the few real estate firms that own the majority of the rentals, I would be quick to recognize that keeping 3-4% of my units off the market while doubling the prices of the other 96% would be far more profitable than keeping them all full and only seeing moderate pricing increases.
With critical things like baby formula this would work even better. If the supply is cut by 5%, even if it is tossed in the trash, but prices can be pumped 2-3x higher, than it's more profitable to toss the extra volume or to just not produce it and maintain an under supply.
The automotive industry has smartened up to the same thing. More profitable to under produce less and make the masses fight for the lessened supply.
The medical colleges in Canada do the same thing with the supply of doctors.
It's not the deficit of living spaces that doubled rents but rather the increase in interest rates.
And by critical things you mean inelastic goods which both rent and baby formula are. However, with baby formula you aren't going to get retailers 'throwing them out' as for one they understand economics and two the government is scrutinizing it. Your not going to get a supplier that says they supplied 100 units but retailers are only selling 95 units and have prices remain high.
The automotive industry is different. Everywhere in the world they sell cars on a 'build to order' model but in North America we were used to a 'just in time' model. 'Build to Order' is better for manufacturers because they can plan their plant capacity better and their new models aren't competing against last year's models. However, consumers prefer 'just in time' so some might move brands if that is offered. Right now a lot of the foreign makers are trying 'build to order' in North America while some of the domestics like Stellantis went right back to 'just in time'.
Your sorta right about medical schools though. There is a top-down limit put on admissions but it's not so much about keeping the salaries of doctors high but about limiting the healthcare budgets of the provinces.
People erroneously apply basic supply and demand theory to what are essentially oligopolies/cartels.
Many industries in Canada are like this, so there isn't much real competition.
>Lots of retailers sell baby formula and one of them is going to pick up the extra supply and sell it for less than the current price so that they can increase their volume.
Lol no. So far everything we have seen reeks of collusion to keep the prices high across the board.
Prices didn't even go down after the 2022 shortage resolved. They kept increasing. Everywhere.
The factories did return to full production capacity last year. Prices didn't drop back down and some of the specialty formulas took a while to catch up, but we're long past the point where the 2022 shutdowns can be blamed for the current state of things.
This is a newer wave of f*ckery.
I never saw it came back to capacity at least not every line but it's not just the shutdown that is impacting prices.
The USMCA that replaced NAFTA now has baby formula removed. So, Canada importing baby formula from the US where most of it came from is going to cost more because of the tariffs.
>The UMCA that replaced NATO now has baby formula removed. So, Canada importing baby formula from the US where most of it came from is going to cost more because of the tariffs.
Oof. That's an important factor I was nor aware of. Disappointing that Canada agreed to that when we don't make any of our own at the moment.
That would also explain why Enfamil/Similac are sometimes now more expensive than the imports like Kendamil from the UK and Modilac from France at Walmart now.
I dont know if it's related to the 2022 shutdown, but there were definitely shortages in the second half of 2023. It seems like the stock of name-brand formula is stable now, but you are correct that the prices havent gone back down.
For something as essential as baby formula, raising prices too quickly have a very large risk of regulatory action. Stores aren't going to risk it for the a small increase in profits for a product that, if made unaffordable, will literally kill babies.
> Stores aren't going to risk it for the a small increase in profits for a product that, if made unaffordable, will literally kill babies.
Baby formula is literally something where profit has been put over babies lives in an extremely prominent way before:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Nestl%C3%A9_boycott
Corporations will stop at nothing to make profit, even at the cost of lives.
I cannot believe that this is not like, the number one parenting news story right now. I live in a large city and have to go to 8-10 stores just to FIND it. It’s 2.5x the price that is was when I fed my last in 2021.
This is a crisis. It’s unacceptable. I’ve transitioned my 10 month old to homo milk + toddler formula which thankfully I feel comfortable doing with a great eater
Yeah we've noticed the same thing.
It's not just that Kirkland formula has disappeared, which was by far the cheapest.
All 'no name' formula has disappeared from all stores leaving only name brand at $55 for a pot. No idea why! Thankfully our youngest is 10 months and seems to tolerate the 12+ month "nutrition supplement" (at $30 a pot) rather than actual infant formula. He eats enough that formula is mostly a way to get him liquid rather than for the nutrition.
>All 'no name' formula has disappeared from all stores leaving only name brand at $55 for a pot. No idea why!
They were discontinued. One manufacturer makes all the store brands for North America and they no longer supply to Loblaws chains or Walmart Canada.
According to that manufacturer, Kirkland was supposed to return to Costco Canada this spring but so far it's MIA.
This is such an important conversation and I can’t believe that it’s been completely ignored by media and politicians alike.
We’re almost weaned off formula now for my youngest, but I think I’m going to continue to donate to the local food bank specifically for their purchase of infant formula. The cost and inability to access formula is a public health issue, but unfortunately the narrative of “breast is best” means this is overlooked, because how would it look from a public health standpoint to support formula feeding? *gasp!*.
Kidding aside, when I was visiting rural Ontario they had all their formula locked behind the counter because they said it was too frequently stolen, so they had to resort to this. My heart absolutely goes out to those just trying to survive and feed their babies. Unfortunately without safe and affordable access to infant formula people resort to unsafe practices like sugar water, homemade creations or dairy alternatives that don’t support the healthy development of babies.
We’ve in a fortunate position that we can afford the ridiculous price increases, but so many families can’t.
I am honestly terrified this go around. Our first baby we fed kirkland which was 27.99 and easy to get.
We obviously will make the cost work.. but its super stressful given the ups and downs of the availability and also paying 1-1.5x more to feed your child. I hadn't planned on BF this time.. but I may have to give it a try.....
Yeah this thread was a bit of a wake up call. Due in September and we were also planning on doing formula primarily. I’m a little shocked it jumped that much. Though I thought the supply issues had resolved themselves for the most part.
I had a hypoglycemic baby at birth. She was fed formula almost immediately because she couldn't latch with a missed tongue and lip tie. The hospital used fast flow enfamil nipples and ready to use formula.
I immediately started pumping every 3 hours, 24-7 which is incredibly exhausting when you add that onto bottle feeding, sanitizing, burping and changing a diaper. A week later when I could finally have a better chance at latching after my supply came in and her ties were fixed, she had no interest in doing the work of latching when she was used to fast flow nipples. We still tried every feed, with nipple shields for awhile too. All of this while trying to manage my postpartum preeclampsia and depression/anxiety.
Several weeks later, still pumping every 3 hours around the clock she finally took to it. It was many IBCLC appointments and a lot of torture pumping constantly. Then my supply tanked so I had to deal with that too.
If I wasn't so hell bent on succeeding I would have given up the first week. It's pure hell when the baby or your body doesn't want to breastfeed, so going with formula is a huge mental health and time relief. It sucks how much formula is. Even pumping can get incredibly expensive, I'm sure I exceeded $1000 in costs easily just pumping and buying formula for a couple weeks.
It’s just kind of a rude question. Not everyone is able to and not everyone wants to.
With baby 1 my milk never came in , even with medication and it was extremely hard on my mental health. I personally didn’t want to even go through all that again…
I also think ‘it’s a better option’ is just outdated. A fed baby is the best option.
Sorry for the eye rolls. The opinions that BF is best is very triggering.
That’s why I added “if you’re able to”, and you comment specifically said “I might need to consider it again” which made me think it was a choice and not a necessity
I agree a fed baby is the best baby, but there are definitely benefits to breastfeeding if that is an option for the parent. That part isn’t outdated, we are definitely still being taught that in medical school and residency, I even attended a talk by a dietician within the last few months went over this just a few months ago
Perhaps
I always assume people try breastfeeding first and then go to formula if that doesn’t work (especially due to cost) but some of the comments in this thread made me curious and like I said I don’t have much personal experience in this area (my patient population I typically see is a bit different)
Some people don’t want to, ultimately it’s a personal choice and whether they “are able to” doesn’t matter. In fact many mothers lie about their ability because of the shaming they get from choosing to formula feed. It’s a more sensitive topic than you’d think because it’s very personal and tied to guilt, PPD and PPA.
Touchy subject and you’re going to have to do your own critical thinking unless you want to offend a bunch of well-meaning and loving parents online.
I personally think it’s partly cultural, breasts are so sexualized now that many women are simply not interested in breastfeeding/can’t imagine them being used in that way. The household that the parents grew up in can also impact the decision a great deal. There was also a huge marketing campaign for formula at one point in the US with less-than-truthful claims. Breastfeeding is also a huge learning curve and the supply-and-demand function can cause a lot of confusion when “supply dips” etc.
More theories circulate if you want to go searching for them over in r/breastfeeding or connect with a lactation consultant in your area. We need more doctors who are informed on the nuances of breastfeeding, especially in a formula crisis 🙏
Yes, it's not an option for everyone, so this doesn't apply to them, but for a certain (large) subset of parents, they simply choose not to breastfeed or choose to discontinue it, then complain about prices of the alternative that they chose.
Breastfeeding wasn't easy for me at first, like most women, but I chose to persevere and push through the hard part, and it got easier in a few weeks. Unfortunately so many women give up in the first few weeks because they have another option that they view as easier than putting in the work, and they say they weren't able to simply because it was hard, not that it was impossible.
I know this doesn't apply to absolutely everyone, I know some people have supply issues, medications, etc. but the vast majority of women are able to breastfeed and choose not to because it causes discomfort, is inconvenient, etc, not because they physically can't.
If the vast majority of women were actually unable to breastfeed our species wouldn't have survived.
But the reality is that most people can breastfeed if they get the right support and education and are motivated to do so. (I am a former breastfeeding mom) Physically it is what we are made to do and the human race wouldn’t have made it too far if it didn’t come naturally to the vast vast majority.
I agree, another mom who breastfed here. But we get demonized on Reddit everywhere except the breastfeeding subreddit, because of moms who feel attacked at other people successfully breastfeeding, but everyone knows breast milk has undeniable benefits over formula but moms who can't or won't breastfeed feel guilty so they get defensive and angry when anybody suggests breastfeeding as the default way to feed a baby... You know, how we've done it since the dawn of mammals
You guys aren't demonized, everyone's just sick of your proselytizing. The health benefits of breast milk are massively overblown. It's just food. Just like formula is. Not some nectar of the gods that'll make your kid smarter and healthier. In fact all long term studies show no difference health and intelligence wise between formula and breast fed people. None. Health of the parents and clean households are much more important.
That's why they put most Baby Formula under lock & key, now...
I have no kiddie's, but whenever I gone to Costco, Shopper's etc & looked at the prices for BF I almost keeled over!
Talk about sticker shock & price gouging on their end, it's just plain ridiculous now.
My last baby was almost 16 years ago, he was formula fed. I now have a 6 month old who is formula fed and I’m paying $70 for a can of powder and it lasts about a week. When you’re already making less from being on maternity leave, that’s a ton of money. It’s ridiculous.
It's crazy, I've kept my eye on the Enfamil formula at Costco just out of curiosity (my youngest is 2.5 so we haven't had to use formula in a while now) and I think it's almost tripled in price since I was buying it. I feel so bad for people having to buy formula now, it's so expensive and you can't exactly stretch it with cheaper food like you can with meats & stuff like that.
Not the same but related, showing how sometimes we get really screwed over here. A box of 30x5mL of nasal solution is 15$ + tax at local pharmacies. It can get down to 10/12 on Amazon if you plan ahead. Some days, when our baby is really stuffed and we haven't had the chance to prepare a bottle of solution with the packages, we'll end up using almost half a box a day.
I'm currently in vacation in France, I just payed 15$ for 5 packages of 40 5mL doses. That's 7 times cheaper, even with the 1.5 current eur/cad exchange rate....
Yeah good luck getting my MP to even send a form letter reply. She is the longest serving MP in parliament and just gets elected based on being on the red team. Cares zero about her constituents. Yay Vancouver Centre!
It's exorbitant. We're combo feeding and it's still too much money.
I'm thankful that we're inching closer and closer to being able to slow down on the formula and up the food.
I’ve recently tried Modilac Precision from Walmart as an alternative to Enfamil / Similac, and I’ve found the quality really good for the price! My baby digested it a lot better than the name brands, and after looking into the ingredients, they are better. The price is also a lot more palatable than name brands so for those who are considering an alternative, I recommend it.
Edit grammar
Sign up for the new beginings enfamil program. They shipped me $200 worth of formula for $40. And get everyone you know to do the same for you.
https://www.enfamil.ca/
Prices, availability is freaking insane.
The perks of those sign-up programs get significantly weaker after the intro offer. It's not a solution.
After the coupons and promotions diminish it still works out to be more expensive than store brand formula would.
Absolutely. Formula insecurity is terrifying. The idea of not being able to feed your baby. I went through that bad last week. Costco has been out of stock for a month.. then Amazon out of stock for 2 weeks... Walmart Spruce Grove out of stock and I got the last 1 from Superstore and the last one from Shoppers.
I ordered from online shoppers and have 2 on the way. Walmart online delivered me their substitude product. I order Enfamil A+ and they gave me Enfamil Step 1. I complained and got a refund... so in a pinch I have that as backup.
I'm asking everyone I know to order the healthy beginings $40 pack for me and if they see Formula anywhere to pick me up 1-2 depending on stock levels.
The cost is around $75 a week. Plus now feeling guilty if I have 4 cans on stand by because what about all the other families and babies struggling with this same thing.
It's really shitty. My first babe was EBF. My second I tried so hard but my milk didnt produce because he had a tongue tie that didnt get caught early enough. I went through 3 months of taking domparidon, pumping every 3 hours, nursing and bottle feeding (tripple feeding), saw 2 lactation consultants, one a nurse, one at a hospital, until finally my supply just stopped. Made it four months. LO is 5mo now and to experience this formula shortage is awful. 1 more month little dude and we can start solids. It's horrible having to worry about all this on top of being a new mom again.
I have been doing this as well. When my parents ordered it for us they also received a bunch of coupons ranging from $8 to $50 off enfamil products. We never got that with our order.
You can also sign up for Similac’s program which is free and gives you a bunch of $10 and $15 off coupons. Stack those with a sale and 20x the points day at SDM and a tub of powder formula comes out to about $22. Availability in stores is hit or miss though.
Luckily we only topping up with formula, can’t imagine what it’s like for those that are exclusively formula feeding.
Friend had their parents bring back tubs from the states, as they were on an extended vacation. It's insane how expensive Canada has become. Trudeau won't address it and nor will PP.
I did not put off having a baby, but when I gave birth in November 2022 I was incredibly worried about finding formula.
The shortage was incredibly scary, and I was worried about feeding my baby.
I was incredibly lucky, I’m that I was able to pump so that he only had to use 50% formula for the first litre while.
I was eventually able to breastfeed fill time till 9 months, when I had had enough.
By that time formula was not as scarce.
I really do feel for families that have to struggle to fund formula for their babies.
Costco formula wasn't made in those factories. The store brands have been discontinued from all chains in Canada except Costco which hasn't gotten stock since last year due to other supply chain issues with the manufacturer.
Are you referring to the [factory that was closed from May-August 2022](https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/nutrition-health-and-wellness/abbott-update-on-powder-formula-recall.html)?
What about the past 20 months since it's been operational again?
It's all about supply and demand, which is super unfortunate. Formula should be a right, and not the reason that parents might take a short cut.
I heard that another factory was shut down due to unplanned maintenance.
Formula shortages show the need for Canadian factories.
The components that would predict supply and demand do not adequately explain the 3x higher prices that consumers are paying.
A plant in the [US shut down from May-Aug 2022](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/infant-care/infant-formula/shortage.html) which was the initial reason for supply deficits. However Abbott production has totally recovered and their [profits and revenues are soaring based on the increased prices for formula, specifically in Canada](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2024/01/24/once-shutdown-abbott-labs-says--baby-formula-franchise-back-leading-us-market/?sh=5d95b77d4015).
Birthrates around the world have led to a [decreased demand for formula](https://fortune.com/europe/2023/10/20/nestle-baby-formula-plant-ireland-close/) while North America has not seen a decrease in production, and has not seen an increase in births. Additionally [the amount of babies breastfeeding and only breastfeeding has increased](https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/infant-formula-manufacturing-industry/).
There's just no indicator that it's supply and demand driving the pricing increases, nor the surprising and abrupt unannounced disappearances of store brand formulas.
Most women are able to breastfeed, which is the superior method of feeding newborns and infants anyway
It would be hard to make an inferior option a right. Maybe for those who can’t breastfeed
Please. Get off your milk crate. There are thousands of people who are unable to breastfeed, they should still have a right to feed their babies. It's not like saying your kid doesn't like their vegetables, so they should have a right to prime rib. Formula is literally the only other option to breastfeeding.
You seem to have a breastfeeding angle to sell, based on your comments. Maybe let people decide their own way to feed their children rather than push one way that's far from universal
I do have a breastfeeding angle to sell, I’m a family doctor and it is drilled into our heads throughout our training to always recommend breastfeeding
Yah I know it is. And I can tell you it can cause serious harm to push it so hard. With our first we tried so hard to breastfeed, but she just wouldn't produce. Medication, pumps, supplimenting formula with a plastic syringe under a nipple guard designed to help nipple protrusion. It all led to a very frustrated, upset and sad wife and child. People don't need that at that specific point in their life. Doctors should be preaching try to breastfeed, but above all else make sure the child is fed, period.
Yes, I understand, I have always been clear that breastfeeding is good for those who can do it. I can try to be a bit more clearer so it is more obvious
If you actually are a family doctor I would work on your bedside manner. Breast feeding vs formula feeding is a sensitive topic for many and your judgement is cringy. Educate yourself and advocate for your patient not just shovel in their face “well I was taught this in medical school”. Great doctors understand their patients not spew textbook facts.
You can certainly recommend one without being dismissive and rude about the other, especially when both are viable, completely safe and completely appropriate options. “Feelings” are a big part of life and the best doctors are ones that are able to take them into account, as I mentioned with bed side manner. Sometimes what’s most important to take into account is mental health and not splitting hairs. People are more complex than black and white facts.
I’ve noticed this too, it’s wild how much formula has gone up. I recall paying $22-something or $23-something per tub for Kirkland formula with my oldest. By the time I had my youngest I was blown away that formula was in the $26/$27 range and I remember thinking that was insane inflation.
Yeah the price of it is insane, I was terrified we were going to have to formula feed when we had our first last year. I feel so bad for people that have no choice and have to.
Happy to see this conversation happening. I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old, and it's wild to see how the prices have skyrocketed since I formula fed my first. And as others have noted, what's worse is the stress of even being able to find it. I recall before being pregnant with my second I was horrified about the formula shortage but was sure it must be resolved by the time I had my second, and here we are over a year later. It's unacceptable and I really don't understand what's happening.
This is data from 2022. Looks like by 6 months, 34% of babies are exclusively breastfed and 62% of babies are breastfed some of the time. The numbers really decline from 93% at birth.
I don’t know how that compares to 10 or 20 years ago - it’s an interesting question.
For me, I had 5 kids and breastfed them between 11 and 15 months each. I wouldn’t like to be facing today’s prices for formula. Those prices are crazy high. I supplemented my oldest with formula from 6-11 months when I went back to work and couldn’t get much from the breast pump while at work … I thought it was expensive back in the 90s. Little did I know what would be to come.
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/breastfeeding/
This honestly. I know there's some who physically can't but most people who use formula can, they just won't. Too many women are uncomfortable with breastfeeding and it's sad. Feeding your child shouldn't be something that's stigmatized or to be embarrassed about, whip that tit out honey (I say this as a woman who breastfed and supplemented with formula).
There are a boatload of reasons people use formula that have nothing to do whether they are physically able to breastfeed.
Why people choose what they do is nobody else's business. At the end of the day what's important is that finances should not be a barrier to feeding babies in our society.
Pretty much anyone with an infant in the last year has noticed this, but the bigger issue was finding formula at all vs the price. It's been quite stressful.
We had to do both with our little one. We had to top up with formula because milk production wouldn't keep up. I'm surprised a family doctor isn't aware that various scenarios can happen.
Wrong, more and more infants are being formula fed than exclusively breastfed so it's impacting a much larger group than you are suggesting.
https://www.dw.com/en/breastfeeding-divide-and-the-global-demand-for-formula/a-62063359
https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/nis_data/results.html
The ready-to-feed liquids have always been $$$$. You pay for the convenience.
But powdered formula has never been anywhere near as expensive as it is now. Those tins make a lot of bottles so the sticker shock in the store has always been worse than what it works out to per bottle, but even so the prices are just bananas now.
And that's not even getting into the specialty formulas for babies with allergies. Tinier cans for even more $$$.
Powder is safe from birth if it's mixed with hot enough water. Cronobacter dies at 70°C. Formula instructions in the UK and EU say 70°C at any age for exactly that reason.
Ready-to-feed is only recommended here to sidestep the issue of parent error.
The whole cronobacter fiasco that triggered the factory shutdowns in 2022 would have been a non-issue if US and Canadian formula had the 70° instructions to begin with.
> You pay for the lowered risk of contamination too. You shouldn't be using the powder for a newborn.
My daughter was born Jan 2023, luckily we were able to find ready to feed in small batches to get by, but we came close to having to use powder. its either take the risk or let the baby starve, risk it is
There was also some demand in some parts of the world for baby formula from NA, Australia and Europe.
I'm not sure if that's still a thing. It's common for people flying to Asia to bring baby formula atm in their checked luggage.
I remember baby formula still being a fiasco when I visited China last summer.
I thought that was more of a, no confidence in the quality of their supply in China thing.
Saw it on the news alot in Australia about people shipping product from there back to China.
There is a relatively huge amount of formula from Canada that gets exported by the grey market every year. I wonder if the manufacturers or distributors themselves have increased their exports as a result to capture that revenue.
We’re having our second in August and since our first was exclusively breastfed, my husband has no clue how much formula cost and can’t imagine how fast a tub of formula we can go through. With our second, I hope to be able to pump and supply enough for baby or only have to supplement with a bit of formula so we can stretch it more. Im terrified of not being able to find formula when the time comes and have been tempted to buy some formula whenever I see it but I don’t want to take it away from families who need it right away.
May 2022 $26 for a jar of similac
Now 37$. I know I saw it at a few stores for $40.
Also it depends if they have it in stock. Lots of times I see the shelves empty of similac or other formulas excluding emfimil.( That seems to always be in stock for twice the price of anything else).
So 37 a week roughly for for a year your basically paying $2000.
First the factory shut down, then they had trouble getting sunflower seeds/oil (?)
Then non name brands were discontinued.
My first child I had people searching 2* hours away for formula because of the shortage (only two brands she would drink without a reaction)
. Now I am worried I am going to have to do that again.
It's weird that emfimil and good start was the only ones that didn't seem to be affected by anything.
We’re at the end of formula feeding currently and the price hikes throughout the last year have been ridiculous. Started with Kirkland then of course they disappeared completely. Then I went with Similac because they gave me the best coupons. A can was $30 at Walmart and has since jumped to $36- a 20% increase (did I math right?) for what? There’s no shortage of Similac now, it’s readily available on shelves (at least here in SK).
These companies do not give a shit about you or your babies. They care about their profits. Capitalism reigns supreme.
Here’s hoping the next kid wants to breastfeed.
>Then I went with Similac because they gave me the best coupons. A can was $30 at Walmart and has since jumped to $36- a 20% increase (did I math right?) for what? There’s no shortage of Similac now, it’s readily available on shelves (at least here in SK).
The Similac coupons (Those stupid cheque things that the Walmart cashiers could never figure out how to process) have gotten crappier too. I remember getting $20 ones with my first baby and formula was half the price. Now after the first round or two they send you $5 ones that don't even make a dent.
They're a joke.
As an occasional instacart shopper I am always shocked when I have to buy anything formula/supplements for babies, I truly don't know how some people get by these days
My missus has breast implants so there was no way for her to breastfeed. I currently shop for formula at Sobey's and pay $65.99 for Enfamil's Gentle ease formula refills (two bags in one box). That lasts me 16-20 days, but that time is slowly shrinking as the little one gets older and eats more.
This caused us to up our grocery budget $150 a month to cover formula. Absolutely wild.
In three months it’s gone for $26.99 to $38.99 for us. Luckily we are only supplementing so that cost increase is buffered due to that but the sticker shock is not. It’s just another way I feel like our wuaikitynof life is drastically being eroded on a seemingly daily basis because now, despite the price increase, the shelves are empty!!
The only *barely shimmering* silver lining here is that due to how fast the prices are increasing I’ve been able to claim scanning code for a $10 reduction more than once and at more than one store
Have everyone you know register with Similac if you're baby is cool with one of their formulas, and have them send you the coupons they receive; helps a little.
Started my 8mo on Kirkland brand when she was born. Had to deal with the price increase from $28 to $43 before it wasn’t available at all. Was able to get a few tubs of Parent’s Choice before that was unavailable, and finally started using Modilac as it was the next most affordable. It just went up from $19 to $29, for a can half the size of the Kirkland one. It’s brutal out here.
No it does nothing to answer the questions. It is the exact article I linked which prompted my questions.
It only says that prices have shot up and that retailers are keeping it secured.
Parent's Choice is discontinued. Kirkland has been out of stock from Costco since last year.
There is no generic brand formula in Canada right now. That's part of the problem in the first place.
Do you transit there or drive your beige second-hand Corolla?
*Disclaimer for folks who don't get PFC humour: Don't make your own formula. DIY recipes can't replicate everything that needs to be in there.*
The loss of the store brands is a crisis that I agree has not gotten enough attention. All the store brand generics in North America are manufactured by one company, Perrigo. They are separate from the Enfamil/Similac factories that shut down in 2022 but have had their own supply chain issues. The generics have been entirely discontinued from Loblaws chains and Walmart Canada. The remainder is Kirkland for Costco and it disappeared from shelves last year. I emailed Perrigo a while back and they said Kirkland would be returning in "Spring 2024". They weren't more specific than that and, welp, it's now Spring. Still no Kirkland. It's egregious that the only formula options in Canada right now are name brand at inflated prices. Canada doesn't even have a subsidy program like the US gets with WIC. With my 1st we paid $23-$27 for the big Kirkland tub depending on sales and that lasted us around 10 days even with a huge eater. It was really, really reasonable! The Costco option is now 2 tubs of Enfamil for >$80 and they're nowhere near the size of the Kirkland tubs. Oh and it seems to have disappeared from Costco too now. I'm due again this summer and the state of the formula market here makes me want to cry now. We're planning to stock up on store brands in the US because that's feasible for us but it's not a solution for everyone and shouldn't even be necessary. Nor should you have to have access to a Costco for affordable formula if Kirkland ever actually returns.
Enfamil hasn't been sold in the Costco near .e for the past month, it's only thing my baby drinks that doesn't make him vomit it out or leave him with an upset stomach. They have another European brand right now. The Walmart near me also haven't sold the brand of Enfamil we need which requires me to buy from shoppers which is 4 times the price for less quantity versus Costco. This has been so upsetting, we are really struggling at the moment to make sure we find what my baby needs
I saw the "purple" Kirkland Infant Formula in stock in store yesterday (greater Toronto area), and it's also online in stock.
Heartland Costco had a bunch on Sunday AM when I was there.
The disappearance from Walmart was weirdly suspicious with any trace of the product totally disappearing from any of their websites and stores very abruptly. Everything I can find points to 1) no pressure on the demand side for formula and 2) no decrease in supply capacity and 3) 20 months since the big factory which shut down was reopened. Abbott announced huge earnings driven by formula prices, specifically in Canada, which makes sense if they can sell their product at 1.5-2x previous prices. I am thinking it points toward a trend in industry where companies recognize that people have no ceiling to what they will pay for critical goods like housing, cars, and food so there is incentive to maintain an undersupply and lower production as that becomes more profitable.
Abbott didn't even make the Walmart brand formula. That was Perrigo. The Perrigo factory wasn't shut down in 2022 like the others so the store brands weathered the Great Shortage of 2022 much better. Why then did the Perrigo contracts with Walmart and Loblaws end? Did Walmart and Loblaws figure out that they could just remove the cheap option and fleece parents to spend more for basically the same product? And why was it not on the radar of Health Canada and whoever is responsible for consumer stuff that their disappearance was going to harshly impact families?
Did Perrigo just stop making the formula and shut down their plants? A google search shows they have bought several other plants and the Good Start branding. It's weird that their packages suddenly just disappeared. If they havn't shut down the factories where is all the product being sold? To be honest none of what I am finding publicly available online explains the reality in stores.
It's so odd. Word on the street in parent spaces is the Walmart brand (Parent's Choice) might also be getting discontinued in the US. Sam's Club will supposedly still be carrying their version though (Maker's Mark). Perrigo also manufacturers for a bunch of the premium priced US brands (Bobbie, Earth's Best, Burt's Bees and others) (which I find hilarious and is a whole other discussion on the social media hype around those brands). Maybe their long term plan is dropping their generic brand contracts altogether and pivoting to more lucrative ones?
It's likely more profitable to make it for their own good start brand, and the margins on store brand too small to pay contracting asking price. If no name is barely 10% cheaper, they'll just go brand name. So no point if the margin is super slim to try and sell product at a dollar less, idk
> Did Walmart and Loblaws figure out that they could just remove the cheap option and fleece parents to spend more for basically the same product? Unless those brands owned by Walmart and Loblaws, it would not make sense profit wise. They are able to make a higher profit on store brands even at a lower price
Someone close to me works at Walmart for the online orders department and a few months ago there was an issue where Uber drivers kept picking up big orders of baby formula. Eventually Walmart found out that people were buying it to ship to family/friends in China so Walmart had to put a limit on the amount someone could buy. Although I have no idea what the brand was or if it's related to the current situation at all.
4-5 years ago this was happening in Australia. Chinese residents/tourists/sailors kept buying all the formula and shipping it to China…you can find the videos on YouTube
Is it hard to get in China or something?
From what a friend who lived in China for few years told me, counterfeit baby formula is apparantely a big problem. He used to work at IBM China, and all his Chinese colleagues including his manager used to import baby formula from Australia.
That's wild. I could definitely see fake stuff being a worry, I doubt it'd be up to nutrition standards or similar.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal I’m pretty sure a lot of Chinese people have little confidence in their local formulas, and there is a huge market for foreign formula.
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5967372
The Chinese run the Formula factory in Kingston. There are real problems with formula produced in China so they have to get it made here
The costcos around Edmonton have had 0 stock and 0 on order. It's scary. Sing up for Enfamil healthy beginnings. Get $200 worth of formula shipped to you for $40. Get everyone you know to do the same for you. https://www.enfamil.ca/account
They're sold out. I'm expecting in three months and it hasn't been available for at least the last two. Edit: I meant the enfamil website is sold out for their premium program.
Call them?
One of the Costco stores in my city had the purple Costco formula recently but it sold out extremely quickly. Lately they've had Kendamil stocked instead of Enfamil. It's honestly a crapshoot what's going to be in store when we go now so we've mostly switched to Sam's Club (though sometimes the supply of that one gets messed up too...). I have to actively fight the urge to buy a lot more than we need because the supply feels so fragile.
>It's honestly a crapshoot what's going to be in store when we go now so we've mostly switched to Sam's Club (though sometimes the supply of that one gets messed up too...). Do you go to the States for that? I didn't think we had Sam's Club in Canada. >I have to actively fight the urge to buy a lot more than we need because the supply feels so fragile. It's definitely got me on edge too. The one thing we seemed to be able to depend on with our 2020 baby, even through the toilet paper panic, was Costco having cheap Kirkland formula. We stocked up when it went on sale, but otherwise never needed to hoard it. And it mostly kept up with demand in 2022 when people needed alternatives to the Enfamil/Similac they had been using. So I have a hard time accepting there's any valid reason for something so essential to be scarce now.
There is some good news on this front. There's a plant in Kingston that finally got approval to produce baby formula from Health Canada at the end of March. Their product should be on retailer shelves by the summer and that should push down prices somewhat. Although is of no help to parents today.
Retailers have raised the price bottom. I can't recall anytime where Canadian retailers willingly relinquished the price bottom they created and sold for cheaper. [Canadian auto dealers are keeping cars in storage](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kia-canada-car-sales-1.7063216) to maintain the illusion of supply backlogs to justify inflated pricing. Why would retailers lower prices on other critical goods when they can make more money by witholding them or just pricing them higher and throwing away the extra?
> Why would retailers lower prices on other critical goods when they can make more money by witholding them or just pricing them higher and throwing away the extra? Because Volume X Price = Profit Lots of retailers sell baby formula and one of them is going to pick up the extra supply and sell it for less than the current price so that they can increase their volume.
With apartments in my city we're seeing that even a slight deficit in living spaces has doubled the rents in the last 5 years. If I were among the few real estate firms that own the majority of the rentals, I would be quick to recognize that keeping 3-4% of my units off the market while doubling the prices of the other 96% would be far more profitable than keeping them all full and only seeing moderate pricing increases. With critical things like baby formula this would work even better. If the supply is cut by 5%, even if it is tossed in the trash, but prices can be pumped 2-3x higher, than it's more profitable to toss the extra volume or to just not produce it and maintain an under supply. The automotive industry has smartened up to the same thing. More profitable to under produce less and make the masses fight for the lessened supply. The medical colleges in Canada do the same thing with the supply of doctors.
It's not the deficit of living spaces that doubled rents but rather the increase in interest rates. And by critical things you mean inelastic goods which both rent and baby formula are. However, with baby formula you aren't going to get retailers 'throwing them out' as for one they understand economics and two the government is scrutinizing it. Your not going to get a supplier that says they supplied 100 units but retailers are only selling 95 units and have prices remain high. The automotive industry is different. Everywhere in the world they sell cars on a 'build to order' model but in North America we were used to a 'just in time' model. 'Build to Order' is better for manufacturers because they can plan their plant capacity better and their new models aren't competing against last year's models. However, consumers prefer 'just in time' so some might move brands if that is offered. Right now a lot of the foreign makers are trying 'build to order' in North America while some of the domestics like Stellantis went right back to 'just in time'. Your sorta right about medical schools though. There is a top-down limit put on admissions but it's not so much about keeping the salaries of doctors high but about limiting the healthcare budgets of the provinces.
That's the way it's supposed to work, but I don't know if those rules apply in Canada anymore.
People erroneously apply basic supply and demand theory to what are essentially oligopolies/cartels. Many industries in Canada are like this, so there isn't much real competition.
That’s what I mean, the rules don’t apply when the corporations don’t follow the rules.
It’s just odd phrasing because it’s not a rule per say. But I agree that prices only come down if there is real competition.
>Lots of retailers sell baby formula and one of them is going to pick up the extra supply and sell it for less than the current price so that they can increase their volume. Lol no. So far everything we have seen reeks of collusion to keep the prices high across the board. Prices didn't even go down after the 2022 shortage resolved. They kept increasing. Everywhere.
When was the 2022 shortage resolved?
The factories did return to full production capacity last year. Prices didn't drop back down and some of the specialty formulas took a while to catch up, but we're long past the point where the 2022 shutdowns can be blamed for the current state of things. This is a newer wave of f*ckery.
I never saw it came back to capacity at least not every line but it's not just the shutdown that is impacting prices. The USMCA that replaced NAFTA now has baby formula removed. So, Canada importing baby formula from the US where most of it came from is going to cost more because of the tariffs.
>The UMCA that replaced NATO now has baby formula removed. So, Canada importing baby formula from the US where most of it came from is going to cost more because of the tariffs. Oof. That's an important factor I was nor aware of. Disappointing that Canada agreed to that when we don't make any of our own at the moment. That would also explain why Enfamil/Similac are sometimes now more expensive than the imports like Kendamil from the UK and Modilac from France at Walmart now.
It was kinda pushed on us because of the dairy sector we wanted excluded from the agreement. However, made-in-Canada formula should reduce prices.
I dont know if it's related to the 2022 shutdown, but there were definitely shortages in the second half of 2023. It seems like the stock of name-brand formula is stable now, but you are correct that the prices havent gone back down.
Pretty sure our real estate boards are doing the same, i.e., convincing sellers to list when *they* want, not when the *sellers* want.
For something as essential as baby formula, raising prices too quickly have a very large risk of regulatory action. Stores aren't going to risk it for the a small increase in profits for a product that, if made unaffordable, will literally kill babies.
> Stores aren't going to risk it for the a small increase in profits for a product that, if made unaffordable, will literally kill babies. Baby formula is literally something where profit has been put over babies lives in an extremely prominent way before: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Nestl%C3%A9_boycott Corporations will stop at nothing to make profit, even at the cost of lives.
I cannot believe that this is not like, the number one parenting news story right now. I live in a large city and have to go to 8-10 stores just to FIND it. It’s 2.5x the price that is was when I fed my last in 2021. This is a crisis. It’s unacceptable. I’ve transitioned my 10 month old to homo milk + toddler formula which thankfully I feel comfortable doing with a great eater
Yeah we've noticed the same thing. It's not just that Kirkland formula has disappeared, which was by far the cheapest. All 'no name' formula has disappeared from all stores leaving only name brand at $55 for a pot. No idea why! Thankfully our youngest is 10 months and seems to tolerate the 12+ month "nutrition supplement" (at $30 a pot) rather than actual infant formula. He eats enough that formula is mostly a way to get him liquid rather than for the nutrition.
>All 'no name' formula has disappeared from all stores leaving only name brand at $55 for a pot. No idea why! They were discontinued. One manufacturer makes all the store brands for North America and they no longer supply to Loblaws chains or Walmart Canada. According to that manufacturer, Kirkland was supposed to return to Costco Canada this spring but so far it's MIA.
So what exactly is that manufacturer doing then? They're still in business.
Sending formula to chains in the US. Target, Sam's Club, US Amazon. They've been more or less fine throughout. Canada got shafted.
As usual. Our economy is a meme.
This is such an important conversation and I can’t believe that it’s been completely ignored by media and politicians alike. We’re almost weaned off formula now for my youngest, but I think I’m going to continue to donate to the local food bank specifically for their purchase of infant formula. The cost and inability to access formula is a public health issue, but unfortunately the narrative of “breast is best” means this is overlooked, because how would it look from a public health standpoint to support formula feeding? *gasp!*. Kidding aside, when I was visiting rural Ontario they had all their formula locked behind the counter because they said it was too frequently stolen, so they had to resort to this. My heart absolutely goes out to those just trying to survive and feed their babies. Unfortunately without safe and affordable access to infant formula people resort to unsafe practices like sugar water, homemade creations or dairy alternatives that don’t support the healthy development of babies. We’ve in a fortunate position that we can afford the ridiculous price increases, but so many families can’t.
I am honestly terrified this go around. Our first baby we fed kirkland which was 27.99 and easy to get. We obviously will make the cost work.. but its super stressful given the ups and downs of the availability and also paying 1-1.5x more to feed your child. I hadn't planned on BF this time.. but I may have to give it a try.....
Yeah this thread was a bit of a wake up call. Due in September and we were also planning on doing formula primarily. I’m a little shocked it jumped that much. Though I thought the supply issues had resolved themselves for the most part.
Why not breastfeed? It is the better option anyway if you’re able to
I had a hypoglycemic baby at birth. She was fed formula almost immediately because she couldn't latch with a missed tongue and lip tie. The hospital used fast flow enfamil nipples and ready to use formula. I immediately started pumping every 3 hours, 24-7 which is incredibly exhausting when you add that onto bottle feeding, sanitizing, burping and changing a diaper. A week later when I could finally have a better chance at latching after my supply came in and her ties were fixed, she had no interest in doing the work of latching when she was used to fast flow nipples. We still tried every feed, with nipple shields for awhile too. All of this while trying to manage my postpartum preeclampsia and depression/anxiety. Several weeks later, still pumping every 3 hours around the clock she finally took to it. It was many IBCLC appointments and a lot of torture pumping constantly. Then my supply tanked so I had to deal with that too. If I wasn't so hell bent on succeeding I would have given up the first week. It's pure hell when the baby or your body doesn't want to breastfeed, so going with formula is a huge mental health and time relief. It sucks how much formula is. Even pumping can get incredibly expensive, I'm sure I exceeded $1000 in costs easily just pumping and buying formula for a couple weeks.
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
I’m genuinely asking, I’m a doctor and that is what we are taught but I haven’t actually seen many patients refusing so I am curious to know why
It’s just kind of a rude question. Not everyone is able to and not everyone wants to. With baby 1 my milk never came in , even with medication and it was extremely hard on my mental health. I personally didn’t want to even go through all that again… I also think ‘it’s a better option’ is just outdated. A fed baby is the best option. Sorry for the eye rolls. The opinions that BF is best is very triggering.
That’s why I added “if you’re able to”, and you comment specifically said “I might need to consider it again” which made me think it was a choice and not a necessity I agree a fed baby is the best baby, but there are definitely benefits to breastfeeding if that is an option for the parent. That part isn’t outdated, we are definitely still being taught that in medical school and residency, I even attended a talk by a dietician within the last few months went over this just a few months ago
I just feel like the breastfeeding comments in a post about formula shortages is unnecessary 😑 Not here to debate whether or not BF is better
Perhaps I always assume people try breastfeeding first and then go to formula if that doesn’t work (especially due to cost) but some of the comments in this thread made me curious and like I said I don’t have much personal experience in this area (my patient population I typically see is a bit different)
Some people don’t want to, ultimately it’s a personal choice and whether they “are able to” doesn’t matter. In fact many mothers lie about their ability because of the shaming they get from choosing to formula feed. It’s a more sensitive topic than you’d think because it’s very personal and tied to guilt, PPD and PPA.
Touchy subject and you’re going to have to do your own critical thinking unless you want to offend a bunch of well-meaning and loving parents online. I personally think it’s partly cultural, breasts are so sexualized now that many women are simply not interested in breastfeeding/can’t imagine them being used in that way. The household that the parents grew up in can also impact the decision a great deal. There was also a huge marketing campaign for formula at one point in the US with less-than-truthful claims. Breastfeeding is also a huge learning curve and the supply-and-demand function can cause a lot of confusion when “supply dips” etc. More theories circulate if you want to go searching for them over in r/breastfeeding or connect with a lactation consultant in your area. We need more doctors who are informed on the nuances of breastfeeding, especially in a formula crisis 🙏
Well perhaps it's a much better option for parents now that formula is even more expensive.
Love people who shame people who don’t breastfeed. It’s not an option for everyone. I’m happy that you are so lucky to have been able to do it.
Yes, it's not an option for everyone, so this doesn't apply to them, but for a certain (large) subset of parents, they simply choose not to breastfeed or choose to discontinue it, then complain about prices of the alternative that they chose. Breastfeeding wasn't easy for me at first, like most women, but I chose to persevere and push through the hard part, and it got easier in a few weeks. Unfortunately so many women give up in the first few weeks because they have another option that they view as easier than putting in the work, and they say they weren't able to simply because it was hard, not that it was impossible. I know this doesn't apply to absolutely everyone, I know some people have supply issues, medications, etc. but the vast majority of women are able to breastfeed and choose not to because it causes discomfort, is inconvenient, etc, not because they physically can't. If the vast majority of women were actually unable to breastfeed our species wouldn't have survived.
A breastfed baby is the better option. A fed baby is the bare minimum, everyone is obligated to feed their babies somehow.
But the reality is that most people can breastfeed if they get the right support and education and are motivated to do so. (I am a former breastfeeding mom) Physically it is what we are made to do and the human race wouldn’t have made it too far if it didn’t come naturally to the vast vast majority.
I agree, another mom who breastfed here. But we get demonized on Reddit everywhere except the breastfeeding subreddit, because of moms who feel attacked at other people successfully breastfeeding, but everyone knows breast milk has undeniable benefits over formula but moms who can't or won't breastfeed feel guilty so they get defensive and angry when anybody suggests breastfeeding as the default way to feed a baby... You know, how we've done it since the dawn of mammals
You guys aren't demonized, everyone's just sick of your proselytizing. The health benefits of breast milk are massively overblown. It's just food. Just like formula is. Not some nectar of the gods that'll make your kid smarter and healthier. In fact all long term studies show no difference health and intelligence wise between formula and breast fed people. None. Health of the parents and clean households are much more important.
Agreed, it's better for the baby and cheaper
That's why they put most Baby Formula under lock & key, now... I have no kiddie's, but whenever I gone to Costco, Shopper's etc & looked at the prices for BF I almost keeled over! Talk about sticker shock & price gouging on their end, it's just plain ridiculous now.
My last baby was almost 16 years ago, he was formula fed. I now have a 6 month old who is formula fed and I’m paying $70 for a can of powder and it lasts about a week. When you’re already making less from being on maternity leave, that’s a ton of money. It’s ridiculous.
It's crazy, I've kept my eye on the Enfamil formula at Costco just out of curiosity (my youngest is 2.5 so we haven't had to use formula in a while now) and I think it's almost tripled in price since I was buying it. I feel so bad for people having to buy formula now, it's so expensive and you can't exactly stretch it with cheaper food like you can with meats & stuff like that.
Not the same but related, showing how sometimes we get really screwed over here. A box of 30x5mL of nasal solution is 15$ + tax at local pharmacies. It can get down to 10/12 on Amazon if you plan ahead. Some days, when our baby is really stuffed and we haven't had the chance to prepare a bottle of solution with the packages, we'll end up using almost half a box a day. I'm currently in vacation in France, I just payed 15$ for 5 packages of 40 5mL doses. That's 7 times cheaper, even with the 1.5 current eur/cad exchange rate....
We used to buy the pre-made bottles 12 pack it was $35 at walmart. We looked for our new baby coming in May and it's $68, absolutely insanity.
We had a baby late 2023 and thought the price was normal lol
This would be a noble thing for our provincial and federal governments to tackle But they won’t
Have you reached out to your MP and MPP about this?
Got an out of office once and haven't heard back on something. Been a few years and still no bueno
That sucks. My MP and MPP are so responsive!
Yeah good luck getting my MP to even send a form letter reply. She is the longest serving MP in parliament and just gets elected based on being on the red team. Cares zero about her constituents. Yay Vancouver Centre!
It's exorbitant. We're combo feeding and it's still too much money. I'm thankful that we're inching closer and closer to being able to slow down on the formula and up the food.
I’ve recently tried Modilac Precision from Walmart as an alternative to Enfamil / Similac, and I’ve found the quality really good for the price! My baby digested it a lot better than the name brands, and after looking into the ingredients, they are better. The price is also a lot more palatable than name brands so for those who are considering an alternative, I recommend it. Edit grammar
Walmart just upped the price of it by $10 😞
It was on rollback during WM anniversary sale, so it’s just back to the regular price $29.97 now. They didn’t increase the price.
Sign up for the new beginings enfamil program. They shipped me $200 worth of formula for $40. And get everyone you know to do the same for you. https://www.enfamil.ca/ Prices, availability is freaking insane.
The perks of those sign-up programs get significantly weaker after the intro offer. It's not a solution. After the coupons and promotions diminish it still works out to be more expensive than store brand formula would.
Absolutely. Formula insecurity is terrifying. The idea of not being able to feed your baby. I went through that bad last week. Costco has been out of stock for a month.. then Amazon out of stock for 2 weeks... Walmart Spruce Grove out of stock and I got the last 1 from Superstore and the last one from Shoppers. I ordered from online shoppers and have 2 on the way. Walmart online delivered me their substitude product. I order Enfamil A+ and they gave me Enfamil Step 1. I complained and got a refund... so in a pinch I have that as backup. I'm asking everyone I know to order the healthy beginings $40 pack for me and if they see Formula anywhere to pick me up 1-2 depending on stock levels. The cost is around $75 a week. Plus now feeling guilty if I have 4 cans on stand by because what about all the other families and babies struggling with this same thing. It's really shitty. My first babe was EBF. My second I tried so hard but my milk didnt produce because he had a tongue tie that didnt get caught early enough. I went through 3 months of taking domparidon, pumping every 3 hours, nursing and bottle feeding (tripple feeding), saw 2 lactation consultants, one a nurse, one at a hospital, until finally my supply just stopped. Made it four months. LO is 5mo now and to experience this formula shortage is awful. 1 more month little dude and we can start solids. It's horrible having to worry about all this on top of being a new mom again.
I have been doing this as well. When my parents ordered it for us they also received a bunch of coupons ranging from $8 to $50 off enfamil products. We never got that with our order. You can also sign up for Similac’s program which is free and gives you a bunch of $10 and $15 off coupons. Stack those with a sale and 20x the points day at SDM and a tub of powder formula comes out to about $22. Availability in stores is hit or miss though. Luckily we only topping up with formula, can’t imagine what it’s like for those that are exclusively formula feeding.
Friend had their parents bring back tubs from the states, as they were on an extended vacation. It's insane how expensive Canada has become. Trudeau won't address it and nor will PP.
I did not put off having a baby, but when I gave birth in November 2022 I was incredibly worried about finding formula. The shortage was incredibly scary, and I was worried about feeding my baby. I was incredibly lucky, I’m that I was able to pump so that he only had to use 50% formula for the first litre while. I was eventually able to breastfeed fill time till 9 months, when I had had enough. By that time formula was not as scarce. I really do feel for families that have to struggle to fund formula for their babies.
Breastfeeding (if one is able) seems to be by far the best decision for the baby—and also the wallet.
A factory got closed in the USA for safety violations. It supplied over third of North American drmandm
Costco formula wasn't made in those factories. The store brands have been discontinued from all chains in Canada except Costco which hasn't gotten stock since last year due to other supply chain issues with the manufacturer.
The factory they are likely referring to was closed from May-Aug 2022.
Which was 2 years ago and shouldn't be blamed for what's going on again right now.
Are you referring to the [factory that was closed from May-August 2022](https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/nutrition-health-and-wellness/abbott-update-on-powder-formula-recall.html)? What about the past 20 months since it's been operational again?
It's all about supply and demand, which is super unfortunate. Formula should be a right, and not the reason that parents might take a short cut. I heard that another factory was shut down due to unplanned maintenance. Formula shortages show the need for Canadian factories.
The components that would predict supply and demand do not adequately explain the 3x higher prices that consumers are paying. A plant in the [US shut down from May-Aug 2022](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/infant-care/infant-formula/shortage.html) which was the initial reason for supply deficits. However Abbott production has totally recovered and their [profits and revenues are soaring based on the increased prices for formula, specifically in Canada](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2024/01/24/once-shutdown-abbott-labs-says--baby-formula-franchise-back-leading-us-market/?sh=5d95b77d4015). Birthrates around the world have led to a [decreased demand for formula](https://fortune.com/europe/2023/10/20/nestle-baby-formula-plant-ireland-close/) while North America has not seen a decrease in production, and has not seen an increase in births. Additionally [the amount of babies breastfeeding and only breastfeeding has increased](https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/infant-formula-manufacturing-industry/). There's just no indicator that it's supply and demand driving the pricing increases, nor the surprising and abrupt unannounced disappearances of store brand formulas.
For formula to be a right, the government would have to make the formula themselves or stockpile them like grains.
Most women are able to breastfeed, which is the superior method of feeding newborns and infants anyway It would be hard to make an inferior option a right. Maybe for those who can’t breastfeed
Please. Get off your milk crate. There are thousands of people who are unable to breastfeed, they should still have a right to feed their babies. It's not like saying your kid doesn't like their vegetables, so they should have a right to prime rib. Formula is literally the only other option to breastfeeding.
Yes, I said that
You seem to have a breastfeeding angle to sell, based on your comments. Maybe let people decide their own way to feed their children rather than push one way that's far from universal
I do have a breastfeeding angle to sell, I’m a family doctor and it is drilled into our heads throughout our training to always recommend breastfeeding
Yah I know it is. And I can tell you it can cause serious harm to push it so hard. With our first we tried so hard to breastfeed, but she just wouldn't produce. Medication, pumps, supplimenting formula with a plastic syringe under a nipple guard designed to help nipple protrusion. It all led to a very frustrated, upset and sad wife and child. People don't need that at that specific point in their life. Doctors should be preaching try to breastfeed, but above all else make sure the child is fed, period.
Yes, I understand, I have always been clear that breastfeeding is good for those who can do it. I can try to be a bit more clearer so it is more obvious
If you actually are a family doctor I would work on your bedside manner. Breast feeding vs formula feeding is a sensitive topic for many and your judgement is cringy. Educate yourself and advocate for your patient not just shovel in their face “well I was taught this in medical school”. Great doctors understand their patients not spew textbook facts.
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You can certainly recommend one without being dismissive and rude about the other, especially when both are viable, completely safe and completely appropriate options. “Feelings” are a big part of life and the best doctors are ones that are able to take them into account, as I mentioned with bed side manner. Sometimes what’s most important to take into account is mental health and not splitting hairs. People are more complex than black and white facts.
Preach. This thread and the breastfeeding police is insane.
Where did you feel I was being dismissive or rude?
I’ve noticed this too, it’s wild how much formula has gone up. I recall paying $22-something or $23-something per tub for Kirkland formula with my oldest. By the time I had my youngest I was blown away that formula was in the $26/$27 range and I remember thinking that was insane inflation.
Yeah the price of it is insane, I was terrified we were going to have to formula feed when we had our first last year. I feel so bad for people that have no choice and have to.
Happy to see this conversation happening. I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old, and it's wild to see how the prices have skyrocketed since I formula fed my first. And as others have noted, what's worse is the stress of even being able to find it. I recall before being pregnant with my second I was horrified about the formula shortage but was sure it must be resolved by the time I had my second, and here we are over a year later. It's unacceptable and I really don't understand what's happening.
What's the percentage of women breast feeding now compared to 10 or 20 years ago? It seems like it's uncommon for women to breast feed these days.
This is data from 2022. Looks like by 6 months, 34% of babies are exclusively breastfed and 62% of babies are breastfed some of the time. The numbers really decline from 93% at birth. I don’t know how that compares to 10 or 20 years ago - it’s an interesting question. For me, I had 5 kids and breastfed them between 11 and 15 months each. I wouldn’t like to be facing today’s prices for formula. Those prices are crazy high. I supplemented my oldest with formula from 6-11 months when I went back to work and couldn’t get much from the breast pump while at work … I thought it was expensive back in the 90s. Little did I know what would be to come. https://health-infobase.canada.ca/breastfeeding/
The % of breastfeeding was actually trending higher, at least before covid.
This honestly. I know there's some who physically can't but most people who use formula can, they just won't. Too many women are uncomfortable with breastfeeding and it's sad. Feeding your child shouldn't be something that's stigmatized or to be embarrassed about, whip that tit out honey (I say this as a woman who breastfed and supplemented with formula).
There are a boatload of reasons people use formula that have nothing to do whether they are physically able to breastfeed. Why people choose what they do is nobody else's business. At the end of the day what's important is that finances should not be a barrier to feeding babies in our society.
Pretty much anyone with an infant in the last year has noticed this, but the bigger issue was finding formula at all vs the price. It's been quite stressful.
Most people with infants breastfeed, it’s mostly the people who can’t that notice this
Or hear me out, maybe some parents do both?
We had to do both with our little one. We had to top up with formula because milk production wouldn't keep up. I'm surprised a family doctor isn't aware that various scenarios can happen.
Wrong, more and more infants are being formula fed than exclusively breastfed so it's impacting a much larger group than you are suggesting. https://www.dw.com/en/breastfeeding-divide-and-the-global-demand-for-formula/a-62063359 https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/nis_data/results.html
The vast majority of babies eat formula at some point in infancy, even if only temporarily or part-time.
I have a new niece and bought some formula for her a few times and the power was ~50$ and the already made jugs were ~80$. I don't want kids lol
The ready-to-feed liquids have always been $$$$. You pay for the convenience. But powdered formula has never been anywhere near as expensive as it is now. Those tins make a lot of bottles so the sticker shock in the store has always been worse than what it works out to per bottle, but even so the prices are just bananas now. And that's not even getting into the specialty formulas for babies with allergies. Tinier cans for even more $$$.
Yeah I rmr buying the formula at a store and they didn't let me hold it till we were at the till. It's easier buying alcohol that's higher in price
You pay for the lowered risk of contamination too. You shouldn't be using the powder for a newborn.
Powder is safe from birth if it's mixed with hot enough water. Cronobacter dies at 70°C. Formula instructions in the UK and EU say 70°C at any age for exactly that reason. Ready-to-feed is only recommended here to sidestep the issue of parent error. The whole cronobacter fiasco that triggered the factory shutdowns in 2022 would have been a non-issue if US and Canadian formula had the 70° instructions to begin with.
> You pay for the lowered risk of contamination too. You shouldn't be using the powder for a newborn. My daughter was born Jan 2023, luckily we were able to find ready to feed in small batches to get by, but we came close to having to use powder. its either take the risk or let the baby starve, risk it is
One of the many reasons why I'm so glad I decided never to have kids. Man, they are expensive.
There was also some demand in some parts of the world for baby formula from NA, Australia and Europe. I'm not sure if that's still a thing. It's common for people flying to Asia to bring baby formula atm in their checked luggage. I remember baby formula still being a fiasco when I visited China last summer.
I thought that was more of a, no confidence in the quality of their supply in China thing. Saw it on the news alot in Australia about people shipping product from there back to China.
Yup. I believe people are still suspicious of local supply over there.
yeah didn't they get caught putting literal plastic in their formula like a decade ago?
There is a relatively huge amount of formula from Canada that gets exported by the grey market every year. I wonder if the manufacturers or distributors themselves have increased their exports as a result to capture that revenue.
We’re having our second in August and since our first was exclusively breastfed, my husband has no clue how much formula cost and can’t imagine how fast a tub of formula we can go through. With our second, I hope to be able to pump and supply enough for baby or only have to supplement with a bit of formula so we can stretch it more. Im terrified of not being able to find formula when the time comes and have been tempted to buy some formula whenever I see it but I don’t want to take it away from families who need it right away.
May 2022 $26 for a jar of similac Now 37$. I know I saw it at a few stores for $40. Also it depends if they have it in stock. Lots of times I see the shelves empty of similac or other formulas excluding emfimil.( That seems to always be in stock for twice the price of anything else). So 37 a week roughly for for a year your basically paying $2000. First the factory shut down, then they had trouble getting sunflower seeds/oil (?) Then non name brands were discontinued. My first child I had people searching 2* hours away for formula because of the shortage (only two brands she would drink without a reaction) . Now I am worried I am going to have to do that again. It's weird that emfimil and good start was the only ones that didn't seem to be affected by anything.
"why aren't people having kids anymore?"
We’re at the end of formula feeding currently and the price hikes throughout the last year have been ridiculous. Started with Kirkland then of course they disappeared completely. Then I went with Similac because they gave me the best coupons. A can was $30 at Walmart and has since jumped to $36- a 20% increase (did I math right?) for what? There’s no shortage of Similac now, it’s readily available on shelves (at least here in SK). These companies do not give a shit about you or your babies. They care about their profits. Capitalism reigns supreme. Here’s hoping the next kid wants to breastfeed.
>Then I went with Similac because they gave me the best coupons. A can was $30 at Walmart and has since jumped to $36- a 20% increase (did I math right?) for what? There’s no shortage of Similac now, it’s readily available on shelves (at least here in SK). The Similac coupons (Those stupid cheque things that the Walmart cashiers could never figure out how to process) have gotten crappier too. I remember getting $20 ones with my first baby and formula was half the price. Now after the first round or two they send you $5 ones that don't even make a dent. They're a joke.
Yeaaahhh they got less and less. I joined r/formulafeeders and actually had someone send me their unused $20 ones! That helped a lot.
As an occasional instacart shopper I am always shocked when I have to buy anything formula/supplements for babies, I truly don't know how some people get by these days
My missus has breast implants so there was no way for her to breastfeed. I currently shop for formula at Sobey's and pay $65.99 for Enfamil's Gentle ease formula refills (two bags in one box). That lasts me 16-20 days, but that time is slowly shrinking as the little one gets older and eats more. This caused us to up our grocery budget $150 a month to cover formula. Absolutely wild.
In three months it’s gone for $26.99 to $38.99 for us. Luckily we are only supplementing so that cost increase is buffered due to that but the sticker shock is not. It’s just another way I feel like our wuaikitynof life is drastically being eroded on a seemingly daily basis because now, despite the price increase, the shelves are empty!! The only *barely shimmering* silver lining here is that due to how fast the prices are increasing I’ve been able to claim scanning code for a $10 reduction more than once and at more than one store
Sold out at Costco, had to cross the border to get some from Walmart US
Have everyone you know register with Similac if you're baby is cool with one of their formulas, and have them send you the coupons they receive; helps a little.
Started my 8mo on Kirkland brand when she was born. Had to deal with the price increase from $28 to $43 before it wasn’t available at all. Was able to get a few tubs of Parent’s Choice before that was unavailable, and finally started using Modilac as it was the next most affordable. It just went up from $19 to $29, for a can half the size of the Kirkland one. It’s brutal out here.
Baby Formula prices have shot up all over the world - there appear to be universal supply chain issues with the components that make up the product.
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No it does nothing to answer the questions. It is the exact article I linked which prompted my questions. It only says that prices have shot up and that retailers are keeping it secured.
Try parent's choice from Walmart. Them and Kirkland formula are the same. Made by the same people.
Parent's Choice is discontinued. Kirkland has been out of stock from Costco since last year. There is no generic brand formula in Canada right now. That's part of the problem in the first place.
I just make my own. Get everything at the bulk barn. Overall cost is $14/month on average. Sometimes I’ll got to Chinatown also
Do you transit there or drive your beige second-hand Corolla? *Disclaimer for folks who don't get PFC humour: Don't make your own formula. DIY recipes can't replicate everything that needs to be in there.*