To Breast-feed or not to breast-feed, and how to save money doing it? Yes dear friend that is the question.
Breast-feed or bottle-feed; this is a very personal decision. There are also several financial things to consider that will affect you no matter what you decide.
It is no secret that breastfeeding is the most nutritious and cheapest way to feed your baby. However, it takes dedication and there is some upfront cost involved. If you do decide to breast-feed you will be saving around $1,300 dollars, depending on how long you continue to breastfeed.
A breast pump is not necessary to breastfeed, unless the mother is going to be going back to work or be away from the baby for several hours at a time. Many mothers breastfeed for a year or more without ever pumping a single drop of milk.
IF someone does need a pump, only hospital-grade rental pumps are considered safe to "share" among mothers. They are a "closed-system" pump. Most other brands of pump available on the market are "open-system" meaning milk can get into all the pump parts and as such are considered "safe" for 1-user only.
It isn't safe to clean pump parts out with Lysol. Lysol is too harsh to use on a pump and you don't want to risk ANY of that chemical getting into the milk. Hot soapy water is very sufficient for cleaning pump parts.
If you know someone who has a beast pump that you can borrow all you will have to purchase is the plastic attachments. Just as with feeding your baby formula you will need bottles and storage containers for those times you will be away from your baby.
Another upfront cost will be nursing bras. It is wise to invest in at least two good quality bras since you will be wearing these A lot!! However, don't stock up on nursing bras and shirts. Wait a few weeks and see how it goes. Sometimes, even with the best intentions, new moms have difficulty and aren't able to breastfeed.
You will also need absorbent pads to place in your bra. These are available in disposable and cloth ones that can be washed and reused. I suggest having both. Having the disposable ones are great for when you are away from home. The cloth ones are great if you are just going to be around the house, and will save on the amount of the disposable ones you have to buy.
If you choose to bottle-feed your baby you will need more bottles, and of course you will have to purchase formula. You won't have as much to pay upfront, but you will have the cost of formula every month.
When you decide on a formula your baby does well on, buy in bulk! You can easily spend upward of $100-$150 a month if you buy one can at a time.
Compare labels when you are choosing a formula, some store brands are the exact same as the more expensive name brand formulas.
When your baby is ready for solid foods, consider making your own at home. You can puree canned or fresh vegetables, fruit and meat to make nutritious meals at a fraction of the cost of buying jars of baby food. Not only is it less expensive, also it tastes much better!
I hope this information was helpful in your decision on whether or not to breast-feed or bottle-feed.
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