It cost us £350 to bottle feed our baby, but we don't regret it one bit
We chat to the parents of three-year-old Max about the cost of their bottle feeding journey
Choosing how to feed your child can be an emotional rollercoaster. And whichever option you choose, whether it's breastfeeding or bottle feeding, there is always a cost, be it financial or emotional.
The cost to raise a child is rising, thanks to the high cost of living and average childcare costs being on the up too. This means it's all the more-important to budget effectively for your family.
We spoke to Jon and Grace, parents of a three-year-old boy, about their decision to bottle feed and how it impacted their family's finances.
The cost of bottle feeding
After making the decision to bottle feed their son, Jon and Grace had to make sure they had all the equipment they would need. Grace explains: "To start with, we knew we'd need to buy all the necessary equipment to support our bottle-feeding plans. We had a steriliser and a Tommee Tippee prep machine, as well as all the bottles and teats. Then we'd buy the powdered formula and each tub would last us about two weeks."
Breaking down those costs, it looks like Jon and Grace spent just over £350 on their bottle feeding journey.
- Tommee Tippee microwave steam steriliser - £17
- Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine - £79.99 from John Lewis, also available from Amazon.
- Various bottles and teats - around £40 in total (Jon and Grace loved these Tommee Tippee bottles)
- Hungry baby milk formula - £217.50 (£14.50 per 800g tub)
"We started weaning Max when he was about six months old, and at that point, each tub of formula would last us about a month. He moved on to cow's milk instead of formula when he was about one. When he moved on to cow's milk, we'd buy an extra couple of pints per week."
Jon adds: "It might have worked out more expensive overall than breastfeeding, but the cost of not bottle feeding would have been higher in other ways."
GoodtoKnow Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
Why we chose to bottle-feed
Speaking of their bottle-feeding journey, mum Grace says: "Our plan was that I would breastfeed Max and move to bottle-feeding when I went back to work. But we started bottle feeding with formula earlier than planned, when Max was about eight weeks old. I'd felt like I was breastfeeding all the time, but he wasn't getting enough and was always hungry.
"We knew pumping wasn't going to be a feasible option for me, so we moved to a hungry baby formula. Some people worry that this kind of formula can cause their baby to suffer from constipation, but that wasn't our experience at all.
"We would mostly use powdered formula for Max's bottles, but if we were going out and about, we'd have some ready mixed options on hand that were so much more practical."
Grace's partner, Jon, adds: "Moving to formula meant we could both feed Max, know exactly how much he was getting and manage his intake, much more so than with breastfeeding. Max was born during the pandemic too, so being able to share this responsibility was really important when we were in a bubble, just the three of us. As new parents, that was really challenging, but when rules meant that we could form a wider support bubble, that was a massive help."
"It was absolutely the right choice for our family..."
Grace was worried that she might face judgement for feeding Max with formula, but ultimately knew that she and Jon were making the right decision for their family. Grace says: "I was glad I breastfed in the beginning, so Max would benefit from the colostrum in my milk, and I did feel a sense of pressure to breastfeed when I was in the hospital after giving birth. I was a bit worried that I would be judged for giving Max formula, but when it came down to it, I cared more about making sure he was getting enough to eat. Even with the expense of bottle feeding, I wouldn't change a thing. It was absolutely the right choice for our family. "
Jon adds: "It was really important to Grace that she went back to work after having Max, and it was important to me to support her. Being able to share the feeding responsibilities and making sure Max was getting enough food to keep him healthy, was key, and it was then a relatively seamless transition when we were reliant on others to provide childcare."
If you choose to bottle-feed your baby, make sure you know how to sterilise a baby bottle to keep your little one safe and healthy.
Sarah is GoodtoKnow’s Consumer Writer & Money Editor and is passionate about helping mums save money wherever they can - whether that's spending wisely on toys and kidswear or keeping on top of the latest news around childcare costs, child benefit, the motherhood penalty. A writer, journalist and editor with more than 15 years' experience, Sarah is all about the latest toy trends and is always on the look out for toys for her nephew or Goddaughters so that she remains one of their favourite grown ups. When not writing about money or best buys, Sarah can be found hanging out with her rockstar dog Pepsi, getting opinionated about a movie or learning British Sign Language.
-
Worried about your teen 'being smelly'? They can't help it, according to scientists, and help is on its way to ease the problem
We know that puberty can cause all sorts of smells to emanate from teens - now scientists have revealed exactly what you're smelling, and how evolution contributed.
By Lucy Wigley Published
-
Parenting coach shares 4 'powerful' reframes to try next time it feels like your kid is pushing all your buttons (and #4 is a game changer)
A parenting coach has shared four ways parents can reframe their thoughts when their kid has big emotions. Giving them a try could offer big results in little time.
By Lucy Wigley Published
-
New data highlights the main disparities when it comes to parents requesting flexible working, and sadly we're not surprised by the findings
We'll give you three guesses as to which parent is more likely to ask for flexible working arrangements from their employer...
By Sarah Handley Published
-
Record number of families opt-out of claiming child benefit, but the decision could have serious repercussions for your future
Stark warning for families as number of parents who opt-out of receiving child benefit reaches 10-year high
By Sarah Handley Published
-
'It isn’t a holiday – it is crucial bonding time' - 70% of dads can't afford to take two weeks paternity leave, according to new research
The research also found that only 14 per cent of fathers were ready to return to work mentally after taking their paternity leave
By Sarah Handley Published
-
Two-child benefit cap 'pushes children into poverty' - campaigners urge government to scrap 'cruel policy' that impacts 1 in every 10 children
The controversial two-child benefit cap has met with strong opposition since its introduction in 2017
By Sarah Handley Published
-
Gen-Z could be costing their parents £1,300 a year, by refusing to do this one thing (but it's not always their choice)
It's not just parents who are facing the additional costs, the costs for Gen Z could be even higher
By Sarah Handley Published
-
More than half of parents want to do this important thing for their kid's education but can’t afford to, according to new research
Pressures on the family budget are preventing parents from paying for educational support outside of school
By Sarah Handley Published
-
75% of mums feel guilty buying things if they earn less than their partners, according to social media poll, and the comments section was part heartbreaking, part inspiring
Some mothers felt guilty for spending their partners money, while others saw it as household money instead
By Sarah Handley Published
-
10 best zoos in the UK based on ticket prices, reviews and value for money
The best zoos in the UK have been determined based on a number of key factors, include prices, popularity, Trip Advisor ratings and how many animals they have
By Sarah Handley Published