After buying yet another box of breastmilk storage bags at $15 a pop, I started wondering about the cost of breastfeeding and if I was really saving money compared to formula.
Nursing Reagan
Granted the cost has nothing to do whether or not I breastfeed (that’s a whole different blog!), but you always hear about how much cheaper it is to breastfeed compared to formula feed. Thus, in typical Jones fashion, I have done the math to see just how much it will cost for me to breastfeed Reagan for a year (the minimum amount I hope to breastfeed).
Kona’s Breastfeeding Costs
- Pump: $300 (Medela Freestyle; is normally more expensive, but we bought ours from the hospital)
- Extra parts for pump: $15 (Medela Freestyle Spare Parts Kit)
- Nursing bras: $21 (Oh Baby Sleep bra) & $24 (Oh Baby bra); haven’t worn either; aren’t as comfortable as a regular tank top from the Buckle with nursing pads)
- Nursing pads: $10 (Lansinoh Disposable Nursing pads; box of 60 pads; use two a day)
- Nipple cream: $10 (Lansinoh HPA Lanolin; never used; I’ve been very lucky that way!)
- Milk storage bags: $15 (Lansinoh Breastmilk storage bags; box of 75; use an average of 4 a day)
- Extra 4oz bottles: $15 (Medela 4oz bottle set)
- Extra 8oz bottles: $17 (Medela 8oz bottle set)
- Bottle Warmer: $19 (Munchkin Deluxe Bottle Warmer)
- Microwave Sterilizer Bags: $5 (Munchkin Microwave Sterilizer Bags; Good for work/travel)
- Microwave Sterilizer: $17 (Munchkin Steam Guard Microwave Sterilizer)
- Bottle brush: $5.50 (Avent bottle brush)
Initial start-up cost of breastfeeding: $448.50 (not including breast pads and milk storage bags)
Ongoing cost per day to breastfeed: $1.13 (nursing pads – $10/60 pads X 2 pads a day = $0.33/day; breast milk storage bags – $15/75 bags X 4 bags a day = $0.80/day ; $0.33 + $0.80 = $1.13/day for nursing supplies)
Cost to breastfeed for one year: $448.50 + $1.13 (365.25 days) = $861.23
Note: If I wasn’t working and didn’t have to pump and save breastmilk, the cost of breastfeeding could potentially be zero! I also could have bought a less expensive electric pump (or even manual) to lower the cost of breastfeeding.
Cost to Formula Feed
- Formula:$1,665.46 for one year (average of the four websites reviewed – see below)
- Cost of Formula Feeding: Between $1,138.5 and $1,188.00 (low end estimate by their accounts)
- How much does baby formula cost: Between $1,500 and $2,000
- Formula Prices: $1,847.80 (I averaged all the yearly prices they gave on their spreadsheet)
- Formula Costs: Between $1,612.80 and $2,188.80
- Extra 4oz bottles: $15 (Medela 4oz bottle set)
- Extra 8oz bottles: $17 (Medela 8oz bottle set)
- Bottle Warmer: $19 (Munchkin Deluxe Bottle Warmer)
- Microwave Sterilizer Bags: $5 (Munchkin Microwave Sterilizer Bags; Good for work/travel)
- Microwave Sterilizer: $17 (Munchkin Steam Guard Microwave Sterilizer)
- Bottle brush: $5.50 (Avent bottle brush)
Initial start-up cost of formula feeding: $78.50 (not including formula)
Ongoing cost per day to formula feed: $4.56 ($1,665.46 [average yearly cost for formula]/365.25 days)
Cost to formula feed for one year: $78.50 + $4.56 (365.25 days) = $1,743.96
Note: Prices vary widely based on what brand or type (liquid or powder) of formula you buy and how much your baby actually eats in one year. In addition, many of the websites I used for formula pricing were from a few years ago, which due to inflation, could mean the cost of formula is even more expensive than indicated here.
Conclusion
In comparing the cost of breastfeeding to formula feeding here is the break down for the different things I looked at.
- Start up cost of breastfeeding is almost six times more expensive than for formula feeding ($448.50 (breast)/$78.50 (formula) = 5.71).
- Daily cost of breastfeeding is four times less expensive than formula feeding ($4.56 (formula)/$1.13 (breast) = 4.04).
- Overall cost of breastfeeding for a year is two times less expensive than formula feeding for a year ($1,743.96 (formula)/$861.23 (breast) = 2.02).
Yet, there are a few caveats to this break down including:
- Exclusively breast feeding from the breast and with no bottles is FREE other than the possibility of nursing bras that definitely aren’t a necessity. This would make the cost of breastfeeding considerably more cost effective (cheaper!) compared to formula feeding.
- Even if you pump and used bottles, you can do it for much cheaper than I’m doing it. Example savings could come from getting a cheaper pump, not buying nursing bras, using cheaper bottles, not buying special sterilizing equipment, utilizing reusable nursing pads, and being more efficient in the use of milk storage bags.
- The cost of formula is not uniform and varies by type (liquid or powder), brand, where it was bought, and the actual amount your baby consumes over a year.
So my conclusion? Yes, breastfeeding, even if you are pumping, is more cost effective compared to formula feeding. Yet, it requires a LOT of hard work, time, and often some physical discomfort (can you say engorgement and blocked milk ducts?). At a minimum I pump four times at work and then one-two times at home. At an average of ten minutes per session (Yes, I’m that quick because my pump is that awesome and was worth every penny we paid for it!), I spend about an hour every day just pumping. Then factor in the time I spend actually breastfeeding, which varies depending on Reagan and her current appetite, but can range from three-five hours a day (this includes night time feedings). That’s a possible six hours a day that I dedicate just to feeding Reagan and doesn’t include the time James and our babysitter spend feeding her during weekdays. Pretty crazy, huh? So what is my real conclusion? Money shouldn’t factor into your decision to breast or formula feed your baby. You should look at the time, energy, physical aspects of breast feeding, and most importantly how important it is to you to breastfeed your baby. On this note, I’ll do a “Benefits of breastfeeding” blog next! 
