This is probably better ROI than "breastfeeding saves money" when formula is so cheap and you avoid pumping, washing, and labor while exhausted.
We use disposables while traveling. It's just easier.
The main thing is that for many, formula is paid for via support programs, but unless you're down on SNAP you don't get diapers AFAIK.
It’s easy enough to qualify for both even at HN salaries, you just need to have enough kids.
(1) You have to ingest more than 1800 calories to get 1800 calories of milk. I'm seeing a 1.25x multiplier at a minimum so 2250 cal.
(2) That's already close to a full daily calorie intake (3 meals).
(3) Kirkland formula is $13 per 2250 calories ($32/5400cal*2250cal). You're not beating $13 per 3 meals unless you're meal prepping.
(4) This doesn't even factor in the vitamin loading via formula.
My wife breastfeeds and pumps. She doesn't love it, but she doesn't mind it.
Also, I'm no pediatrician but vitamin loading via formula seems off to me. My daughter's pediatrician told us that while breastfeeding is preferable to formula for the bonding benefits, at the end of the day it doesn't really matter as long as the baby is eating enough. We do have to supplement vitamin D in either case, which we do with pumped milk.
I don't think there's a mathematical way to optimize anything in parenting. You just try stuff and see if it works. And maybe it works for a few weeks or months. But then it stops working. Then you adapt! Maybe breastfeeding will stop working soon. Maybe cloth diapers will stop working soon. Who knows? All I know is that I'm not gonna be showing my daughter and wife a spreadsheet to show what is optimal.
Adding new parameters contingent on discretionary priorities and resources is vastly more subjective.
Enjoy parenthood.
I am enjoying parenthood, thanks :)
> Is formula more expensive than the portion of the mother’s caloric intake that’s used to produce milk
You also "ran the numbers" in the same comment.
Maybe you're not getting enough sleep from tending to your kid.
Though, you did say formula "isn't cheap" in a comment questioning the the ROI. I'm lost because that would imply you had run the numbers to call it expensive.
I agree that every family's different. I'm overly touchy on the phrasing to a fault. You get it. My point is that people seem to lean into this or over worry about breastfeeding at all costs.
We still keep formula on hand just in case (premixed because the powdered formula has a pretty short shelf life). We found that my daughter doesn't really like it, but that's not really relevant. But in any case, the premixed formula is 2-3x more expensive than the powdered formula, which is why it's a bit surprising to me that someone would say that formula is more cost-effective ROI. Anecdotally we haven't really noticed a increase in our monthly grocery bill, and my wife is back to her pre-pregnancy weight and has stayed there for a few weeks.
That assumes
-Always available to breastfeed
- mom doesn't work (or at least has tremendous flexibility)
-and doesn't need to pump
Those are overly idealistic to me and impose overhead costs.