Do you really save a lot more money if you breast feed rather than bottle feed??

It depends on your case. I have paid nothing for breastfeeding Andrew so far. Well, hold on, I lied. I have spent a few bucks on breast pads early on if I leaked, some Lanisoh cream, a few nursing tanks and some Gerber storage bags to freeze the pumped milk.

I was lucky that I got a Medela double electric pump in style pump, new and never used from my SIL because she got it and never used it. That easily can cost upwards of $300.

I also never needed a lactation consultant. They can be expensive, but necessary for some women.

So me for me, it was really nothing. I am curious to know how much $ per year is spent on formula fed babies? The nurses in my BF class told us it was about $2000 a year. Anyone care to divulge?

There are some who would say no but I say HECK YEAH!!! No bottles (or few), no sterilizers, no formula (which is the biggest expense), its easier on a babies stomach, no time making up the bottles, no bottle brushes, no bottle drying racks...

When breastfeeding you could buy a breast pump and some breast pads and a nursing bra (which I never used cause I thought they were a pain to close and open with one hand)

I am going to guess that you would. I didn't BF. I was going to but my baby was preemie and didn't have the energy to take from me. Anyway, she had problems with the formulas and was put on an expensive hypo-allergenic pre-digested formula that costs $22 a can (almost double of what the other formulas cost). That can lasts about 2 1/2 days. So we spend on average almost $75 a week on formula. (and that price is on the powdered formula.)The ready made costs a lot more!

I did not BF, so my expenses so far have been:

Bottles: about $50
Sterlizer: $30
Formula: About $40 - $50 per week (Enfamil Lipil)
Bottle Warmer: $25

So, I am guessing that it is lot cheaper to BF!

I spent $1000 on breastfeeding because I needed to rent a hospital grade pump for 3 months, see a professional LC 3X for help with my latching/supply problems, purchase a Medela PISA (Pump in Style Advance), breastmilk bags for 1 year, 4 nursing bras (I found them very comfortable), a hands free bra to pump with. Molly never latched so my experience is NOT the norm...and guess what...I would spend it all over again! I still saved money. The formula can cost a lot, as Sue said. And I would not have used the powered formula since I found it to be a real pain when I needed to supplement in the very beginning. The cans cost a lot more than using power.

I still needed bottles. But who cares? I didn't breastfeed to save money. I did it because it is better for my baby, for me (you can lower your risk of breastcancer by breast cancer).

The few times that Molly latched are some of my most cherish moments. There is something very magically about nursing your baby.

I didnt BF

Formula was definitly the most expensive part.. and the only cost for us since I recieved all the bottles and bottle brushes I could ever need from my baby shower.

My son went through a case of formula a week and then at about 6 or 7 months he went to a case and a half a week. so until his first birthday it was costing me about $65 a week (thats with using coupons for every case I bought)
My sister had it worse though. He sonr drank 2 cases of formula a week for almost a year.