Why is Nutramigen so expensive?

Why is Nutramigen so popular?

Nursing mothers often need to introduce formula into their child’s diet. The problem for many mothers and children is that they develop allergies to various components of infant formula, including proteins found in cows’ milk.

Many infant formulas exist on the market, with many promoting various health benefits and hypoallergic formulations.

For example, controlling colic concerns many parents regarding their newborns.

Nutramigen has emerged as a leading choice available in almost all shops and supermarkets.

Many parents are wondering why nutramigen is so expensive.

What is Nutramigen?

Nutramigen is specifically designed to reduce the lactose content of infant formula feed, making infant formula more digestible, hypoallergenic, and less likely to cause colic. Nutramigen is recommended for infants aged 0-6 months with mild to moderate cow’s milk allergy who cannot handle other baby formulas.

Why is Nutramigen popular?

Increasing rates of childhood allergies have increased the demand for hypoallergenic formulas, particularly regarding lactose intolerance and other cow’s milk-related allergies. This has necessitated special, easy-to-digest baby formulas. Nutramigen is better than other hypoallergenic formulas because it is soy-free, includes probiotics that avoid allergic reactions to soy products, and improves digestion because of its bacterial cultures.

Comparing the price of Nutramigen to other baby formulas

In 2023, a can of Nutramigen Lipil with Enflora LGG formula was around $30 to $40 per can, depending on the quantity bought.

This price is higher than the average cost of a can of standard cow’s milk-based formula, such as Similac or Enfamil, which typically ranges from $20 to $30 per can. However, it is less expensive than some organic or high-end formulas, such as Earth’s Best or Holle, which can cost around $40 to $50 per can.

It is worth noting that prices can vary depending on the store and location, and checking for promotions or discounts is always recommended.

Additionally, many stores offer baby formula in bulk, which can help to lower the cost per can.

Why is Nutramigen so expensive?

Although cow’s milk allergies affect many infants, finding affordable formula can be a challenge. One of the primary complaints regarding Nutramigen is how expensive it is. As noted above, Nutramigen is roughly twice as expensive as traditional formulas.

The primary reason for the increased expense is that Nutramigen is a special formulation and the only formula with this formulation on the market. Nutramigen’s formulation uses lactobacillus rhamnosus and other ingredients, such as extensively hydrolyzed casein, zinc sulfate, and ascorbic acid, to create a protein and vitamin-rich infant formula that improves digestion. However, it requires more expensive ingredients than other formulas.

Currently, there are no generic formulations of Nutramigen, meaning that consumers will have to pay retail prices unless using coupons or other manufacturer discounts.

Nutramigen does not contain cow’s milk.

Another factor influencing the cost of Nutramigen is that it doesn’t have cow’s milk in the formula, with cow’s milk being a primary ingredient in other infant formulas. Altered cow’s milk or soy protein is the traditional base component of many formulas, with their usage helping to keep costs low for infant formula.

Given that roughly 7% of infants show some degree of cow’s milk allergy, there is sufficient demand for a hypoallergenic formula such as Nutramigen.

Similar formulas use hydrolyzed proteins as the base ingredient, such as Similac, which includes iron supplements. However, such formulas as Similac do not contain probiotics, nor are they completely dairy or soy-free, which can present problems for infants.

Unfortunately, in most cases, health insurance will not cover the cost of hypoallergenic formulas, leading parents to pay out of pocket and bear the expense.

Making the most of Nutramigen

Fortunately, a variety of methods exist to obtain Nutramigen affordably. Buying in bulk and sharing the expense with a fellow mother are two options to make Nutramigen more affordable. Parents who have children who have outgrown Nutramigen also sell the extra for a discount on various social media sites.

Breast milk can often remedy digestive disruptions, given that it is the intended formulation for infantile digestion. Likewise, many children outgrow any cow milk allergy by age 5, which may entail digestive upset during that period but will not imply that it is a permanent allergy.

Where cheaper and hypoallergenic formulas can suffice, they may provide a more reliable alternative. If not, then Nutramigen may be your only choice.