Is Formula laced with gold?

Wouldn't be surprise if more women decide to BF just because they can't afford to FF.

That would be a good thing. :o) I think they know that people will pay it so they can charge what they want.

I'm going to get bashed for this, I know I am. BUT, here goes, at the present time formula feeding is more common among those on the lower end of the economic scale. Yes, I know that's a generalization but it's how things are. The people on that lower end qualify for WIC and/or food stamps that pay for the formula so they don't care how much it costs, they aren't really paying for it. So the companies can, and do, charge as much as they want and they know it.

Can't beat the price of breast milk, it's free! I think it would be great if more women decided to BF, even if it was an economical decision. Whatever the reason, it's a good decision.

They can charge whatever they want because once a mom decides to not breastfeed and lets her milk dry up, it's the ONLY option. Doesn't matter if it's expensive, makes the baby gassy, is being recalled all the time, etc.

OP here. Anon 23: I just can't believe that formula companies make the bulk of their profit from WIC. I know its a fact that women with higher incomes and education are more likely to BF. Which seems backwards to me. Is it all profit than? Is that where the cost comes from?

All I know is that we saved a BUNDLE by breast feeding. I thought about switching at some point because he was refusing to take even a pumped bottle so I couldn't leave him for more than an hour or so... but then I thought about how much we were saving by not having to buy formula!

I think formula is so expensive just because the companies can charge that much and get away with it. I hate to say that, but I think it is true. I am pregnant for the third time and I plan to try and breast feed longer than a month. I had a hard time with it the last 2 times and this time since things have gone up so much, I am going to try to stick with it.

Marketing is expensive. And that's where the money goes.

I wonder if the prices are dramatically different in other countries.