If you do choose to use infant formula some or all the time, you can save by shopping for price without sacrificing quality. That's because parents can save by buying store-brand formulas, which recently received a boost from several studies by pediatric researchers at the University of Virginia. "Our work proves there is no physiological reason you can't switch from one brand of infant formula to another that shares the same protein source, which means store brands are just as nutritionally sound as national brands," said James L. Sutphen, M.D., Ph.D.

In addition, Consumer Reports, perhaps the foremost authority on quality and savings, says there's no need for parents to choose expensive national-brand infant formulas over their much more reasonable store-brand counterparts sold at drugstores, grocery stores and other retailers.

"Is the store brand as good as the national brand? It has to be," writes author Sandra Gordon and the editors of Consumer Reports.

"According to the Food and Drug Administration [FDA], all formula marketed in the U.S. must meet the same nutrient specifications, which are set at levels to fulfill the needs of infants. Although infant-formula manufacturers may have their own proprietary formulations, brand-name and store-brand formula must contain at least the minimum levels of all nutrients specified in FDA regulations, without exceeding maximum levels, where those are specified."

Parents looking to learn just how much they can save by choosing a store brand can use an online baby formula savings calculator at www.parentschoiceformula.com /baby-formula-savings-calcula tor.aspx or call (800) 485-9918.

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