Study Shows New Moms Spend More, Cut Back Less, and Stress Out over Spending on Baby

New York, NY, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — According to a national study released today, moms are feeling overwhelming pressure to overspend on products for their babies even as they significantly cut back in nearly every other area of their lives to cope with these challenging times.

The “Brand” New Mom study of more than 1,900 moms, conducted by Kelton Research, found that today’s new mom often makes decisions based on guilt rather than practicality, even when it is clearly proven that a high-profile brand offers no clear benefits over other far less expensive options. Over half of expectant first-time moms (58 percent) admit they are consumed by thoughts about what products they need to buy their babies every day, and nearly four in ten (37 percent) of moms express overall guilt about not being able to afford a specific baby product.

Adding to the “guilt” equation, 59 percent of moms said they are stressed about their personal financial situation or the economy, while more than half (53 percent) confess that thoughts about their baby product budgets plague them on a daily basis. Yet most don’t do as much about it as they could. In fact, three-quarters of moms surveyed have recently cut back on dining out, clothing for themselves, and entertainment. Only 13 percent have taken the same savings measures for their impending or new baby.

A major reason for this, the study finds, is the overwhelming, often confusing, and anxiety-producing array of advertising and promotional messages hitting moms from seemingly every direction, inspiring a complicated array of emotions. According to Nielsen data, more than $688 million was spent on advertising baby formula and other baby products from September 2010 to August 2011.

This study found that 85 percent of moms are far more tuned into ads related to babies or pregnancy than those with any other subject matter, and this increased attention to advertising can produce emotional stress. When it comes to this constant bombardment of baby-related advertising, a growing segment of the moms surveyed tend to feel overwhelmed (23 percent), anxious (20 percent) and confused (20 percent). As a result, more than a third (35 percent) of experienced moms admit that because of advertising they spent more than they had originally planned when their first child was a baby.

“This study sheds light on what moms are going through from both an emotional and economic standpoint,” said Sandra Gordon, national baby products expert and author ofConsumer Reports Best Baby Products, 10th edition. “Moms are so intent on absorbing as much baby-related information as possible, and making the right purchasing decisions, that it can be easy to overlook inexpensive options that are just as safe and effective for their baby.”

According to the study, more than half (52 percent) of moms are willing to buy store brand products for the household, yet just three in ten (30 percent) will buy store brand products for their babies. This is even more striking when the purchase is infant formula; less than a quarter (23 percent) is open to buying a store brand for that product category.

Baby formula is a particularly compelling touch point for maternal guilt. According to the study, almost half (43 percent) of new first-time moms feel guilty about using formula instead of breastfeeding, which may be why they’re willing to overspend on formula.

“These numbers are very consistent with what I see in my practice, and a clear indication of the challenges today’s mom faces with regard to the barrage of advertising messages she regularly sees,” said Dr. Jennifer Trachtenberg, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “We know that when it comes to taking care of babies, breastfeeding is considered the gold standard. The reality, however, is that 80 percent of moms will use formula at some point, and it is not something they should feel guilty about. Also, they certainly don’t need to buy the most expensive formula just to alleviate that guilt.”

Additionally the study found that misperceptions about the benefits of the more expensive infant formulas are pervasive:

• 68 percent of moms believe a heftier price tag for formula means that it’s a better quality product.
• 49 percent of new first-time moms believe name brand formulas offer more nutritional value than their significantly less expensive store brand counterparts.

The key, Dr. Trachtenberg said, is to educate moms with the facts on formula and provide them with all of their options, rather than making a decision based on which brand is the most heavily advertised and may be the highest priced.

“According to the Infant Formula Act, all infant formulas manufactured in the United States must contain the same key nutrients and adhere to the same quality and safety guidelines. This survey found that less than a quarter of the moms were willing to buy store brand formulas, which indicates that there is a significant knowledge gap. Far too many families are spending twice as much as they need to for infant formula, just to get a brand that is advertised,” said Dr. Trachtenberg. “Just like generic prescription medications have changed the healthcare landscape by proving more expensive does not mean better, store brand formulas can play a huge role in helping parents take the best possible care of their babies, as well as their budgets.”

For additional survey findings from the “Brand” New Mom study, testimonials from moms about their perceptions on baby products, expert tips from Dr. Jennifer Trachtenberg and information on store brand infant formula visit http://www.storebrandformula.com.

If you take an oral contraceptive… Read this press release, issued today!!!

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pfizer Inc. announced today that it has voluntarily recalled 14 lots of Lo/Ovral^®-28 (norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol)Tablets and 14 lots of Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (generic)for customers in the U.S. market. An investigation by Pfizer found that some blister packs may contain an inexact count of inert or active ingredient tablets and that the tablets may be out of sequence. The cause was identified and corrected immediately.

These products are oral contraceptives indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women who elect to use oral contraceptives as a method of contraception. These tablets were manufactured and packaged by Pfizer Inc., commercialized by Akrimax Rx Products and labeled under the Akrimax Pharmaceuticals brand. This product is distributed to warehouses, clinics and retail pharmacies nationwide.

As a result of this packaging error, the daily regimen for these oral contraceptives may be incorrect and could leave women without adequate contraception, and at risk for unintended pregnancy. These packaging defects do not pose any immediate health risks. However, consumers exposed to affected packaging should begin using a non-hormonal form of contraception immediately. Patients who have the affected product (lot numbers are provided below) should notify their physician and return the product to the pharmacy.

These products are packaged in blister packs containing 21 tablets of active ingredients and seven tablets of inert ingredients. Correct dosing of this product is important in avoiding the associated risks of an unplanned pregnancy.

Correctly Packaged LoOrval Blister Pack Image - www.pfizer.com/img/news/LoOvralCorrectPkg.jpg

Correctly Packaged Norgestrel Image - http://www.pfizer.com/img/news/NorgestrelCorrectPkg.jpg

Any adverse events that may be related to the use of these products should be reported to Akrimax Medical Information at 1-877-509-3935 (8 AM to 7 PM Mon-Fri CST) or to FDA’s Med Watch Program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

Pfizer has responded rapidly to ensure that its products continue to meet the company’s high quality standards. The safety of patients who take our medicines is our first priority.

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

For Lot Numbers and more information direct from Pfizer, see their official press release.

I am very excited to announce that the Virtual Sock Drive is officially live! Now fans can help Hanes donate socks to The Salvation Army by “liking” Hanes and current fans can simply click “donate now” on the Sock tab. This year alone Hanes will donate up to 500,000 individual socks (250,000 pairs) to The Salvation Army with the help of the Hanes Facebook community.

I’m posting a widget in my sidebar so feel free to use it often & Share it too!!!

 I am a member of the Hanes Comfort Crew. I was not compensated for this post. I love to share great info to my readers about Hanes products and news! Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Peanut crops this year were sad to say the least. They are calling for a 30-40% price hike, and everyone is talking about stocking up now… Sure, you can use coupons to save the money now, but what happens after the price hike and when there aren’t any coupons?

Here’s an all natural, money saving alternative…

Make your own!

Seriously. If you have a Ninja (Love mine), a Magic Bullet, or any high speed blender, this is possible! Check this out..

On Amazon, right now (pre-price hike) a 6 pack of 16.3oz Planters Creamy Peanut Butter is $23.95 that’s approximately $4 per jar or $0.24/oz. Not bad, and you can certainly beat that price with some good coupons… but check this out. Also on Amazon, you can get a 6 pack of 34.5oz Planters, dry roasted peanuts with sea salt for $32.92 or $0.16/per oz. I’m not doubting that prices for both of these items will go up, but I’m guessing they’ll both go up comparitively…

So what am I getting at? You can buy the shelled peanuts, toss them into a blender (we use our Ninja) and if you want to change the flavor a bit, add some honey, or a little more salt, depending on how salty you like your PB.. Add a dash of olive oil, blend until smooth! If you like crunchy pb, then chop up a few nuts and stir them in with a spoon!

Granted, because there are no preservatives, you will have to keep this in the refrigerator, but you control how much you make, so plan accordingly. I love fresh peanut butter, and the idea of making it myself is awesome. I know what’s in it. No chemicals, no high fructose corn syrup… It’s awesome… Try it and tell me what you think!

It’s October, which means Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and now the Hanes Pink tab is live on their Facebook Page, helping to support breast cancer awareness. In addition to sharing their work with the National Breast Cancer Foundation the tab also invites their fans to send a digital Comfort Care Package to those in need of comfort. For each Comfort Care Package sent, Hanes will donate an additional $1 to NBCF.

As a Comfort Crew member, I  was given the opportunity to share this info with my readers! I’m also being given a chance to win a $2000 donation to my local NBCF chapter in my name! I would love you help in getting that donation!

Here’s how it works… See the image in the sidebar on the right? The pretty pink one with the gift on it?  Click on it… Send a Hanes Comfort Gift package to someone in your friends list… and then send another! The Comfort Crew member who sends the most visitors to the Hanes Pink tab, will get a donation of $2,000 to a local NBCF chapter in their name from Hanes. I’ll find out who wins at the end of October! I hope it’s me!

For more information on Hanes Breast Cancer Awareness program feel free to view the press release from Hanes:  http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hanes-launches-comfort-sharing-facebook-application-for-breast-cancer-awareness-130108348.html

I am a member of the Hanes Comfort Crew. I was not compensated for this post. As a member of the Hanes Comfort Crew, I get first hand information to share with my readers about deals and promotions! Participation in this program is completely voluntary, and as always opinions are 100% my own.

Football Season is here again, and it’s going to be an exciting one! There are so many games every weekend, you have to be able to find someone to watch! I’m a HUGE Steelers fan, always have been… I’ve supported them through many wins, and losses… and this year, it will be no different. This year, we are going to be ready for our weekends of nothing but football, friends and food!
As a Walmart Mom, I was given the chance to shop for the big necessities for football season and share them with you! I had $40 to spend, so how did I do?

Well, I started out in the produce section. Veggie trays are a must for any game time get together. I also bought some tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers to toss on the smoker! Yes, I made smoked salsa! We bought some hummus, chips, and more of those Johnsonville Brat Burgers we really liked! Of course, we had to buy buns for those burgers. Rather than spending $30 on a shirt, I bought the Dark Fabric Iron On Transfers for only $14, which contain 6 transfer sheets. I bought some plain Hanes Tee Shirts and went searching online! I found some great graphics and embellished them a little bit and ironed them onto the shirts. My girls now have their own special Steelers Shirts for Game Day!

Not bad! We had a lot of fun cooking, munching and cheering on our team.. who just happened to win their last game! WOOHOO!

How are you celebrating your team this season???

I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart provided me with compensation for my time and efforts on this post. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

I’m not sure if you knew this, but I’m of Mexican descent, and although I’m not exactly what you’d call close to my roots, there are a few things I love about being hispanic. For one, the food is amazing. Growing up, I was taught to make a few really good Mexican meals, and they are favorites even here at home now! I only speak a little bit of Spanish, but what I do know, I’m trying to pass down to my girls. It’s a very important language to learn, especially since so many people speak it!

Walmart has a lot of great things that can help me pass on my knowledge of  my hispanic heritage to my girls and let them learn more about where they came from! We plan on making some good meals over the next month, including Enchiladas, Tacos, and much more! We get all of our ingredients from our local Walmart! We will also find some books, and even a couple of bilingual games to check out over the month!

Walmart is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 – November 1 with a continued commitment to serving the Hispanic community through education-focused initiatives. For more information about how Walmart is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, check out the article on WalmartStores.com.

How will you (Family/Business) Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? Leave a comment and feel free to link up to any events happening in your area! They may go to moderation, but I’ll take a look and approve any valid comments!

I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. I have been compensated for my time and efforts on this post. Product was provided for purposes of this review. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Mommy Brain Reports is looking for sponsorship….

This coming February, I will be running the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon. As I’ve mentioned so many times before, my goal was to run a 5K in 2011. Well, I almost did it… If it wasn’t for falling down my garage steps and messing up my ankle, I would’ve done it… But that’s old news…

Well, I’ve been given the opportunity to participate in the 1/2 Marathon next year. This will be a HUGE deal for me. My fitness journey started 2 years ago at 230lbs. I’ve NEVER been able to run short distances, let alone 13.1 miles.  I’ve set my goals very high, but I know I can attain them. My training will be extensive, but I’m totally up for the challenge.

So what’s the sponsorship opportunity? Well, I’m going to be going as part of a group of 3 ladies. My friends are both military spouses, and we are all traveling from Jacksonville, NC. Both of the ladies going with me are totally encouraging me in my goal of completing this race, and we are all very excited to be participating. We are looking for anyone who is willing to sponsor us to help defray the costs of our trip (Hotel, Airfare, Meals) Details are available for anyone who would like them.

All sponsors will receive free 125×25 ad space on both of my blogs (http://mommybrainreports.com & http://monicabrady.net) up to and through the weekend of the race. All sponsors will be mentioned in each of my weekly running wrapups on MonicaBrady.net with links to the sponsor’s site and/or product. We are also more than willing to wear a shirt with logos of our sponsors during our trip. (Photos will be taken).

I am also open to other suggestions for sponsorship ideas.

Any write ups will not be considered a review, although, anything donated will be mentioned in my weekly running wrapups…

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me! Use Marathon Sponsorship as your subject line!

You can read more about my decision to join the 1/2 marathon here.

PS. Any money donated over and above our costs will be donated to  a charity of our choice. TBA.

Layaway is coming back to Walmart for the holiday season!!! I’m so excited!!! Now you can get a jump start on your holiday shopping, and most of all, save money by not having to put it all on a high interest accruing credit card!!!

Restrictions do apply, so click on the image below for further details!

I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. I have not been compensated for this post. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Did you know that your grill is not just for steak, hot dogs and hamburgers anymore? Yeah, neither did I!

The Walmart Moms were asked to give grilling pizza a try, and well, my husband is the chef in our house (Yes, I totally admit that), and I gave him the mission to try to make the grilled pizza while I was away for a few days. I figured the girls would love to help him out, and it would give them something fun to do to keep them busy. He was a little bit skeptical, but assured me that he could pull it off. The results?? Well, I’ll let you decide for yourself.

The ingredients:

• Great Value Pizza Crust (Just add water)
• Great Value Pizza Sauce
• Great Value Minced Garlic
• Kraft Shredded Cheese (Pizza Mix)
• Pepperoni
• Red Onion

They did have fun making everything, it just wasn’t as easy as he thought it would be. They started off by making the pizza dough- Just Add Water- It was easy enough. He baked it on the gas grill for a few minutes and then flipped it over to bake the other side a bit. They then took the crust off of the grill and covered it with their toppings. Once everyone was happy with their pizza, it went back onto the grill to heat it up and melt the cheese.

After a but of experimentation and a few adjustments, they were able to get a decent pizza off of the grill. They had a hard time at first, but eventually were able to make enough pizza for the three of them. The biggest issue was heat. They used the gas grill, and it was not putting off a uniform heat, so part of the crust browned, and even burnt before the other half was fully cooked. Once they figured out a good time to rotate the pizza, they were able to get a more even bake.

My girls love pizza, and this was no exception. My husband, on the other hand, I think he’s going to stick with the oven.

If you’d like to try it for yourself, you can get all of the products we used and more at your local Walmart Supercenter!

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I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart provided me with compensation for my time and efforts on this post. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.