BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU/CHIKA KWAMBA/CHRISTY ABOGHE/OGORAMAKA AMOS/RITA OYIBOKA
the rising cost of infant formula and milk is not only straining Nigerian households but also directly impacting newborns and infants, who are feeling the heat of the current economic hardship. Faced with skyrocketing prices for essential baby products, many mothers are being forced to compromise on their infants’ nutrition, resorting to creative, cost-saving feeding alternatives.
These challenges, fueled by a tough economic environment, have led some mothers to make difficult choices that affect both their health and the well-being of their babies. From early weaning to using diluted formula, these tough decisions are increasingly common as families struggle to manage the soaring costs of infant care.
Speaking with some nursing mothers, Mrs Josephine Ifeadi shared how difficult it has been to change her baby’s food due to the high prices. In a chat with The Pointer, she explained that the switch has affected her baby’s system, causing frequent stooling. To address the issue, she sought the guidance of a paediatrician, who helped her manage the reaction caused by the change in food products.
Another nursing mother, Mrs. Efemena Okagbare, explained that to avoid starting something she couldn’t sustain, she decided to wean her baby, whom she had initially exclusively breastfed. She noted that this approach was helping her save money, and her baby remains healthy.
My Baby Doesn’t Like Pap, Mother Laments
Meanwhile, a private school teacher and mother of one in Port Harcourt, Mrs Jane Okon, detailed her experience feeding her daughter from four months to one year old. “I started my daughter on NAN baby food when she was four months old,” she recounted. “However, due to the high cost of NAN, I switched to My Boy Baby cereal, which was more affordable.
‘’Later, I returned to NAN because of its better nutritional value. By the time my daughter turned one, I introduced Cerelac and Frisco Gold. Unfortunately, as Frisco Gold became expensive, I stopped buying it. Now, I alternate Cerelac with other foods.”
She described how the rising prices impact her monthly budget. “At the end of the month, I set aside a specific amount for baby food, only to find the prices have increased. My baby consumes three to four cans a month, which significantly affects my expenses.”
Mrs Okon has also turned to local alternatives like blended maize (known as pap or Akamu) and Golden Morn cereal mixed with Peak 123 to manage costs. Despite her efforts, she noted, “My baby doesn’t like pap, but I have no other choice.”
For Mrs. Maria Ogbonna, a petty trader and mother of twins, the struggle is even more pronounced. “The truth is, things are really expensive these days,” she lamented. “I tried NAN at first because it was recommended, but it was too costly, so I switched to SMA Gold. Even that was hard to sustain, so I moved to pap mixed with soya bean and milk.” She highlighted how her twins’ consumption of up to eight cans of baby food monthly has strained her family’s finances.
Similarly, a hairstylist and mother of three, Mrs Olivia Tamunoboma described a similar experience. “I used to buy Cerelac and Nutribon, but I dropped Cerelac because of its cost. Now I make pap with guinea corn and use Lactogen milk.” The mother of three explained how baby food expenses dominate her monthly budget, alongside other household necessities. “I struggle a lot to balance everything,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Ibifuro James, a stay-at-home mother of one, has taken a different approach. She avoids store-bought cereals altogether, opting instead to make her blend known as “Tom Brown,” a popular cost-saving alternative. “I use soya bean, tiger nut, groundnut, date palm, guinea corn, corn, and millet. I dry and grind them together, then mix it with milk,” she explained. Mrs James noted that the rising cost of Lactogen prompted her to switch to Peak Milk.
A market survey revealed the following prices for popular baby foods and milk: NAN Comfortis sells for N14,200 to N14,500, NAN Optipro for N13,300 to N13,400, LACTOGEN milk at N7,700 to N7,800, Aptamil at N19,350 to N19,400, CERELAC at N6,800 to N6,850, MY BOY cereal at N6,330 to N6,400, and SMA Gold for N14,300 to N14,350.
My Baby won’t Tolerate Cheaper Brands—– Stephen
In an interview with The Pointer, an Asaba-based supermarket owner who only identified as Mrs Grace highlighted the significant increase in baby food prices over the past few months.
According to her, “NAN 1 has risen from N8,500 to N10,000 in just a few months. Similarly, NAN 2 has also gone from N8,500 to N10,000. My Boy increased from N5,500 to N6,000. The My Boy products have been the most popular as they are cheaper.
“Meanwhile, Lactogen 1 has seen lower sales due to its high price. I purchased it for N6,200 last year, but I am unsure of the current price. Frisco was N8,700 in June, and although I bought five cans, only one remains due to the cost. Cerelac is around N5,000. SMA Gold has risen from N9,600 to N11,000. Checkers custard is priced at N1,700 for the small one and N6,000 for the large one,” she said.
She noted how the prices have made customers frequently rethink their purchases. “People are buying less because of the price increases. I had a customer who, after learning the current price of NAN 1, left without making a purchase. She later returned after a few months, stating that she would only buy baby food when she could afford it. However, this situation has not prevented people from reducing the number of children they have,” she said.
Meanwhile, 32-year-old nursing mother, Mrs. Victory Steven shared her experiences navigating the surge in baby food prices. With a four-month-old baby, her insights reflect the challenges many mothers are currently facing.
“A few months ago, I could easily buy NAN 1 for N8,000, but now it costs N10,000. It feels overwhelming, especially as I am just starting to return to my hairdressing job and finances are tight. I’ve had to adjust my shopping habits. When I had my first child in 2021, I used to buy in bulk to save money, but now I find myself purchasing just enough to last a week or two.
‘’I compare prices at different shops and even ask friends if they’ve found better deals. At one point, I tried a cheaper brand instead of NAN, but my baby’s stomach couldn’t tolerate it, so I was forced to go back to NAN,” she explained.
It Is Heartbreaking—-Civil Servant Mom
For many nursing mothers in Asaba, the joy of welcoming a newborn has been overshadowed by the soaring costs of baby food and other essential commodities. This economic strain is forcing families to make difficult choices to ensure their babies’ well-being.
A visit to a major market in Asaba reveals a sharp increase in the prices of baby food products, with popular formulas now costing nearly double their previous prices. Brands that once seemed affordable are now considered luxuries.
Speaking with Mrs. Chidinma Okoro, a mother of twins, said “I used to buy a 400g can of baby formula for ₦9,000 just six months ago. Today, that same product sells for ₦14,000,”
According to Mrs Okoro, the price hike has left mothers searching for alternatives. “I’ve started introducing locally made pap earlier than planned. It’s cheaper but requires more effort to prepare. I also worry about whether it provides enough nutrition for my babies,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs Uche Eze, who works as a trader, said the increased cost of the formula is only part of the challenge. “Diapers, baby soap, and even medications have all gone up. My husband and I have had to adjust our spending. Sometimes, we skip meals to ensure our baby gets what she needs.”
She mentioned that some mothers have resorted to switching brands despite concerns about compatibility. “I was using a well-known brand, but I had to switch to a cheaper one. It wasn’t easy because my baby reacted poorly at first, but we didn’t have a choice,” she added.
In the same light, Mrs Chika Chibuzor, a civil servant, explained that others have turned to creative coping mechanisms. Community support has become a lifeline for some families, with mothers forming small groups to share bulk purchases of baby food or exchange tips on preparing affordable and nutritious alternatives.
“We come together to buy in bulk; it helps us save a little because buying single-handedly from the market or supermarket can make you go crazy especially when you see the surge in prices.”
The emotional toll of these struggles is palpable. “As a mother, you always want the best for your child, but sometimes, the best is beyond your reach. It’s heartbreaking.” She said.
Mothers On Edge
According to an interior decorator who spoke to The Pointer from Abuja, Goodness Timothy, ‘’My baby’s first six months was exclusive breastfeeding which saved me a lot of money for baby formula but I had to drink a lot of liquids like tea, yoghurt and kunu because my breast milk wasn’t heavy, which made me gain weight.
‘’I used NAN 1 for the first two weeks though because my breast milk wasn’t very consistent. Then after six months, I switched to “My Boy” which is the cheapest in my area. I used the “My Boy” inside the pap that I made myself. The pap consists of millet, guinea corn and yellow corn. I also started introducing my baby to mashed foods at eight months. Now, she eats any food we are eating except she’s not hungry or interested’’
Also speaking from Abuja, a civil servant and fashion designer, Gloria Nnamdi said, “It has not been easy, especially when it comes to baby food, diapers and other baby products. But thank God for an alternative, especially food and diapers. I had to switch formula to a cheaper one that is also good for my baby as well as alternative foods. I even had to create my baby food to cut down on costs.
In Asaba, Gracious Odeiga said, “My personal experience as a nursing mother has not been easy. The challenge I faced are price increase. I face financial strain due to the rising cost of infant formula so I used the breastfeeding method for six months.
‘’Breastfeeding only is very difficult because the baby depends on the nipple to feed; so, going out without the child is difficult. I created a budget and planned for expenses which helped me alleviate financial stress. I switched to a more affordable formula, SMA infant formula just to cope with the unfriendly economy.
Similarly, Daisy Chukwu to our reporter, ‘’Everything about childbirth has never been an easy journey but I believe in God because we were created for it (childbirth). The feeding aspect gave me an experience different from pregnancy, I could remember having bleeding nipples, bruises, pains all over etc. I was almost giving up but the joy and love for the innocent newborn strengthened me. The most difficult part was when I introduced solid food; oh my God, my kids have issues with food/eating.
‘’What helped me was consistency, giving little portions consistently until we outgrew the stage. This was as a first-time mom; the rest became a workover. It wasn’t as easy as I say it because I sought the advice of paediatricians, asked questions and even read books.
‘’Again, the cost of products was another big challenge because we’ve always maintained a particular product but this time, we had to switch. Hubby got a carton of the new product we agreed on; NAN but only for our baby to reject it, then we tried the other products we have been using SMA Pro, and he took it.
‘’At this point, we were left with no choice. Then what I did to help reduce cost was to feed him with pap (mixed grains) which I prepared myself and this is healthier rather than buying the imported cereal. It wasn’t easy but thank God for provision and His sufficient grace’’ she said.
Meanwhile, a survey by our reporter on the prices of baby feeds in Asaba and its environs showed Miralac Wheat and Milk-N5,650; Lactogen-N1,7900; Lactogen 2- N8,400; SMA Gold-N13,300; Nestle Cerelac-N18,700; NAN Optipro 2-N11,300; NAN Optipro 3-N10,350; My boy–N6,900( 0-12); Aptamil N17,300.
Corroborating other moms, Mrs Ifeanyi Okocha, mother to a seven year old told The Pointer that her saving grace has been that she alternates between breastfeeding and using baby formula.
“I have a seven month old baby boy and you know how boys suck. So even though I planned to do exclusive breastfeeding for six months, I could not cope. We buy SMA Gold which costs between N8,000 to N15,000 because the prices change almost every day. A tin of the baby food lasts a maximum of 14 days (two weeks) and that is because I breastfeed as well”.
For Stella Okotie whose daughter is almost one year old, she did not have to buy baby formula at all. According to her, she was abandoned by her fiancé three months after the birth of her child. “I could not continue my business after delivery and had to manage whatever I had. I did exclusive breastfeeding for six months and thank God for the kind of daughter I had, she immediately adapted to eating our normal foods at six months exactly’’.
