Baby Formula - Any tips or tricks?

[Nennie]

Anyone have any tips or tricks (coupons, websites, etc) for buying baby formula?

I've been breastfeeding up til now, and now that I'm starting to supplement with Similac, I realize how crazy expensive this stuff is!!

Any tips for getting good discount prices???

 

[kissy]

Sams club is usually a little cheaper because you buy it in bulk. I personally just went to the parents choice formula (walmart) my boy does just fine on it and it $13 for a huge can. If I were you, I'd buy just a little can and see how your baby does on it.

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

Walmarts private brand called parents choice is what we use. It is only around $13 and is just as good as name brands. As far as packing it, we brought the can with us in our luggage then scooped out premeasured amounts (usually 2 bottles worth) into the breast feeding storage bags and brought them into the parks with us. They work just as well as the name brand premeasured brands and we were able to reuse the bags. Just be sure to bring a water bottle with you to the park to fill the bottle or tsake advantage of the baby care centers. Have fun

 

[alyssa810]

I can send you a similac coupon - i think it's $2 off with a 7/31/09 expiration date. I went to Mommy and me classes at my hospital, and most of the time they had freebies, either the small powder cans or the 2 ounce ready to feed bottles. I also lucked out in that my MIL had a friend who worked for an OBGYN who kept us in small cans through most of my DS's formula drinking days. I always nursed and gave him formula from the beginning -we had a hard time getting him to nurse in the beginning, and now we're having a hard time getting him to stop LOL!
I also recommend getting the large cans at a wholesale place, in my case BJs had the best price, but we didn't really buy there very often because of the supply we got from my MIL's friend.

 

[Soon2B4]

Sign up for coupons from the makers of the formula if you use name brand. I second the store brands. I think they are all the same. I was using Sam's Club and Target brand, but my little one developed Colic. Now I have to buy the most expensive formula they make b/c it is the only thing that keeps him from crying for hours. His formula is $25 for 16 oz and it lasts 2 days. They don't make a generic and I have to buy name brand.

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

Have you tried signing up for formula checks through the company. I get formula checks all the time and catch the stuff onsale and pay very little for it. Similac usually sends 5.00 checks and that is just about enough to cover one of the RTF bottles of Similac Advance. Maybe some of the moms here have extras laying around they could send you. Also check Target...use a formula check and a Target coupon for $$ off so extra savings. Target coupons usually come in the mail. Those really help a lot.

 

[daleswife]

I used similac with my dd6 and it was crazy how expensive it was. with my ds2 I started with similac but we got to where we couldnt afford 2 cans a week at $26 a can, and my son had to have the gentle formula so we decided to try him on parents choice (walmart brand) and he did wonderful on it. Its $13 a can and they made a gentle formula. I agree with the comment on buying a smaller can and see if your baby will take it. good luck....

 

[Nennie]

Thank you so much everyone!!!

It's sounds like trying the store brand is the way to go!!! The only reason I started with Similac, was b/c we had free samples, so that's what I went put and bought. I'm going to try the Parent's Choice and see how that works out for us.

Thanks again!! I really appreciate it!!!

 

[Motherofboys]

We use the Kroger Comforts for our daughter, started when she was about 7 months - she had been breastfed before that. She didn't have any problems adjusting to it and its $12.50 for a large can.

My pediatrician told us long ago that you are just fine buying store brand formula for babies. All formula is heavily regulated and it's made by the same companies (usually Wyeth makes the store brands, as well as name brands).

Why the big price difference? Because you are paying for the advertising! If it makes you feel better to buy a name brand, then do so. But you don't have to feel bad about buying a store brand for your baby

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

Target & Walmart formulas are made by the same company. WE're using Target right now because they're closer to me. Can't beat $13 a can and they're the only ones to have NOT found melamine in their samples. Similac, Enfamil & Good Start have all tested positive for melamine.

 

[malibuconlee]

Thank you so much everyone!!!

It's sounds like trying the store brand is the way to go!!! The only reason I started with Similac, was b/c we had free samples, so that's what I went put and bought. I'm going to try the Parent's Choice and see how that works out for us.

Thanks again!! I really appreciate it!!!

ABSOLUTELY!!! I started with Similac too because that's what the hospital used to supplement and I had the free stuff. Asked her ped at the next appointment and she said the store brands are fine. Her exact words were "Save the money and spend it on a dance lesson when she's older" LOL

I still cant' believe it's less than HALF the cost of the name brand!!

 

[TiggerStac]

I'm going to hijack for a quick part...
has anyone seen a premie version generic anywhere??

My son is on Neosure and will be on it for another 7 months, it only comes in RTF and 12.something oz cans. Needless to say, costing me an arm and a leg!

Ok..this is what I did w/my other 2. Both on Similac (Isomil). I signed up w/their website and got the $5 checks on a regular basis. Traded with friends for the Enfamil coupons I was receiving...as I had signed up for both, not knowing what would work. It seems lately there have been a lot of $2 off similac coupons in newspaper. I don't get the sunday paper, but my mom does she saves all coupons. I bought their formula at BJ's. It was 27-28 for a huge can vs 25 for the regular size at the grocery store. I was getting about double for a couple $$'s more.

My CVS is only .69 more expensive than the cheapest I have found sons formula, so when I have a $3 off $15 coupon, etc I go there. I get whatever it is off, plus I'm earning extra rewards. They had a huge sale of RTF in May. The neosure is normally 7.19, it was 5.49 each. I stocked up and as I continued to stock up, I got more $3 off $15 coupons.

 

[Ava]

Babies R Us also has their own brand of formula now, and it's also about $12-$13/can. I haven't tried it, but I have the BRU rewards card so I get flyers from them all the time.

I also ditto the PP's to sign up on the formula company's website for checks & free samples. We somehow got on Enfamil's mailing list and got two free small cans of RTF in the mail. We also get the checks sometimes. We're breastfeeding so we just pass them off to friends.

 

[MrsPete]

Every time you go to the pediatrition's office for a check up (or a sick visit), ASK if he or she has formula samples to give away.

I did this, and my doctor almost always gave us four cans of concentrate. With my first daughter I bought formula only occasionally, and with my second daughter I literally never bought a single can. Of course, they were almost exclusively breastfed, so I didn't need much formula.

I'd be sure to talk to the doctor about whatever brand you're using. Since breastmilk /formula makes up 100% of the baby's diet -- and since so much of their body is developing -- it's extremely important that you're making the right decisions. If it comes down to skimping on something, nutrition for an infant isn't the right place.

 

[muffinstuffin]

I signed up for a free sample of the parent's choice formula and regularly get $5 off coupons. It makes it like $7 a can. I switch between target and walmart or whatever is on sale.

 

[Avonlady1001]

My son is 8mths old & I have never paid full price for a can of formula (DS is exclusively formula fed). I will buy whichever brand is on sale & whichever one I have the best coupon for. My DS has tolerated every brand except the Walmart. That made him constipated.

I signed up for the coupons w/ every formula maker. Similac sends the best/most coupons...they were $5, now they seem to be $4. Sign up for everyone in your family who doesn't live with you. I get them sent to my mom, grandma, sister...

While I agree that all formulas are the same as far as nutrition, they are different. The texture is much different...I HATED the BJ's brand & Target brands...the powders were thick & lumpy & just didn't mix well. I like Enfamil which was the best texture-wise (mind you...I like it the best, DS doesn't care ) but they rarely go on sale around here & they don't send many coupons.

I am running out of Similac coupons now, they are sending them less & less...maybe b/c DS is 8mths? I don't know why. I will be switching to store brands unless I have a coupon.

My ped says it's fine to use whatever brand, and switching between them is fine...as long as you stay w/ the same type...don't swap milk based, soy based, specialty...

Hope some of that helps...

 

[gorams]

Why not just keep nursing? You almost made it to a year!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

You think regualr Simulac is expensive, my DD was on Nutramigen. Holy crap, I thought it would take us to the poor house. There was no off brand for that stuff, just the Enfamil or Simulac version.

I asked the pediatrician for samples everytime we were there. I signed up for coupons , plus looked in my local pennysaver and on ebay.

 

[4boys531]

If you sign up on the Parents Choice website or call the number on the can, you can request coupons ($5 off). Have family & friends do this as well for extra savings!

Also, if you find a brand that doesn't agree with your child, call and tell them. My son wouldn't take Parents Choice but I called and they refunded my money.

 

[HelenePA]

I'm going to hijack for a quick part...
has anyone seen a premie version generic anywhere??

My son is on Neosure and will be on it for another 7 months, it only comes in RTF and 12.something oz cans. Needless to say, costing me an arm and a leg!

Ok..this is what I did w/my other 2. Both on Similac (Isomil). I signed up w/their website and got the $5 checks on a regular basis. Traded with friends for the Enfamil coupons I was receiving...as I had signed up for both, not knowing what would work. It seems lately there have been a lot of $2 off similac coupons in newspaper. I don't get the sunday paper, but my mom does she saves all coupons. I bought their formula at BJ's. It was 27-28 for a huge can vs 25 for the regular size at the grocery store. I was getting about double for a couple $$'s more.

My CVS is only .69 more expensive than the cheapest I have found sons formula, so when I have a $3 off $15 coupon, etc I go there. I get whatever it is off, plus I'm earning extra rewards. They had a huge sale of RTF in May. The neosure is normally 7.19, it was 5.49 each. I stocked up and as I continued to stock up, I got more $3 off $15 coupons.

is he on neosure because he needs more calories per/oz? or is there more of a difference between the reg and neosure. I must admit I dont know much about neosure. If its just for calories you might want to ask your dr if there is a recipe you can use with just the reg. version of the similac my first DD was on 28 calorie enfamil (plus a whole lot of other stuff in it which equaled almost 35calories per/oz) when she was born (she had a heart defect and needed more calories than normal babies)