6 big ways to save on infant formula

If your baby is on infant formula exclusively, you’ll shell out about $1,500 by her first birthday on the stuff. Of course, “breast is best” not only because it’s healthier for your baby, it’s also a bargain. But infant formula has its place. Here are six big ways to pay less:

Shop at mass merchandisers. Formula sold by mass merchandisers, such as Wal-Mart, Costco, and Sam’s Club, cost 16 percent less than formula sold in supermarkets, according to a USDA report. And formula sold in drugstores cost 19 percent more than in supermarkets, so shop there only as a last resort. Generally, milk-based formula tends to cost less than soy-based formula, so don’t buy soy or another type of specialized formula unless your pediatrician recommends it.

Join the club. Some formula companies, such as Similac have a membership club you can join for free by filling out an online form. After you enroll, you’re eligible for exclusive offers and savings.

Buy online. Many retailers, including many mass merchandisers, don’t sell formula through their Web site, so you’ll have to go shopping, and then schlep the stuff home. But you can purchase formula online at www.amazon.com. The site offers Enfamil, Similac, and Nestle Good Start, with free shipping on some quantities. The site also has organic formulas from brands such as Baby’s Only and Bright Beginnings. You can also sign up for Amazon Prime, which entitles you to unlimited “free” standard and two-day shipping on eligible items as well as other benefits for an annual membership fee of $79. Another option is to buy formula online from the manufacturer’s Web site. Enfamil (www.enfamil.com) and Similac (www.welcomeaddition.com), for example, offer this convenient method. If you buy three or more cases at a shot from the manufacturer, you may find reduced prices. By checking around online, we found that this option can be a competitive deal, and unlike Amazon, there’s no membership fee.

Prefer powder, if possible. Powdered formulas are the least expensive option in the formula lineup. The USDA reports that liquid concentrate formulas, though more convenient and easier to mix, than powder, tend to cost more.

Buy big. Across brands, larger cans of formula, whether it’s in powder or liquid form, cost less per reconstituted ounce than smaller cans. Buy the largest cans you can find.

Consider a store brand. You’ll find store brands of formula at major retailers such as Kmart and Wal-Mart and the savings can be substantial. We found that the store brand of formula at a local Wal-Mart (Parent’s Choice) cost 50 percent less per ounce than a leading national brand (Enfamil). According to the FDA, all formula marketed in the United States 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 all contain at least the minimum levels of all nutrients specified in FDA regulations, without exceeding maximum levels, where those are specified. Safety note: Always take special care with baby formulas. Check the “use by” date; follow preparation and storage instructions exactly; and pay attention to recalls. It is generally recommended that parents not switch brands once baby has gotten used to one.

For more information, see our report on baby formula.

Comments

[FindMyBabyName]

Amazon is a life saver for me when it comes to formula. I can basically order it, and have them ship it automatically each month, so that I don't forget. I always save at least 15% by buying it online.

-Lauren

[Charlotte]

I want to warn people that buying formula online can be expensive! I tried to order two months' worth of the BRU brand from BRU and the shipping was over $100 for 12 cans!! It was $10 for one can! Ridiculous! Their brand costs about half of the name brand stuff, but adding in the shipping makes it about the same. Guess I'll be schlepping into the real store to stock up. (A value box of diapers and wipes only had $12 shipping for both. I don't get it.)

[Jane Consumer]

Not only does the store brand have to meet the minimum nutritional requirements, it was recently found in FDA testing that ONLY the "big name" brands (Enfamil, Nestle and Similac) that were tested contained trace amounts of melamine and its chemical derivative - the store brands were NEGATIVE for these tests. Poor uninformed consumers like Catherine Myers below believe that buying store brands is "skimping" on their baby's nutrition, when in fact the big names are of WORSE quality than the store brands, manufactured by possibly the best baby formula facility in the USA. Don't be fooled by advertising and assume that it's better because it's more expensive!

[Maggie Hayes]

Just because they are more expensive doesn't mean the big name formulas will go beyond those FDA minimums. My doctor told me they are more expensive solely because they spend enormous amounts of money on advertising and giving out hospital samples. Check the labels - the formulas are all basically the same. I have saved plenty by buying store brand formulas.

[Catherine Myers]

While all formula must meet FDA standards, these are minimum requirements, and are not updated all that frequently. I would be leery about saying that the cost savings on store-brand formula is worthwhile. I'd be more tempted to save on clothing and equipment (those for which being used is not a safety issue of course) than skimp on the sole food source for an infant.

[Angie at Baby Cheapskate]

Buying store brand formula really is a great way to save 30% or more over premium brands.

I disagree on one point, however. At Baby Cheapskate, we've tracked weekly formula sales and deals for a couple of years now, and we've found that while warehouse clubs and online services like Amazon's Subscribe & Save program are great for folks who don't like to shop sales or use formula checks, ounce for ounce you can find better deals on powdered premium infant formula stocking up during sales at local brick-and-mortar retailers who accept formula checks/coupons.

Another way to save on infant formula is to check for free samples and extras given away at sites like Freepeats.org or Freecycle.org. You can also find formula checks there, too.

[Darin]

Very useful tips. It is true, we can buy formula at lower cost by using your tips. And I still can use these tips to buy cheaper formula for my 2 year old daughter (not just for infant). Thank you.

[baby boy]

Thanks for all the tips, it very helpful.