How to save a fortune on infant formula

Like diapers, the cost of formula can add up. In fact, if your baby is strictly formula-fed, you’re likely to shell out $2,000 for formula by her first birthday. Fortunately, there are ways to save. Here are four of our top formula thrift tips:

Shop at mass merchandisers. Your formula costs will vary by where you shop, according to a USDA report. Formula sold by mass merchandisers costs the least. Supermarket prices will make a bigger dent in your budget. And drugstores charge substantially more, so don’t wait to shop for formula until the all-night drugstore is the only outlet open.

Buy milk-based formula. It tends to cost less than soy-based formula, so don’t buy soy or another type of special formula unless your pediatrician recommends it.

Sign up for savings. Some formula companies offer exclusive offers and savings on their Web sites. At www.verybestbaby.com, Nestle promises up to $319 in savings and free offers, including money-saving checks for their Good Start formula. A caveat: This includes “partner offers” on products you might not want, so you might save less, and you must provide your e-mail address. Similarly, at www.enfamil.com you can enroll in Enfamil Family Beginnings to receive special offers and promotions, including up to $60 in formula checks.

Buy online. Some retailers, including many mass merchandisers like Target and Wal-Mart, don’t sell formula through their Web sites, so you’ll have to go shopping and then schlep the stuff home. But you can purchase formula online at many sites including www.samsclub.com (Member’s Mark, the store brand), www.costco.com (national brands and Kirkland Signature, Costco’s store brand), www.naturesonedirect.com (Baby’s Only), www.earthsbest.com (Earth’s Best), and www.amazon.com. Amazon offers Enfamil, Similac, Nestle Good Start, and Member’s Mark, as well as free shipping on some quantities, which will save you a trip to the store. Amazon also sells some organic brands, such as Earth’s Best and Baby’s Only. You can 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. 

See our full report on baby formula, as well as our reports on baby bottles without BPA and breast pumps, for more information.

Comments

[Tina]

This is a great article about saving money on formula without buying generic.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5224392_save-lot-money-baby-formula.html

[ginab]

Some great formula buying options. If you need to buy super expensive formula like Alimentum, try EBAY! You can buy in bulk and save soooo much $$! I have never had a problem buying it that way. Catch the sales, usually Target & Kmart run sales on the major brands every 4-6 weeks. Buy 4-6 cans on sale so you can wait for the next one. Babies R Us has been surprisingly competitive in the past too. Sam's club carries some major brands, they accept those formula checks and you can get the value size cans. Keep an eye out for 20% more cans, even at full price it's a deal. Subscribe to the major formula's website for coupons. You can also use your friends coupons they get if they end up having to switch to another brand. Ask your pediatrician for samples! If your baby doesn't need a specialized formula, then try the store brands. If your baby doesn't like it, you can always switch back.

[Margaret]

I want to reiterate this is not a breastfeeding information center, nor should it be a forum for the La Leche League. Consumer Reports reviews consumer products - end of the story!

Some mothers do not breastfeed (I happen to be a mother of twins, so I could not give them enough of my natural milk after the first 60 days). I found the information on this site helpful - we decided to use Parent's Choice Infant Formula at Walmart because it saved our family $1200 a year on formula. My boys thrived on the formula, so a recommendation to shop at a mass merchandiser and choose a store's brand was a good call.

I've found you can also save by looking for coupons online for formula and diapers. I wish I could recommend store brand diapers - I go with Huggies. It's a shame diaper quality isn't regulated by the Government like baby formula!

[Lisa S]

Sometimes breastfeeding does not work out. This happened to us and I really wanted too. I highly recommend all mothers to be is join a Costco. The Kirkland brand has the same nutrients and allowances has the national brands and the cost is half. My pediatrician ask what brand we were using and I said the Costco house brand and he said good because there all the same. Plus, they make great diapers and wipes too. Our DS is now four months old and doing great and 95 percent in height and 50 percent in weight. It is your call roughly ten bucks a week or twenty for the same thing.

[Amazanian]

For those of you with Amazon Prime memberships, here’s a good website to search for Amazon Prime eligible products:
http://www.amazanian.com

[Carol]

Breastfeeding does NOT work for everybody..geez! Get over it! This is an informational website about PRODUCTS i.e. formula NOT whether or not to breastfeed.

[Carolyn]

I stand corrected! There is quite a bit of nursing info on the blog. Thanks for covering it. When I was looking 4 years ago I couldn't find anything on it! Guess I should subscribe to the blog.

[Carolyn]

The best way to save a fortune of formula is to breast feed and if you are struggling, to find support.

It takes most mothers an enormous amount of effort and determination to learn the skill of breastfeeding. And I understand for various reasons formula is necessary. But I would love to see Consumer Reports also offer an article on how Mother's can breast feed and find support for breastfeeding. Also what about breastfeeding items such as pumps, bras, pads, creams (ie the wrong lanolin can be dangerous) etc?

I really struggled trying to determine if spending a $100 on one pump rather than $25 on the other was worth it.

Thanks and good luck!

[Elizabeth]

Thank you to Angie and Amelia, who actually provided good information on this subject. It's been VERY hard to find.

As a first time expectant mother, I want good, accurate information about formula. I intend to try breastfeeding, but for all I know, I will not be able to or it may not work for my baby. As such, I and other new mothers NEED good information about formula so I will be prepared for *every* eventuality.

I am already aware of breastfeeding benefits, as are most people. Could other commenters please keep to comments about *formula* and not sales pitches for breastfeeding? Thanks.

[Amelia]

My daughter is approaching her first birthday, and thoughout the last year, we have found that generic brand formulas are the way to go. Both WalMart and Target offer a generic brand of most of the Enfamil formulas, and are generally at least $10.00 cheaper per can. The formula itself is almost identical, except for the packaging. This small switch has saved us about $40.00 a month over the last year.

[Angie at Baby Cheapskate]

You'll find the best deals by shopping the sales and using coupons and formula checks. Sometimes those best deals are at grocery stores, sometimes drug stores. I've been tracking formula prices for three years on my blog, and it's not true that supermarkets and drugstore sale prices are any more than "mass merchandiser" sale prices.

Amazon's formula prices are also very high, with the rare exception.

Powdered formula is the cheapest option. Don't pay more than $23.99 for the big tub with coupons if you can help it.

[momma]

If your baby is allergic to milk protein, you will spend a LOT more on formula, since you have to buy special formula. And then you will not save a fortune! You will pay a fortune! Definitely give breastfeeding a try - contact your local La Leche league at http://www.llli.org/

Also, you can get a free sample of Member's Mark formula right now, more details (and other good family freebies) here:

http://engineeradebtfreelife.blogspot.com/search/label/free

Hope the free sample helps you all save a fortune, lol!!!

[Rebecca]

For those parents who are still expecting their babies- the best way to save on formula is not to buy any at all. Breastmilk is free and much better for Mom and baby.