Couponing Formula- Where to start?

[RamsMama]

I am starting to wean my son to formula, but don't want to spend BIG bucks. I have seen Enfamil coupons out thre, but I was thinking of using Similac, but how do people get those Similc Cheques? Where is the best place to get the coupons and is it possible to get them free? ANy advice is appreciated! Even if you have recommendations on formulas as well, because my little guy hasn't really taken to one yet. (he is 9 months) Thanks!

[nickie_anne]

you can sign up ont eh smiliac site for the similac cheques. and people get them all the time to trade. i signed up myself but then decided not to use similac but i still get the cheques. trading is the best way to get them.
and most formulas say on the container that they are for up to 12 months so if they are all like that you wont need formula for long anyway

[Tantum]

I weaned my son when he was 4 months, after we learned I was preggers again. We had a rough go of it trying to get him to switch to a bottle.

Personally I found that even with the coupons, formula is super expensive, and when your talking name brands even with sales & coupons, I just couldn't get it anywhere near as low as the PC brand of formula. All by itself with no sales it retails here for $13.99 for the big can. It often goes on sale for $11.99 (I use powder). The enfamil and similac runs about $25. (before coupons or sales)

I also found that the type with extra iron would bung him up pretty badly too.

If your weaning him by choice rather than necessity, I would recommend waiting a couple of months when you can switch him to whole milk. Formula is just sooo expensive.

[sweetiedeals]

Use powder! It's cheaper...and wayyyyyy less BPA in packaging...and they don't have to heat the can as long as the liquid bottles to seal them...so much safer for baby.
Check Kijiji...people give away formula that their babies didn't use in time(not expired) or they got in the mail from companies and they don't use those brands.
Sign up with the company for their new parent clubs...great coupons!
I used Nestle Goodstart...and maybe only paid for one can over the span of 3 kids

[caroman]

Tantum has a great idea about using a store brand formula. All formula in Canada is regulated to have the same minimums so one type may not nessesarly be 'better' than another just because it's a name brand.
If you want to save $$ powder is much less expensive than liquid concentrate and it's convienant for on-the -go.

[FrugalFreebies]

If your weaning him by choice rather than necessity, I would recommend waiting a couple of months when you can switch him to whole milk. Formula is just sooo expensive.

I agree wholeheartedly with this - if it is at all possible to keep going for 3 more months - the savingsalone are worth it!

If you have no choice but to wean, and you do sign up to the formula companies - you will get the most free formula & coupons if you tell them you are pregnant, due any day now, this is your first child and you plan to breastfeed exclusively.

If you tell them that you have a 9 month old, you will be lucky to get even a couple of coupons! And either way, it will take at least 6 weeks before the coupons start coming in the mail. So it really isn't something to plan on as a way to save on formula at this point.

[tcri]

we use nestle good start but the brand is really up to you....similac and enfamil send out TONS of coupons not so much with nestle
but i buy the formula at SDM when they have points promos i stock up, then use them when they have redemption days if i can or just use the points to buy more formula i have saved SOO much money by doing it this way. Also surprisingly although SDM is usually more expensive, formula its the same or cheaper then everywhere else. They have it on sale all time and if u can get it on sale on a promo day then i really stock up!! haha
But sign up for all of the websites nestle, similac, enfamil....they will all send coupons and samples and then u can trade what you dont use.This has also saved me alot! As i said enfamil and similac send out alot more. When i was pregnant i signed up in my name at my house and my husbands name and my moms so i get double of everything!! hehe

[tcri]

ive also seen coupons for sale on EBAY so u could also check that out

[brigittewells]

I also recomend waiting if you can for multiple reasons, including cost, but of course you have to do whats best for you and babes! I have heard from a few people that cosco brand formula is EXACTLY the same as similac and super cheap. Doesnt hurt to try, if baby doesnt like it Costco will take anything back!

[couponandoff]

My youngest is 9, so it's been a while since I used formula.
- My BF say the KIRKLAND brand at COSTCO (do you have one?)is the cheapest. She took a can to her pediatrican & dietician - both read the label and concurred that the formula was ideal for baby.

[LovelyLaeticia]

I use Walmart brand... I read the label on Nestle Goodstart, and the label on Parents Choice, and they are pretty much the same... Only Parents Choice is half the price!!

[RamsMama]

Thanks for all your info ladies. I have to wean him so that I can start taking a medication that is not Breastfeeding safe. I REALLY wanted to wait, but Dr. doesn't recommend it. I need to take care of this medical issue before I go back to work in Oct. Plus, I would like to have him weaned by then because he will be in daycare and pumping that much would be a nightmare. He is a super healthy kid and I know he has gotten all the health benefits up to 6 months, and beyond that is just a bonus. My mother told me to put him on cows milk because she put my sister on it at 4 months, but since the 70s, things have changed. LOL
Last night I tried Enfamil concentrate (because I had some left over from when he was a few weeks old and I was having some supply issues) He rejected it right away. SO tonight I tried Similac Go & grow as I heard it is sweeter like breast milk. He rejected that as well. So my hubs mixed it 50/50 with breast milk and he took it. So we will see what he takes to. I am leaning towards Similac, as I can sign up a lot of my friends who are done bearing children, and use their cheques too! I will see how it goes. Weaning ain't easy!

[FrugalFreebies]

{{hugs}} to you and your little one - it is so unfair when weaning is not our choice. I hear you on really wanting to wait.

Obviously I don't know anything about your situation, but sometimes drs don't know that there was BFing friendly substitutes and sometimes even that the meds the dr think are not safe - really are safe due to how they are metabolized.

Did your dr check the Dr. Hale's BFing & meds book? This is the authoritative "bible" on what is safe to take when BFing and what is not. You can also check online yourself in Dr. Hale's BFing & meds forum - it is all run by medical professionals - and is an excellent resource!

http://www.infantrisk.com/content/webforum

I just wanted to share this resource because if I was in this position, I would want to know if I had any other options. My boys did not tolerate formula at all, and when I had to take meds I was between a rock and a hard place - trying to decided what to do! I wish this resource had been around back then!

Of course, only you as the mom can decide what's best for your baby. I hope that it all works out for you and your little one!

Oh, and if you do find a bfing friendly substitute med - and you are still BFing when you go back to work - you could always BF when at home and use formula during the day, if you wanted. I know a few people who have done that.

[FrugalFreebies]

For those that have signed up for formula coupons, how long did it take before you started getting coupons? And did you sign up when you were pregnant or after the baby was born? Did it make any difference on how many coupons they sent?