Introduction
As a new parent, one of the most complicated parts of adjusting to infant life is learning how to feed them. If you decide not to breastfeed, baby formula will have to factor into your budget. With formula shortages jacking prices sky-high, you may be concerned about how to save. Here are some tips to save on baby formula.
Buy in bulk.
If you’re going to buy formula, buy in bulk. You can save money that way and also be sure that your baby has enough food on hand at all times.
If you’re going for the cheapest option, check out Walmart’s generic brands of milk: Parent’s Choice (for newborns) and Good Start Supreme Infant Formula with Iron. They both have an excellent nutritional profile (the same as Enfamil Premium Newborn), but they cost about half as much per ounce than even the most affordable name-brand options like Similac Advance Gold or Enfamil Premium Infant Formula with Prebiotics & Probiotics ($40 per canister).
If price isn’t a concern and nutrition is, then go for EU-certified organic brands like Holle and Hipp.
Try a formula club.
If you’re looking to save money on baby formula, joining a formula club may be the right move. Formula clubs are groups of moms who share their breast milk and/or donate their extra formula to other families in need. They’re often run by hospitals or local nonprofits, but there are also online forums where parents can connect and schedule swaps.
Compare prices and shop around.
The first step in finding the best deal on baby formula is to compare prices. There are a number of ways you can do this, including:
- Use price comparison sites.
- Shop online versus shopping in-store. It’s not always the cheapest, but ordering online may cut down on transportation costs and ease the convenience of bulk ordering.
- Compare prices between different brands and sizes of products thoroughly before buying the cheapest-priced container.
Consider generic infant formulas.
Generic infant formulas are typically the same as their name-brand counterparts. The only difference is that they’re cheaper, which makes them a great option if you’re looking to save money on baby formula.
Most infants don’t notice any difference between generic infant formulas and name brands, so try different brands that do not upset your baby’s tummy. Read the ingredients thoroughly and talk to your pediatrician, when in doubt.
Buy the right amount and size of container.
It’s important to buy the right size of container. You don’t want to have too much or too little left over at the end of the month. This can lead to wasted cash and a hungry baby.
To track how much your baby eats with each sitting and budget accordingly. Assume incremental increases every 2-3 months. yourself before feeding time each day so that when they reach a certain weight they will need less food per day until they stop growing altogether!
Use coupons
You may be able to find coupons for baby formula in the Sunday paper, on Groupon, store brand circulars, and online shopping. If you’re buying from Amazon, check out our list of the best deals on baby formula there.
If you’re shopping at a store with a coupon policy like Target or Wal-Mart’s (which allos only one coupon per item), make sure that your coupon has not expired!
Conclusion
There are a lot of ways to save money on baby formula. Ultimately, it’s important to find what works for your family and stick with it. So go ahead—keep your eyes open for deals and coupons, follow the tips above, and take advantage of all the resources available to parents today!
