Managing the Expense of Baby Formula in Tough Financial Times

As all parents of bottle-fed babies know, the single greatest expense during the first year of life is that of baby formula. Unlike some other family expenses, it can't be done without or "cut back". And since your infant's formula is so vital to his or her physical and mental development, you certainly can't cut any corners on quality. As parents, we feel backed into a corner. The expense of formula for one child can easily reach $200 a month. It can be much, much more if your child needs a special formula such as Enfamil Gentlease or Similac Alimentum.

Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the expenses of formula and control the impact they have on your budget. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, your baby needs infant formula up until their first birthday. That can't change - but the way that you get the formula can.

Your Pediatrician Is Your Best Friend

At least, when it comes to baby formula. Representatives from Similac and Enfamil court pediatricians in an effort to get more recommendations for their brand. I've been at my pediatrician's office when the representative arrives, loaded down with samples and coupons. If you're feeling the pinch from formula prices, let your pediatrician know. They can often give you free sample cans. If they don't have those, they almost always have coupons with significant savings between $3.00 and $7.00 per can. When I was feeding my daughter Alimentum, Similac was actually handing out coupons for a free case of Alimentum through the pediatrician's office. I have learned to swallow my pride and inquire about samples every time I go. At my last visit, my daughter's doctor gladly gave me about $25.00 worth of formula in powdered sample cans. At the visit before, I got a large stack of $3.00 off coupons.

Don't Underestimate the Power of E-Bay

Maneuvering E-Bay auctions may sometimes be difficult, but when it comes to buying large quantities of formula, the payoff is substantial. Shortly after birth, my daughter was placed on Similac Alimentum, a specialized formula for babies with colic, which is roughly $26.00 for a small can. So, I looked on E-Bay. There were multiple auctions available with different types of formula. Now, some were for sample cans or a couple of cans - but there were several for large lots of powdered formula. I used a calculator when placing bids to make sure I knew how much I was paying per can. I bought a lot of twelve. Including shipping, I paid $13.00 per can for a $26.00-per-can formula. Plus, since we paid it in one lump sum, we didn't feel the pinch so much in our day-to-day budget.

Mix Wisely & Don't Waste

This may seem like a given, but how many times have you had to dump out one or two ounces left at the end of a feeding? It's natural, of course. You'd rather make a little too much than too little. But those little bits can add up fast. Try making just enough - exactly what you think your little one will eat. If the thought of mixing up another bottle makes you cringe, then you can mix his or her formula in advance. That way, you can always add more to the bottle quickly if your child wants more, and none is wasted. Also, my husband and I have been known to put a bottle back in the fridge if our baby doesn't finish it or refuses to take it. I'm not sure how the AAP feels about this, but my 6-year-old and 8-month old have survived it just fine so far.

Comparison Shopping Can Actually Pay Off

Initially, when I did have to buy full-price cans, I would head to Wal-Mart. I assumed, like a good little automaton consumer, that Wal-Mart had the lowest prices. And I avoided Babies R Us, thinking they would have the highest prices for formula, since many of their other baby items were more expensive. But I was completely wrong. In my area, the formula I buy now is roughly $26.00 per can at Wal-Mart - and only $22.00 per can at Babies R Us for the exact same thing. That's a $4.00 difference which, over time, can really add up. Don't automatically assume that any one store will have the lowest price, or that all prices will be the same for that formula. Doing a little bit of detective work can pay off in the end.

The expense of formula is unavoidable, but you can take steps to control how deeply its expense digs into your budget. With the help of your pediatrician, sites like E-bay, careful use and comparison shopping, you can significantly minimize the cost of formula for your family. And remember, the expense of formula only lasts about a year. After that, it's walking, talking, solid foods - and a whole new ball game.