Conference moira::parenting

    Don,
    
    First I would suggest using powder instead of pre-mixed or concentrate.
    I always used pre-mixed until the Dr. made me realize how much easier
    (and cheaper) powder is.  It's much easier in that you can bring a
    bottle with water anywhere, and just mix it when you need a bottle,
    no refridgeration required.
    As for where, I'd suggest someplace where you can get it in bulk
    for a good price, like BJ's, Sams, Spags, etc.  I bought most of my 
    formula at Walmart in Lunenburg.  You have to watch prices everywhere.  
    A can of similac at the Walmart in Lunenburg was 6.47, but a can of the
    same stuff at Walmart in Hudson was 9.50!  Most stores/grocery stores
    get around $9/can, so anything under $8 I would consider a bargain.
    
    Good luck!
    Cheri

    RE: .0
    
    Try and purchase the formula by the case.  I was able to get a discount
    when I did this.  Also, talk to the managers at the local stores.  If
    you "order" by the case and pay when it arrives, they often give you a
    break as they don't have to do anything but collect the $$ (no cutting
    the box, loading hte shelves etc...)
    
    Dan

    But, some stores (like WalMart) will not sale by the case.  They said
    something about people buying large quantities and selling on the black
    market.
    
    Irene

So far, I have found the best place to get formula is at BJ's.  I 
buy the Enfamil with Iron, powered formula.   The can is almost 
2.25 times the size of the largest can you can get from a 
department or grocery store.

There are six cans in the case we buy at BJ's.

When our son was 3.5 months old he was drinking 32-38 ounces a 
day and the large can from BJ's lasted @ 7-9 days.  Now that he 
is eating food, he drinks @ 24 ounces a day and the can lasts us 
@ 10 days.

The large can from BJ's cost $19.99.  They also carry other 
formula.

/Mary

    I have 14 month-old twins and personally did not find the time
    to use the powdered formula.  I used the ready-to-feed formula
    (Isomil) and found that BJs and Sams Club do not carry any 
    ready-to-feed formulas.  Walmart had the best prices around
    but they wouldn't sell you more than 10 cans at a time.  My
    husband had better luck getting more at one visit than me so
    he became the formula purchaser!

    If you don't mind using coupons, I highly recommend getting on the 
    mailing lists for any of the companies that make baby formula.
    All of the manufactures have 800#'s (call directory assistance)
    They all have "new baby" clubs which provides a free case
    of formula and then coupons for the coming year.
    

    I have 9 month old twins and find I don't have the time
    for the powder either.  I will use the concentrate when
    I'm trying to cut cost but the ready made is the quickest.
    And my girls are on 2 different formulars...so having to 
    mix 2 different powders just takes too long for me.
    
    I use the Mead Johnson products (Enfamil & Prosobe) and 
    like a previous noter said found thier coupons to be a 
    great help.  Just call the 800 number on the back and 
    tell them you have twins they will send you double the
    coupons.  In the first few months they sent me $2,$3 and
    even $5 off coupons.  And if you use the powder they sent
    me a bunch of buy one can get one free of those...that's
    a great savings too.  
    
    Also Mead Johnson will give you a free case for each twin.
    They tell you to ask your pedi and they can get it from their
    sales rep.  I had trouble with this route and called the 800
    number and they ended up sending it to my house.  And it's
    kinda expensive but if you end up not using the powder and
    need some formular for when your going out and can't keep 
    it cold they sell individual 4, 6 or 8oz. pop top cans.
    We bought 2 cases for each twin and have used these only
    when we go out...they work great...but like I said they are
    more expensive.
    
    Anyway, for your original question....we buy most of our formular
    at Walmart or Stop & Shop...again you have to check the prices at
    your local store.  My advise is no matter were you end up buying
    it you can definately save alot of money if you call the 800
    numbers and get some coupons.  They add up...some weeks I'd have
    $10 - $15 off.  And when you spend $50 a week on formular every
    bit helps.
    
    Sorry to be so long winded...hope it helped a little,
    
    Deb (Jordan & Brooke's Mommy)

We also used the pre-mixed (Similac in our case).
I've found Shaw's ($2.99 a can) in Nashua to be the
cheapest.  For a while, they were up to $3.19 a can,
but the last time I went there, I noticed their prices
were back down again.

Tom

    I don't know who makes Similac- but they have a formula club and send
    coupons and free case(s). They kep delivering me things long after my
    son was off formula...
    

<    Walmart had the best prices around
<    but they wouldn't sell you more than 10 cans at a time.  My
<    husband had better luck getting more at one visit than me so
<    he became the formula purchaser!

As a woman buying powdered formula, I experienced a lot of discrimination(!).
I was often refused (usually by Wal-Mart) and also often asked if I was
part of WIC.  Usually the clerk looked at me with major discomfort or looked
down his/her nose at me.  It was rare for me to be able to make a simple
purchase (which for me is usually in bulk for many often-used items) if that
purchase included formula. 

If I made a big enough fuss I was *sometimes* allowed to purchase my child's
food!  Even then, I could only get it after *assuring* them that I wasn't
on the WIC program!

      Carol

    Carol,
    
    what is WIC? 
    
    I know one time I was so perturbed that they wouldn't sell me more
    thank 10 cans I showed them pictures of my twins just to prove there
    was more than one.  Seems to me that if you have multiples, you should
    be able to purchase 10 cans per child.  I know the Wal-mart on Amherst
    St. in Nashua never gave my husband a hard time.  The Wal-mart in 
    Hudson gave me hard time so I never went back.  

I noticed recently that a few stores (i.e. Walmart and one other 
but I can't remember which store, in particular), are posting a notice that 
you can only purchase a certain number of ready-mix formula at 
one time. 

<    what is WIC? 

I believe it stands for Women, Infants, and Children.  I don't know the 
details, but I believe it is a program which helps women buy food for their
young children when they have a hard time affording it otherwise.

For some reason, the clerks *wouldn't* let me buy it when they thought I
was on WIC.  I remember showing them my Gold Visa card and asking them if
they really thought I would have one of these if I was on WIC.  It made me
mad, too, because if I *were* poor, why would they not allow me to buy formula
for my child?!  One clerk said something about cutting drugs with the formula.
It made me think that they automatically thought that I was involved with
illegal drugs because I was poor (they thought) and a woman (that part, at
least, was right  ;-)  ).   

When the earlier noters have said that their *husbands* didn't have any 
trouble buying large amounts of powdered formula, well, it still fits with
my experiences.

      Carol

WIC vouchers can be traded for very specific items.  For instance, a WIC
voucher might indicate a 10 oz. package of Cheerios.  I know this because
I once stood in line behind a woman who had lots of WIC vouchers (and had
sorted her groceries to speed the process).

I think if you foster young children, they can be eligible for WIC even if
you're not.  I could be wrong on this, but this would be a situation in which
somebody with a gold card could be using WIC vouchers.

    I still don't understand why a store would refuse to sell a large
    amount of formula to someone on WIC.  Years ago, when I worked as
    a cashier,  WIC coupons were like foodstamps.  They were only good
    for dairy type products at that time.  What difference does it make
    to the store?  The state is deciding who gets how much depending
    on how many children they are feeding.  Was there a scandal involving
    WIC that I didn't hear about.  It sounds like discrimination to me.
    
    
    				Mary
    

    When we questioned the limitation at WalMart on amount and not selling
    unbroken cases we were told that there had been some sort of bulletin
    from the commerce department regarding illegal export of large amounts
    of baby formula to be sold on the black market.  Now, I question how
    you'd make money on selling only one carton.  For us, 24 cans of
    concentrate was enough to last 3-4 weeks for only 1 child.  But, as a
    result WalMart corporation handed out an edict that formula could only
    be sold by the single can. 
    
    Now, we never had problems buying 24 cans out of the box.  And we never
    had any other questions.  It was just a pain to have to carry 4-5
    PLASTIC bags of cans instead of one cardboard box.
    
    Irene

    Now that were on the subject of Walmart...the one in Salem NH
    gave me a hard time about exchanging dented cans for new ones.
    It realy made me mad because I had done this many times at
    the Walmart in Garder MA and at Stop & Shop with no problems.
    Also I called the formular company (Mead Johnson) and they told
    me not to use dented cans (especialy ones dented near the rims)
    and to exchange them at my local store and they refund them.
    
    I have bought cases at Stop & Shop with no problem.  And I must
    say Walmart has never given me a quanity limit when I buy formular..
    alot of times my twins are with me though...and I find alot of times
    Walmart is either out of ready-made or has very few cans in stock 
    anyway.
    
    Deb

    Money talks.  if you have a complaint about a store, write to the
    manager.  Tell them that you will not shop there anymore.
    If employees make unprofessional remarks, get their names and write a
    letter to the main office.
    
    Nancy

     
    
    Re: .4
    
    Victory Supermarkets (at least the one in Marlboro on Rt20) sells
    the oversized cans of powdered Enfamil for the same price as BJ's.
    
    								- Mac

    Out here in AZ, Wal-Mart is the *only* place to buy, but only the one
    in Chandler.  I'm using Carnation Good Start, wihch is significantly
    less expensive than the big boys (Enfamil, Similac) anyway.  But CGS is
    between $6.35-$6.75 in most of the grocery/drug stores around here,
    whereas my local Wal-Mart has it for $4.27 a can (all powder prices). 
    I only have one baby, so I use pre-mixed only when I'm very rushed or
    feeling ill, etc.
    
    Even when I started shopping there, they had a sign up limiting buyers
    to 6 cans of powder and 10 cans of pre-mixed or concentrate.  I can
    sympathize with the expense, though, 'cause Jake was on the $15.99 a
    can Nutramigen for 6 solid months - ugh!  Glad that's over.
    
    Anyway, unless those twins are pretty stuck on their current formula,
    I'd discuss a switch to CGS with the pedi - it's good, it taste quite a
    lot like milk, and it is cheaper.
    
    M.
    

I'm another parent of twins whose kids have just made the transition to whole
milk this month. yeah!

But I used ready to feed Enfamil and found Walmart was cheaper then BJ's. I
never had a problem buying 20 to 30 cans at a time in Hudson Ma. And my husband
never had a problem in Tewksbury. 

I guess they could have changed the rules in the last month but I thought I'd
mention it.

Teanne