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NURSING NEEDS
Tip #2: Save money on nursing bra
purchases
If you
decide to nurse, one of the things you’ll need to invest in is a good
quality nursing bra. There are several brands out there ranging from
simple to complicated. Don’t forget Cardinal Rule #2 when buying a
good quality nursing bra: Good quality does not mean expensive. I
purchased mine at our local Kmart and saved 75% over the retail prices
found in specialty maternity shops and department stores. The best
ways to save money on these costly, and temporary, wardrobe items are
the following:
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Purchase cotton bras—not
nylon—to help with the natural “breathing” of your skin and to allow
your nipple to dry between feedings. Some moms said the cotton bras
also helped “prime” their nipples for feeding. Avoid nylon bras at all
costs!
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Avoid underwires.
Underwires can press on your milk ducts, causing clogged ducts, which
is quite painful and could lead to mastitis.
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Avoid wearing a bra with
a cup-size too small for the same reason as underwire options. If the
cup presses against your breasts too firmly, you can end up with
clogged ducts. I unfortunately had to learn the painful way about this
one…please don’t follow in my footsteps.
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Purchase, at most, three
total. Purchase one late in your eighth month one cup size larger than
your current size. Wait to purchase the other two after your milk
comes in.
We've got 5 more super strategies revealed in this tip
including how to properly measure yourself for the right size bra, how
one simple item can minimize the number of nursing bras you need and
extend the life of the ones you buy and which stores will give you the
best bang for your buck on this short-used items! If you're planning
to nurse, you don't want to miss out on these tips!
Tip #5: Buy a breast pump instead of renting!
Save money
on rentals by purchasing a breast pump instead—especially if this is
your first child and you’re planning on future children. In my
opinion, the Pump In Style® by Medela® is one of
the best. Many moms recommend this one, too, since it is lightweight,
easy to operate, allows you the ability to pump both breasts
simultaneously, has an attaché design so you can carry it anywhere
discreetly and has additional attachments for use in the car or while
traveling.
“I Wish I Had Known That!” I
should have purchased this pump with our first, because then I would
have had it for our second child. If you are considering multiple
children and you will breastfeed, investing in a breast pump, instead
of renting, is a wiser and more economical choice to make.
Most moms have reported the
monthly fee to rent a hospital grade pump is from $25–$40. If you
intend to breastfeed for 6 months or longer to the tune of $150–$240,
this is just not cost effective in the long run—especially if you plan
to have additional children. The other factor to weigh is rental pumps
are generally very bulky and not portable. They also do not have
adapters that allow for use in the car while traveling.
Before purchasing a pump, you must
evaluate several things to make sure your purchase is right for what
you want to accomplish. Since these units are considered “personal”
items, know going in that you will not able to return the unit
for any reason (try it, but don’t be disappointed if you can’t).
Also revealed in this tip are
details on the different types of pumps available with their pros and
cons, evaluation questions to help you choose which pump is the right
purchase for your needs and the best places to buy your pump for
savings of $100 or more on this item! Also included are ways to
maximize your milk supply to really get your savings bang for your
buck by putting off formula purchases as long as possible. Again, if
you're planning to nurse, you don't want to miss out on these savings!
BOTTLE FEEDING NEEDS
Tip #1: Save $$ on your baby’s first
bottle purchases
Before
buying a dozen of one brand, or opening all of the bottles you may
have received as shower gifts, have a couple of bottles of different
brands on hand at first (even if you’re breastfeeding—you don’t know
when you’ll need one). Once your baby arrives, let your baby try the
nipples of these brands first to see which type he prefers. If
possible, borrow a couple of different types from friends to minimize
purchases your baby may not use. This can save you potentially $20 or
more on buying several bottles of a brand your baby does not like or
will not use. Both of us said “I Wish I Had Known That!” after
spending $50 on Avent® bottles that our daughter hated and
we couldn’t return (because they’d been opened). I’ve had several
mothers say—“Yep, that happened to us. We bought several bottles of
one brand only to find out our baby didn’t like the nipple and then we
were off to buy more of another.”
Extra, Extra!
Sadly,
here’s where those marketing militia folks get us again! Many of the
nipples out there will only fit a certain brand’s nipple collar/cap
and bottle design. So when you try to buy individual nipples to fit
bottles you already have, you end up losing money here too. If the
nipple doesn’t fit “just right”, it will leak. So, word to the wise,
try a couple different bottle types first and then stock up
once you know which type your baby prefers. Don’t forget to try to
borrow a couple different kinds from friends or family that may be
using bottles too (if they can spare one for you).
$
Total savings:
You can easily save up $3–$6 per bottle (depending on the brand).
Multiply that amount times the 6–12 bottles you’ll want to have on
hand and you can save anywhere from $20–$75 on bottle purchases!
Tip #5: Save BIG $$ on formula purchases
Consider
that your baby will consume, on average, about 10,000 ounces of
formula over their first year. That translates into approximately 100
cans of powdered formula (if yield is 105 ounces per can) or about 45
cans of powdered formula (if yield is 230 ounces per can). You’ll need
about 312 cans if you’ve chosen ready-to-feed formula (in 32 ounce
cans), and you’ll need about 385 cans of concentrated formula (in 13
ounces cans, yielding 26 ounces). With quantities like that, you can
see why it is important to do comparison shopping of different formula
brands before buying. There are many companies manufacturing formulas
that are strong competition to the old long-standing formula brands
that are less expensive. Since the Food and Drug Administration
mandates that formula manufacturers follow very rigid guidelines that
regulate formula ingredients and measurements, many of these formulas
offer comparable, if not identical, nutritional levels. The big
difference is in their prices. However, do not choose a formula for
your baby based on price alone. You should carefully read the
nutritional contents of each brand to make sure you do not sacrifice
nutritional quality for savings. A reduction in nutritional quality is
no savings since your baby’s growth may be affected.
Savings #1: Compare manufacturer labels
Simply
changing formula brands can save you a ton of money. We were big fans
of Similac® for our first child since there were no
comparable brands that offered the same nutritional value for their
cost savings. That is not true today. We are now fans of Parent’s
Choice™ by Wyeth Nutritionals. This line offers the same
nutritional quality as Similac® and Enfamil®
with savings in upwards of 40%! For example, the 14.1 ounce can of
Similac®, which yields 105 ounces of formula, costs on
average $13. The comparable product by Parent’s Choice™ is
a 16 ounce can that yields 120 ounces of formula and costs on average
$7!! Not only does it cost less, it also provides 15 more ounces, or
almost two more 8 ounce bottles than the Similac®.
Additionally, we have found their powdered formula line does not foam
up as much as other brands. Less foam can mean less air in your baby’s
tummy. Finally, Parent’s Choice™ has earned Good
Housekeeping’s seal of approval, so you know it’s a brand you can
trust.
We've included charts which
provide you an easy reference guide that compares the pricing and
yield amount of the most popular formula brand names and their
different types. We have not compared specialty types of formula
(i.e., for prematurity, colic, increased vitamin nutrition, etc.)
because if your baby requires these formula types you will need to buy
the specific brand your baby’s pediatrician recommends for her needs.
However, if your baby is able to receive all her needed nutrition from
a standard milk-based or soy-based formula, we hope this chart will
help you with your formula selection while providing you some money
savings in the process. To see how these charts can save you $150 or
more on formula purchases, order your copy of "I Wish I Had Known
That!" today!
Savings #2: Choose powdered formula over liquid formulas
You can also
save money with the type of formula you purchase. There are three
types available: ready-to-feed, liquid concentrate and powdered.
Ready-to-feed formula is pre-mixed and can be fed to your baby
immediately. Liquid concentrate formulas and powdered formulas both
need to be mixed with a specified amount of water to ensure your baby
receives the proper amount of nutrition. Under- or over-diluting
formula can cause serious health repercussions to your baby, so be
sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions properly.
We personally believe there is
greater money saving with powdered formula because you can make up
exactly the amount you need when you need it. Most ready-to-feed and
pre-mixed formulas require consumption within 48 hours from the time
the can is opened. Any formula not consumed will have to be discarded
since you cannot freeze formula, as you can breast milk. By choosing
powdered formula, you can better control the amount of wasted formula
because you are able to make up the amount you need as you need it.
Most powdered formula brands use one scoop of formula to two ounces of
water. If your baby is drinking “in-between measurement amounts (i.e.,
one ounce, three or five ounces, etc.), use a half scoop measurement
to minimize wasted formula (i.e., you’ll need 2½ scoops of most
formula brands to make fives ounces). Powdered formula is also much
easier to carry with you since you can carry the dry powder in a small
container (in a plastic zipper bag) and “mix when needed”.
Extra, Extra!
Having used all of these types,
a nice added bonus we recognized with powdered formula is their stains
on clothing seem to be easier to remove then their counterparts. This
can be another money savings advantage to powdered formula since you
will avoid discarding clothing that may have formula stains you cannot
remove.
Whichever type you choose, further maximize your savings by purchasing
in volume. Ask your local retailer if they offer special discounts for
multiple purchases or purchases by the case. Before buying by the
case, be sure you “do the math” to confirm your discount or that the
cashier processed the discount if the discount is taken at the
register (i.e., an x% off).
To see how buying powdered formula over liquid formulas
can save you over $100 in your baby's first year, order your copy of
"I Wish I Had Known That!" today!
SOLID FOOD NEEDS
Tip #2: Save $$ on cereal & jarred food
(without coupons!)
Biggest
secret here—READ YOUR LABELS! Gerber®
is one of the leading retailers in baby food products because of their
large and extensive marketing campaigns (and don’t forget who
really pays for these campaigns!). However, if you’ll time invest
a little time into label reading, you’ll learn other manufacturers
have the exact same ingredients and comparable nutritional
compositions as Gerber®
with lower prices. Every penny you can save on jarred infant
food is one well saved. You’ll more than appreciate these savings once
your baby’s appetite has him eating two or three jars at one feeding!
Instead of a single feeding costing 50¢, you’re talking $1.00 to $1.50
every time your baby eats! WOW! That can add up FAST!
Two of our preferred
manufacturers, who provide comparable nutrition and a cost
savings, are Beech Nut™
and Heinz™. By
comparing labels, I learned Beech Nut™
rice cereal contains higher percentages of many vitamins and minerals
per serving and is approximately 20¢–40¢ cheaper than the
Gerber® cereal.
Additionally, in my shopping experience, both the Beech Nut™
and Heinz™
jarred foods lines tend to run 5¢–10¢ lower in price than the Gerber®
product lines. They also tend to be on sale more frequently than
Gerber®
products which can boost your savings to 15¢–20¢ per jar.
These savings may not sound like a
lot, until you add them up over time. After buying 4–6 boxes of cereal
(for home and daycare), the $3.00 savings just from switching brands
(from Gerber® to Beech Nut™)
now buys about a week’s worth of jarred food for daycare.
Now, consider that an infant can
easily eat 14–21 jars of food or more a week! If you think 5¢–10¢
saved per jar doesn’t add up very quickly, see our chart below. These
are real savings you can experience, just by switching brands without
the hassle of coupons. (Granted, switching brands and using
coupons, when available, will help you save even more!)
For example, if your baby eats on
average 14–21 jars per week, you’ll save from $16.00 to $25.00 over 6
months at a 5¢ savings per jar. At a 10¢ savings per jar, you’ll save
from at least $30.00–$50.00 over 6 months. That’s a huge savings just
from switching brand names—and you haven’t sacrificed any nutritional
value in the process.
Extra, Extra!
Avoid
throwing your money away on the latest plastic “convenience” packs
with snap top lids. They’re another sneaky national brand marketing
militia trick. Not only do you pay more for the convenience of
the plastic container, you also get less food!!! In our
research, most “container” packs provided only 3.5 ounces of food
(instead of 4 ounces) and charged up to 25¢ to 50¢ more! Don’t know
about your baby, but we know ours would rather have more food instead
of a “fancy” container. Instead of buying these “convenience” packs,
purchase a few small, plastic reusable food containers to carry your
baby’s food in.
To learn more solid food saving
strategies, including how jarred applesauce and canned vegetables can
cut your baby's food bill, order your copy of "I Wish I Had Known
That!" today! |
