Here are some tips to save money on baby stuff. A lot of the best deals come around when the drug stores have a good deal that can be paired with a good coupon. That is when you will be able to get free formula, diapers, and wipes.
FORMULA
Sign up for Enfamil Family Beginnings, Similac Strong Moms, and Gerber Generation. Each of these programs will provide you with formula coupons and samples when the baby first arrives. Similac has the most coupons and samples and they are very responsive. If you ask them to send you coupons or samples, they are the most likely to do so. When you get the coupons, pair them with sales or ECB/UP reward deals to maximize the value. For example: Use your coupons for the Similac deal at CVS this week to save even more.
Enfamil has a program running right now where you can get a free case of newborn nursettes if you are due to have your baby within 3 months. If you recently had a baby, they may send you one too. You need to get a promo code in order to participate. Your OB/GYN should have flyers in their office which contain the promo code required. When you get the code, you can call Enfamil and they will ask you a few questions and then mail out your free formula.
All three companies offer hospital gift bags as well. My hospital did not participate, but I contacted the companies afterward and they mailed out the gift bag, which also included coupons and samples.
If you have a family member who doesn’t mind receiving samples and coupons for you, sign them up too.
DIAPERS and WIPES
Sign up for Huggies Enjoy the Ride Rewards and Pampers Gifts to Grow. Both of these programs will allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free products or coupons. I usually file my codes away and wait for double points promotions. That is when you can get the biggest value for your points. They only run them once or twice per year, but if you can wait, it is worth it. The Huggies program will mail you coupons as well. There are free codes available online for both programs. Ann usually posts them when they come around so keep an eye out. I rarely buy Pampers, but I have about 1500 points already just from free codes.
Keep an eye out on the Huggies site for the free wipes or free diapers coupons. You need about 300 points to redeem them, but those are the best value. I will let everyone know when I see that deal again. When I get the free product coupons, I usually save them until I see an ECB/UP deal so I can turn them into a moneymaker.
When you find a good deal, STOCK UP! I probably bought 30 packages of diapers during the last Rite Aid deal and I’m glad that I did since these deals don’t come around that often.
Keep an eye out for deals at Rite Aid and CVS. Rite Aid usually has the best diaper deals, but you may need to jump through a few extra hoops to get the best deal. For example, you may need to participate in the Video Values program or Single Check rebates in order to save the most.
If you have a Target or Wegmans near you, keep an eye out for store coupons to pair with the manufacturer coupons. I recently got a bunch of free wipes at Wegmans with a $1/1 store coupon and a 75¢/1 manufacturer coupon.
Keep an eye out for Huggies coupons online. That is where you will get the best, high value coupons. When coupons become available, they usually post a link on their Facebook page.
I will be sure to let everyone know about the best scenarios when the next great deal comes along.
Use cloth diapers. I buy disposables too, mostly for outings or nighttime, but our primary diapers are cloth. The up front investment is a little higher, but the long term savings are tremendous. We use Fuzzi Bunz. They are so easy to clean. They are one of the more expensive brands, but well worth it if you ask me. If you do go with cloth, look for deals first. There are some great sites that offer discounts and freebies on occasion. Check out diaperpin.com for a list of current deals.
FOOD
Sign up for the Beech Nut newsletter and they will send you coupons via email each month. If you sign up for their mailing list, they will send you a free product coupon. Ask your friends or family to print extra copies if you find a good coupon. They often have one for 75¢/1 Rice Cereal which will get you free (or really cheap cereal) if your store doubles coupons.
Gerber is now offering coupons on Facebook. Be sure to keep an eye out for coupons from them. They will also mail you age-appropriate coupons when you sign up for the Gerber Generation program.
Earth’s Best offers coupons on their website and via mail if you sign up for their newsletter.
Sign up for Recyclebank. When you get enough points, you can cash them in for free Happy Baby company product coupons (these products are sold locally at Target and Wegmans).
Make your own baby food. It takes some work, but you can save a ton of money if you make your own baby food. I usually make a big batch of whatever food we are having and then I use ice cube trays to freeze them. After they are frozen, I transfer the cubes into ziploc bags. That way, I can take out one or two cubes as needed. Super Baby Food is a great book to learn more about making your own baby food.
CLOTHES
Shop the clearance section at your local department stores. Target is one of my favorites. When they do their 75% off markdowns, you can get an outfit for $2. Watch the Target website for coupons as well. They occasionally have coupons on their website for baby items which can get you free or cheap clothes if you pair them with a sale or clearance find. For example, they had a coupon at the end of summer last year for $3 off any kids denim. I got a bunch of jean shorts for .50 cents each with these coupons and a clearance sale. They also had a coupon recently for $1/1 Circo baby item, which I used to get free kids socks.
Now that I know there are so many people who are interested in baby deals, I will start sending message to Ann when I find a really good deal. That way, everyone can have a chance to take advantage. I will be sure to let you know if I think of any other good money-saving tips.
Suzanne (Posted on Coupons, Deals & More)
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