What to do with formula?

[thebeljur]

I received a package from Similac today with two cans of formula and a bunch of coupons. I don't know how they got my address or know that I'm pregnant, but that's irrelevant, I guess. :

Does anyone have any suggestions for what I should do with it? I'm sure there are some people who could really use this formula, so I would hate to just throw it away. (I'm trying *really* hard to be benevolent about this and not overreact -- lol.)

Little does Similac know that they wasted postage and formula on the person least likely to ever use their products. I breastfed my son for 3 1/2 years and my daughter is still nursing at 2-years-old.

[KristyDi]

Yea, I have 2 of those. The one sent to my house and the one given to me by GMIL. She's signed up for every baby freebie known to man and passes them all on to me. :

I plan on taking the formula to either the crisis pregnancy center or food pantry in our area.

[BetsyS]

I donate to the food bank. I figure by the time women are there getting food, they are fairly desperate. I don't think seeing formula on the shelves is going to derail their plans to breastfeed.

[Ruthla]

I wouldn't feel good about donating to a pregnancy center- because they're mostly working with women who are still pg and still have the option to breastfeed. I'd think that women dealing with crisis pregnancies would be even more vulnerable to formula advertising than somebody in a planned pg.

I'd donate to a domestic violence shelter or a food bank. There are women who have already chosen to FF (which is more likely in a DV situation without a supportive spouse to help get BF established), and may have come to the shelter with their kids and nothing but the clothes on their backs; not with the case of formula in the pantry.

[momofamiracle]

I think all of the above are good ideas. DV shelter is a great one. It is where I take all of DS old clothing and I took them all my maternity gear. The women do often leave only with clothing on their back and their children.

Crisis pregnancy center is not all that bad an idea given that there is going to be a population of women there that will not be able to breastfeed. My friend is one. She is diagnosed bipolar manageable only on meds. Seriously without meds she is nonfunctioning. The meds she is on are dangerous for her baby so she will need to formula feed.

She is one of the crisis pregnancy center patients that would actually need that formula.

[MommytoTwo]

"Return to sender"

[SevenVeils]

Originally Posted by MommytoTwo

"Return to sender"

:

[zoedeansmom]

I got the same thing in the mail when I had DD1, I think because I signed up for a weekly email thing about the developing baby. My LLL leader told me the formula companies actually focus their marketing on women who plan to BF. It seems backwards til you think about it. I guess they figure we're the ones they have to lure over to the dark side!
I looked at the store out of curiosity and the "samples" they sent me were each worth about $17!! Plus postage. Crazy! I took mine to the local food bank. Some women have to use it and I hate to see anything go to waste, especially something so expensive that some families with small budgets really do need.

[justJen]

Originally Posted by MommytoTwo

"Return to sender"

This would be my suggestion, too, maybe with a note to the manufacturer on the box. While there are folks in the various places mentioned who would/could use the formula, these samples are designed to hook new moms into using their (more expensive) brand. I'd prefer to make a statement to the formula company that their unsolicited advertising is not appreciated.

[MarcyC]

Take it to the airport and "donate" it to one of the airlines' baggage offices or leave it at "guest services" at the airport. This is especially good if you live in an area that has a "hub" airport or if you live in an area that frequently has bad weather.

TRUE STORY: I was travelling with DS recently. As most of you know, I'm a low supply mom who pumps. Well, I had a scheduled 2-hour lay over so I packed my breastpump in my checked luggage (didn't want to go through security, traveling alone with an infant, lugging a breastpump). Well, I got bumped off my flight and ended up with a 6 hour layover. Fortunately, I had packed enough formula and DS still can nurse sometimes (it's just extremely difficult due to his tongue tie, lip tie, high palate, and recessed chin).

Anyhow, I asked the gate agent if she knew of anywhere in the airport that sold formula and she told me to check with their baggage claim service desk. So I went down to baggage claim. They were actually out of formula, but they offered me baby food, and diapers.

So if you have anything to donate, I'd try the airport. Seriously, the only thing I could find (if I had needed it) was those little jars of apple juice and a few of the places did sell baby bottles so I would have had to buy a baby bottle, juice or regular whole milk.

So if I ever have formula to donate, it will definitely go to the airport.

[Teyu]

My boyfriend invented these chocolate milkshakes with a few scoops of Similac for me to drink. I drank them a lot in the early weeks post partum when I could barely eat. (I had stopped taking my iron after I gave birth and I was still anemic. Oops! So I lost my appetite and had tons of trouble eating. The shakes helped & I started back on the iron after I figured out what was wrong.) He called the concoction "MILF Ovaltine.:

They actually taste pretty good and there's good ingredients in the formula. Compared to itself, not breastmilk of course.

Everyone else has good ideas too. Return to sender, donate, I've just never heard of anyone else drinking it besides me. :P I night donate the rest just cause I have no problems eating anymore...

[kythe]

We recieved some unwanted formula when dd was 9 months old. I saved it for lack of knowing anything else to do. When she was 15 months old, I finally decided to give her some since she was over a year and I figured it wouldn't hurt her. She refused it, even when I put chocolate in it. Seriously, have you ever smelled or tasted formula? We both thought it was disgusting and it ended up wasted.

I like the return to sender idea, especially if you write a short note with it.

"I am returning these cans of formula because I do not anticipate needing them for my next baby, considering that my son breastfed for 3 1/2 years and my 2 year old is still breastfeeding. If a situation arises where supplementation becomes necessary, we know where to find formula. In the meantime, perhaps these cans can be redistributed to those with greater use for it. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

.... "

[jadekat]

I recieved 1 can of formula in the mail and a bag full when I left the hospital with DD. I gave all of it to one of my friends who FF. I like the DV shelters and airport idea.

[kennedy444]

I would donate it to a local women/child center or food pantry.

[heatherweh]

Do you have "freecycle"? That is probably best, otherwise bring it to a pregnancy center, mom group, or food bank and Im sure they' be happy to have it.

[junestars]

first call the company - the # is usually on the package - tell them you want to "update" the address they have on you and give them their address (again written on the package). Obviously this gets some attention and you can personally express your disgust at recieving these jars (which i'd wager 99 percent are opened in the middle of the night during the first few weeks when a new mother is at her most vulenerable moments) . Not to mention how horrible it must be for those women who have lost a baby to get these packages.. Ugh everything about them is just wrong.

Anyway I got 2 packages recently - and I didn't even shop at motherhood this pregnancy (like i did my first) so who knows where they got my info from - I did a "return to sender".

[justJen]

Originally Posted by kythe

I like the return to sender idea, especially if you write a short note with it.

I suspect the note I would include if I received one of these samples would be much more aggressive and way less polite than what you wrote, kythe.

Originally Posted by junestars

Not to mention how horrible it must be for those women who have lost a baby to get these packages.

I know someone in this situation who found it nearly impossible to get herself *off* all the formula ad/sample mailing lists. For months it was an emotional battle for her to check the mail.

[Narn]

I posted mine on FreeCycle. Some lady picked it up the next day.

[possum]

I received a package with 2 cans of powdered formula - one regular and one soy at the time my second baby should have been born. It was very upsetting. At least I was pregnant again with my son who is here and well.

It came from the folks who send you stuff from Motherhood Maternity stores. I had asked that my name be taken off the list soon after my miscarriage, but it was apparently in the system. So, I drug myself back in there after I received the package and had a good talkin' the the woman who worked there and acted stupid like she'd never heard of them sending formula to people. She was really quite rude both times when I asked to have my name removed from their list; I really hated having to tell her that I'd had a miscarriage.

I ended up throwing it away. I simply cannot support giving it to someone else. Just as I wouldn't donate food I wouldn't eat to a shelter (you know, processed, additive-laden junk), I wouldn't donate food I wouldn't give my baby to them either. If, goddess forbid, my children ever needed something besides my milk and I could not obtain donor breastmilk, I would make my own formula.

Anyway, if I ever get another one in the mail, I plan to have it returned to the sender. They can pay for the return postage too.

Melinda

[Mama Poot]

I took mine to the local WIC office. They distribute them to local food banks and women's shelters after they check and make sure they're safe.