Free formula samples-what to do?

[njbeachgirl]

I apologize if this isn't the right place for this....

I just went out to get my mail and somehow Similac got my address and sent me a box of stuff. I don't want to open it but I assume it's cans of formula, it feels heavy.

BFing moms- What have you done in this situation? I considered either doing a return to sender with a message that "we don't use formula", or maybe seeing if a FFing mama I know uses that brand. (I'm tending towards the former though- I just think it is soooo cr*ppy that they prey on pregnant women this way!!! I would really like to write them a letter or something although I know it won't do much good).

Oh also the box says to "ask for Similac in the hospital". Maybe I should tell them I won't be going there either!

[GardenStream]

I gave mine away to a family center. I did verify that the formula would not be given to anyone pregnant and only women who had already made the choice to FF. IMO- it's better to give to those in need who are already giving formula to their babies. I don't like their decision, but it's at least giving a baby some nutrition. I'm sure Similac would have to throw the cans of formula away if you sent them back. That was my choice and I did struggle with it a little.

Just wait, you'll start getting those stupid checks in the mail constantly. I put those in my compost.

[fascha]

I gave mine to our local SPCA so that they might supplement abandoned baby raccoons or other wild animals. I used Similac when I fostered a litter of 5 and I felt more comfortable doing that than sending it to a shelter where it *might* end up in the hands of a pregnant woman LOL

[fresh_water]

I had planned on donating them to a teen parent program I used to work with, but then my car broke down. Boo. They ended up expiring so I opened them up and gave them to my ILs pigs. Mixed with some water, boy didn't they like that!

[lemurik]

I just threw mine out. If there was somebody I knew who needed it, I would have given it to the person. I didn't want to bother with donating it and the formula ending up with some mom who would otherwise have BF the baby.

[elizaMM]

I gave mine to the food pantry. They have a drop off box right at the grocery store. I put the coupons they send there too. I was a little bummed though when my milk was a little short when my babe was born and I had to go out and BUY a can. So I'd recommend keeping one on hand in the back closet until you're sure you won't need it.

[alllyssa]

Return to sender?

[Carita]

I gave it to this worker that visits my house once a week and works on developmental milestones and stuff with FTMs. She had a family that FFs and on WIC that only gets 3 cans/ month and are always short that 4th can, so I know it wasn't going to a BFing mom...but it was still helping a baby that needed it.

[Cekimon]

the pediatrician's office offered me a free gift diaper bag with the formula samples in it at my daughter's first visit there. this is our normal pediatrician's office that i've had since ds was 2 months old and i'd think they'd know i breastfeed 100%. i told her "no thank you, we strictly breastfeed." And she's like, "Well you don't have to take the formula, you can take just the bag if you want..." And again, I said, "no I'm pretty hard core about it." i didn't give her my speech about how free samples are actually hurtful because i'm sure she could have cared less.

and i was so happy because up until that point, my OB's office and the hospital had not offered anything to me formula related. then it was ruined at the first weight check. oh well.

[MilkTrance]

I would give it to charity or to someone I know who uses formula.

[MarcyC]

A few suggestions:

Consider donating it to the customer service counter at an airport. I recently got stranded at the Charlotte airport with DS. The only options available were to buy bottled juice and a bottle (which they charge an arm and a leg for!).

The lady at the gate suggested I go to customer service (actually, baggage claim office for that particular airline). They were all out of formula (said they had given away their last of it earlier that day), but they did offer baby food.


You could also call your local LLL leader and see if they are working with a mom using an SNS or someone trying to re-lactate.

Visit the breastfeeding challenges forum here at MDC...Plenty of lact-aid and/or SNS using moms who might need some extra formula.

Visit the adoption forum right here at MDC...I would especially look for moms who are willing to use an SNS or induce lactation.

[artgoddess]

I donated mine to the local food pantry.

[Meredith&Alexander]

I donated mine to the battered women's shelter. Many of the women arrive there with only the clothes they're wearing, and if they're FF, this is not an optimum time to relactate. They'll get WIC and/or food stamps as soon as they can, but that's not the day or night they arrive.

And they don't have enough resources to give such an expensive item away to anyone who doesn't desperately need it. They won't be pushing it on any BF or pregnant moms.

[waiting2bemommy]

I would post on Craigslist or something and offer it to someone who is ALREADY formula feeding.