You will never know what amount of baby formula powder you will exactly need. So it is possible to have extra cans of them left in your pantry. Maybe you hoarded a load of baby formula powder to avoid frequent trips to the supermarket but your baby decided that he did not like it or maybe you found he is allergic to that particular brand of baby formula.
You will also receive samples of baby formula from many places or receive them by mail even if you have decided to breastfeed. Family and friends too gift baby formula as an act of kindness which will end up in the same situation of an unused stack of baby formula.
What can you do with these unused, unopened baby formula? You have a range of solutions from returning, donating to using them as a fertilizer. Some of these methods are useful even when the baby formula powder is expired. Keep reading to know what you can do with baby formula without wasting them.
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1. Return
If you have the receipt of the purchased baby formula and it is still unopened before the use-by-date, you will probably be able to return it. Some stores will have a limit on before how many days from the purchase they will accept the returns. There are stores that will accept unopened, unexpired baby formula containers even without a receipt in exchange to store credits. Check with the store or the supermarket you purchased the baby formula for their policy on returns.
2. Donate
When the baby formula you are left with is unopened and unexpired, you can donate them. Many places will accept the donations of baby formula powder and you can choose to donate to whatever place you like. A non-profit which assists women and babies will be a good choice. Below are few places that would accept donations of baby formula. Search for such organizations in your area and check whether they are accepting donations of baby formula at the moment.
- Foster Family Organization
- Church Clothes Closet
- Family Resource Center
- Baby2Baby Diaper Bank
- Pregnancy Crisis Center
- Women’s Shelter
- Unwed Mother’s Home
Another easy way to find a place to donate baby formula is through social media. Look out for few local groups on social media platforms like Facebook and post for help to find a mom in need or a charity. You will be able to find a person or an association in need of baby formula faster from this method. Further, the association which contributes to natural disaster recovery may also need the baby formula for the babies of the families who have become displaced from the natural disasters.
3. Food Banks
Not all food banks will accept the donations of baby formula powder. But if your baby formula powder is unopened and far away from the expiry date, you can call few food banks and check whether they are accepting baby formula powder. You can search for the nearest food banks around you and go for one which will accept your donation.
4. Church Nursery
If your baby formula is unopened and unexpired, another option is to donate them to a church preschool or a nursery. Most of the churches have arrangements like food pantries and clothe closets providing for the needy. You can talk with your church and donate your baby formula if they are accepting them. It does not matter if your church does not accept them, you can try for another church that is from another nearby area.
5. Gifting
Definitely, there will be friends, family, or neighbors who have newborns and feed them baby formula. Being parents, we know how much raising a baby does cost and you can pass your extra baby formula powder to someone you know so they can ease the baby expenses in that month or two.
If you have an opened can of baby formula that is not finished but has not reached its expiry date, this will be the best option. A friend or a family member will kindly accept an opened container of baby formula although a charity or a food bank will not.
When your unused baby formula powder is passed to a friend, you know they are really being utilized without going to waste because you can discuss with them whether they use this particular brand of formula and their baby is not allergic to it.
6. Animal shelters
Here is what to do with expired or opened cans of baby formula. Most of the brands of baby formula can replace the specialized brands of pet formula. Search and find few animal shelters to check whether they accept donations of baby formula powder and the brands they will accept. If your baby formula powder is expired or opened, do not forget to mention that so you will not have to waste your time taking a load of baby formula to an animal shelter that will reject the donation just because they are opened/expired.
7. Sell
If you bought baby formula in bulk before the baby comes and found out that your baby is allergic to that particular brand, you will have to get rid of that bulk and replace them with another brand. As you have already spent a lot and need to spend again to buy new baby formula powder, you can consider selling them.
Most of the online marketplaces will not allow the sale of baby formula on their sites. But you can find someone to buy your baby formula explaining your situation. You can easily sell it to a friend who has a baby formula-fed baby or maybe even trade baby formula if they have another brand that you can use.
Remember that you cannot sell or trade the baby formula which was received from a government assistance program.
8. Baby food
Sometimes the babies suddenly refuse to drink a certain brand of baby formula or they might refuse baby formula once they start taking solid foods. If you have only one or two baby formula powder cans left and they are not expired, you can mix it with baby food that is not heated or cooked. Mix baby formula with yogurt or cereal. The familiar taste will help them to like the new food while bringing in some extra nutrients.
9. Fertilizer
When the baby formula powder is opened/expired and you do not want to waste them, you can always use them as a fertilizer. The baby formula powder is rich in minerals which makes them a good fertilizer. If you have chickens or other livestock in your backyard, you can also mix it with their food.