Baby Goodbuys Reader Brooke emailed me with this question:
I was wondering if you or your readers know of a generic brand of Nestle Good Start Supreme with DHA & ARA. I’ve been unsuccessful finding any store version of a Nestle Good Start formula. Stores always seem to have Similac or Enfamil generic equivalents, but I don’t want those after my 3-week old daughter had constipation problems on a store brand “Enfamil” formula. She did great on the samples of Good Start that we received from the hospital, but we were trying to save money on the bargain-priced Enfamil equivalent. We learned our lesson! Can you help?
What do you say, readers? Do you have any suggestions for Brooke? I know she’d appreciate any advice that you can offer!
Please leave a comment with your suggestions!
Whitney says
I'm not sure about a store brand NGS, but I wanted to throw it out there that my Wal Mart has had the big cans of NGS (24oz, I think?) on clearance for $18. Use the $11 NGS check & the $5IP, you'll get a can for $2. Some also have peelies on them, so you can use a $11 check & the $2 peelie & get a can for $5.
Make sure you are signed up for the Gerber/Nestle newletter, because they send valuable checks & coupons. We received $11 checks until our son turned 6months old.
Anonymous says
check out cvs.com
They have 20% off baby formula and 10 dollars off $60 when placed in cart also an additional $5 off when a mastercard is used
M&M&M says
Not sure why, but in response to the commenter above, I signed up for Gerber/Nestle newsletter too (about 10 months ago) and only received coupons or checks one time. I also tried to do research to find a cheaper way to purchase this formula and was not consistently successful at all!
Since our son had massive constipation problems when I switched to formula at 4 months, I went with the NGS. (having heard that it worked, and it did, but so expensive!) I did a little research though and decided to try Enfamil Gentlease. I was able to get a free sample from our doctor. It seemed to work too (maybe not quite as well, but sufficiently) so that if I kept him on a moderately balanced diet (ie not bananas at every meal, nor other highly constipating foods), we have not really had major problems since. The sample was sufficient to tell that it worked and then I immediately went out to Sam's and bought the Member's Mark Gentle formula (exact same as Gentlease, according to regulations). (it runs about $90/month drinking about 30 oz. a day) It is what we have used since my son was 4 1/2-5 months old and so much cheaper. Walmart also carries their form of this if you are not a Sam's member.
So all said, I recommend you try a sample of the Gentlease if you can and go from there.
M&M&M says
Not sure why, but in response to the commenter above, I signed up for Gerber/Nestle newsletter too (about 10 months ago) and only received coupons or checks one time. I also tried to do research to find a cheaper way to purchase this formula and was not consistently successful at all!
Since our son had massive constipation problems when I switched to formula at 4 months, I went with the NGS. (having heard that it worked, and it did, but so expensive!) I did a little research though and decided to try Enfamil Gentlease. I was able to get a free sample from our doctor. It seemed to work too (maybe not quite as well, but sufficiently) so that if I kept him on a moderately balanced diet (ie not bananas at every meal, nor other highly constipating foods), we have not really had major problems since. The sample was sufficient to tell that it worked and then I immediately went out to Sam's and bought the Member's Mark Gentle formula (exact same as Gentlease, according to regulations). (it runs about $90/month drinking about 30 oz. a day) It is what we have used since my son was 4 1/2-5 months old and so much cheaper. Walmart also carries their form of this if you are not a Sam's member.
So all said, I recommend you try a sample of the Gentlease if you can and go from there.
Kristen says
I know believe target had their version of Goodstart. Also babies r us came out with their own line of generic baby formula.
Anonymous says
Agree with the poster that never got coupons. I signed up as well. Only ever got one set of coupons. So I called and asked if I could get more since I was getting Enfamil ones much more frequently. They did send me a few more $1 ones. And that was it. Very disappointed with Nestle and their coupons. I've never been able to find a true generic replacement. And my son is almost 1 now. So I'm holding out on buying too much more in advance.
Anonymous says
Hi, our son had the same issues. We used Good Start for the first 2 months and then switched to the Sam's Club version of Enfamil Gentle. He did wonderful on the switch and did not have any problems. We switched VERY slowly starting with just one scoop for the whole days worth of bottles and worked up from there, probably took 6 weeks to transfer. We were not able to switch him to regular formula until 7 1/2 months, every time we tried prior he got upset stomach, constipation, spit up, etc. When we finally could switch, we did the same one scoop and worked up with the Sam's Club version of regular Enfamil.
Good Luck!
KJ says
I have to use the Nestle Good Start Soy with my 6 month old. It is expensive and I have tried other brands which she does not like. If you go to http://www.gerber.com/pledge; follow the instructions and make a pledge you can print off $5 off coupon Nestle Good Start formula and a $3 off gerber foods. It let me print it a couple of times. Not bad!
KJ says
Forgot to add this: For some reason I can only get the coupon to print in FF not IE. (Could just be my personal computer has issues)
Anonymous says
Hi
My son has been on Good Start since 4 mths. I love it as well. Don't know how legit this is but this is how I have been getting Nestle Good Start for a couple of dollars per can. I signed up at Nestle's website and received the coupons and checks. The first batch you get will have an eleven dollar check along with a two dollar check. When you sign up, you must say you have a newborn to receive the $11 check. If you sign up by saying you have a crawler you will get coupons but mostly for jar food. This is the trick, sign up as many people (friends and family members) as you can so they too can receive Good Start Formula coupons. Again, this is probably not a very legit or honest way of doing this but you are still buying their product. My mom, sister, and grandmother all receive the coupons and checks and give them to me. Like I said before you will only get one eleven dollar check after one dollar or two dollar checks, but if you have family sign up as well then you can get 4 or 5 eleven dollar checks. Not bad!!
On their Nestle's site right now you can make a pledge, an easy 2 minute process, and at the end of it you will receive a five dollars off Good Start formula coupon. Here's the link https://www.gerber.com/Pledge/
You can only do this once per computer so send the link to family members to make a pledge and give you their coupons. You can also do it at your work computer.
Last week Babies R Us had a two dollar coupon off any formula. This is what I did:
Bought Nestle Good Start Formula for $21.09 (Babies R Us has the cheapest price in my area)
-$2 Babies R Us coupon
-$5 Good Start coupon (from taking the Pledge)
-$11 Good Start check (yes you can combine checks with coupons)
total $3.09
Also if you sign up at Babies R Us rewards site for every 8 cans of Good Start formula you will receive a coupon for the 9th one free. Also for every $150 you spend you receive a $5 off anything you buy coupon good only at Babies R Us, but just combine it with a check or coupon for extra savings.
Right now BJ's wholesales stores have a $5 off Good Start formula coupon. BJ's also takes manufactures coupons and of course the Good Start checks so this will end up costing a couple of dollars a can.
Sorry for such a long post but I hope this will help you.
Anonymous says
My daughter had constipation problems and her doctor recommended Enfamil Gentlease. It has worked wonders! I highly recommend it and there are store brand equivalents at Sam's, Target, BRU, Walmart and probably others. However, I always seem to get the regular Enfamil Gentlease for a great price. First of all, I trade coupons I won't use for Enfamil checks online. There are many places where you can do this… just Google it. Last week, I really stocked up at Rite Aid. They had the 25 oz. cans of Enfamil Gentlease powder for $19.99 each, plus a $5 off $25 coupon. I also used an Enfamil check on each purchase. I purchased many cans for only about $12.50 each. I'm sure another deal will come up soon.