I had a baby in 1997, and I received a lot of free samples from Similac,
Carnation, and a small number from Enfamil. All the stuff started during my
pregnancy and continued until about six months of age. The Carnation samples
are sent when the mother calls to request the free magazine "The very best",
which ended up, in my opinion, being advertising about their regular
formula, then follow-up formula, and discussion of introducing solids. I had
requested to be on the mailing list for these companies because while
pregnant, I thought I'd use both formula and BF. Interesting thing though,
through talking with women I worked with, we found that the Similac free
samples varied according to what town we lived in. For example, one woman in
a town next to me only got one free sample and I had received two full
cases! She called the co. to complain and they explained that their
marketing strategy and free samples depend on what town we live in. My town
has a higher average annual income than hers. Interesting, huh? My
pediatrician's office has a sign-up sheet for free cases of Isomil and the
one that is for babies allergic to soy and cow's milk; the name escapes me.
It is the expensive one that has pre-digested cow's milk. Additionally my
pedi office has a large display case for brochures filled with info from
Ross-Simons about formula, supplementing, and BF. The pedi office also keeps
stacks of "gift packs" from Similac and Enfamil. The Similac ones contain a
nipple and some pedialyte in addition to coupons for baby products and of
course, Similac. There is an identical one with Isomil. The Enfamil one has
rubber puzzle pieces, (toys) for older babies to play with, like 4 or 6
pieces, which interlock and have cut-outs of animals. I also received free
samples of formula in gift pack form from Similac and Enfamil during
prenatal prep classes at my hospital, given out by the RNs who taught it,
with the disclaimer that their giving of samples does not imply an
endorsement of the product. When I left the hospital after delivery, I had
said I was BF, so got a cooler pack, with milk collection storage
containers, but no actual formula was in there. There was a different cooler
pack for formula-feeders that did have free formula in it. (I was asked
which one I wanted.)

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