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There's no doubt about it — prepping for baby's arrival can be expensive. But luckily, many retailers and baby brands offer free samples of bottles, blankets, formula, clothing and so much more. That way, you can try a few options (without needing to buy each one in bulk right off the bat) and build your ultimate list of baby product must-haves. (And if you want more suggestions for the baby gear for you, based on your unique preferences, check out What to Expect's Registry Builder, which will also recommend great baby registries tailored to your needs.)
We looked for great deals from retailers and baby product brands, of course. But we also looked at the fine print. Fair warning: In some cases, you'll need to pay for the cost of shipping, create a gift registry or sign up for a rewards program or newsletter (but you can always unsubscribe if your inbox gets too overwhelmed). We also looked to our savvy What to Expect community members (aka parents and parents-to-be just like you) to see which free giveaway products came recommended by several different families, plus what they had to say about things like quality and availability of the samples.
After conducting research on the topic (and watching lots of unboxing videos on YouTube), we focused on the programs that give great value through their freebie offers and that don't have too much in the way of a catch — so the result is free baby samples that are totally worth it. They'll bring you one step closer to being the most budget-conscious and in-the-know parent around.
Below, the best free baby samples for parents and parents-to-be.
The Amazon Welcome Box will make you seriously excited for your baby's arrival. Here's the fine print about the box: You have to join Amazon Prime if you're not a member already, create an Amazon gift registry, complete 60 percent of the registry checklist and purchase at least $10 worth of items from your registry (if someone buys a $10 item for you, that counts!).
Once that happens, you'll log in to claim your offer and get a box shipped to you with an assortment of full-size, sample-size and travel-size products. The contents change depending on availability (here's an overview of what you might expect), but in the past have included about 10 items. Think: a muslin swaddle blanket, a onesie, a single pack of Dreft, a 4-ounce baby bottle, a travel size bottle of baby lotion, a 3-pack of diapers, a travel pack of wipes and single-use samples of things like diaper cream and ointment.
Something to keep in mind: Some shoppers warn that even if you've already ordered $10 worth of qualifying items, if you happen to remove one of them from your registry, it may trigger Amazon to charge you the full $35 for the box.
“We got our Amazon prime registry welcome box today and it's filled with SUCH goodies! I'd recommend getting an Amazon registry, completing the checklist and purchasing something $10+ so you can get your box. Totally worth it even if you only register for a few things on amazon.”
"Not a lot of stuff, but seemed like a nice little gift!"
When you register with Buy Buy Baby, you get a free goody bag. The catch? The bags are only available in stores, so you'll have to have one nearby and pick yours up.
In the past, parents have received things like diaper samples, wipes, a Mam pacifier, a Nuk bottle, a yellow "Baby on Board" sign for your car, and small samples of Noodle & Boo products, Aquaphor, Mustela no-rinse cleansing water, Water Wipes and Boogie Wipes. There are also plenty of coupons for future purchases (win!). Note that if you register at Bed, Bath and Beyond, you're also eligible for the goody bag.
"If you start a registry with target and buy buy baby they’ll give you welcome bags with a lot of samples."
“I got 3 sample bottles, which I love since I end up trying a bunch with each kid. I didn’t get much else, but I was happy.”
If you register at Target, stop by Guest Services when you're in the store to pick up your free welcome kit. The bag contains $100 worth of baby-related products and coupons (!), which is a bigger value than most other welcome kits. Parents have received 3-packs of diapers, Dreft detergent, 10-packs of Honest wipes, 10-packs of Water wipes, Lansinoh breast milk storage bags and nursing pads, a Philips Avent baby bottle, Boogie Wipes, Aquaphor and more.
One drawback: What to Expect community parents report that in-store welcome kits can be hard to come by (they're subject to availability), so you'll want to call ahead before going in to pick yours up. (Some parents recommend calling a couple different stores if you have multiple Targets nearby.) Alternatively, you can have it shipped to you. (Shipping is free if you spend $35 or more, and it doesn't have to be baby items specifically.)
"I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of products that were in the package."
“Pretty happy about this kit. And like that they provided 2 bottle brands that I was going to try anyway.”
When you register with Walmart, you'll get a baby box filled with freebies. It varies box to box, but you can expect to find things like Dr. Brown's bottles, Huggies diapers, A&D ointment, Baby Dove moisturizer, Liquid IV hydration powder packets (for adults), Mommy's Bliss gripe water, Dr. Brown's bottles, Huggies diapers and month milestone photo cards. Note that the box can take about a month to arrive, but for many, the haul was worth the wait.
"Y’all if you haven’t yet make sure you go online and order the free baby registry box from Walmart!"
"Just ordered mine. It’s the first free baby box I’ve gotten. For some reason I haven’t gotten any of the others because I always have to buy something in order to get it for free"
Parents who register with Babylist will receive a box filled with samples that parents say are actually good, but you have to jump through a few hoops to get it. These include:
The items in the box generally fit little ones 2 to 3 months old, so you'll want to place your order well ahead of time. Lots of moms were especially thrilled to find a Burt's Bees onesie in their boxes, but other freebies found in a recent box included: Huggies diapers, a FridaBaby Windi (a gas relief tool), Boon and Philips bottles, a pacifier, stretch mark and diaper rash cream samples, Enfamil formula, Honest wipes, Aveeno baby lotion, a hospital bag kit and several coupons. You can read the full fine print about the box here.
"I got it and I thought it was a pretty good compilation of goodies."
"The Babylist box was definitely worth the wait!"
Some babies can be finicky when it comes to formula, and parents can quickly drop a ton of cash buying full-size versions of the various options, so it makes sense to get free samples when possible. Enfamil will send samples of a few different kinds of formula to new parents, and also send them formula coupons and gifts such as "Belly Badge" stickers, which you can place on your baby's outfit for milestone photo opps, such as "1 Month Old" and "My First Smile." If you decide you like Enfamil for your baby, you can also earn rewards and rebate coupons by using the app.
"I just got my free samples and coupons in the mail today! I was expecting tiny samples, but I actually got four 7.2 oz containers."
When you join the Pampers Club Rewards program, you can download their app and use it to scan codes from the diapers and wipes you've bought. As you do so, you'll earn coupons and points (called Pampers Cash) that can be traded in for more diapers and wipes or other rewards like gift cards. It's a little more work and there's no specific new parent gift box, but if you love Pampers, it's an easy way to save money.
"We’ve save up and gotten nice toys that have turned into Christmas and birthday gifts."
Similar to Pampers, you'll earn points for buying Huggies products that can be traded in for gift cards (such as Visa, Amazon, Nordstrom, Target and Sephora), easily done through the Fetch Rewards app. Parents who already use Fetch know how comprehensive it is — they partner with hundreds of brands across many categories, so you can earn points from other brands besides Huggies, too.
"Huggies also has their own rewards too but you have to download the fetch app to use it. On the fetch app you can earn points from other receipts as well"
Parents-to-be can sign up to become a part of the Medela Family and opt into the Beta Tester program, which gives you the chance to test and try Medela products before anyone else. You'll also get exclusive access to product bundles that save you up to 30 percent off, which can total more than $100 in discounts. Joining also gives you access to the brand's VIP customer service line for quick help with products. Seasoned parents may remember Medela's Moms' Room, which has been replaced by Medela Family.
Similac Rewards is a program that sends parents baby formula samples and coupons and nutritional guidance for you and your little one. You'll also get a free Shutterfly photo book for the countless adroable baby photos you'll be taking. As part of the rewards program, members also get discounts on their "Schedule and Save" orders, starting with 10 percent on the first order, and going up to 26 percent by the eighth order. On their website, Similac has the option to sign up for the Pampers Club program at the same time, making things a bit easier if you'd like to join both.
"So cool and super useful!!"
Hey, Milestone (formerly known as Noobie Box) is a quirkily named company that offers free gift boxes made for babies and both new and expectant parents. Moms-to-be can order their own complementary pregnancy box to see if they like the program, and even customize it based on their due dates — you'll just need to pay $13 for shipping.
It varies by month, but a recent edition of the box included: five Cuties diapers, a Nanobébé Flexy pacifier, Lansinoh breastfeeding sample set and organic nipple cream, Palmer's stretch mark massage lotion sachet, two Prevail liners, a prenatal vitamin sample, a lactation drink sample, a travel-sized pack of Water Wipes, Aquaphor mini-spray for mom, hand sanitizer wipes, Bella B samples, $100 credit towards family meals with Sunbasket and other offers for sites like Zulily.
"You will get free coupons, some free goodies."
This program started by the country icon (and serious reading fan) has simple instructions: Sign up when your child is born, and she will receive free books in the mail until age 5. Note that the organization currently doesn't serve all areas of the country, although go-getters can work with the Imagination Library to start their own local affiliate. The book selections, which are all published by Penguin Random House, are reviewed annually by a team of early childhood literacy experts.
"Anyway, the program sends you a free book a month, literally free, no strings attached, just to help promote literacy. You can register at imaginationlibrary.com. It had given us some great books and really helped to build our library. Some of DDs favorite books have come from Dolly!"
"We signed my daughter up when she was born, and she loves getting new books!"
"I got it for both my kids and they absolutely love it. With 3 kids close in age some books were same, but my kids always look forward for the new book every month."
Nanobébé offers a small welcome kit on its website, though shoppers must cover the cost of shipping. The set includes two thin, flat breastmilk storage bags as well as two daytime nursing pads, which are lightweight yet extremely absorbent. You'll also get a Flexy silicone pacifier, which has an ergonomic profile that curves around your little one's nose and chin, so it's more comfortable. The company also sells a “Mystery Box” that contains $100 worth of surprise baby gear for $50 — just note that you can't request the free sample kit and the Mystery Box at the same time.
"[My son] didn’t like the hospital pacifier or the store bought ones he only liked the nano Bebe pacifier that I got in a sample kit"
Kiinde offers breastfeeding parents the ability to pump milk directly into the bag, without worrying about messy transfers. This small starter pack is great for anyone hoping to experiment with it. After paying $6 for shipping, you'll get two pump adapters (you specify the brand ahead of time), one direct-pump milk storage bag (called a Twist Pouch), one bottle, one slow-flow nipple with case and coupons for future purchases. The coupons offer 50 percent off the Kiinde gift set (typically around $100) as well as a free pack of 40 Twist Pouches.
"I got mine the other week. It didn’t come with as much as I though, but not complaining for $6! Plus it comes with coupons for 50% off the gift set (which is $99 normally) and a a free 40 pack of pouches ($6 shipping)."
Although parents must pay a $6 shipping fee, Nature's One will send one full-size free sample of any of their eligible products, which includes a toddler formula, their PediaSmart beverage and a prenatal nutritional shake for moms. (Note, though, that the American Academy of Pediatrics says toddler milk should be avoided.) If you decide to buy more of the product you sampled, the company will then offer a discount on either a six-pack or 12-pack case; if you're unhappy, they invite you to call their customer service team with questions about finding an alternative. Unfortunately, the free samples cannot be shipped to Canada.
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