Free + Cheap Stuff For New Moms

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.* 

So you're expecting a new baby (or maybe just welcomed your new teeny tiny home)?

Yaaaaay!!!  Congratulations :)

Welcoming your new bundle of joy is such an exciting time for both new and experienced parents. It can also be really expensive and possibly overwhelming with not knowing exactly what you'll need versus what you think you'll need. (We'll discuss that more in an upcoming post!).

You may or may not have already discovered that whether you're looking to save a bit of money or simply gather products to try out, searching Google can suddenly land you into an advertisement-loaded, disappointing sea of not-so-amazing "deals" for expecting moms. (Seemingly endless surveys that just fill your inbox with unwanted junk? Mediocre products linking to a million more that are "free" with $15 shipping + handling EACH?! UGH.) 

Don't worry, momma, I got you! ;)

Today I'm going to save you the spam and scam headache altogether by sharing my favorite sites & ways to get free or highly discounted items for you and your teeny one!

1.) Walmart

There are two different Walmart options for samples:

Free Welcome Box This sample box I received had a decent amount and variety of products, including a Mam Anti-Colic newborn bottle and full-sized bottle of Bio Oil. It can take up to 5 weeks for shipping, and there is no S/H charges.

Baby Box For samples specific to your baby's life stage (from your second trimester through age 3), Walmart offers three different subscription boxes. These are free with $5 S/H, shipping within two weeks and continuing once your little one reaches the next stage. I have not received this one yet, but I have read that (depending on the stage) items included things such as a swaddle blanket, bottles, breast milk storage bags, sippy cups, ointments & bath products, laundry detergents, toys.. you name it!

2.) Amazon Baby Registry Welcome Box

** (New Prime members signing up through these links help me earn through the Amazon Associate program as noted above, thank you! ;)

This is an Amazon Prime member exclusive offer, and I'll be honest.. if you aren't a Prime member, you should really consider it! (It would take an entirely separate post to cover all the benefits so we'll skip that for now). When I had my son I found this box to definitely be worth the time. After completing your baby registry and there being a $10 purchase from the list, you simply

Boxes have included very cute, gender-neutral swaddler blankets, a full package of bottles, breast pads, Seventh Generation & Honest Co. samples, Huggies diapers, Dreft detergent, and more. Once you've met the requirement, simply click here to add your box to your shopping cart and order with your Prime free shipping.

To sign up with Amazon Prime and take advantage of all of the other awesome benefits (including unlimited photo storage for the gazillion pictures of your adorable little one!) I've got two sign-up options for you!

The second option is a new (to me) offer for low-income families receiving EBT benefits such as SNAP or TANF, you can receive discounted Prime membership by clicking here:

3.) Target

Create a baby registry with at least one item, then visit your local store's guest services to claim your welcome box for free. In addition to getting 15% off registry items left once you reach 8 weeks from your due date + 1 year of free returns on registry items, you'll receive over $50 worth of coupons and samples from brands such as Boogie Wipes, Pampers, Honest Co., Johnson's, Aquaphor, Babyganics, and others. Also included is a cute gender-neutral diaper bag. This is somewhat thin and small, but perfect for trips that you don't need to really take a ton of items with you. We're still making use of ours almost two years later!

4.) Babies R Us

I've read mixed reviews for this welcome box, but the positive ones make it seem worth trying! Creating your registry with Babies R Us gives your perks like 15% off registry items & free 1 year returns, as well as free shipping and access to pre- and post-natal classes. Visit their customer service desk to claim your welcome box. I've seen some people claim they only got advertisements and coupons, while others received Pampers diaper & wipe samples, a wipe travel pouch, bottles, and even a breastfeeding starter pack! I'm guessing it varies based on supply availability at the time but it couldn't hurt to try!

5.) Formula Companies

I breastfed both of my kiddos, but because there was always a worry of,"What if I can't due to ____," I still signed up with both Enfamil & Similac for their offers. I didn't need these but was happy to share with local mothers that could make use of them. Formula is costly, and both of these offers will get you decent-sized samples and loads of coupons!

6.) Diaper companies

Pampers and Huggies both have rewards clubs that send out samples and coupons. Additionally, each has their own rewards program with perks for other cool products. We primarily cloth diaper here, using disposables mostly when away from home or at night.. but in the beginning we did use a lot more because this momma was EXHAUSTED, haha. Cloth is obviously more environmentally friendly and cost-effective, but if you plan to use disposables full or part-time, definitely take advantage of the discounts and points/rewards each offer for product purchases!

7.) The Honest Co.

The Discovery Kit and Essentials Bundle are both free boxes you can order from The Honest Co. to try their products, though you do have to pay $5.95 for S/H. Both offers will automatically enroll you in their subscription service, but if you do not wish to continue, it simply takes a quick phone call to cancel! I did like the products I received and found it worth the S/H to try. The diapers are not only made of sustainable, plant-based materials but are also effective and great for sensitive baby booties. Bonus: They come in THE most adorable prints! If you love these and decide to continue using them without a subscription, you can find them at Target & Whole Foods among other retailers. They also have an awesome referral program, too, if you have other mom friends - each referral gets you a $20 credit when they make their first purchase; the link included uses my own referral code :)

8.) If you're planning to breastfeed, see if you qualify for a free pump from AeroFlow through your insurance! My insurance provided me with a Medela pump after delivery. Be sure to give your insurance provider a call and ask about this & other new momma perks -- I've heard of some offering cash rewards for making all of your check-ups as well as some giving away strollers or car seats!

9.) Signing up as a panelist for some sites can land you with opportunities to get paid to test products! I've most recently had baby-related opportunities from 20/20 Panel, which has been a great company to work with. You can also try searching for local market research companies -- I've had several fun and well-paying opportunities with one here since having my daughter back in 2003 ranging from paid diaper trials to marketing questionnaires that paid me plus gave awesome toys for my daughter!

10.) Sign up to be a mom influencer with MomSelect to get free samples, host home parties, and help shape products from major companies!

11.) Parenting.com has a sign up page for product testers for their magazine! I have not yet been invited, but am definitely hopeful to hear back :)

12.) Seventh Generation's Generation Good is free and gives opportunities for samples, home parties, discounts, and a community of other parents who love these awesome, eco-friendly products! This is one company that I have semi-regularly purchased from for cleaning products, and their baby products I've tried have been wonderful, too.

13.) Become a Moms Meet Ambassador for a chance to test and review green and eco-friendly products, plus be a part of a health-minded parenting community.

14.) EliteDealClub occasionally has baby-related offers for products to try either for free or highly discounted, and often if you're an Amazon Prime member you can get free shipping as well! A super sweet friend of mine used this site to snag me an awesome wrap / sling carrier that has been suuuuper helpful, and I've recently seen things like safety latches & adorable bandanna bibs available.

15.) Check out your local Freecycle group to search for baby items you need or others have posted to give away! Freecycle is a great community of people helping others out while keeping items from the landfill.

16.) Speaking of online free groups, check out Craigslist free ads and definitely your local Facebook freebie / freegan pages!! I tend to check out the Facebook options the most since I'm often already there. It's been a great way for me to re-home good items  instead of trashing them as well as receive things I'd needed or wanted. Seriously, I've had wonderful parents share clothing, brand new and used toys, cloth diapering needs, and even a cool activity center/walker! Plus, you sometimes even meet other awesome local parents! Win-win!

I hope that these resources are helpful for you! Let me know in the comments what you think or if I missed a great offer you've found! Also, if you know of someone else expecting, please share this post with them also 💙