If there’s one thing you can expect when expecting, it’s that you’ll be paying a lot for baby gear. As exciting and life-changing as it is, having a little bundle of joy means your bills will start piling up quickly, potentially costing you tons of money even before birth. Thankfully, we’ve found plenty of ways and means of getting your hands on quality baby products for (nearly) free. Here are some hacks for how to get cheap baby stuff in 2024.
How “free” are these free pregnancy items?
While most baby goods are never 100% free, these freebies are as close to the ideal as possible. You won’t pay for the items themselves, but you’ll likely need to do something in exchange for them. That could be paying the shipping fee, signing up for newsletters or mailing lists, or earning items via rewards program points. Still, it’s worthwhile when you look at the value exchange of the items you get. Let’s take a closer look at them below.
How to get pregnancy stuff for free in 2024
Get free gift cards for your child’s essentials
With Invisibly, you can take short, fun surveys to earn points and redeem free gift cards from a variety of retail partners including Target, Best Buy, Nordstrom, and many more. By using our gift cards in conjunction with cash-back programs and these tips, you’ll be supplying your baby with all they need without hurting your pocket.Here’s how it works:
- Download the app and create an account.
- Take surveys or connect your most active credit or debit card(s) to share your data and start earning points. Your data is protected by Stripe. Invisibly never accesses your balances, credentials, or account information.
- Redeem Rewards: Collect points and use them to acquire premium rewards that you can redeem for baby goodies at participating stores.
- Discover Insights: Get AI-powered insights to help you save money and make smarter decisions.
Baby items from Target for under $20.00
While getting free baby stuff is first prize, there are also lots of great Target baby deals available for less than $20.00. Target offers incredible value for money when it comes to all things baby, from clothing and accessories, to utensils and toys. Keep an eye out for when they run discounts, promo codes, and coupon codes, as you’ll likely be able to pick up an amazing bargain for a fraction of the cost, and don’t forget to use your Invisibly gift card for extra savings!
Target Baby clothes under $20.00
Huggies Baby Boys’ 3pk Organic Bodysuit – $9.00
Carter’s Just One You® Baby Girls’ Floral Dress with Hat – Yellow/White – $14.00
Gerber Baby 5pk Short Sleeve Onesies – $14.00
Target baby accessories under $20.00
Water-Resistant Bibs – 3pk – Whales/Stripes/Dots – Cloud Island™ – $7.99
Philips Avent Soothie – Green – $4.49
Pampers Splashers Disposable Swim Pants – $10.39
Target baby toys under $20.00
Munchkin Ocean Squirts Bath Toy 8pk – $8.79
Bright Starts Oball Shaker Toy – $3.59
Itzy Ritzy Bitzy Shake Teether – Tan Bear – $8.00
Utilize the Power of Local Facebook Groups
One of the best resources for finding free baby stuff is your local Facebook groups. Many communities have parenting, buy-sell-trade, or neighborhood-specific groups where parents frequently share or give away items their little ones have outgrown. These groups can be a treasure trove for new parents looking for baby essentials without spending a dime.
How to Find Local Parenting Groups
To get started, use the Facebook search bar to look for phrases like “parenting,” “baby products,” “free baby stuff,” or your town’s name combined with “parents” or “moms.” You’ll likely find several groups in your area or surrounding areas. Request membership and then take some time to read the group rules to understand how transactions typically work.
Engaging in the Community
Once you’re approved, engage with the community! Introduce yourself and be specific about what you’re looking for. You might say something like, “Hi everyone, I’m a new mom looking for gently-used baby clothes and toys. If anyone has items they no longer need, I’d be super grateful!”
An Invisibly survey’s results show that 41% of other parents are active within community Facebook groups related to family needs. Whether you need baby supplies, breast pumps, breast milk storage bags, bottles, or more, second-hand items will always go for far less than a brand new one. Breast pumps in particular can be extremely pricey – ranging from $200-$500! You’d be missing out on loads of savings by not seeing what’s available in your community.
Plus, participating in community groups reduces waste and contributes positively to your local environment. Everybody wins!
Posting and Asking for Items
Don’t hesitate to post your own requests. Be clear about the sizes, types of items you’re looking for, and mention the age of your baby so fellow members know what is most suitable. You might say, “I have a 6-month-old and I’m looking for 6-12 month clothes. If anyone is decluttering, I’d love to give them a new home!”
Sign up for a baby registry
Did you know that when you sign up for baby registries at select stores you qualify for a free baby box full of samples, creams, and other items? As we said, there’s generally a catch in the form of either signing up for promotional material or paying the shipping cost, but you still get a fully kitted-out box of useful baby goodies.
Target’s Baby Welcome Kit (valued at $100) contains items ranging from 3-packs of diapers, nursing pads, and milk storage bags, to 10-packs of baby wipes, nursing bottles, and all kinds of other baby products. To qualify, you need to:
- Create a baby registry either online or in-store,
- Add 10 unique items to your registry
- Spend at least $10 on purchases in your registry (by you or others)
Keep in mind that the Target baby boxes are subject to availability and can only be collected in person from the Guest Services counter.
Other retailers that offer baby boxes include Amazon, Walmart, and Babylist.
Don’t be shy with your baby shower
As the rising costs of childcare burden parents more and more over time, never be afraid to ask your friends and family for assistance. Most people love to contribute to a new family, and adding absolutely everything you need to your registry is such a great way to get the free stuff you need.
Setting up an Amazon baby registry and sharing the link with everyone you know is a super easy way to remove any barriers to purchasing exactly what you need. Now is not the time to hold back on your baby registry checklist. The worst they can say is no, right?
Another quick tip – ask someone else, like a close friend or relative, to host the baby shower as well. Buying everything needed to host a big shower yourself is expensive as well. Ask for help; there’s no shame in it!
Join rewards programs
By becoming part of a company’s official rewards program, you often receive gift vouchers and items as incentives to remain a member. For instance, Pampers has the Pampers Club Rewards Program that allows you to collect points and earn coupons that you can use to get diapers for your baby. All you need to do is sign up for the rewards program and download the Pampers app to scan codes from the diapers you buy. As you scan, you’ll collect more points that will translate into vouchers and coupons. And just like that, you’ve netted dozens of baby products you no longer need to concern yourself about.
Similac also offers a rewards program called Similac Rewards. By joining the program, you can earn points by scanning the MySimilac QR code on certain formula products. Once you have enough, you can use these points to get baby formula. Similac also sends baby formula coupons and nutritional advice to members.
Get free samples and testers
Free baby samples are a great way to test the waters with a new baby lotion, cream, food, etc. without committing to it – with the added benefit of receiving free baby items! Hey, Milestone offers the Hey, Milestone Newborn Sample Box that contains things like baby shampoo, wipes, diaper samples, pacifiers, and more. All you need to cover is the shipping fee.
Test baby product samples
Businesses also look for volunteers to trial run and test new baby product samples, before officially launching them. Baby brands like Munchkin are actively looking for new testers to try out and review their range of products.
Get samples of baby formula
Product testing is a great way to get formula samples and other free baby items. However, don’t forget, of course, that you should always check the risk involved with any new or experimental baby formula samples.
Signing up to receive tester items gives you access to things like baby toys, clothing, accessories, and feeding items. There’s no guarantee you’ll be selected but it’s worth it to fill out an application form and try!
Get samples of diapers
A lot of baby welcome boxes, like Walmart’s, contain the following essential items including diaper samples:
- baby food
- baby bottles
- baby wipes
- diaper rash cream
- pacifiers
- shampoo and bath items
- blankets
…and just about every common need you can think of for your baby! Take advantage of these and hop on as many baby freebies as you can.
Don’t forget postpartum care boxes either
Oftentimes these baby welcome kits will include a postpartum care box as well for your third trimester of pregnancy. These are usually valued at $40 worth of baby products, but as a new parent, you can get it for free! While these are usually a part of loyalty programs for these specific stores, there’s no limit to how many you can sign up for. Create burner emails or have relatives sign up if you have to. Every dollar counts!
