How to Get Free Baby Stuff While Pregnant

We won’t sugar coat it: it costs a lot to raise a baby. It’s one reason having a registry is so nice—but once you get all your registry must-haves crossed off your list, you’ll still be spending money on them for (many, many) years to come. The good news is, there’s lots of baby stuff you can get for free, and they’re fairly easy to get through lots of different channels. Here’s our breakdown of the best free stuff you can get while pregnant.

Are these products really free?

This is probably the first question most people will ask. That saying “nothing in life is free” exists for a reason, so are any of these products actually without cost?

You’ll have to do some work for these products, usually in one of these categories:

• Shipping costs. Some baby registry welcome boxes and brand trial kits require you to pay for the cost of shipping, often anywhere from $5 to $13.
• Mailing lists. If you’re okay with getting promotional emails up the wazoo, some companies just make you sign up for their email list in order to get freebies.
• Rewards programs. Sometimes the free products don’t happen right away. If you sign up for a rewards program, you can earn points from purchases to put toward free rewards (and trust us, you’ll definitely rack up points from all the diapers/wipes/formula you’ll buy).
• Health insurance coverage. Some baby products, like the ones you get if you give birth in a hospital, might be paid for by your health insurance. If you’re curious what all your insurance will cover, give them a call.

A couple of options really are free, like getting used items through Facebook Marketplace (more on that below). And other options are totally free only if you qualify or if supplies are available, such as diaper banks, brand product testing or requesting samples from your doctor’s office.

Baby Registry Boxes

Depending on where you have your baby registry, you can qualify for a free (just pay shipping) welcome box full of samples for both baby and you.

Babylist Hello Baby Box

Have a Babylist registry? Once you’ve completed the first few steps of using your registry, it’s time to receive your Hello Baby Box! While the offerings change every few months, past boxes from Babylist have included bodysuits, swaddles, pacifiers, bottles, diapers and wipes, nursing pads and breast milk storage bags.

To qualify for a Hello Baby Box from Babylist, here’s what you need to do:

• Add three items to your registry directly from the Babylist Shop.
• Add three items to your registry from other stores.
• Complete 40% of your Babylist registry checklist.
• Make a minimum purchase totaling $30 from the Babylist Shop (this purchase can also be made from your registry by a friend or family member).
• Verify your address and pay $8.95+ tax, where applicable, for shipping.

Walmart Baby Registry Box

If you’re registering for baby things at Walmart, you can get your free welcome baby box right away (while supplies last; they’re sold out as of June 2024, but keep checking back to see when they’ll be restocked).

Just enter your registry’s URL and your mailing address and you’re good to go! No shipping costs or tax to pay.

Recent baby welcome boxes from Walmart have featured free samples of diapers, diaper rash cream, pacifiers, baby shampoo, bottles and gripe water, and often include major baby brands like Huggies, Johnson’s, Dr. Brown’s, Dreft and more.

And once you’ve signed up for your Walmart Baby Registry Welcome Box, you’ll also qualify for their limited edition Postpartum Care Box, which comes packed full of sample-sized postpartum recover products. Just make sure you’ve opted into Walmart’s emails—they’ll contact you around your third trimester with information about how to get your Postpartum Care Box.

Amazon Baby Registry Welcome Box

Amazon is another super-popular destination for baby registries, and they also offer a baby welcome box. This box is listed as a $35 value and, depending on product availability, often features a free bottle, bodysuit, swaddle, baby laundry detergent, baby lotion and shampoo as well as samples of wipes, prenatal gummy vitamins, breast milk storage bags and nursing pads.

Here’s how to qualify for one:

• Create a baby registry on Amazon.
• Have an active Amazon Prime account.
• Add 10 unique items from your baby registry checklist onto your registry.
• Have over $10 of purchases from your registry (purchases can be made by you or by a friend or family member).

Once you’ve met the qualifications, add the Welcome Box to your cart. At checkout, make sure to check the box that says “Use your $35.00 Promotional balance” to make sure you get it for free, otherwise it’ll cost money.

Target Baby Registry Welcome Kit

Target’s baby registry allows you to register for items both online and in-store. To qualify for their Baby Welcome Kit (valued at over $100), follow these four steps:

• Join Target Circle (Target’s free rewards program)
• Create a Target baby registry
• Add 10 unique items to your registry
• Have over $10 of purchases from your registry (by you or others)

While you used to be able to order a welcome kit online, Target’s website now indicates that you have to pick one up in person at the Guest Services counter.

Past baby welcome kits from Target have included Dr. Brown’s baby bottles, samples of lactation smoothies, stretch mark lotion, baby laundry detergent, two different diaper brands, three different wipes brands, gripe water, nursing pads and more, but keep in mind that the samples may change over time.

How to get free infant formula

Baby formula can really add a lot to your grocery bill, and with so many different brands to choose from, how do you know what kind will work best for your baby? Luckily, the largest formula brands in the US offer rewards programs through which you can get some free samples, plus other goodies. And if your baby takes a liking to any of these formulas, the points you’ll get from purchases will add up to even more free stuff!

• Nature’s One Baby’s Only: Free 21-ounce can (makes about 35 four-ounce bottles!) of either Premium Infant Formula or Gentle Infant Formula. Just pay $10 for shipping.
• The Free Formula Exchange: Families in need of formula can receive donations from other families across the US thanks to this website that facilitates a nationwide infant formula exchange. Just enter in your location and contact info, and the Free Formula Exchange will find someone near you who has formula to donate.
• Enfamil Family Beginnings: Free samples of Enfamil infant formula (subject to eligibility), plus discounts, rebates, point earnings (10 points per dollar spent on Enfamil products) and entry into a sweepstakes to win free formula for a year.
• MySimilac Rewards: Up to $400 worth of benefits, including free samples of Similac infant formula, plus coupons, a free Shutterfly photo book and nutrition guidance for you and baby.
• MyGerber Baby Membership: Free samples of Gerber products including Gerber infant formula, plus online Gerber store savings and 24/7 access to experts in lactation, nutrition, baby sleep and more!

If you’re looking to try other formula brands, it doesn’t hurt to contact their customer service line to request a sample.

How to get free diapers

Yet another baby necessity that anyone would gladly take for free! There’s a good chance you’ll get at least one sample of diapers if you get any of the baby registry welcome boxes listed above, but it’s usually only from one or two brands. Here’s how to get even more:

• Dyper Sample Pack: Dyper is one of the few brands that readily offers a trial pack of their diapers. Just pay $5 for shipping, and you’ll instantly receive a $5 coupon for future purchases (so if you buy more, the sample is effectively free!).
• Pampers Club rewards: These free diapers won’t come right away, but once you’ve purchased enough Pampers to earn the right amount of points, you’ll eventually earn yourself some freebies (and you’ll be buying a lot of diapers).
• Make a request: If a brand doesn’t explicitly offer free trial packs, you can always write in to customer service to say you’d like to try out their diapers. They may not have any available, but it’s worth a try. You may be requested to write a review in exchange for free samples.
• Check with your OB: Some doctors offices keep free samples on hand. If your OB doesn’t have any, check with the pediatrician you’ve chosen for your baby.
• National Diaper Bank Network: Some families may qualify for free diapers through community assistance programs. Check the programs in your area to find the income requirements.

How to get a free breast pump

The Affordable Care Act requires most health insurance policies to cover breast pumps for free—a brand new, highly rated one, in fact (not some old, used junker). Find out if you qualify for a free breast pump through Babylist Health!

When you can receive it depends on your insurance policy, but it’s typically a month or so before your due date. (Breast pump replacement parts are also now typically covered as well.) Here’s more information about how to get a free breast pump through your insurance.

How to get free baby product samples

Already got your baby registry welcome box but still want more free samples? We don’t blame you! Here’s where you can claim even more free baby products from non-registry companies:

• Preggie Perks from Motherhood: When you sign up for this free perks program, you’ll get a free bag of samples from Motherhood Maternity and discounts and offers from numerous brands, plus you’ll be entered to win a $500 shopping spree! The gift bag typically includes a baby bottle, free wipes sample and lots of coupons for other baby gear.
• Hey, Milestone Pregnancy Sample Box: Just pay for shipping and you’ll get things like diaper and wipe samples, nipple cream, stretch mark lotion, hand sanitizer, prenatal vitamins, bottles and more.
• Hey, Milestone Newborn Sample Box: Just like the pregnancy sample box, you only need to pay for shipping and you get a ton of goodies like pacifiers, diaper and wipe samples, lactation cookies, baby shampoo, Vitamin D3 for breastfed babies and more.
• Nanobebe: The popular breast-to-bottle brand will send you free samples of their most popular products, and you just have to pay for shipping. (Note: The Nanobebe Free Sample Pack tends to sell out quickly with each restock. If it’s not currently available, it’s a good idea to check back often.)
  • Breast Milk Storage Bags
  • Nursing Pads
  • Flexy Pacifier
• Kiinde Breastmilk Storage Starter Pack: This breast milk pump-to-storage-to-feeding solution really comes in handy when you’re building your freezer stash, and their free starter pack (valued at $50) even includes adapters for most major breast pump brands. Just pay for shipping.
  • 1 Twist Pouch
  • 2 Standard Direct-Pump Adapters (adapter is compatible with pumps from Medela, Hygeia, Ameda, ARDO and Evenflo and other pumps with a standard thread)
  • 2 Spectra/Avent Direct-Pump Adapters
  • 1 Twist Squeeze Natural Feeding Bottle
  • 1 Twist Active Latch Slow-Flow Nipple with Case
  • 1 Coupon valid for a Free 40 count pack of Twist Pouches
  • 1 Coupon valid for 50% off the Kiinde Twist Breastfeeding Gift Set

How to test baby products for free

Sometimes baby brands are looking for new parents to test their products. It could be anything from toys to feeding tools to even gear. Most brands just ask for your honest review in return. You won’t be selected to test products automatically; once you’ve signed up, you just have to wait and see if you’re chosen. But signing up to be a product tester is totally free, so it can’t hurt to try!

• Munchkin: Munchkin is currently looking for testers for their new products. All you need to do is fill out this application, and if you’re selected, you’ll be asked to review the free products you’re sent on Target.com and/or Walmart.com.

How to get free baby gear

With everything on this list having at least a small cost or trade (like leaving a review) attached to it, you might be wondering if anything is free in the baby world. The truth is that even getting used items from family and friends or Facebook groups, you still have to do a little work.

Getting baby gear second-hand means doing a little bit of research on your part, especially if it’s something that has a lot of regulations like car seats. Here’s the gist of what to look for:

• Recalls. Check recalls.gov or the Consumer Product Safety Commission website for any products that have been recalled in the US. You can even search by category for specific types of baby items or for a specific brand or product.
• Damage. Especially for car seats but also important for strollers, furniture, toys and other products that can be unsafe if the structure is compromised/unstable, small pieces are broken off or sharp edges are exposed.
• Expiration date. Certain product categories had updates in safety protocols in recent years, so be sure the item’s manufacture date is after the corresponding year. For more information on what manufacture dates to look out for, check out our article on used baby gear. In short, don’t accept:
  • Car seats six to eight years after the manufacturer date (check the label underneath the car seat for an expiration date; if there’s only a manufacturer date, talk with the brand’s customer service)
  • Strollers made before 2015—the year new federal stroller safety standards were put in place
  • Playards made before 2013—the year federal playard safety standards were updated

Don’t know anyone with leftover baby stuff? Facebook Marketplace, local “free stuff” groups on Facebook and Craigslist are go-tos for free baby gear. You’re less likely to come across bigger gear items like strollers and car seats for free, but clothes and diapers are very easy to find.

Free stuff from the hospital

If you’re giving birth in a hospital, you’ll be supplied with all the essentials for you and baby. You’ll be able to take home newborn care products like diapers, wipes, formula samples and swaddles as well as postpartum care products like maxi pads, disposable underwear, pain relievers and breastfeeding supplies—all while paying absolutely nothing out of pocket (depending on what your insurance covers).

Check out our full list of what you can get for free from the hospital.