Something for nothing – free stuff for mums

Having a baby is an expensive business.  From state-of-the-art buggies and luxury cot beds to nappies, endless clothes and mountains of toys, the spending starts before the baby is even born and continues, well…let’s just say I’m not hopeful of having any spare cash anytime soon.

The good news is that all those companies out there that manufacture ‘must haves’ for mums and babies know they’re operating in a competitive market and need to win mums over by hook or by crook, which means only one thing – freebies!  Many of the big baby brands have their own ‘clubs’ offering free stuff and perks for parents, while other companies offer free samples of their products, allowing you to try before you buy.  I’ve trawled the web looking for UK freebies, and here’s what I came up with…

1.  Pampers Village – sign up and they’ll send you £4 worth of coupons plus email newsletters pertinent to your stage of pregnancy or your baby’s age.  The site also has lots of interesting information and articles, mummy blogs and forums where you can discuss your experiences of pregnancy and parenting.

2.  Huggies Club – receive £2 off any pack of Huggies nappies when you join.  The website is also packed with information for mums-to-be, mums and even dads and there are loads of great competitions to enter.  At the Huggies Pull-Ups site you can also request a free DVD to help with potty training.

3.  Emma’s Diary – one for the expectant mums, you’ll receive a copy of Emma’s Diary from your midwife but if you register online you’ll get stage-appropriate goody bags (pick up from Boots or Lloyds Pharmacy)  including £40 of Argos vouchers, sample products and more. The website is packed with info including foetal development, baby names, budgeting and more!

4. Bounty – the original and still the best, Bounty offers packs for every stage of your pregnancy from your first visit to the midwife, through to the birth and beyond. Each pack is stuffed with free samples, money-off vouchers and information and if you register online you’ll also receive email updates and details of special offers in conjunction with Bounty partners.

5.  Boots Parenting Club – join to receive regular voucher packs and double Advantage Card points on certain baby brands.  You can also get a free changing bag when you register and purchase Pampers New Baby or Active Fit nappies.

6.  Lansinoh – a lifesaver for all breastfeeding mums, the Lansinoh website has answers to lots of common questions and you can register to receive free samples of their breast pads and milk storage bags.  No free Lansinoh cream though, as they quite rightly want you to discuss any discomfort with your midwife first.

7.  Johnson’s Baby Naturals – just fill in your details for a free sample of this moisturiser!  It’s actually a really nice cream and didn’t irritate Bubs’ normally sensitive skin.

8. Hipp Baby Club – register to receive free baby food samples, money off vouchers, and a free weaning pack including recipes, bib and feeding spoon. Also stage-appropriate emails. I found some of the info they provided really helpful when it came to weaning!

9. Bepanthen – love this nappy cream and if you visit their website you can try it yourself! They will send you a fairly tiny sample but it’s enough to gauge whether it’s suitable for your baby’s skin – and I think it makes a difference to nappy rash even after one application.

10. The rest! In many ways I feel so passionate about breastfeeding that I don’t want to link to formula companies but it has to be said that most of them offer treats for new mums. So if you do register at the following clubs my advice would be to throw the powdered milk samples in the bin, and keep the other stuff – such as the pregnancy diary and cuddly cow on offer at Cow & Gate, the cuddly polar bear available from Aptamil and the free muslin cloth and magnetic photo frame from SMA.

Of course there are loads of other offers and free things available online but I felt these ones would be of interest to the majority of mums. If there are any real gems I’ve missed then please let me know!