It’s no secret that babies are expensive — diapers alone cost an average of $80 per month, according to the National Diaper Bank Network1. Add to that big-ticket items like a crib, stroller, high chair, baby clothes, car seat — not to mention pacifiers, swaddlers and more.
Fortunately, there are a lot of ways to get free baby stuff, including a free stroller, free crib, and free car seat.
Keep reading to learn about:
You might also want to check out our guides:
Baby registries where you can get freebies
These retailers offer free baby stuff when you create a baby registry:
Amazon
Prime members who sign up for an Amazon baby registry will receive a free welcome box filled with full- and travel-sized products and samples for mom and baby.
What’s in the box? One Redditor shared the goods inside the June 2023 Amazon baby registry welcome box:
However, the contents of the box change based on product availability.
The fine print:
To get the free welcome box, you must:
- Be an active Amazon Prime member
- Create a baby registry on Amazon through your account
- Add 60% of the items from the Amazon registry checklist to your registry
- You or someone else must purchase at least $10 worth of items from your registry
If you receive SNAP, Medicaid, or other qualifying government assistance, you qualify for 50% off Amazon Prime.
Extra perks:
Amazon offers a 15% discount on any remaining items you have to purchase yourself from your baby registry, up to a combined value of $2,000 (a $300 savings).
Your registry must be active for at least 14 days for this discount to go into effect. You can use it up to 60 days before and 90 days after your baby’s birth.
Babylist
Babylist allows you to create a baby registry and add items from different stores. If you’re shopping on a web browser, you can even install the Babylist web extension to add items from any online store to your list.
Plus, you can request gently used baby clothes, home-cooked meals, and even cash for baby-related expenses or college savings.
When you sign up with Babylist, you’ll receive a Hello Baby Box, which includes product samples from popular brands (diapers, bibs, pacifiers, etc.). Boxes typically also contain coupons and promotional items.
The fine print:
To get your Hello Baby Box, you’ll need to:
- Create a Babylist registry and add your name, U.S. shipping address, and baby’s due date
- Add three items to your registry for the Babylist Shop
- Add three items to your registry from other stores (like Amazon and Target)
- Make a minimum purchase of $30 from the registry (you or someone else can make the purchase)
Once you’ve completed these tasks, a button will appear at the top of your profile that reads “Hello Baby Box.” While the box itself is free, you have to pay $8.95 plus tax to have it shipped to you.
Extra perks:
Babylist offers a one-time 15% discount in the Babylist shop on Babylist.com. Your registry must be at least 30 days old to get the discount, which is good from 60 days before and up to six months after your baby’s due date.
Target
When you create a Target baby registry, Target will send you a free welcome kit valued at more than $100. While the contents vary, you can expect to receive a mix of coupons and sample-size products.
Target also has options like:
- Target Circle: If you sign up for this rewards program, you can get exclusive deals on baby items for one year and earn 1% Target cash when you make purchases in-store and online
- RedCard: Target’s credit card that helps you earn 5% in Target cash when you shop
- Shipt: A Target partner program that offers same-day delivery on what you buy at a participating Target
You can use these options and others to save money and get your items quickly.
The fine print:
To get your welcome kit, you must:
- Create a Target baby registry at Target.com or in-store
- Go to your local Target and ask for a kit at Guest Services
It’s a good idea to call first to make sure there are kits in stock.
Here’s what one Redditor got in January 2023:
Extra perks:
Target offers a 15% discount on everything in your registry eight weeks before your baby’s due date, which you can redeem twice. You must be a Target Circle member, and your registry must be active for at least 14 days before you can receive the offer.
Also, Target allows for returns and exchanges from your registry for up to one year after purchase.
Walmart
When you create a baby registry at Walmart, you’ll be eligible for a free welcome box. Walmart shows the featured items for the welcome box on its baby registry page so you won't have to guess what kinds of items you’ll receive.
However, the boxes are occasionally out of stock and you’ll need to get on a waitlist.
The fine print:
To get a Walmart welcome box, you need to:
- Create a baby registry at Walmart.com or in-store
- Click on the welcome box link on the registry page and fill out the required information
Extra perks:
For a limited time, Walmart is offering a postpartum care box for new mothers when you sign up for a welcome box. You'll get an email to sign up for the postpartum care box when you enter your third trimester. Walmart offers a 90-day return policy on most items.
Baby companies that provide free samples or coupons
Companies regularly provide free samples, full-sized products, and coupons to new and expectant mothers, with the hope that they’ll purchase their products in the future.
Here are the best companies to find free baby stuff:
Abby&Finn
Abby&Finn offers a deluxe diaper trial with eight chlorine-free eco-friendly diapers and a trial pack of water-based wipes. You must pay shipping and handling to get them.
Breastpumps
Your insurance likely covers free breast pumps from a number of companies if you are planning to breastfeed, including top brands like Ameda, Medela, and Spectra.
California Baby
California Baby makes gentle skin care products for babies, such as diaper cream sunscreen, and bubble bath. The brand provides free product samples when you purchase any product. Samples are subject to availability.
Dyper
Get three diapers or training pants in the size of your choice for free. Pay just $5 for shipping, and get a $5 coupon for future purchases.
Enfamil
Sign up for Enfamil Family Beginnings and get free product samples, up to $400 in savings on products, and exclusive rewards. You can earn 10 points for every dollar you spend as cash-back rebates on Enfamil products. After signing up, you are automatically entered into a sweepstakes to win a free year of formula.
Hey Milestone
Hey Milestone offers subscription sample boxes for expectant and new moms. They offer a mix of items for mom and baby, as well as nutritional items for your family. You can get one of these boxes for free but must pay shipping and handling:
- Pregnancy Box
- Newborn Box
- Family Nutrition Box
The Honest Company
The Honest Company makes eco-friendly products for babies and also sells personal care products and makeup. The brand offers a diaper and wipes trial kit for $15.99, and you’ll receive a $20 coupon if you sign up for a monthly diapers and wipes subscription.
Similac
When you join the free MySimilac Rewards program, you can get free samples of baby formula, a free Shutterfly photo book, up to $400 in offers on baby products, and coupons to save money on Similac products.
MyGerber Baby
Gerber, a longtime baby food brand, features a free membership program called MyGerber Baby. As a member, you get access to free gifts, exclusive deals, and experts who can help you navigate motherhood.
Nanobebe
Nanobebe creates multiple products for breastfeeding and baby care, from baby bottles and pacifiers to breastmilk bags and nursing pads. You can get a free sample kit of Nanobebe products — just pay shipping and handling.
Nanobebe also has a rewards program, so if you like their products, you can sign up and get 50 points as a new member. You earn one point for every dollar you spend, which can be used to purchase future Nanobebe products. Plus, get a $5 off coupon on your birthday.
Nature’s One
Nature’s One makes multiple powdered baby formulas called Baby’s Only. Most are organic, and you have a choice of milk-based formulas made from cow or goat's milk or pea protein (soy-free) if you prefer a vegan option.
You can request a free 21-ounce sample of Baby’s Only. Just pay $5.95 for shipping and handling.
Pampers
For a limited time, you can get a $10 coupon for newborn Pampers diapers when you join the Pampers Club. You’ll also regularly receive discounts and coupons for Pampers products. Club members get rewarded for every Pampers purchase they make. Downloading the app makes it simple to scan your receipts to earn Pampers cash.
Parasol
Parasol creates diapers designed to keep your baby free from diaper rash. They offer a sample pack with eight diapers for $5 with free shipping. However, when you sign up for the samples, you are automatically enrolled in the Parasol $84 VIP Baby Comfort Kit monthly subscription after 15 days. You can cancel any time during the trial period to avoid a charge.
Doctor’s office or hospital
Ask your gynecologist or your child’s pediatric doctor about free baby product samples or discounts on things you’ll regularly use for your baby. Sometimes, they have samples on hand and can share them when you come in for an appointment.
Another great place to check? Your local hospital — especially pediatric and maternity hospitals. If you give birth at a hospital, check to see what free baby items they can offer as you head home with your baby.
Facebook groups
Facebook groups are another goldmine to find baby stuff freebies. You can connect with other moms to get inside tips on where to score free baby samples.
Plus, you can find people giving away things they no longer need — like free strollers, free cribs, free car seats, gently used baby clothing, unused disposable diapers, toys, and other items.
Use the search feature on Facebook to look for parenting groups or baby freebie groups in your area. You can also join a Buy Nothing Facebook page to ask people in your area if they have free baby stuff they no longer need.
Freebie Alerts app
The Freebie Alerts app, available on the App Store and Google Play, sends you a notification every time your neighbors are giving away free stuff. This can be a help when looking for free baby clothes, toys, and other accessories.
The app monitors:
- Facebook Marketplace
- Nextdoor
- OfferUp
- TrashNothing
You can choose to receive alerts from all or some of these sources of free stuff.
If you want specific baby items, you can use the whitelist feature to notify you of offers with certain keywords. When you want an item, just tap on it in the app to communicate with the person giving it away. You can also post items you would like to give away.
Organizations that give away free baby stuff
Organizations that help mothers and families might also give away free baby items to expectant mothers.
For example ShareBaby in Baltimore helps low-income families get free diapers and other essential baby care items. They deliver more than 200,000 diapers per month to 15,000+ children in families that need extra help.
They also have a pantry filled with baby supplies and work with community partners to get them in the hands of those who need them most.
Here are a few organizations to check out:
Baby2Baby
Baby2Baby is a Los Angeles-based charity that provides free diapers, free wipes, free clothing, free cribs, and other baby essentials at no cost to families in need. To date, the charity has given more than 300 million baby items to people in 260+ cities across the country.
Items are typically distributed at hospitals, shelters, underserved schools, and foster care programs.
Feeding America
While Feeding America primarily focuses on making sure U.S. families have access to nutritional food, local branches offer additional services to meet community needs.
Baby brands partner with Feeding America to provide baby supplies for people in need. For example, Abbott, the maker of Similac, donated enough baby formula to provide 1.5 million meals to seven Feeding America food banks in 20202.
Safe Kids Worldwide
Safe Kids Worldwide has chapters across the United States and in dozens of other countries around the world. While each chapter has its own programs, some distribute free car seats to low-income moms and families3.
Safe Kids also provides events for free car seat checks.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
WIC is a federal program that provides nutritious food items to pregnant women and mothers with children up to age 1 and children up to 5 years old.
Besides free baby formula and food, WIC-eligible families can get breastfeeding support and access to healthy foods like fresh fruit and vegetables and whole-grain bread.
Check your eligibility for WIC.
We created detailed guides for state and charity resources for single moms in every state:
Other ways to save on baby items
Getting free baby stuff certainly helps cut costs, but you’ll need a strategy to save money over the long term.
Here are 10 ways to save on baby items:
- Sign up for rewards programs
- Get a subscription box for frequently used items
- Shop at membership warehouses
- Use coupons and coupon codes
- Sign up for email alerts from local stores to catch items on sale
- Check with your employer about flexible child care savings accounts
- Opt for gently used baby clothes instead of new
- Check with your insurance provider to see if they cover baby items like breast pumps
- Create a baby registry and tell your friends and family about it
- Connect with other parents on sites like Freecycle to get free cribs, free beds, free strollers, and other items
Check out these other resources for low-income families:
SOURCES
- National Diaper Bank. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/NDBN_DiaperNeed_Overview_February_2020.docx.pdf&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1689726378790430&usg=AOvVaw0c-gp1F0hdUaEfjriTNN5K
- “Nutrition Resources for New Parents: A Partnership with Feeding America,” May 20, 2020. Abbott. https://www.nutritionnews.abbott/news-research/global-nutrition/abbott-is-partnering-with-feeding-america-to-support-families-in-need/
- Safe Kids Worldwide. https://www.safekids.org/safe-kids-coalitions-united-states
