How To Get Free Baby Stuffs For Low Income
If you're a new mom or expecting a baby soon, you've probably been shocked by the price tags on many of the baby items you'll need for your little one. However, moms on a budget and those who really need financial help have a number of resources for free baby gear.
How to find free things for your newborn baby
Baby items are available from a variety of sources, including items for pregnant women and newborns. Options include free samples, personal contacts, and government assistance programs for those who qualify.
Get free diapers
During the first few weeks and months at home, your newborn will go through nearly a dozen diapers each day. At over 40 cents a diaper, one can see how the costs will add up. Fortunately, one has several resources to obtain free diapers. Try one of these ideas:
- Sign up with major diaper companies to receive free diaper samples by mail. You'll want to submit your name and address to Pampers , Huggies , and Luvs .
- Talk to your doctor's office and the hospital. Clinics and medical facilities receive free diapers from manufacturers and are often happy to pass along these free samples to you.
- Contact Diaper Drive , an organization that helps moms in need get diapers for their little ones.
- Contact local food pantries to find out if they offer diapers. Many food pantries have started stocking baby items.
Find free baby clothes and items
From car seats to strollers to onesies to pajamas to skimpy socks, babies need a lot of gear and clothing. You can find great deals on secondhand clothing at thrift stores like Goodwill, but many of these stores don't accept baby clothing donations for fear of recalls of damaged merchandise. Whether you're expecting a boy or a girl, your best bet is to try one of these ideas when you're looking for gifts for your newborn:
- Talk to friends and family who have recently had children. Often other moms will give you gently used baby items to use on your little one.
- Join the Freecycle Network for free used baby items in your area. You may have to travel a bit to pick up those items where they are available, but you will save a lot.
- Search Craigslist for free baby items. Although this is a classifieds site, many people are willing to trade or give away baby items they no longer use.
- Ask your hospital about local charities that help needy families provide for the arrival of little ones. These local charities can help with everything from car seats to tiny baby slippers.
- Find out if there are any government-sponsored programs in your local area. For example, New York City has a Newborn Home Visiting Program that provides free cribs to families in certain neighborhoods.
- Work with an organization like " Peace.Love.Swap. " (Peace, love and swap) that exchanges gently used baby items.
Also, ask about exchanges organized by local mothers' groups.
Find milk formula at no cost
Although doctors recommend breastfeeding your baby and this can save you a lot of money when comparing costs, breastfeeding is not always the right option for all families. If you need to formula feed your newborn, there are resources to help:
- Formula makers Enfamil and Similac offer free samples of formulas, bottles, pacifiers and even diaper bags. Register on their sites to start receiving gifts.
- Order free samples from hospital and clinic. Although some hospitals have stopped offering these gifts in an effort to promote breastfeeding, many still have samples in stock.
- If you have health insurance and your baby needs a special type of formula for health reasons, several states require insurance companies to pay for the product. The National Conference of State Legislatures has a complete list.
- If your family is in need, you may qualify under the USDA Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program for low-income families. Under this program, you can receive help meeting your little one's dietary needs.
Focus on the baby's arrival
Having a baby can be expensive and overwhelming, but there are a number of resources that can help. Whether your family is in need or you're just stretching your budget to accommodate a new baby, grabbing a few free items will give you the peace of mind you need to focus on your new arrival.
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