New mums often get carried away while prepping for their baby’s arrival and end up emptying the shelves at every baby store. We’ve been there, bought tons of things – clothes, diapers, fancy teethers – just to realise our baby didn’t like it.
To avoid making the same mistakes we made, and to also test out the water, think about trying out free samples first. From diapers and skincare products to even confinement food, the options for freebies are endless. So before you wander to the baby products aisle, browse through this list of six free things every expecting and new mum can have.
Test them out, see what works and buy in bulk later.
Don’t be fooled by the price tag on a pack of diapers. Babies, especially newborns, go through eight to 12 diapers a day and can easily empty one bag per week. Soon, you’ll be spending all of your money on stockpiles of diapers.
Luckily, top brands in Singapore like Huggies, Merries and Drypers all offer free diapers. It’s a great way to save some money while testing out each brand’s materials, fit and durability.
You can get a free pack of three hospital-grade Huggies diapers delivered to you every three months. Or nab a free pack from mums’ favourite brands like Drypers and Mammypoko that can be topped up every six months. All you need to do is sign up on their websites and pick the size that fits your baby.
Like formula milk, not every skincare product will work for your baby. But you won’t know unless you try, which is why we suggest you try some free skincare samples first.
Sign up for a membership with cult favourite Cetaphil and you’ll get a set of baby body wash and moisturiser sent straight to your home. Otherwise, opt for a free set of cream and cleanser for yourself instead.
Another brand with freebies for you and bubs is Suu Balm – a homegrown name with products designed for dry and itchy skin. However, if you’d rather score yourself some moisturiser and body wash, by all means.
Another way to receive free products so you can try them out on your baby or yourself is by signing up for a newborn kit. They’re filled to the brim with things like diapers, skincare products, bibs and cloths so you can see what works and what your baby likes.
Submit a short questionnaire on Super Mom website to redeem a free goodie bag (worth $100) of diapers, baby detergent, milk sample and even a playmat. Or, join SG Baby Club and you can receive either a surprise welcome gift pack or free six-month AIA insurance for your baby.
Keep in mind that your baby will need to be six months old or younger in order to qualify for both gift packs.
A confinement meal service comes in handy for the period right after childbirth, when you’re exhausted from looking after your newborn and don’t have time to cook. However, a one-month meal subscription can cost you big – at least $1,600. But the good news is you can get a free trial meal (worth $40) before making the commitment.
Try nutrient dense dishes like black chicken, herbal pork stew and fenugreek papaya fish soup by signing up at Angel Confinement Meals. You’ll get freshly cooked lunch, dinner and two bottles of red date tea delivered to your doorsteps – all for free.
So go on, indulge a little and treat yourself to some wholesome food with healing power. Your body needs it.
Whether you’re only halfway through your pregnancy or about to pop, a delivery suites tour at the hospital is essential. After all, this is where you and your baby will be spending the first night or two.
Choose a virtual tour and view the hospital facilities from the comfort of your couch. Not only will you see the delivery suites and maternity wards, you’ll also learn about other services like the hospital’s nursery and lactation consultation.
Most tours at both public and private hospitals like NUH, Thomson and Mount Elizabeth Novena, and Gleneagles are virtual, except for Mount Elizabeth Orchard which offers in-person tours. At the end of your free tour, you’ll also get some freebies like diapers and wet wipes.
If you physically can’t produce enough milk to meet your baby’s needs, you have two options: top up with formula or obtain free breast milk from milk banks like Human Milk 4 Human Babies – Singapore. It’s an online community for women who are blessed with an overabundant milk supply to donate to the ones in need.
Search through dozens of posts in the group to get yourself a batch of milk. Under every listing, you’ll find details such as the location, amount of milk available and mum’s diet. Find one that fits your criteria, hit them up and swing by with a cooler bag for storage. Some women ask for milk storage bags in return, but almost every offer is free.
Once your baby enters toddlerhood, avoid dropping a bomb on formula milk and sign up for free samples. Babies can be picky when it comes to milk powder, so you’ll want to try a few first before committing to a particular type. Brands like Aptamil, Nestle and Bellamy’s Organic all have full-sized toddler milk tins up for grabs.
We’ll let you in on a secret: antenatal classes might be fun to attend, but some of the most helpful post-birth advice you get will come from the nurses in the ward.
They’ll hold your hand, literally, and teach you everything you need to know – from breast massage techniques to different breastfeeding positions. Heck, they’ll even barge in at an hourly interval to make sure you feed, change and swaddle your baby the right way.
Any questions and concerns you have, at any time of the day or night, ask away.
Motherhood is no easy feat. However, the abundance of freebies you can get in Singapore will hopefully take some of the load off your shoulders.
For even more freebies, take a peek at the (worth $1,500) that’s filled with valuable gifts for mums-to-be and new mums. We’re talking an assortment of travel-sized baby oils, moisturisers, essential oil roll-ons and instant soy drinks.
But if that hasn’t gotten you excited enough, there’s also Tian Wei confinement food and postnatal massage discounts, a voucher for a fat freezing treatment, belly sheet masks and sample-sized skincare products from Vichy and La Roche-Posay.
Follow four easy steps to sign up on the Sample Store website and choose to have your free box of goodies delivered to your doorsteps for free. But fingers at the ready because only the first 3,000 people who sign up will get a box.
Here’s to hoping that every new mum’s journey will get easier, one free baby box at a time.
This post was brought to you by Sample Store.
Photography by Brad.
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