With the help of this information, you will be able to find items and services that you and your baby need for very little monetary outlay.
It is not a cheap exercise to get ready for the arrival of a new baby, but you can reduce the initial outlay if you just know the best places to buy. Never buy any of the big ticket items for a baby without reading our review section first. This applies to baby monitor gear, car seats and strollers. Just because a product has a big price tag, it does not mean it is the best on the market. You will be surprised at what is the best spend of your money when you do a little investigation. Reading reviews prior to opening your wallet will help you to be better informed about which products are the best performers. However, not everyone is a member of our site. In that case, have you considering using Which? But then again, you only need to spend £1 to gain access to comprehensive reviews and helpful advice.
Baby Gear For Little Or No Cost
There are two websites that were set up to help people recycle items for free rather than having them end up in landfill. These sites are Freegle and Freecycle. You do have to spend some time digging into these websites to find what you need, but you may be able to hurry up the process if you post a wanted ad. Great items can be found here if you are patient.
As a low cost option, why not looking into renting the baby gear that you need. A charity called NCT has a range of strollers etc that you can hire while needed. However, before you rent any baby equipment do your background research to ensure they are safe and do not carry a large number of negative reviews. We have a stroller guide available that will help you to narrow down the best one based on price and performance. If you prefer to physically handle the stroller before renting it, go down to your local store just to have a hands-on experience first.
Another way to save money is to buy second-hand baby gear. We have have a comprehensive section available for you to read that covers used baby goods so you know what to look at before you buy this way.
IMPORTANT: because it is not possible to confirm 100% whether a used car seat has previously been involved in a vehicle accident, we do not recommended buying a second-hand version of this product.
Mothers Can Get Free Dental and Prescription Assistance
Whether you are pregnant now or have given birth in the previous year, NHS does not charge for dentist visits and you do not have to pay for prescriptions either. All you need to do is get a maternity exemption certificate. You do this by getting your midwife or doctor to sign an FW8 application. Once the certificate is issued, you have 12 months coverage from the date your baby is due. If your due date changes and becomes later, it is not difficult to apply for an extension so that you are covered for the full first year of your child’s life.
Vouchers, Coupons And Samples
Many of the most well-known baby brands want you on-board as a repeat customer, so they have clubs to tempt you to try out their brands. These clubs have all sorts of incentives. If you would like to see a comprehensive list of which company offers what, we have this information available for you.
Aptaclub, for example, gives you all the advice you need during every step of your pregnancy. Everything from how-to’s to advice about eating.
Baby Club and Babies R Us Mother: in this baby club you can get advice about what to buy along with discount offers on products. The advice and discounts offered change as your baby grows.
Beaming Baby: this club focuses on the diaper and bathing needs of your baby. From wipes to diaper advice, you can find it all here. Bebevita: discount vouchers plus a free spoon when you are ready to try feeding.
Boots Parenting Club: Every time you spend £1 on baby-related items, you get 10 Advantage Card points. You can use these points to discount product prices. Plus you get a free magazine and other special offers.
Bounty Packs: this club has samples, advice, information and coupons to suit all stages of your baby’s growth.
Cow & Gate Baby Club: this baby club has a bovine theme and starts off with a free toy cow. They will give advice regarding dairy needs during pregnancy, along with providing special offers and discounts.
Children’s Reading Material For Free
If you want to get a free pack of books for your child, then be a part of the Bookstart initiative. Your health adviser can help you be a part of Bookstart if you reside in Scotland or England. Northern Ireland and Welsh parents have access to a different book pack. You can even get packs that are designed to suit kids who have sight or hearing difficulties. The Bookstart website has further information relating to your region.
Don’t forget to check out your library as not only can you do the traditional book checkout, but you can also access electronic books online for free.