Keep reading to see what items I didn’t get and didn’t miss. What gifts shocked me. Where to get “the good” samples from baby companies. What is THE thing I SHOULD HAVE registered for.
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Welcome back to this three part series of baby registry information! Check out our recommendations throughout these two other posts. The first, a post about organizing your registry, sleep sacks, strollers and more! The second post contains recommendations on feeding, diapering items, health and safety, toys and books and items for the parents.
Items I registered for the baby that I didn’t get and didn’t miss
- Shopping Cart and High Chair Cover – register for, didn’t receive, didn’t miss that I didn’t have it
- Dishwasher Basket – hand wash things. Waiting until you have a full load of dishes to get the baby stuff clean didn’t work for us. You minimize having to have 32 bottles, nipples, pumping bottles, pacifiers, etc…
- Baby Bum Brush
- Disposable Diaper Sacks -these are literally dog poop bags. I don’t think they are necessary!!
- Changing Pad Liners -just another thing to wash, have slip off with a rolly baby.
- Pacifier case – we got a cloth one as a gift, but we didn’t use it!!!
Here are some really sweet things you can give a mom that is expecting.
These are the things I received that shocked me, in the BEST way! These were such thoughtful gifts:
SO. SPECIAL!
- Family Heirloom Rocking Chair – my sweet Mother in law had a family rocking chair refinished and reupholstered. She took me to the our local Hobby Lobby to pick out durable fabric for the rocking chair that matched the nursery. I love it! (This fabric on Amazon is very similar). This is actually something on our will to have passed down to our daughter. (I have another rocking chair, gifted by a friend that will go to our son!)
- Photo Banner from newborn to 12 months
- Rectangular baskets with square corners -so useful for organizing little things when the baby is little. Diaper cream, pacifiers, nipple cream, bibs and more!
- Latch Box Storage Bin – so you can start putting all of those special memories in! Coming home from the hospital outfit, outfits from first family pictures, baby shoes, etc. I go through this about once a year to see if it is still sentimental for me. If not, donate it on to the next person!
- Personalized onesie with our last name on the back in newborn and 0-3 month size, with the number 00 (so precious!)
- Bath Book – This is honestly the one I get for friends’ showers when they ask for a book instead of a card. Unique and we used it quite a bit!!!
- Sam’s Club Membership!
- Young Living Essential Oils Membership!
- Feather the Owl Ultrasonic Diffuser -we also use this as a nightlight AND a sound machine
- Seedling Calm Essential Oil Blend
- Gentle Baby Essential Oil Blend
- Thieves Loyalty Rewards Kit – now that we have kids, the products we use are more natural, not harmful, harsh cleaners. I definitely recommend looking into the products and foods you’re using to see if they are on the Dirty Dozen List and Clean 15 List
- Feather the Owl Ultrasonic Diffuser -we also use this as a nightlight AND a sound machine
- Happy Birthday banner – this can be used and reused for years to come!
- First Twelve Months Mat and/or Milestone Blocks OR you could reach out to my entrepreneur friends, The Mulberry Patch, to have them make something custom laser engraved for you!!!
What baby product companies offer free samples, coupons or other promos for expecting moms
Please be aware of scams, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Having your identity stolen before you have a baby is not a stress you want for $10 of free samples! Sign up for these early so you have the ability to the gazillions of coupons, gift cards, offers and deals that are sent with them after baby showers/before baby comes!!
- Companies I received samples from (typically called “Welcome Boxes,” and actually used (yes, you usually have to create a registry and add items, just link them into your Babylist Registry-so simple and worth it!):
- Target and Walmart (Sold out as of June 2024) Baby Registries: These retailers offer welcome gift bags when expectant mothers create a baby registry with them, which often include samples and coupons from various baby product companies.
- Babylist: Babylist is the registry platform that I would recommend you use! It allows expectant parents to add items from any store onto one registry. They often partner with baby product companies to provide welcome boxes or bags filled with samples and coupons when users create a registry with them.
- Babylist also has some more great resources here about Free Baby Stuff!
- Amazon Baby Registry: Amazon offers a welcome box to expectant mothers who create a baby registry with them and meet certain criteria, such as being an Amazon Prime member and completing specific steps. The welcome box usually contains various samples and product offers from baby brands.
- Buy Buy Baby (currently not available online, but limited supply in store): Similar to Amazon and Babylist, Buy Buy Baby offers a welcome bag with samples and coupons for expectant mothers who create a baby registry with them.
- Johnson & Johnson: They often provide samples and coupons for their baby care products, such as baby lotion, shampoo, and diaper cream.
- Pampers and Huggies: Both diaper brands frequently offer samples and coupons for their diapers and wipes. I’ve found several sales at Target for things like, “buy 2 boxes of Pampers wipes, get a $10 Target gift card.” Every little bit helps!!
- Gerber: Known for baby food, Gerber often provides coupons and samples for their products, including purees and snacks.
Companies that I have heard they offer samples from, but have no experience with:
- Aveeno Baby: They offer samples and coupons for their baby skincare products, such as lotions and washes.
- The Honest Company: Known for their eco-friendly baby products, they occasionally offer samples or trial packages for their diapers, wipes, and skincare items.
- Luvs: Another diaper brand that often offers samples and coupons.
- Earth Mama Organics: This company offers natural and organic baby care products and occasionally provides samples or promotions.
- Seventh Generation: Known for their environmentally friendly household products, Seventh Generation offers samples and promotions for their baby diapers, wipes, and skincare items.
- Motherhood Maternity: This maternity clothing retailer often provides samples and coupons for baby-related products to expecting mothers who sign up for their newsletter or rewards program.
- Publix Baby Club: Publix, a grocery store chain, has a Baby Club program that offers free newsletters with baby care tips, product samples, and coupons.
- Nature’s One: This company specializes in organic baby formula and occasionally offers samples or promotions for expectant mothers.
- Baby Box University: Some regions offer free baby boxes filled with essential items for newborns through Baby Box University after completing online parenting education courses.
The biggest thing I wish you could register for when you’re pregnant
TIME. Time is a thief. The days are long and the years are short, and all of that other cliche bologna.
It. is. TRUE!!
Gah, I wish it wasn’t, but seriously. Our kids are growing SO FAST, and I’m so thankful that a certain pandemic shifted my attitude from being a slave at my job working a 9-5 (or more) to focusing on raising my own children. Just LOOK! These pictures were taken not even TWO years apart!!
What does the Bible say about having a baby
God tells us in the Bible that children are a blessing, and we are to be teaching them the ways of the Gospel. Our life is supposed to be to love and serve the Lord, to glorify HIM. One of the ways of doing that is through raising children. Deuteronomy 11 talks about obeying Him (God), first in our own hearts, and then teaching the truths we know to our children.
In Ephesians 3 Paul talks about how he has been given the gift of writing down and preaching the words of Jesus Christ to others. In this he shares in Ephesians 3:14-15 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named…”
Let’s just keep going from verse 16-19 “…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthen with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
God has a plan for you and your family, and he already knows your plan.
Whoa, did you feel the power and amazing glory of THAT!? The faith you have in your heart is to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge…wow, isn’t that amazing!? All you have to do it believe in Him, and you will know love. That love will be part of your family’s story too. I know it.
Why is having a family important
Part of having a family is actually parenting your children. Now, hear me out. This took my three years to figure out, after BOTH of our children were born, and were growing. I’m not sure I have it all figured out either, however, I have had an incredible amount of peace with a smaller paycheck and being able to take care of our children.
It is our job to train our children. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” I know the biggest thing I can do for my children is to teach them about God, and his unending love. I can teach them to trust and obey God.
There is an order to a family that is talked about in Colossians 3:18-25 that I encourage you to go look at and read and try to follow. Wives, husbands, children, parents, and as fathers we are called to “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…” So, don’t do it because I said it, do it because Christ wants you to.
If you want to be uplifted by a Christian family that prioritizes their family and faith, then give a listen to “Fierce Parenting.” You can check out some of my other recommendations for podcasts on family, homesteading and more here.
Comment about what things you registered for when you were expecting a baby! I’d love to hear from you!
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