How to Get Free Baby Stuff

Babies grow quickly, go through essentials at high speed and often need new items every few weeks. You can get free baby stuff by using sharing apps, baby banks, parenting groups, brand freebies and community support services.

Many families give away clothes, nappies, bedding, toys, prams and other essentials as their children grow. These items are usually in excellent condition and easy to collect from people nearby.

How to Get Free Baby Stuff (Step-by-Step)

1. Make a short list of what you need
   Start with essential items: clothes, nappies, bedding, and any urgent gear such as a pram or car seat.

2. Check local sharing apps
   Neighbourhood platforms such as Trash Nothing are ideal for finding free clothing bundles, prams, cots, bedding and toys.

3. Contact baby banks or nappy banks
   If you need essentials, search for a baby bank, nappy bank or family resource centre in your area.

4. Join parenting and community groups
   Local groups regularly give away baby clothes, toys, bedding and gear.

5. Sign up for retailer and brand baby clubs
   Welcome packs often include nappies, wipes, mini toiletries and coupons.

6. Use insurance, Medicaid or provincial programmes (where available)
   Many health plans provide free breast pumps and newborn supplies. Check what support you’re eligible for.

7. Clean and safety-check everything
   Wash clothing and bedding, wipe down surfaces and inspect safety-related items.

Everyday Essentials: Nappies, Formula & Toiletries

Everyday consumables are the easiest baby items to get for free but not often in the kind of volume you’ll need.

Retailers and Baby clubs offer brand welcome packs but mainly these are just a few samples so you’ll need to sign up to a lot of offers. Families often have spares, outgrown sizes or unopened packs that you can find on sharing apps.

Nappies and Wipes

Baby and nappy banks regularly distribute nappies, wipes and hygiene products. Hospitals and midwives sometimes provide starter packs, and many brands send free samples. Sharing apps frequently list spare packs when babies move up a size unexpectedly.

Formula

Free formula may be available through baby banks, food banks and community programmes, though rules vary. Always accept only sealed, in-date formula. Never use opened or unlabelled tins.

Toiletries & Small Essentials

Items such as baby shampoo, bath products, creams, muslins, bibs and feeding accessories appear often on sharing networks. These are easy to clean and transport.

Free Baby Clothes

Baby clothes are among the most commonly shared items because babies outgrow each size so quickly. On Trash Nothing, it’s common to find entire bundles of vests, sleepsuits, jackets, outfits and toddler clothing.

Baby banks often provide age-sorted clothing packs, while parenting groups and family hubs sometimes run clothing swaps or free rails.

Clothing is typically very safe to use second-hand, just wash it before wearing.

Baby Cots & Bedding

Free sharing apps are your friend here. Baby cots and bassinets are frequently passed on for free as families transition to the next stage. Parents often give away:

• fitted sheets and mattress protectors
• lightweight blankets and quilts
• swaddles and muslins
• sleep sacks / sleeping bags
• cot bedding sets (excluding padded cot bumpers)

You may also be lucky with baby banks, parenting groups, family resource centres and community swap meets.

Frames are generally safe to reuse, but most experts recommend using a new mattress for hygiene and safety. Safety reminders:

• Wash all bedding before use
• Select lightweight blankets for younger babies
• Avoid padded cot bumpers (no longer recommended)
• Ensure sheets fit snugly on the mattress

Other Baby Furniture

Again free-sharing apps are best here, as families frequently give away nursery furniture once they no longer need it. Common items include:

• highchairs
• changing tables
• small nursery units or storage
• toddler beds
• feeding chairs

These items can usually be collected locally and only need a wipe-down or quick reassembly.

Toys, Prams & Car Seats

Free Toys & Early Development Items

Soft toys, books, rattles, play mats, bouncers and walkers appear regularly on sharing platforms. Most are safe to accept second-hand after cleaning.

Free Prams & Buggies

These are some of the most valuable items parents give away for free. A quick check of brakes, straps, wheels and folding mechanisms is usually all that’s required before use.

Free Baby Car Seats

Car seats require special caution. Only accept a second-hand car seat if you know its full history, it hasn’t been in an accident, it hasn’t expired and it has all labels intact. When in doubt, look for local programmes offering vetted seats to families who need them.

Finding Free Baby Stuff Online

You can find baby items on a range of platforms:

Trash Nothing

One of the most active sharing communities. Parents post clothing bundles, prams, cots, toys, bedding and more. With millions of members all over the world, it’s one of the quickest ways to get free things for your baby.

You can use this website (you are already here!) or download the Android App or iPhone App - it’s really simple and just takes a couple of minutes to set up. The most common free baby items on Trash Nothing are clothes, prams, cots and toys.

1. Create an account
2. Set your location and how big an area you want to see posts for
3. Browse the listings and reply to anything that interests you
4. If you don’t find something straight away, you can set up one or more alerts based on a few words e.g. ‘baby clothes’ or ‘cot’ or ‘pram’ and you’ll get an instant alert as soon as someone offers one of these items. As soon as you find something you want, hit Reply.
5. You can also post requests to let neighbours know what you need

Other sharing platforms

Freecycle

A network of local groups and forums to offer (or request) free items
freecycle.org

Facebook Marketplace free section

Facebook Marketplace has a separate category for Free Stuff.
facebook.com/marketplace/category/free

Craigslist Free section (mainly USA)

Craigslist is primarily used for buying and selling, but there is a ‘Free’ search filter
craigslist.org

Freegle (UK)

Free service similar to Trash Nothing. For convenience, you can browse and post to Freegle groups through Trash Nothing.
ilovefreegle.org

Gumtree freebies section (UK)

Has a Freebies section.
gumtree.com/for-sale/freebies

Support Through Insurance, Medicaid & Healthcare

Many health plans provide free baby or postpartum items, depending on availability:

• Breast pumps
• Breastfeeding supplies
• Postpartum products
• Newborn essentials (varies by provider)

Always check your insurer or local health services to see what you qualify for.

Baby Banks, Nappy Banks & Community Support

Baby and nappy banks are dependable sources of free essentials for families who need support. They provide clothing bundles, nappies, toiletries, bedding and sometimes larger items. Services operate without judgement and aim to ensure no parent goes without basic baby supplies.

Parenting Groups & Local Networks

Local parenting groups—online or in person—are vibrant communities where families share what they no longer need. Swap events, donation posts and giveaway threads are common, and many parents prefer to pass items on directly to someone nearby.

Free Baby Stuff from Retailers, Brands & Baby Clubs

Many brands offer free welcome packs or baby club boxes containing nappies, wipes, mini toiletries, bottles or coupons. These are great for trying products without buying full-size versions.

You’ll also find limited promotional offers usually for a few packs of wipes, nappies and samples. You need to sign up with an email address and some charge for shipping.

Offers go out of date or get paused, but below are some useful links

Worldwide

Amazon baby gift registry provides a free welcome box gift for people with Amazon Prime accounts who create baby registries (some conditions apply).
amazon.com/baby-reg

Nappy brands such as Pampers, Huggies and Pura provide free welcome packs, so just check what is available locally by searching online for ‘free nappy welcome pack’. Infant Formula brands usually have the same kind of free introductory gifts.

UK specific

• yourbabyclub.co.uk/entrypage/freestuff
• ellaskitchen.co.uk/join-ellas-friends
• boots.com/shopping/advantage-card/parenting-club - free shampoo
• thenappylady.co.uk/cloth-nappy-council-incentive-schemes.html
• emmasdiary.co.uk/about-us/gift-packs/get-your-free-gift-packs-today
• Scottish baby box is great if you're in Scotland. You just need to be registered with a midwife. It includes clothes bedding and equipment, plus codes for free reusable pads and nappies. mygov.scot/baby-box

USA

• babylist.com/hello-baby/babylist-hello-baby-box for babies up to 3 months old
• similac.com/formula-coupons-free-samples.html
• Walmart baby registry and Target baby registry both have offers that change all the time

Canada

• canadianparent.ca/rewards/ is a really useful site that lists all sorts of free items

Free Baby Stuff for Low-Income Families, Single Parents & Newcomers

Families facing financial challenges can access support from baby banks, food banks, community centres and newcomer services. Single parents and refugees often receive tailored help through settlement agencies, charities and family support networks.

Safety, Hygiene & What Not to Accept Second-Hand

Most baby items are safe after cleaning, but avoid:

• used mattresses
• car seats with unknown history
• expired or damaged items
• open or out-of-date formula

FAQ: How to Get Free Baby Stuff

• Where can I get free baby stuff near me?
  Use sharing apps like Trash Nothing, baby/nappy banks, parenting groups and retailer baby clubs.

• What’s the fastest way to get free baby items?
  Neighbourhood sharing apps, with items that are often available to collect the same day.

• Where can I get free baby clothes?
  Trash Nothing, baby banks, charity groups and community swaps.

• How do I get free nappies?
  Nappy banks, baby banks, hospital samples and brand trial packs.

• Can I get free baby formula?
  Sometimes. Only accept sealed, in-date formula from verified sources.

• Where can I get free baby bedding?
  Sharing apps, baby banks, parenting groups and community swaps often offer sheets, blankets and sleep sacks for free.

• Is it safe to use second-hand baby items?
  Mostly, but avoid used mattresses and unknown-history car seats.

• Do baby banks give out larger items?
  Some do, depending on the donations that they receive from other people.

• Where can low-income families get help?
  Baby/nappy banks, community centres, food banks and newcomer support services.

• Do retailers give away free baby products?
  Yes, especially nappies, wipes, bottles and mini toiletries.

• Can I ask for specific items on sharing apps?
  Yes, polite requests usually receive quick responses.