Having a baby is expensive. There is no way around that. But there is a meaningful amount of genuinely free stuff for newborns available in the UK that a surprising number of parents never claim, either because they did not know it existed or because the system for accessing it is not obvious.
This guide covers the legitimate freebies: government entitlements, NHS provisions, free samples that are actually worth requesting, and the retailer programmes that deliver real value. No paid-for box schemes masquerading as freebies, no catch-laden subscriptions buried in the small print.
Government Entitlements You Are Legally Entitled To
These are not freebies in the commercial sense. They are rights. If you are pregnant or have recently given birth and are not claiming all of these, you are leaving money on the table.
The Sure Start Maternity Grant
A one-off payment of £500 from the government, available if you are pregnant with or have recently had your first child (or are expecting multiple babies) and are receiving certain benefits.
You qualify if you or your partner receive:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit (in certain circumstances)
- Pension Credit
You need to claim within 11 weeks of the due date or within 3 months of the birth. The claim form is SF100, available from GOV.UK or your local Jobcentre.
Healthy Start Vouchers
If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four and receive certain benefits, you qualify for Healthy Start vouchers. These are prepaid cards loaded with money you can spend on milk, fruit, vegetables, and infant formula at participating shops.
The current value is £4.25 per week if you are pregnant, rising to £8.50 per week if you have a child under one.
Apply at healthystart.nhs.uk.
Free NHS Prescriptions and Dental Treatment
From the moment you get a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MatEx) to 12 months after the birth, all NHS prescriptions and NHS dental treatment are free for you.
You apply for the MatEx through your midwife or GP, usually when you register your pregnancy. It is worth checking you have it because many women miss it. Prescriptions in England normally cost £9.90 per item, so the saving adds up quickly during pregnancy when iron supplements, antacids, and other medications are common.
Free Vitamins on Prescription
If you are on a low income or qualifying benefits, you are entitled to free vitamins including folic acid, vitamin D, and vitamin C through the Healthy Start vitamins scheme. Folic acid is genuinely important in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy for neural tube development. If you have not been taking it because of the cost, this is worth knowing.
Child Benefit
Not limited to babies but worth including because many families do not claim it promptly. You can start claiming Child Benefit as soon as the birth is registered. The current rate is £25.60 per week for your eldest child and £16.95 per week for each additional child (2024-25 rates, subject to change). Claims can be backdated up to three months.
You can claim online at GOV.UK or by completing a CH2 form.
If either parent earns over £60,000, the High Income Child Benefit Charge may apply. It is still worth claiming because even if you pay some back via tax, the National Insurance credits that come with Child Benefit protect your state pension record, which matters most to parents who take time out of work.
Tax-Free Childcare
Not relevant for newborns, but worth knowing about now so you are not scrambling when you need it. From when your child turns three, you can access up to £2,000 per year per child in tax-free childcare support through a government-topped-up account. You put in £8 for every £10 of childcare costs, and the government adds the other £2.
Free Stuff From the NHS
Beyond the financial entitlements, the NHS provides a number of practical items at no cost.
Breast Pump Loan Schemes
Many NHS trusts operate breast pump loan schemes for new mothers. You will not necessarily be told about this automatically. Ask your midwife or the infant feeding coordinator at your hospital whether a loan scheme is available. Hospital-grade pumps are significantly more effective than most retail electric pumps, particularly in the early days of establishing supply.
Breastfeeding Support
NHS breastfeeding support services, including one-to-one support from infant feeding specialists and peer support groups, are free. La Leche League and the National Breastfeeding Helpline (0300 100 0212) are also free and staffed by trained volunteers.
Newborn Hearing Test
Offered to all newborns before leaving hospital or in the first few weeks of life. It is free and takes only a few minutes.
Newborn Bloodspot Screening
The heel prick test, offered at around five days old, screens for nine rare but serious conditions including sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, congenital hypothyroidism, and PKU. Free, and worth making sure you receive before leaving the care of your community midwife.
Health Visitor Service
A qualified health visitor will contact you in the early weeks after the birth and continue to support you through the first years of your child’s life. Home visits, development checks, and baby clinics are all part of this free service. Many parents do not fully use their health visitor as a resource, but they are a genuinely useful point of contact for feeding questions, sleep advice, and developmental concerns.
Free Baby Samples Worth Actually Requesting
Some sample programmes are worth it. Others exist primarily to get your details onto a marketing list while sending you a miniature sachet of nappy cream. Here is what is worth your time.
Bounty Pack
Available from your midwife during pregnancy and from the maternity ward after the birth. The Bounty packs contain useful product samples and discount vouchers from brands including Pampers and Sudocrem. Quality varies by region but most packs include items that see real use.
Emma’s Diary
Register at emmasdiary.co.uk during pregnancy and you will receive a Bounty-style pack with samples. The registration process also unlocks a loyalty card scheme at Boots with bonus points on baby purchases.
Pampers Free Samples
Pampers runs a consistent sampling programme. Request a sample at pampers.co.uk. You will typically receive a small pack of nappies in your chosen size and occasionally a free changing mat.
Aptaclub
Whether or not you plan to breastfeed, registering with Aptaclub (aptaclub.co.uk) gives access to a dedicated team of midwives for advice and a range of free samples and offers. Aptaclub is run by Aptamil, so there is a commercial interest, but the midwife advice line is a genuine added value.
WaterWipes
WaterWipes runs periodic free sample programmes through their website. Worth checking as stocks are limited.
Sudocrem
One of the most genuinely useful things in a baby changing bag, Sudocrem frequently runs sample campaigns at sudocrem.co.uk.
Free Retailer Programmes With Genuine Value
Boots Parenting Club
Free to join at boots.com. Boots Parenting Club members earn additional Advantage Card points on baby and child products and receive exclusive offers. The Advantage Card points can add up to meaningful discounts over the first year, particularly if you are buying nappies, formula, or toiletries there regularly.
Amazon Family
Free with a Prime membership. Amazon Family gives 20% off subscribing to nappies and wipes (on top of the standard Subscribe and Save discount), plus early access to deals. If you are already an Amazon Prime subscriber, not activating Amazon Family is leaving money behind.
Mothercare Email Sign-Up Offers
Various baby retailers offer a first-purchase discount or freebie on email sign-up. Worth checking current offers at the time you are shopping.
Free Support Services Worth Knowing About
These are not things you hold in your hands, but they are genuinely free resources that can save you money, time, or both.
NCT: The NCT runs free antenatal classes in many areas (the paid courses are well-known, but free options exist). Check nct.org.uk.
Home-Start: A charity that provides volunteer home visiting support to parents with young children who are struggling. Free, non-judgmental, and often transformative for isolated parents. Check home-start.org.uk.
Bliss: For parents of premature or sick babies, Bliss provides free support, information, and a helpline.
PANDAS Foundation: Free support for parents experiencing perinatal mental health difficulties. pandasfoundation.org.uk.
What to Do First
If you are reading this while pregnant or in the early weeks after birth, the priority order is:
- Check whether you qualify for the Sure Start Maternity Grant and apply immediately if you do
- Apply for a Maternity Exemption Certificate if you have not received one
- Apply for Healthy Start vouchers if you qualify
- Claim Child Benefit promptly after registration
- Register with Bounty and Emma’s Diary for samples
- Join Boots Parenting Club before your next purchase
Everything else on this list is supplementary. The government entitlements are the priority because they are time-limited and the amounts are meaningful.
