How to get free stuff for Childbirth classes?

[AmieV]

I teach for an independent childbirth/parenting resource company in the style of Birthing From Within. I know the hospital teachers are able to get free folders for handouts, nursing teas, Mothering magazines ;), etc. for participants from vendors. Anyone know how to tap into these resources?

[mntnmom]

I know I saw a list online years ago, but I don't remember where. You might try calling different companies that are in line with your ethics(Lansinoh for instance?), and ask themwhat they can help you with.   Let us now what you find!

[momto9kidlets]

Originally Posted by AmieV 

I teach for an independent childbirth/parenting resource company in the style of Birthing From Within. I know the hospital teachers are able to get free folders for handouts, nursing teas, Mothering magazines ;), etc. for participants from vendors. Anyone know how to tap into these resources?

Really?  I would love to know where those come from because I have never gotten all of that stuff.  The other thing I have ever gotten was the free magazines that everyone can get (both private and hospital educators can get them), but even those have stopped.  

[generationsbirth]

I've gotten a lot of stuff just by calling or emailing companies and explaining what I'm doing.  I've since stopped giving a lot of it out while I think through the ethics and what message I'm really sending-- for example, giving out Lansinoh samples sends the message that breastfeeding hurts, you will have problems, you need this product to fix it. 

Anyway, I've gotten things from Lansinoh, Medela, Boppy, Sleepy Wrap, Dr. Jones, Bordreaux's Butt Paste, Preggy Pops, Traditional Medicinals, Motherlove, Belli, and Pampers has a childbirth educator program where you get free class booklets and a big flip chart, which is fairly decent for it being free and having Pampers plastered all over it.  I know that Moby Wrap, and the some sort of cloth diaper industry organization has a doula/educator packet for a small fee.  I've heard of others getting things from Luna bars.

[courtenay_e]

I find, though, that my clients appreciate the content of the workbook I give them, and the information we cover, more than the freebies. ;)  I have samples of wraps and carriers for them to try, all the different styles of cloth diapers to play with, different kinds of Mama Cloth to think about, talk about how the boppy is the bane of my existance in breastfeeding support (I have been doing breastfeeding support for six years) because Mama puts Boppy on lap, baby on Boppy, and then leans down to the baby, rather than leaning back and bringing baby ALLLLL the way up to her.  So, I wouldn't want breastfeeding pillow coupons, etc...  I used to hand out lansinoh and little bits of lambswool from lanawool, the maker of lana nursing pads... but again, I just bring out my old nursing pads for them to handle, and talk about them, and why they're good...and they write the link down and buy them if they want them.  The information is most important to the people I meet, moreso than the "stuff." 

[phathui5]

Here's where you contact Traditional Medicinals:

http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/contact

I get Mother's Milk tea samples quarterly.

[mamasunflwr]

http://www.alldoulas.com/forums/general-business-marketing-discussion/290-free-samples-clients.html 

I got a ton of samples from this thread...actually too much stuff!  ONLY request products you would use yourself...I ended up with a few items that I decided I didn't feel comfortable giving to my clients (I donated them to our local Head Start program).  : )  I personally love to get samples and my clients love getting them too.

[CBEmomma]

You can just email or call companies you're interested in and ask for samples. I don't really do samples, but I do a lot of different educational brochures. I also have a ton of different carriers (I think I have 15) and cloth diapers (not free, bought for my own kids. Some of the cloth diapers I never used because I forgot about them). I do a free 2 hour class each month on cloth diapers and babywearing (2 seperate classes) so that people can see the different stuff and try them on.