Have you signed up for freebies?

[kathywiehl]

I know the formula companies offer mailing with free samples and coupons but I DON'T want that. I'm wondering what other perks are out there for pg mamas that are for us natural minded mamas?

I did buy some clothes on clearance at Motherhood the other day and I was pleased to get a sample of sposie breast pads and also a $10 off $50 card for Lowes, which is great cause I need things from there anyway. There was also a card with info about signing up to win a $1000 maternity wardrobe and a free sample of a Luna bar.. Normally I'm not a fan of Motherhood but for this I was happy and there were no formula coupons in the bag

ETA- I didn't mean to ask for info about mainstream stuff. I got that the last 3 times. As a homebirther/cosleeper/cloth diapering/breastfeeding mama I am wondering if other companies offer mailings and coupons that I might be interested aside from the typical mainstream mags and formula coupons.

[widdlelou]

Motherhood sells your name to everyone, but they used to also have samples of simple green which was nice.

Oh and I know you can get American Baby or something like that free. And somehow I got Parenting for free but I dont' remember how. It was an entire year subscription and I know its mainstream but i love all magizines and I had fun reading all the parent mags out there.

[True Blue]

Oh yeah, I NEVER give Motherhood my info, they whore you out to the world!!!

I try to keep away from signing up with anyone. I don't use anything I get (sposies, formula, etc are the things they mostly give away). I don't like disposable breast pads either bc they stick to my nipples and hurt!

[nausicaamom]

I signed up for a few things with my first, but I'm not planning on for this one. Mootherhood will probably end up with my info because I really want a skirt they carry and I know I'll be ordering it on line so there is no way around it. I never did sign up for Baby Talk or American Baby because they required a signature on the business replay cards for the free subscription and that just bothered me. I did get a discounted subscription to Parenting - Dr. Sears was still doing a column every month so it wasn't that bad.

[nolonger]

BTDT with the older kids and I don't need a repeat performance; the "freebies" are relly just a way for them to get your address so they can spam youn and I really have no need for the kind of products (tm) they think I'm supposed to want, even though I will be a WOHM this time around.

I was very wasteful with my older kids, even though it didn't feel that way at the time, and am going to make an effort to keep the clutter to a dull roar and emphasize relationships over possessions this time around.

Besides, I don't need anything; my clothing, diaper, and baby-wearing device stashed are complete, I found the bicycle trailer of my dreams for half price on Craig's List, and I haven't done enough research yet to know what kind of breast pump and car seat I'm going to want in February just yet.

I'm leaning towards Medela Pump 'n Style and a (hopefully safe but used) Britax infant seat, since I'll be doing most of the gasoline-burning the first year before I can combine "safe" and "legal in my state" trailering.

[Mama2-4]

I am not a fan of all the free junk either, but if you do get on a formula mailing list and end up getting all the coupons in the mail, you can sell them on e-bay! I know it may sound sleazy, but when I was off work every $10 helped, and I suppose it is a good deal for the mothers who use formula!

[eilonwy]

Despite the fact that I didn't buy anything from Motherhood or sign up for any freebies, I got *FOUR* full cans of powdered ABM and at least three smaller, sample-sized cans. I had them for ages; in fact, I remember finally getting rid of them at Halloween; I took the kids Trick-or-Treating and asked everyone I saw with a baby until someone finally took them off my hands. To put that in perspective, Bella was born in *March*. They sat around for that long. I don't know that many people with babies, and those I do know are all about the nursies and/or have allergic kiddles.

So no, I won't be signing up for any freebies, not unless Lansinoh turns out to have a mailing list. My sister recently contacted them; she had a box of defective milk bags and lost 24 oz of first milk. : They overnighted her a box containing not only a replacement box of milk bags, but a whole bunch of fun stuff-- one of those rubber bracelets (something about protecting and promoting breastfeeding), some of their nursing pads, a sample of the goopy goo (LOVE that stuff ).

Yeah. I'd definately like to get on their mailing list, if they have one. Other than that... Somehow I'll end up on them anyway, I'm sure. :

[StrawberryFields]

I just gave Motherhood my info over the weekend so I am sure that the advertisements will start rolling in but I never got a single mailing with ds. I guess no one got wind of my pregnancy last time!

[kathywiehl]

I wasn't referring to all the mainstream freebies. I definitely don't want those. BTDT.... I was just wondering if any companies had perks or mailings geared toward us natural minded/breastfeeding/cloth diapering/homebirthing mamas, kwim?

I don't like mainstream mags, won't sell formula coupons on ebay, and certainly don't want formula samples or catalogs for baby furniture.

I was just thinking there had to be something out there that I would like, as I love getting things in the mail, but I usually toss all the pregnancy junk mail. It would be nice to get something I like for once!

[widdlelou]

You know... and I may get flamed... but I dont' mind the free stuff. Sometimes its fun. And my SIL uses formula so i'll give it to her (she had a breast reduction at 18 and it messed up her ducts) and she has an infant. ANd I love all the magizines and sometimes you get some paper diapers in there too and they are nice to have on hand even if you CD for emergancies or for my inlaws house or if my sil runs out while visiting or etc. and I often feel I need to use them when htey are in my church nursery. Some were down when Reagan was in cloth, but they often dont' realize thye are in cloth and kept her in them too long leaving leak situations.

[amybw]

lurking..but wanted to add that when i was pg last year i registered at bravado.com and they sent me a free pair of cloth breast pads!!!

[kathywiehl]

Originally Posted by amybw

lurking..but wanted to add that when i was pg last year i registered at bravado.com and they sent me a free pair of cloth breast pads!!!

Now THAT's the kind of info I was looking for, lol!