Seeking Free Baby Gear

L.,
I don't know about free, but I know of a wonderful Mom2Mom sale coming up in Walled Lake on March 21 at Orchard Grove Community Church - it is a "department store style sale" - for ease of shopping & you can get some great bargains! You can go to www.mom2momlist.com to get a complete list of mom2mom sales in the area.
K.

Try Pregnancy Helpline in your area. I know there is one in the Brighton area.

Hi L.,
For some reason I was given quite a few of those emergency care kits at my baby shower so I"d be happy to give one of them to you. It has an aspirator, brush, comb, thermometer, medicine syringe and several other items. I also have a diaper bag I can give you. I live in West Ann Arbor... Let me know and I can give you my address and/or phone number.

Call around to your local churches. I know that here in Livingston county there is an adventist "community closet" that GIVES clothes and gear to those who need it. You do have to live in Livingston county. But there may be one near you... Maybe not adventist, but church run.
The one here in Howell has stuff for ALL ages, men and women, and small household stuff... All donated and you go into the store and "shop". No financial stipulations or forms to fill out... Just gotta live in Livingston county and have a need...

Yard sale season is getting really close.
Plus try putting up a want ad on craigslist.

Also, before you leave the hospital make sure to get the "free" diaper bag that comes from the formula companies. Not sure on what your feeding preferences are, but even though I nursed all my babys, I still took the bag and samples...
Anything that is in the baby cart is yours. (opened packs of diapers, aspirator, pacifier, etc... NOT baby blankets and clothes. Ask the nurses what you can take out of it if your not sure.) They charge by the pack and have to open a new pack for each baby so if you don't take them, they can't use them...
Go online and sign up for the different companies "free" samples... Even the formula companies send out cans of formula as a sample... I never had to buy formula for my babys and always had a back up for if we were visiting grandma and grandpa. Sign up on the diaper companies mailing lists... They send out samples of new products also. Talk to those in the leleche league... They maybe able to hook you up with Lansonol and some nursing pads.
If you plan on nursing and need a breast pump ask the hospital if your insurance covers a breast pump. Most insurances will pay for a hand pump (from the hospital). I know that the one I got had a couple pairs of cloth nursing pads in with it... BUT you have to get it BEFORE you are released from the hospital.
Also the peri bottle and tucks pads are yours and any pads they give you to use while in the hospital... If there are extras, take them home with you... (I've had 3 kids, can you tell?)lol

Not sure when your due... But most ob offices have samples that they give out. Things like nursing pads, lansonol, tums... I got these really cool foldable duffle bags with my last munchkin... Keep your eyes open and pick some up every visit... one time they even had tums....

Hi L.,

Try freecycle.

Also, there is a Parent2Parent sale in Howell THIS saturday at the Howell Opera House. 9am-1pm. I've never been to one, but I've had other moms tell me you can get GREAT deals on stuff.

Hi L.,

I would suggest trying your local freecycle community.

When I didn't have any help while pregnant, the wonderful members helped to make sure I had all I needed for the birth of my son.

In my situation though, I was a single parent with an unsupportive family, so our situations were/are quite different.

Good luck.