Free Stuff for Kids: How to Get Clothes, Diapers, and £500 for Setup.

According to The Sun: Welcoming a newborn is a unique experience that can significantly impact your finances.

Sun Savers editor Lana Clements shares tips on how to save money during the adjustment to parenthood and reveals free opportunities available at the birth of a child, including free diapers and gifts worth up to £500.

The cost of raising a child from pregnancy to age 18 is over £400,000, according to data from vouchercodes.co.uk.

Parents will need to invest in new furniture, like cribs, and other costly items like strollers and car seats.

And expenses do not decrease after the baby is born.

Costs for diapers, food, and new clothing can be a heavy burden on the budget.

But there’s good news: there are plenty of ways to get free stuff. More details below…

Healthy Eating – £442

Pregnant women and low-income families with young children can receive state support for food through the Healthy Start program.

This program provides weekly assistance for purchasing healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and milk.

It offers £4.25 a week to women pregnant for over 10 weeks, £8.50 during the first year of the child's life, and £4.25 a week for children aged one to four.

In total, this amounts to around £442 a year for a child.

Eligibility depends on income level and benefits received:

• Child tax credits (if the family income is £16,190 or less)
• Income support
• Income-based jobseeker's allowance
• Retirement credit (including child addition)
• Universal credit (only if the family’s monthly income from work does not exceed £408)

More information can be found at healthystart.nhs.uk.

Travel Cot – £35

Sign up for the Young Planet app and get various children’s items for free.

This app allows parents to exchange items they no longer use.

Among useful items, you can find a travel cot, which usually costs at least £35.

There are also plenty of toys available.

Check the app regularly to not miss the best offers, such as a free stroller.

Money for Strollers or Cots – £500

Preparing for a baby can be expensive.

However, if you are expecting your first child and receive certain benefits, a one-time payment of £500 can be helpful for purchasing affordable items like a new crib or stroller.

This assistance is provided under the Sure Start program.

Applications can be submitted within 11 weeks before the birth, and it does not need to be repaid.

Applications should be made within six months after the birth of the child.

The grant is only available if you do not have other children under 16.

You or your partner must be receiving one of these benefits:

• Income support
• Income-based jobseeker's allowance
• Employment and support allowance related to income
• Retirement credit
• Universal credit

Free Vitamins for Pregnant Women – £5

Sign up for Emma’s Diary for free and receive a package for expectant mothers filled with valuable free items.

One of the most useful products in the package is the Pregnacare vitamins, which cost from £5.

You will also receive samples of Fairy laundry detergent and a small jar of Sudocrem, which will be helpful for protecting your baby’s skin.

Free Pampers Diapers – £17

There are several ways to get free Pampers diaper packs, which can save you at least £17.

Firstly, parents can receive free diapers by testing Pampers products and providing feedback.

Sign up on the Pampers Squad website, providing some personal details, including your address.

After registration, you can apply for available projects. Recently, parents tested premium diapers, which can cost up to £12.

Also, by registering for the package for expectant mothers on Emma’s Diary, you may receive a package of Pampers newborn diapers.

Visit emmasdiary.co.uk to register.

If you regularly purchase Pampers, it’s worth joining Pampers Club, where you earn points for every pack you buy, which can be exchanged for free packs in the future.

Pampers has also partnered with Tesco, offering free diapers for premature babies at supermarket pharmacies. With one Clubcard, you can get up to 15 packs, but they may allow you to take up to two at a time.

Free Huggies Diapers – £6.50

Parents can get a pack of Huggies dry night diapers suitable for children transitioning to potty training.

Visit huggies.co.uk/drynites-free-sample, fill out the form, and you will receive a coupon for a free pack.

The price of diapers in stores is around £6.50, so this is a good saving.

Free Baby Shampoo – £6.50

Sign up for the Boots parenting club and get a free bath gel or shampoo.

These products usually cost about £6.50.

Download the app and activate this offer.

The Boots parenting club also gives participants eight points for every £1 spent.

Additionally, you will receive other free items at various stages of your child's development.

Free Children’s Clothing – £100

As children grow quickly, buying new clothes every time can become a significant expense.

Fortunately, many parents give away clothes for free when they clean out their closets.

Such offers can be found on Facebook Marketplace or by downloading the Olio app, where people also post free items.

Free Children’s Classes – £15

There are many classes for toddlers where new parents can socialize and entertain their children.

But these classes can be expensive – a typical lesson may cost up to £15.

Instead, many classes offer a free trial lesson.

Local churches often organize playgroups where parents are offered hot drinks while their toddlers play.

These groups usually take place on weekday mornings and are an ideal opportunity to connect with other parents. They may ask for a small voluntary contribution of £1-2 to cover snack costs.

Child Benefit – £2,251

If the annual income of both parents is less than £80,000, you are entitled to receive child benefit payments.

This amounts to £26.05 a week for the eldest or only child, and an additional £17.25 for each subsequent child.

Thus, for a family with two children, this would total £2,251.60 a year.

You can only apply for the benefit within three months of the birth, so be sure to apply as soon as possible.

Childcare Tax Credit – £2,000

By opening a free childcare account, you can receive up to £2,000 to pay for nursery and other services.

The government program provides £2 for every £8 paid into the account, which is then used to pay for services.

Free Childcare Hours – £5,000

Working parents with children aged 9 months to 4 years can receive 30 free hours of childcare per week.

This could cost over £5,000 a year.

To be eligible, you and your partner must be employed and earning at least £195.36 a week.

However, this won’t work if both of you earn more than £100,000 a year.

How to Save Hundreds of Pounds on Raising Children

Anita Naik from VoucherCodes.co.uk shares key tips for families on how to cut costs without sacrificing quality:

• Avoid pointless purchases for children

This advice is especially important for new parents – don't be swayed by advertising for 'essential' goods, as many of them will turn out to be unnecessary. It’s worth noting that new car seats should be purchased safely, but other items can be borrowed from friends or bought secondhand on eBay, Depop, or Vinted. Websites like VoucherCodes.co.uk can also help you save on new items.

All new items can be resold. Keep packaging and receipts, and do not remove labels from new items until you need them. This will help you get a better price when reselling.

• Get government support

Many parents are unaware that they may qualify for government assistance. If your child is over nine months old, you can receive 15 free hours of childcare a week.

Starting in September 2025, working parents in England will be able to get 30 funded hours of childcare a week. Make sure you meet the criteria and learn about free childcare programs for additional savings.

• Cut down on technology costs

Consider buying refurbished laptops and phones, using family plans for mobile contracts, and trading in old equipment for discounts on new purchases.

Use Billmonitor to check if you really need your current service, as 70% of people overpay for smartphones.

• Reduce food and travel expenses

Food costs can reach around £22,968.45 over a lifetime, so it’s worth signing up for supermarket loyalty programs, using promo codes for restaurants, and watching for 'kids eat free' deals.

All children aged 5-16 are entitled to free school transport if they attend the nearest school and live at least two miles away. Check your eligibility for this assistance.

If you frequently travel as a family, consider a family or friends' railcard for £30.

• Affordable entertainment and cultural programs

When it comes to active recreation with kids, look for free or discounted entertainment through family memberships or loyalty programs.

Many UK supermarkets also offer loyalty points that can be exchanged for tickets to attractions or cinema.