Free pregnancy and baby stuff Free pregnancy stuff

Pregnancy and parenthood can be an expensive business, so Which? has been taking a look at some of the freebies, entitlements and grants open to you if you're pregnant or are a new parent.

Pass our tips on to other parents and parents-to-be using the sharing bookmarks at the bottom of this page, and check our for reviews of the latest pushchairs, child car seats, high chairs and baby monitors.

If you're pregnant you should apply for a NHS maternity exemption certificate

Free prescriptions and dental care

If you're pregnant, or have had a baby in the last 12 months, you're exempt from paying for prescriptions and NHS dental treatment.

You'll need to apply for a maternity exemption certificate by asking your doctor or midwife for application form FW8 – they'll need to sign it, too. The certificate will cover you up to 12 months after your due date – if you baby is born late, you can apply for an extension to cover your baby's full first 12 months.

Sure Start maternity grant

This government grant is available to help low-income families towards the cost of a new baby. A one-off payment of £500 is available – but you can only claim from 11 weeks before your due date, and up until your baby is three months old.

The Sure Start maternity grant is available if you or your partner are claiming income support, income-related Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance, or pension credits - and is now only applicable for the first child in your family.

You can get a claim form from your local job centre, or download one via the Department for Work and Pensions website.

Healthy Start vouchers

You may be entitled to weekly fruit, veg or milk vouchers

The Healthy Start scheme provides free weekly vouchers to spend on milk, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and infant formula milk, as well as free vitamins, in a government bid to helps mums-to-be and under-fours eat healthily. 

From April 2011, vouchers can additionally be used to buy frozen fruit and vegetables - but it mustn't come with any added salt, fat or sugars.

Low-income families earning below £16,190 a year, including families receiving income support or income-related Jobseeker's Allowance, and young mums under the age of 18 are eligible to apply via the Healthy Start NHS website, or by getting a form from your midwife or health visitor.

You'll get £3.10 a week if you're pregnant (more than 10 weeks), £6.20 a week for a baby under one year old and £3.10 a week for each child aged over one and under four.

Bounty packs

Bounty packs are free bundles containing information, advice, money-off coupons, baby product samples and household try-before-you-buy freebies – as well as lots of adverts. There are various packs at different stages.

• Pregnancy information pack You'll usually get your first Bounty pack from your midwife early on in your pregnancy. It'll typically contain a week-by-week pregnancy guide, protective scan card wallet and samples.
• Mum-to-be pack If you're more than three months pregnant, you can get your second pack from your nearest Sainsbury's or Boots using the voucher contained in the pregnancy guide from your first pack. This pack typically contains coupons and product samples of nappies, baby wipes and cream.
• Mum's pack Your midwife will give you this pack before you give birth, which includes free skin care wipes, nursing pads and washing tablets.
• Newborn pack This pack, which will be given to you in the maternity ward after you've had your baby, includes more free samples of baby products, a newborn baby guide and advice pamphlets.
• Family pack Your last Bounty pack is available by redeeming the voucher found in your newborn baby guide at Sainsbury's or Boots when your baby is six months old. It'll contain free baby food, laundry tablet samples and more baby advice.

No longer available

The Health in Pregnancy grant was a one-off payment of £190, available to all mothers-to-be – regardless of income – who were at least 25 weeks pregnant. The grant was abolished in April 2011.

See the section on free baby stuff for after your baby is born.