OB "Freebies"

[malone2192]

Does anyone give out extra freebies to new parents? Our hospital provides the usual Enfamil/Similac diaper bag, knit cap, small classic book and a baby spoon from the volunteers. Just looking for ideas to maybe change it up a bit.

[ducknurse]

We do the diaper bag thing too, a boppy, and 2 first year golden books as "freebies"

[rn/writer, RN]

We do the diaper bag thing too, a boppy, and 2 first year golden books as "freebies"

A Boppy? Wow! Those are about $25 apiece. That's a really generous and useful gift. Do you get some kind of volume discount on them? Would love to find a way to give these to new moms.

[ducknurse]

We get them for about $23 a piece and that is with our name screen printed on each one. We do find that people refuse them b/c they got one as a baby shower gift or it is not their first baby and they have kept a previous one. In that case we give them a light-weight robe and slipper set.

[obrnhart]

Ducknurse I need to know where you are getting the boppies from , I am on the committee to review what gifts we are giving our patients. please let me know. thanks

[SmilingBluEyes]

we got these educational DVDs for our expectant clients in my childbirth class:

The Best for Baby

http://www.4baby.com

Yea, there are lots of ads in there but this information is way beyond useful and easy to digest for new and expectant parents.

[Marymoomoo]

My local hospital gives away a generic gift bag with the usual suspects (baby lap shirt, blanket, baby hair brush, coupons, newborn care info, etc). Breastfeeding mothers can also get free breastfeeding info and a manual breastpump. My local hospital is also active in the "ban the bags" movement.

How is formula unethical?

I just wanted to chime in here and say that formula itself isn't unethical. Research has shown that formula gift bags undermine breastfeeding in a big way and that is part of the reason why many experts say that formula gift bags are unethical. :) I hope that helps!

[obrnhart]

Thanks ducknurse

[bmcm2girls]

I work at a "baby friendly" hospital so we aren't allowed to give away anything that endorses a formula company....so no nifty bags filled with formula. We used to give away cakes (usually came with their celebratory dinner for two) but found that nobody was eating them (they were made by a local company but were super sweet). So, we now do the spoons with engraving, some breast milk storage bags, breast pads, coupons, and such. We do promo type things at times (tickets to ball games, bibs, etc) but not all the time. FWIW, when I had my first, I got a lovely "breastfeeding support kit" from my hospital, that included a formula diaper bag and two containers of formula, lol. Didn't find that very supportive though, rofl....

[MissBrittanyRN]

As simple as it sounds, we gave out newspapers from the baby's date of birth, but parents loved it, and it's inexpensive. Assuming they held onto the newspaper for a babybook, years later they can look at the newspaper and remember the events that took place on the day the baby was born. It's probably especially neat for the baby years down the road to see what was happening in the world at that point in time.

We also had mittens available if they were requested, but staff were indifferent about them because the babies use their fingers to learn about the environment... Socks stay on better anyway :-)

Around the holidays they would have socks with candycanes, or baby ducks, pumpkins, depending on the holiday.

[tiffanyleigh0212]

At the hospital where my sister and a few friends delivered they had a pack of newborn pampers (the swaddling kind) a pack of wipes, formula for bottle feeding mothers, a passy, thermometer, a few parenting magazines, baby brush, and diaper bag. I think there were a few more little things I can't remember. They also had for the mothers to order a free pizza and drinks from the hospital cafe.

[CrunchyMama, ASN, RN]

I wouldn't give Enfamil to breastfeeding moms...

How about not giving that out at all. :)

[CrunchyMama, ASN, RN]

We do have the butt paste but for some reason we only give it to ppl that ask. We also have tubes of Lanolin for the breastfeeders and formula for the bottlefeeders. How is formula unethical? Who are we to judge a mom because she chooses to bottle feed. I inform them of all the options and they make an informed decision. I hate when nurses are judgmental and the poor pt feels guilty for their decision. We are not in their shoes! Also, nipple shields are expensive and actually are discouraged by our lactation consultant unless it is a last resort. They affect breast emptying and can cause problems with milk supply.

Unethical because nurses should be promoting health. Formula doesn't do that....so giving out formula is unethical and brainwashing IMO. Not sure why the OP thinks so, but this is what I think.