As a doula for over a decade, I’m all about services and products that make life simpler or extra particular for pregnant folks. Being pregnant might be an intense time of life and expectant dad and mom want a whole lot of assist. And if that assist comes within the type of helpful merchandise, so be it.
I’m presently pregnant with my second baby and on the hunt for issues to reinforce my expertise. I’m definitely not alone in that; in spite of everything, there are over 3 million infants born (and fogeys made) within the U.S. yearly, and most of these birthing dad and mom would little question admire some merchandise to assist the pre- and postpartum journey.
So, I made a decision to attempt Bump Bins, a curated month-to-month subscription field made particularly for pregnant folks. Learn on to find out about my one-month subscription expertise with Bump Bins, together with what was in my field within the second trimester of my being pregnant and my ideas on the merchandise (as each a doula and a mother).
What Is Bump Bins?
Bump Bins was based in 2015 by dad and mom who wished to present dad and mom entry to “the most secure, simplest being pregnant merchandise and guarantee wholesome pregnancies world wide.” The containers encompass curated merchandise for pregnant folks, like skincare, physique care, and different objects for the being pregnant journey.
The corporate is owned by Bump Well being, which manufactures merchandise for fogeys (just like the BumpLife and BlushTeas manufacturers) and likewise assists dad and mom in getting breast pumps lined by insurance coverage.
Signing Up for Bump Bins
It was tremendous straightforward to navigate the ordering course of for Bump Bins. I may order for one month, six months, 9 months, or twelve months (Bump Bins additionally now gives BitsyBox, which can ship you a child present each month for the primary 12 months of your baby’s life).
The good factor is that delivery to the continental U.S. is at all times free, as are returns. Plus, the extra months you join with Bumb Bins, the much less you pay per particular person field. For instance, if I had been to enroll to pay month-to-month, I’d pay $50, but when I used to be able to decide to longer, I’d pay:
- $43/month for six months
- $40/month for 9 months
- $39/month for 12 months
There may be additionally the choice to prepay for a specified set of months, which will get you an excellent greater low cost on these curated being pregnant merchandise:
- When you prepay for six months, you’ll pay $254, a financial savings of virtually $100
- When you prepay for 9 months, you’ll pay $366, a financial savings of virtually $175
- When you prepay for 12 months, you’ll pay $462, a financial savings of over $250
In the long run, although, I made a decision to join the Month to Month Subscription Field. As soon as I’d chosen my subscription plan, I used to be prompted to enter my due date (I used to be within the late second trimester on the time).
Subsequent, I used to be supplied the choice to get an improve product. I didn’t select this selection, however it seems to be like improve choices embrace onesies, stomach butter, tote luggage, and extra—and it’s obtainable to anybody that indicators up for a subscription that lasts greater than at the very least one month.
Whereas doing some research about this subscription, one factor I famous—and notably appreciated—about Bump Bins was the truth that, if there’s a product in your field that you simply love, you should buy it from the web site’s retailer. That’s a helpful and handy characteristic that makes issues tremendous straightforward for pregnant individuals who could also be overwhelmed with selecting and shopping for high quality merchandise.
Receiving My Bump Bins
I ordered on a Wednesday and bought my field on a Saturday, so delivery was lightning-fast. It got here by itself (not inside another packaging), and was a vibrant pink cardboard field that had a brand of a noticeably pregnant particular person on the skin (which felt like gendered advertising). The field and the delivery supplies are each recyclable.
The field I acquired contained 5 full-sized merchandise:
- BumpLife model printed moist bag
- Dr.Brown’s Disposable Breast Pads, 30 rely
- T.N. Dickinson’s Witch Hazel Cleaning Cloths, 25 rely
- Kanu Mom Cooling Leg Gel, 4.2 oz
- BumpLife model small picket massager
The field additionally included a postcard from Bump Well being (Bump Bins’ mother or father firm) with a QR code to scan to assist dad and mom get a free breast pump by way of their insurance coverage. I didn’t do this service, however I used to be impressed that that is one thing the corporate supplies—something that helps dad and mom navigate medical health insurance is a giant plus for me. There was additionally a postcard explaining how Bump Bins works, with a quantity to textual content to get extra offers on merchandise.
My favourite product was the cooling leg gel. I dwell in a scorching local weather, so it felt nice to make use of after a protracted day of strolling. I can see how this could be a really soothing product for any pregnant particular person, particularly because the being pregnant progresses.
That mentioned, as somebody on the finish of their second trimester/starting of the third, I didn’t discover the entire merchandise to be notably helpful. I inputted my due date after I ordered, so I assumed the merchandise could be extra focused to my stage of being pregnant. For instance, the disposable breast pads and the moist bag don’t appear to be relevant till you even have a child, which for me might be greater than three months away. I gained’t be capable of use breast pads till I’m lactating, so it looks as if this could be extra applicable to incorporate at round 36 weeks of being pregnant or in a postpartum field.
The witch hazel pads additionally appear extra geared towards the postpartum time, however they will nonetheless be helpful all through being pregnant, particularly since hemorrhoids are frequent as being pregnant progresses.
I might have cherished a information that defined why the precise merchandise had been included and how you can use them. For instance, as a doula, I do know that the picket mini massager included might be useful to ease discomfort throughout labor (in addition to to assuage drained muscle groups in being pregnant) however I’m undecided that’s frequent data.
I can consider a ton of different merchandise that will be nice for third-trimester mothers, ones that they might use and luxuriate in whereas they’re experiencing these previous couple of months of being pregnant.
The web site additionally says the merchandise are “clear,” however I couldn’t discover a lot info on these requirements apart from that each one merchandise inside Bump Bins are freed from “parabens, phthalates, retinoids, formaldehyde, salicylic acid, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances.” That doesn’t essentially imply that the merchandise included are eco-friendly, although, if that’s one thing you’re involved about.
I’m interested in what is available in subsequent containers, as Bump Bins does supply them month-to-month—maybe containers for later in being pregnant could be extra applicable for that point. I emailed customer support to ask however was advised that there are completely different variations of every field and that the containers change from month to month. Typically, it looks as if particular info on the contents of the containers isn’t available, so hold that in thoughts if you happen to’re somebody who desires to know precisely what you’re getting.
Customer support is speedy—they bought again to me in lower than 24 hours, which was nice. It’s a easy course of; you simply ship them an electronic mail.
Execs & Cons
General, I feel Bump Bins are enjoyable and helpful, however there are methods the subscription may very well be higher. Listed here are my execs and cons.
Execs
- Simple to order
- Easy gifting
- Quick, free delivery
- Free returns
- Responsive customer support
- Help in getting a breast pump
Cons
- Not very particular to the trimester of being pregnant you’re in
- Merchandise might not be helpful to you
- Unclear how merchandise are chosen/vetted and by whom
- Very gendered packaging
Remaining Ideas
Loads of dad and mom will admire receiving a field filled with merchandise every month, particularly merchandise they may not even concentrate on (just like the picket massager or the leg gel). As I discussed, I feel the merchandise may very well be extra particularly tailor-made to somebody’s stage of being pregnant, however I feel there are at the very least just a few merchandise in every field that may make a distinction to any being pregnant expertise.
The containers additionally appeared extra suited to a first-time mother or father who is aware of much less about what to anticipate, bodily and emotionally, throughout being pregnant.
One factor that irked me: Though the web site says the merchandise within the containers are “vetted by specialists,” I’m not certain what sort of specialists are literally vetting the merchandise. Is it dad and mom themselves, OB-GYNs and midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, or others who work with anticipating households? I couldn’t discover any info on who chooses the merchandise and why.
Additionally, it doesn’t appear to be the corporate gives any manner of giving again to the neighborhood, reminiscent of free or discounted containers for low-income dad and mom, donations to charities that assist maternal well being causes, or different initiatives. That is one thing I’ve seen with different, comparable subscriptions so it seems like a miss.
That mentioned, I nonetheless suppose a subscription to Bump Bins would make an exquisite present for a pregnant buddy or member of the family, particularly in the event that they’re a first-time mother or father or one which doesn’t dwell close to shops with household planning provides. Ordering one or two would even be a pleasant present for your self as you progress by way of the trimesters. Even when among the merchandise aren’t proper on your present being pregnant stage, they may very well be useful down the street.
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