BabyBin Subscription Box Review – December 2015

BabyBin is a monthly subscription box for moms and babies from 0-24 months. Every month, they send you items necessary for the day-to-day process of caring for a new baby, and you only pay for what you keep. Their goal is to make parents’ lives a little bit easier and anticipate the needs involved in having a baby, including eliminating those “uh oh” moments or a last-minute trip to the store for items you didn’t realize you’d need.

Every month, they send you a list of suggested items to be included in your box and you can go through and choose what items get sent and what items get swapped out for something different. Then you get your BabyBin in the mail and have 30 days to decide to keep what you want, and send back what you don’t (they include a free return shipping label).

Because of this personalization process, my box will look much different than other subscribers’ boxes.

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

The Subscription: BabyBin

The Cost: $1 for the service, plus the cost of the items you keep.

The Products: BabyBins are filled with consumables, development products, and baby gear.

Ships to: US

Each box contains a breakdown of your items by price so you can better decide what you want to keep or send back. I only have 10 items in my box (last time I received a Baby Bin I had 18, although there’s no standard number of items) because they changed their system.

When you’re reviewing your items that were selected for you before they send your bin, you can click “don’t send.” It used to be that when you clicked that you could leave feedback about why and could request other kinds of items instead, and they’d surprise you with a different option in its place. Now, if you click “don’t send” on something, they just take it out of your bin and don’t replace it. My guess is they did this so that there’s a better chance you’ll buy the whole bin they send?

FYI – Babybin is implementing some changes to their services and policy for 2016. Here’s the information they sent to subscribers via email:

Sounds like they have some good ideas coming, but I love that the service is free right now so I’m a little bummed they’re adding shipping costs if you buy less than $75 of stuff. However, I imagine that this is a necessary change for them as their business grows to cut losses when there are bins that are completely returned, so I can’t really complain there. It makes sense from a business standpoint, even if I’d rather have everything free (obviously, who wouldn’t?)! Additionally, I like that they are limiting what items can be returned because it protects subscribers like myself from receiving items that have been returned by others after being tampered with, as long as they make it extremely clear which items in your bin you can’t return when you preview your items (which they say they’ll do, so I’m not worried).

Babyganics Face, Hand, and Baby Wipes – Four 100-count packs, Cost to Keep: $14 (value: $14.99)

I really like natural and organic wipes and lotions for my baby, so I’m happy to see these. The brand is one I’ve heard of before, and these wipes have good reviews!

Braun Forehead Thermometer – Cost to Keep: $25 (value: $51.99)

I’m really interested in this thermometer! I currently have one that goes in the ear, but I don’t like using it on my son because I can’t tell if I have it in his ear far enough or too far or if it’s hurting him, etc. Our hospital used something similar, so I’m looking forward to trying this one! (Plus, it’s way cheaper to buy it through this than at a store!)

Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Getting Started Kit – Cost to Keep: $10 (value: $13)

Burt’s Bees is my favorite brand of lotions and wash for babies! I love the way it smells.

Sassy Ring O Links Developmental Toy – Cost to Keep: $8 (Value: $3.99)

One of my son’s favorite toys is something similar to this one. The one we have is a little bigger so I like that this one is similar but smaller for this little hands. However, I’ll probably send it back and buy it somewhere else… for some reason, it’s twice the price to buy here.

Wubbanub Puppy Pacifier – Cost to Keep: $13 (value: $12.99)

Wubbanubs are one of my baby must-haves. It’s a pacifier attached to a small stuffed animal. The animal makes the pacifier so much easier to find and also helps the pacifier stay in place – if it falls out of the baby’s mouth, it stays put instead of tumbling to the side or floor. And when they’re older, it’s easy for them to hold onto it to keep the pacifier in place. We have the lamb and the lion Wubbanub, so adding the puppy to our collection will be great to have an extra to keep around so we always have one on hand.

Lamaze Musical Inchworm – Cost to Keep: $14 (Value: $15.99)

This inchworm is cute and I love Lamaze toys. It plays music and has different textures and things for the baby. However, I saw this while on a trip to Baby’s R Us one time and I know it comes in a box. I don’t like that it’s out of the packaging. It makes me wonder if a different mom previously received it and unpackaged it for her kid to play wth before deciding to return it.

MyBaby by Homedics Portable Sound Spa – Cost to Keep: $20 (value: $24.99)

I got the Sound Spa On the Go by Homedics in a BumpBoxes a couple months back and love it. I really like the idea of having one to keep in his nursery. I also like that I’s battery powered (hence, portable) so I can move it easily.

Carter's Baby Boys' 3 Piece Striped Hoodie Set – 24 months, Cost to Keep: $28 (value: $35)

I am a sucker for anything from Carter’s and I love this set. I also like that it’s sized up because I’m all about a baby having time to grow into clothing. Especially because I have no idea what size my son will wear when – my 3-month-old is already in 9-month clothing! His Christmas outfits are 12 months and he mostly fits them. How is that fair? Haha.

Baby Buddy Secure-A-Toy, 2-pack – Cost to Keep: $7 (Value: $3.99)

(Sorry – I forgot to take a photo of this item on its own). Having things to hook toys onto things is really helpful, but I currently have a set of colorful plastic links I love having for that. I’m sure these would be helpful, too, but they’re pricey from Babybin.

Verdict: My favorite part about BabyBin is the discovery and convenience. I have found a lot of basics, necessities, and current favorite items through them! I love that I can buy a lot of items cheaper than I can in stores, but for some reason, there were a couple small items in this bin that this didn’t apply to. In stores, you could also possibly coupon to get items cheaper at retailers, but I really don’t get around to successfully doing that, personally. I love the concept, and I like the convenience – it’s like shopping online without having to pay for the items until you get to have them in your hands!

What do you think about BabyBin?