I Tried Bump Boxes—a Fun Gift to Pamper an Expecting Parent in Any Trimester

As I head (barrel) towards the delivery date of my fifth child, a daughter after four sons, I realize how little self-care I’ve engaged in, despite knowing just how important it is. Squeezing in a bubble bath with kids bouncing around the bathroom can be far from relaxing. So, when I first learned about Bump Boxes, I saw the subscription as a quick way to sneak in some of that pampering you envision in your pregnancy in quick and practical ways. Plus, it’s fun to try out products you didn’t know could solve your pregnancy problems, from nausea to achy joints.

I’m far from alone in this—around 30% of pregnant women experience stress, which can stem from work or depression and anxiety.This can have a very real impact on not only our health but our babies' health, too; according to a 2019 study published in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.It has been linked to premature birth and slowed infant heart rate, among other health risks. Given that, Bump Boxes, which includes a variety of products meant to help expecting parents relax and feel better overall, can make an ideal gift for a loved one or yourself.

In order to get a broad overview of what the company has to offer expecting parents at each stage, I opted for theTrimester Bundle, which includes three boxes, one per trimester that all come at once. I used these items for multiple weeks, and here’s what I discovered along the way.

What Is a Bump Boxes Subscription?

Bump Boxes wasfounded by two parentswho realized that lots of pregnancy and infant products can be filled with chemicals, and wanted to create more natural products to promote healthier pregnancies. The company offers a wide range of boxes, each containing items tailored to the typical feelings and challenges of particular stages of pregnancy, and beyond (aka postpartum). You can choose from a subscription where the boxes come all at once, every month, or at other intervals.

Some examples of the types of subscriptions you can set up include:

• New Mom to Be Gift Box: $50
• Six-month pregnancy subscription box: $22 for the first box, $43 monthly afterward with a free gift, or $254 prepaid
• Nine-month pregnancy subscription box: $24 for the first box, $40 after that with a free gift, or $366 prepaid
• 12-month pregnancy subscription box: $27 for the first box, $39 monthly afterward with a free gift, or $462 prepaid
• The Dad Box: $50

The boxes include multiple organic and pregnancy-safe items that mostly involve self-care and pampering, such as bath scrubs and soaps and accessories like headbands—and for the first trimester, nausea-related fixes. The company boasts clean ingredients “vetted by experts.” However, it doesn’t say specifically what sort of experts they are.

While it’s not the cheapest gift you might buy, Bump Boxes does have an eye for inclusion for all cultures, with no products excluding any hair, skin, or body types. However, the box isn’t gender-inclusive for all pregnant people.

Ordering the Product

The ordering process was quite simple, as the website did a good job of helping me decide if I wanted a single box, a subscription, or a gift. There was no sense of getting tricked into accidentally subscribing as some box services do. It was slightly difficult to find the prepaid options versus the monthly cost, but other than that it was an easy-to-navigate site. There were discounts available on some boxes, such as longer subscriptions, to offset the cost of larger orders and incentivize ongoing commitments.

I could’ve also selected a month-to-month option that included five to eight items tailored to my trimester and converted to a Bitsy Box once my baby was born until I decide to cancel (anytime before my renewal date is allowed). You can’t choose specific items to go in each box, but depending on your purchase option, you can pick which trimester it’s for in some cases.

I ordered the three-trimester bundle of boxes that provides tailored products for common trials and challenges during that trimester. I think the main allure of the brand is this accommodation of various stages of pregnancy, which can range so widely from month to month, making the subscription helpful.

Receiving the Bump Boxes

The three Bump Boxes arrived promptly and were stacked neatly in one larger box. The boxes contained recyclable paper strands for padding and the boxes themselves are recyclable. Each was carefully packaged and had between four and seven items inside.

三个月一个

• “Feeling fly as a mother” water bottle
• Glow bath bomb
• Three sparkling “fizz elixirs” (morning sickness relief)
• Preggie Pop Drops for nausea
• Peppermint essential oil wristband for nausea
• Stickers to take bump pictures each week of pregnancy

Trimester Two

• Reusable makeup remover cloth
• Bath soak and belly butter
• Ultrasound frame that says “love at first sight”

Trimester Three

• Microfiber hair wrap towel
• Stretchy headband
• Eye mask for sleep that says “napping for two”
• Back massage roller for thatinevitable back pain
• Three sets of coconut and vitamin D eye rejuvenation patches
• Socks that say “inhale” and “exhale” on the bottoms
• Foot soak

我认为对于妊娠前三个月的框是合适的an eye on nausea, but it only offered one product focusing on the joy and excitement of being a newly expecting parent. The second-trimester box seemed a bit random, especially the makeup remover cloth, though I felt the frame for the ultrasounds was spot on (unless you receive the box too late in that trimester and you’ve already purchased one). Finally, I thought the third trimester box did a good job of catering to both the aches and pains of that specific time period while also preparing for the upcoming birth with items that are handy for the birth itself.

Instructions on each product were easy to follow, and it was obvious what each was for. For example, the under-the-eye moisturizing patches had simple directions for applying them, a clear note on how long to leave them on, and user-friendly packaging.

Most of the items were well-tailored to the time of pregnancy they were meant for, such as the socks, which spell “inhale” on the bottom of one foot and “exhale” on the bottom of the other—the words are made from rubber to provide traction, which is great for trudging around the hospital floors during and after the baby’s birth. They are a more stylish version of hospital socks with grippers.

A few products were full-sized, such as the Preggie Pops, and some felt high-quality like the ultrasound frame. All products were durable, well sealed, and worked properly.

Customer service is easily accessible through a detailed contact form, and you can also text the service for support, which is handy. However, when I texted the customer service line a question during business hours, it took close to an hour to get a reply, though the response was helpful and detailed when it did arrive.

Pros & Cons

There was a lot I appreciated about Bump Boxes, but there were notable misses. Here are my pros and cons.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Bump Boxes’ main allure is that you get a surprise each month, if you subscribe, which can be a serious pick-me-up in the long journey that is pregnancy. If you are picky about items you receive, you might not enjoy the randomness as much as someone else, though. Personally, I’d hoped for a bit wider variety of products, rather than lots of bath-specific products or multiple nausea relievers. The brand, though, is true to its promises, such as easy cancellation month to month. Plus, there are no negative surprises along the way, such as tricky marketing getting you to buy more.

Bump Boxes' contents could focus slightly less on bath and beauty self-care products, and more on other aspects of pregnancy, especially positive aspects. For example, much of the first-trimester box was for nausea, but it could have included other products to highlight the excitement about the first few weeks of pregnancy.

Aside from that, I’d strongly recommend Bump Boxes to anyone trying togive a pregnant personsome thoughtful gifts, or for an expecting person who wants to surprise themselves with a little monthly self-care. After all, building a human is hard work.