Are Bump Boxes the perfect subscription for moms-to-be?
We tried three months of the popular service to find out.
Credit:
Bump Boxes
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I'm 31 weeks pregnant, and it's clear the Instagram algorithm knows, as I’ve been inundated with baby-related brands and paraphernalia of late. In fact, during one particular scrolling session, I came upon a sponsored ad for Bump Boxes, the self-described “#1 ranked subscription box for expecting moms.” Naturally, I was intrigued, so I signed up for a three-month subscription to see if it was as great as it looked on the ‘gram.
What is Bump Boxes?
What box would you want to unwrap?
Christine and Leland Deehring began their parenting journey in 2013 when they brought their first child into the world. Soon, the couple encountered a problem in searching for products that were good-for-you and, instead, were bombarded with ones that were littered with chemicals. The duo endeavored to find effective pregnancy products that would be nourishing and safe to use.
Since the brand’s inception in 2015, they’ve shipped over 1 million boxes and counting. Additionally, they’ve expanded their empire by acquiring other brands such as Supplet and Hello Mamas, developed their own line of self-care products called Glow Organics, launched an offshoot subscription box service focused on tailoring to baby’s developmental needs called Bitsy Boxes, and more. These efforts are done in tandem with continuing to vet and collaborate with independent entrepreneurs to showcase their premium line of baby and mom care products.
Suffice it to say, the pampering is real, with an active online community who often fawns over the latest goodies that are revealed in these Bump Boxes.
How much does Bump Boxes cost?
The Mambino Organics youth glow hydrating serum was a standout.
There are two primary ways to buy a Bump Boxes subscription: monthly or bundled.
Monthly means that you pay in installments, and the price varies depending on how many boxes you want: $35.99 per month for 12 months; $37.99 per month for nine month; $39.99 per month for six months; and $44.99 per month to pay on a month-by-month basis. You also receive 30% off of your first month's box when you place your order.
If you choose a bundle, you pay one lump fee: $429 for 12 months total; $339 for nine months; $239 for six months. Additionally, as with many other types of subscription services, Bump Boxes auto renews after your final box is delivered.
What I liked about Bump Boxes
There's some adorable baby gear in addition to spa treatments.
There are plenty of subscription options to choose from
Having never tried this pregnancy subscription before, I was uncertain of what I’d receive in these boxes. Fortunately, it was nice to know that I had many options in terms of the quantity of boxes I could get as well as being able to choose between two different types of payment plans. These options are not only great for those who are budget-conscious, but it gives first-timers an opportunity to vet the quality of products with their first Bump Box and, if satisfied, continue to renew the subscription service.
Quality skincare items are included
As someone who reviews beauty/wellness products, I’ve tested a lot of items over the years, so it was a pleasant surprise to discover how phenomenal Bump Boxes' skincare items were. I was particularly enamored with the inclusion of Mambino Organics Youth Glow Hydrating Serum, whose formulation of marula, evening primrose, rosehip oils, and sea buckthorn berries safely nourished my dry/stretchy skin and ever-growing baby bump. Additionally, I loved that the company introduced me to this gentle yet effective Coconut Rum Coffee Scrub by CariBBrew.
Perhaps the best aspect of receiving these products was that I could learn about the people behind the brands; they’re frequently owned and operated by intrepid female entrepreneurs. Ultimately, it’s great to discover that a Bump Boxes purchase goes to supporting and spotlighting these companies.
Baby gear is adorable
There’s nothing quite like getting little baby mitts or a baby onesie in these boxes to make your pregnancy feel all that more real. Additionally, items are composed of stretchy cotton and are one-size-fits-all garments, so there’s no concern that something will or won’t fit your baby.
You can gift individual boxes
If you’re on the gifting side of things, and seeking a one-off, no-hassle purchase, the site offers a robust listing of non-subscription pregnancy boxes for every trimester. The company even offers dads their very own box.
Refills are available for purchase
If you adore a product or item that was included in your Bump Box and don’t want to hunt down where to buy it on your own, the company has you covered. You can purchase refills through the Bump Boxes shop and activate your VIP subscriber discount once you login with your email and password. For instance, a six-month subscriber will get 15% off all shop products, nine months will get 25% off, and 12 months will get 30% off. I thought this was a thoughtful and convenient element to have on their site.
The website is robust and helpful
You could spend a long time on the Bump Boxes site because it offers countless resources to help you prepare to be a parent. The Bump Boxes Due Date Calendar offers you week-by-week updates on your baby’s growth; Pregnancy Week by Week offers facts and symptoms about your body and baby’s; a BabyName Matcher app helps you find the perfect name for your newborn; and lastly, the Bump Boxes Blog offers expert advice and tips on a range of topics that include day-to-day living, motherhood, newborn care, pregnancy, wellness, and more.
Overall, I appreciated that they had a well-rounded approach to their company and that they echo their pregnancy/parenting community base by fostering this kind of mutual support and guidance instead of a pure emphasis on selling products.
What I didn’t like
The inclusion of confetti seems wasteful.
Items are more spa-centric than anything else
While the company claims that they tailor to your baby’s gender, due date, and your pregnancy needs (you can decide if you want to disclose this information during their online purchasing process), the five to eight items that came in the monthly Bump Boxes were incredibly unpredictable.
Moreover, while I’m always a fan of beauty products, I noticed that this was the most dominant theme with every box I received. I was hoping for other more practical items such as pregnancy clothing and accessories or books on newborn care, but didn’t have any luck in these areas—although, they do offer such items for individual purchase in the shop section of their website.
Not everything is useful
Some items I absolutely loved and others I found to be incredibly useless or not of the best quality. For instance, the Face It Cloth makeup remover was very soft but not durable, and after one run in the laundry, it was completely ruined—plus the product caused color transfer onto some of my other clothes.
Additionally, I understand that a Back Scrubber with Handles was intended to help reach areas that are now not-so-easy to reach with a budding belly, but even in my third trimester I’m still not compelled to use it. Ultimately, that’s the risk you run with these boxes; some items you’re just not going to be a fan of.
Non-beauty products are not locally sourced
If you’re trying to be a carbon-reducing, conscious consumer who wants to support more independent and local brands, you’re out-of-luck when it comes to Bump Boxes’ current sourcing of non-beauty items. For instance, an Ubbi On-the-Go Baby changing Mat, a lined notebook, and even baby clothes were all made in China, although I will note that the mat and clothing were "designed in the USA."
There was a lot of packaging waste
While everyone loves the thrill of an unboxing experience (myself included), I actually found the parcels themselves to be incredibly wasteful. Oftentimes the product volume wasn’t great enough to justify the use of a large box.
Additionally, their inclusion of confetti—while fun and aesthetically pleasing—was a hassle to clean and wipe off of products as the stringy pieces of paper clung to everything. I wish that Bump Boxes had opted for something like Stork Bag’s reusable satin drawstring bag, as it would have been more environmentally friendly and practical.
Another issue I had was with all the generic "postcards" enclosed with the boxes. They’re essentially advertisements that encourage you to text, call, or visit the Bump Boxes website for some incentive, like refills on items with discounts, free prenatal vitamins, or a free breast pump. For me, these cards ultimately ended up in the recycling bin because I was already receiving this duplicate information through their e-newsletter.
The free breast pump offer didn't work
Lastly, my biggest pet peeve was that when I opted to find out more about the free breast pump, the guidelines didn’t work for me. Specifically, I texted PUMP or 63846 on my smartphone as directed on the postcard to redeem my free breast pump but never got a response. I think it’s because I live in Canada, so if you live outside of the United States, you may be unable to take advantage of these offers.
Customer service is nearly non-existent
I reached out to the company numerous times with their info@bumpboxes.com address—which they designate for subscription cancellations, general inquiries, and partnerships—and never once did I receive a reply. In fact, the only way I was able to get a response was by sending a direct message to the Bump Boxes social media team on Instagram. However, even then my queries pertaining to this story went unanswered.
While my questions were journalist-specific, this is the same email you’re supposed to use on the consumer-facing front, so I’m not sure how responsive they are with other types of inquiries. In any case, my overall experience with customer service was a little frustrating.
Should you subscribe to Bump Boxes?
Another standout was the CariBBrew coconut rum-scented body butter and coffee scrub.
It depends. While it’s apparent that Bump Boxes is incredibly savvy when it comes to marketing and creating brand awareness. However, compared with other pregnancy boxes I’ve received and tested, this one is by far the most generic one. If you’re looking for specific items that will nurture you in every trimester, I think you should look at other brands such as Bébé Knows Best and Lovevery.
Ultimately, I feel that the defining factor here is whether you’re buying the subscription box for yourself or gifting it. Personally, I wouldn’t subscribe to Bump Boxes again for myself because about half of the items I received each month went unused. However, if I knew someone who was pregnant and hosting a baby shower, this would be a thoughtful gift.
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