I love the Target Baby Box ($7.41 with tax). I really appreciate the ability to try out baby products without a huge investment. Ok, I MOSTLY appreciate getting a package of fun little travel size products in the mail for less than $10, but I like the trying them out thing second best. Or maybe third best. I like getting mail, I like having little cute bottles to tote around, and I like being able to try out the products without a huge investment. Oh, and I also like looking at the pretty gold box all wrapped up like a present, and I like that the $10 coupon that is included that makes it basically free. MORE than free, actually. I would be silly NOT to buy the baby box. Plus, of course, I get the opportunity to try out new baby brands or products that I otherwise might not have purchased.

(I totally have an image of Steve Martin sitting in front of a Christmas tree on that burgundy chair on Saturday Night Live, and reciting his Holiday Wish skit. I hate that skit. I know that most people love it, because it is included in the ‘Best of SNL’ Holiday Special every year. But Steve Martin annoys me and I am not sure know why. I think it’s because of Shop Girl. He played such a sleazy guy in that film, which he himself wrote and likely cast. So maybe I don’t like him because he is a really good actor? I like The Jerk, Parenthood, Father of the Bride, Roxanne, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I did hate him in Little Shop of Horrors but I think that was kind of the point. Anyway, I realize that I just basically ripped off a SNL sketch and I wish I had at least recreated one that I liked.)

The most recent Target Baby Box came with $20.54 of baby things. I know this because one of my brilliant college student children did the math. Check out the breakdown.

Method 4x Concentrated Laundry Detergent Free + Clear

• 53.5 oz for $12.99
• 8.1 oz for $1.97

 

 

Baby Dove Rich Moisture Tip-to-Toe Wash

• 13 oz for $5.99
• 1.8 oz for $0.83

 

 

Mustela Hydra Bebe Body Lotion

• 10.14 oz for $12.99
• 1.69 oz for $2.17

 

 

Cetaphil Baby Gentle Wash With Organic Calendula

• 7.8 oz for $4.29
• 1.7 oz for $0.94

 

 

Philips Avent Freeflow Pacifier (0-6 Months)

• 2 pack for $5.49
• 1 pack for $2.75

 

 

Honest Company Hand Sanitizer Spray Lavender

 

• 2 oz for $2.99 (FULL SIZE)

 

Triple Paste Rash Ointment

 

• 2 oz for $7.49 (FULL SIZE)

 

Seventh Generation Baby Wipes Free and Clear

• 64 ct for $2.99
• 30 ct for $1.40

 

 

TOTAL VALUE $20.54

PLUS the Baby Box included a ‘$10 off of $50’ Target baby coupon. Do you know how easy it is to spend $50 in the baby section at Target? So easy. So so so easy. So basically, the Baby Box is free even if I don’t use any of the cute miniature products.

Because the truth is, I’m not going to use all of these products. I will give some away, like the Avent pacifier and the Triple Paste rash ointment. They are fine, I just don’t use them. I will use some right away, like the Method laundry detergent and Honest Company hand sanitizer spray. That 30-pack of Seventh Generation wipes is currently in my diaper bag. I will save the Mustela lotion to try after further research. And I will likely toss some immediately. We already know that the grown-up versions of Cetaphil and Dove contain some very suspicious ingredients, and so far I assume the same is true of the baby versions.

But did I mention that the Target Baby Box has POLKA DOTS!?

RAISING BABYSTAR: $20,435.30