M&S scraps baby essential ‘better than brand names’ leaving parents disappointed
MARKS and Spencer has discontinued its own-brand nappy range – sparking upset among parents who say they are the best brand for their babies.
The retailer last month began selling them off cheaply at £1.50 a pack, causing a stampede from surprised families.
But the reason for the sell-off has now become apparent as M&S confirmed to one parent that the range has been discontinued.
On X, formerly Twitter, the company said this week: “Our Little Smiles nappies have been discontinued due to us offering a range of branded nappies. We don’t have stock left now, I’m sorry.”
The Little Smiles nappies, which came in sizes one to six, were marketed as ultra-absorbent due to their “fast-absorbing-channel technology”, as well as being “soft, super comfy and flexible”.
Some parents swore by them. On X, one dad said: “That’s a shame they were better than the branded ones for our little boy.”
Another added: “They’re the only ones that work well for my daughter so was disappointed to see them being replaced by Pampers.”
M&S launched its own-brand range of nappies in 2021 – allowing mums and dads to stock up for their baby as well as doing their food shop at Marks.
M&S said: “We’re constantly reviewing, improving and refreshing our ranges across the Foodhall to make sure we’re always offering customers exactly what they need.
“By partnering with the UK’s best-loved baby brands we are now providing families with a wider range of options such as larger nappy and pants sizes, along with bigger packs in our larger stores.”
Instead of the own-brand range, M&S will stock Pampers.
It’s understood that other items in the Little Smiles range, which includes nappy bags and cotton pads, have not been discontinued.
The retailer has made a similar move with its furniture range – after announcing it will be ditching the vast majority of its own-brand furniture in the coming months.
The firm will be pulling the plug on the sale of bulkier and larger own-brand pieces of furniture, including beds, sofas, wardrobes and garden furniture, and instead working with third-party brands to sell these products on its website.
Parents looking to stock up on the essential before they disappear for good may still find them on store shelves.
They are stocked in the Foodhalls, of which M&S has 316 – you can find your nearest on the retailer’s website using the store locator tool.
What is The Healthy Start Scheme?
THE Healthy Start Scheme is open to anyone more than 10 weeks pregnant or with a child under four years old and on benefits.
If eligible, you are issued a Healthy Start card which you can use in a number of supermarkets and retailers.
You can use the card to buy plain liquid cow’s milk, fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried and tinned pulses and infant formula milk.
You can also use it to purchase vitamins and vitamin drops for your baby or young child.
The maximum amount you can get your card topped up by is £8.50 a week, which totals £442 a year.
But recent figures suggest over 200,000 parents across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are missing out on the help.
You will also normally need to be claiming one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit with a family income of £16,190 or less per year
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit with no earned income or total earned income of £408 or less per month for the family
However, you can also apply for the scheme if you are under 18 and not on any benefits.
How you apply varies depending on which benefits you receive.
It could be worth calling ahead to see if they have them in stock to save a wasted journey.
Currently, some of the range is available online on the Ocado website, which stocks M&S food and other household items.
For example M&S Little Smiles nappies are available in in Size 4 (7-18kg) and Size 3 (3-9kg), both for the full price of £3.
When an item is discontinued it can take some time for stock to clear from shelves.
But when it’s gone, it’s gone, as the item won’t be restocked.
How to save on nappies
Make the most of freebies
Big nappy brands often offer freebies to parents with children of varying ages.
each pack of Pampers nappies you buy has a code on the inside of the box, if you scan that code on the Pampers Club app you get a stamp.
The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or from the Google Play store on Android.
You get one point per nappy in a pack so the larger the packs, the more points you’ll receive.
For example, if you scan a code inside a pack of 86 nappies, you’ll receive 86 points.
You can then redeem your points for coupons to redeem at retailers such as Tesco, Asda, Boots, Morrisons or Sainsbury’s.
Plus, Pampers is currently offering £6 off Pampers nappies in Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Coop, or Boots.
To get the money off first download the Pampers Club app and use code DOWNLOAD6OFF on signing up to get a coupon for £6 off Pampers Premium Protection.
It can used for New Baby nappies until Sunday, June 30.
For older tots, you can also get a free DryNites pyjama pants from Huggies.
The tester could be a good way to try out the pants before buying a whole pack.
You’ll need to fill out a form on the DryNites website to register for your freebie.
When you’re filling in your details, you’ll be able to choose from 3-5 years, 4-7 years or 8-15 years.
If you’re looking for a more sustainable option, Pura is giving away a free 24-pack of its 100% biodegradable baby wipes.
To get the freebie, sign up to the Pura website – this is free to do – and simply add it to your basket.
You will, however, still pay 99p for delivery.
Baby banks and food banks
Families who are struggling to pay for meals are often referred to food bank run by the Trussell Trust or another community organisation.
The Trussell Trust runs a nationwide network of around 1,200 food banks across the UK.
You need to be referred to by organisations such as GPs, schools, or help organisations such as Citizens Advice to gain access.
However, specialist “baby banks” run by local organisations and charities cater specifically for parents who need to get essentials for their children.
Baby banks typically hand out free toiletries and essentials purchased from donations, as well as distributing second hand clothes, toys, and other items such as prams.
There isn’t an up-to-date tool listing every baby bank in the UK, so your best bet is to google what’s available in your local area or ask charities such as Citizens Advice and Trussell Trust for information.
Children’s charity Little Village has an interactive baby bank tool of more than 200 baby banks UK-wide.
How to access a baby bank’s service depends on the centre itself.
Some may allow struggling families to contact them directly, while others require referrals from officials.
Sure Start Grant
New parents on Universal Credit can get a £500 grant to help with childcare costs through the Sure Start grant.
The one-off payment doesn’t need to be paid back and it won’t reduce your monthly Universal Credit payment or tax credits.
The cash can be used to pay for anything that will ease the immediate financial strain on families when caring for a new baby.
New parents must have claimed the grant within 11 weeks in advance of their baby’s due date or within six months after their child is born.
You’ll need to print out and fill in a claim form, providing personal details such as your name, address and partner’s details if applicable.
You will also need to let them know what benefits you’re claiming and when you are expecting your baby.
A midwife or doctor will need to sign it too to confirm that you are expecting.
Only parents who are expecting their first child are eligible for the grant, so if you’re about to have your second or third infant then you won’t be able to claim the payout.
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