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Baby Bargains, 7th Edition: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby furniture, gear, clothes, toys, maternity wear and much more! (Baby Bargains)
5Mar2008 Filed under: baby products Author: admin
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Congratulations, you’re expecting a baby! What you may not be expecting is all of the requisite gear you “need” to look after your dear bundle. Fear not. Denise and Alan Fields, authors of Bridal Bargains, are here to tell you what’s super and what’s silly, and how to find it at the best price. You’ll learn all about how (and where) to shop for a crib and dresser (including how to get European styling at reasonable prices), what you need in bedding and what can be skipped (a hint: no baby requires the $200 quilt!), which clothing brands are safest and least expensive, and how to shop for monitors, toys, car seats, strollers, books, videos, and more. The authors have field-tested every major brand (and several of the minor ones), and they provide star ratings and annotations at the end of every chapter. A helpful feature in each chapter called “Wastes of Money” will steer you away from $35 Baby Air Jordans and frilly diaper stackers that match your bedding. If that’s not enough, they offer a money-back guarantee: If the book doesn’t save you at least $250 in baby expenses, they’ll refund the price of the book. Well researched and written in a witty and comfortable tone, Baby Bargains should be required reading for every safety- and money-conscious parent-to-be. –Rebecca A. Staffel –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
One of the thorniest questions new parents ask themselves is, How are we ever going to pay for this? With the average cost of a baby topping $6,000 for the first year alone, expectant moms and dads need all the creative solutions and cost-cutting ideas they can find. Baby Bargains is the answer. The book lists great deals and money-saving strategies for a wide variety of must-have items, from maternity wear, baby clothes, and diapers to furniture, bedding, and toys. Extensive charts allow parents to compare and contrast name-brand cribs, strollers, high chairs, child safety seats, baby monitors, and more. Now in its seventh edition, the book has been completely revised and updated to include new sections on toddler topics like potty training and booster seats;the latest news on hot strollers, including new models from Europe; new reviews on ultra-modern nursery furniture brands; extensive charts that compare and contrast name-brand cribs, strollers, high chairs, baby monitors and more; and a special section on Canada bargains, with expanded reviews on Canadian brands and discount sources.
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3 Responses to “Baby Bargains, 7th Edition: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby furniture, gear, clothes, toys, maternity wear and much more! (Baby Bargains)”
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admin
03月 5th, 2008 at 1:50 am
By H. Johnson “Hal Johnson” (Bella Vista, CA USA)
Put this one in the “I shoulda payed attention” category. I noted, while checking the reviews to the Consumer Reports book “Guide to Baby Products,” that the Fields’ book was clearly given the nod as the better book. Still, I’ve been a Consumer Reports subscriber for many years, and I reasoned that “Guide to Baby Products” must surely have information that “Baby Bargains” lacked. So, I bought both of them. My advice? Those other reviewers were right. “Baby Bargains” is as least as complete in its evaluations of products, and it’s a much better source of background information. To boot, it’s warmer in tone, funny, and a more enjoyable read all around. Buy “Baby Bargains” and skip CU’s book.
admin
03月 5th, 2008 at 1:50 am
By “justharmony” (Ewa Beach, HI USA)
Baby Bargains is one of the most valuable books I purchased during my pregnancy! The information contained within assisted us with almost all of our purchasing decisions guiding us towards things we needed and steering us away from things we didn’t. However, like all good resources, improvements could definitely be made and more savings realized!
Each chapter contains fairly complete information on your brand options, advantages and disadvantages of each brand, company contact and website info. Moreover, the authors guide you towards money saving mail order and website sources. Other reviewers critique the “best” rated brands as pricey and they are. However, the “best” rated brand may not be what is best for you and your family. You simply garner the information and make decisions based upon your needs and budget.
Perhaps my greatest disappointment with the book is that the biggest savings are either overlooked or outright dismissed. Most dismaying was the lack of discussion on savings provided by breastfeeding, homemade baby food, cloth diapering, and homemade baby wipes. After all, we’re talking about Baby Bargains and you’d be suprised how much these “repeat” necessities add up!
All of these “cost savings” techniques are easier than you think, but the authors either never touch on the subject or if they do, they dismiss it. For example, homemade baby food is never touched upon. I’m not implying that we must all make all of our own baby food; however, there are some cost effective ways to decrease what you spend on baby food (i.e. mash single food ingredients instead of buying them premashed in baby food jars, etc. . .) An excellent book based on the subject is Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. It is based on the premise that you can spend as much or as little time making baby food.
Moreover, it is clear from their tone (”Cloth diapers can’t hold a candle to today’s super-absorbent disposable diapers.”) that the authors have never cloth diapered their children. The authors mention that Mother Ease has a following. Granted, they make some nice (and pricey) diapers, but they’re not the only way to go (just like every family doesn’t need a Peg Perego stroller).
Many cloth diaper users use inexpensive Chinese prefolds, no pins, and snap or velcro wraps. The authors claim you’ll spend more because of the various sizes . . . hogwash . . . most of us are able to safely skip sizes. I know, my son is comfortably wearing the same size cover at 7 months that he wore at 1 month. We invested approximately $100 7 months ago and are still going strong!
Granted, cloth diapering is not for everyone, but it is easier and more convenient than most people think. Our biggest difficulty was the first couple of weeks . . . figuring out what diapers worked for us and how to care for them. Three dozen prefolds and an extra 2 loads of laundry a week. From the pail to the wash, I never realized how easy it could be. It’s a shame the authors didn’t try it themselves before dismissing it as “costing as much” as disposables and “most folks don’t have the time or energy”. It just isn’t so!
Finally, Baby Bargains totally misses the mark when it comes to coupons, particularly those available online. There are a plethora of sites dedicated to discounts, online coupon codes and rebates for the baby stores you’re most likely to shop at. Had I known about these sites when we did our shopping last year, we’d have saved hundreds more than the initial savings we realized from Baby Bargains.
Overall, I would recommend purchasing Baby Bargains. After all, it is a *really* good book for product information, what you need and what you don’t. However, it could definitely go farther in saving you money with low cost alternatives and online coupon website recommendations!
admin
03月 5th, 2008 at 1:51 am
By M. LaCombe (Alvin, TX USA)
It will be my baby shower gift from now on! This book is EXCELLENT - great for 1st time parents or parents who want to buy the best stuff at the best price. It’s also useful for ensuring good baby gifts, especially baby clothes. People who don’t have babies buy all the wrong clothes - no easy diaper access, snaps in back & not front, etc. So be sure to share the baby clothes tips!
Some readers complain that a lot of the recommended brands are pricey - like Peg Perego strollers. True, but you need to read ALL the recommendations. Peg Perego is said to be the best stroller. However, the text notes that only city-dwellers really need a stroller this light and durable. For suburbanites, the 4-in-1 travel system from Century is recommended, and it is cheaper than Peg Perego. I have a 4-in-1 Century Travel System, and I’m very happy with it. I bought it based on Baby Bargains’ recommendation. Sometimes the book is wordy or confusing but this is a minor complaint. Read and reread this book - there’s alot of info here - too much to memorize. Take it with you on shopping trips for quick reference! And be sure to check their website for updates!