Baby Bargains Book Saves 1st Time Parents Money

If you're expecting your first baby, or know someone who is, you should consider picking up or gifting a copy of the book Baby Bargains. For about $12 on Amazon, it's a major bargain. You're guaranteed to save way more than it costs from what you learn from this book.

Having your first baby is overwhelming enough. Step foot into a store like Babies 'R Us to create a registry, and it's such information overload that you are not only overwhelmed, but convinced you're going to need a bigger house for all of the stuff you have to buy.

Enter Baby Bargains. Why is this book terrific? Let me count the ways.

1. Education - It cuts through the clutter and tells you what are the critical decision factors for each category of purchase (e.g. cribs, high chairs, etc). What kind of stroller do you need based on where you live (e.g. city, suburbia) and how you'll use it? What should you look for to ensure a crib is well built and has "safe" hardware? How much should you spend on these items?
2. Brand Information: It rates major brands on the safety and quality of their products and lets you know if a more expensive brand is worth the extra money. It warns you if a brand is known for poor customer service. At the end of each major chapter, it gives brand picks to sum up the information for each purchasing category.
3. Tips for Saving Money - It tells you what's worth buying (a good diaper pail) and what's a waste of money (a wipe warmer). It will alert you to hidden costs, like having to buy the "special" bags for a Diaper Genie vs. using any regular kitchen bag for a Diaper Champ. It tells you what types of stores or online sites to shop to get the best deals on clothes.
4. Practical Tips - It helps you think about things that you might not have considered as a first time parent. For example, don't buy the best looking/cutest high chair if you can't wipe it clean with a sponge. Some high chair cushions that are fabric can't even go into the washing machine (who invents this stuff?)

If you read the book BEFORE you try to go to a store to register for or purchase something, you'll have a few options in mind and can make a quicker and more educated decision for each category. You might even want to bring it with you, as you'll probably reference it a bunch of times at the store.

Why should you trust these folks? First, there is no advertising in the book, so you don't have to worry about a conflict of interest or bias. Real life parents and authors Denise and Alan Fields have sampled tons of products and talked to thousands of parents to get real life input. If you check out the book on Amazon, you'll find that over 700 people have rated the book, and it has an almost perfect rating of 4.5 stars.

IMPORTANT! The newest version of the book is the 8th edition. This is one book where buying an old, used copy just doesn't cut it. Product and safety information is always changing, and it's best to have the most up to date information possible for the safety of your baby.