Baby Bargains: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on Baby Furniture, Equipment, Maternity Wear and Much, Much More! (Baby Bargains: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on Baby Furniture, Equipment, Clothes, Toys,)

Wow! A baby book that actually answers the big question about having a baby: How am I going to afford all this?

With the average cost of a baby topping $7000 for just the first year alone, you need creative solutions and innovative ideas to navigate the consumer maze that confronts all parents-to-be. Baby Bargains is the answer!

Inside, you’ll discover:

•     NAME BRAND REVIEWS of car seats, bedding, strollers ,high chairs, diapers and more!
•     Dozens of safety tips to affordably baby proof your home.
•     How to use SOCIAL MEDIA and deal of the day sites to save even more.
•     FIVE wastes of money with baby clothes and the best outlet bargains.
•     NINE tips to saving money on cribs, plus in-depth reviews of crib brands.
•     THE TRUTH ABOUT STROLLERS—and which brands work best in the real world.
•     The SEVEN MOST RIDICULOUS BABY PRODUCTS.
•     DETAILED CHARTS that compare brands of cribs, strollers,  car seats and more!

This new 10th edition adds the latest tips and advice on getting bargains on baby gear, including:

1. Expanded reviews of video monitors, including new model that let you see baby on an iPhone or Andriod device.
2. More reviews of strollers—the latest models, which strollers have the quickest fold and more.
3. Crib safety: what to buy now and what to avoid, given the new safety rules.
4. Organic baby food: what's new in stores. Is it worth it?
5. And as always, the most up-to-date reviews of car seats, carriers, nursery furniture and more!

Denise & Alan Fields are the country's best-known experts on baby gear. Featured as product gurus on NBC's Today Show, Good Morning America and the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Fields have been quoted in numerous publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine. The New York Times called the Fields' book, Baby Bargains, "the bible for new parents."

As consumer advocates and authors, the Fields have spent the last 16 years researching and writing about getting the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to baby gear. Their best-selling book Baby Bargains has over 700,000 copies in print and features detailed reviews and ratings on cribs, car seats, strollers, high chairs, carriers and much more.

How do two mild-mannered folks from Boulder, CO become the country's go-to source for info on baby gear? The Fields started their focus on bargains with their best-selling book on weddings, BRIDAL BARGAINS. Following life's milestones and the birth of their first son, the Fields wrote BABY BARGAINS back in 1994.

The secret sauce to Fields success? An army of readers (moms and dads, grandparents and more) who post 1000 comments a day to the Fields' message boards. Harnessing that reader feedback, the Fields incorporate real world tips and their own first-hand inspections of baby gear at numerous trade shows to author the country's most authoritative guide on buying for baby.

The Fields are also the co-authors and publishers of the best-selling Baby 411 series, which includes Expecting 411, Baby 411 and Toddler 411.

Boulder, CO

Table of Contents from last edition:

Chapter 1

“IT’S GOING TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE”   

The Four Truths That No One Tells You    1

What Does a Baby Cost For the First Year?    2

Reality Check: How Much You Can Save    4

What? There’s No Advertising in this Book?    4

So, Who Are You Guys?    5

7 Commandments of Baby Bargains    6

What You Need When    8

We Get Questions: Top 5 Q&A    9

What’s New in This Edition?    11

Chapter 2

NURSERY NECESSITIES: CRIBS, DRESSERS & MORE

The Downside of Waiting Until the Last Minute    13

Cribs    15

The Five Basic Sources    15

    The Four Essential Parts to a Nursery    18

    More Money Buys You    19

    Three Golden Rules of Crib Shopping    20   

The Old Crib Trap and Nine Other Safety Tips    21

Recalls: Where to Find Information    26

“Baby Buying Frenzy” and 10 More Shopper Tips    26

Under crib Drawers and Five Other Wastes of Money    30

Top Eight Things No One Tells You    32

Nine Money-Saving Secrets    34

Baby Superstores: Good, Bad & Ugly     37

    Specialty Chains    42

Five Outlet Stores    43

    Baby Registries Disappoint    44

Reviews & Ratings of 50 Crib Brands    45

Not Made in China    49   

Baby Tenda    52

Organic Baby Furniture    59

    Co-sleepers & Hi-Tech Cradles    65

Hotel Cribs: Hazardous at $200 a night    74

8 Tips to Lower Risk of SIDS    90

    Our picks: Crib Brand Recommendations    93

    Chart: Crib Brands Compared    94

Bassinets/Cradles    96

Mattresses    98

“Coil Overkill” and Two More Smart Shopping Tips    98

Top Picks: Brand Recommendations—Coil, Foam, Organic    101

Dressers & Changing Tables    103

    What Is French Dove-tail? Corner Blocks?    104

    Safe & Sound: Three Tips    106

    Our picks: Brand Recommendations    107

Six More Items for the Nursery    108

The Bottom Line: Save $2000+ With Our Tips    113

Chapter 3

BABY BEDDING & DECOR

Six Sources for The Best Quality and Prices    116

Cyberspace: Four Great Sites    117

More than Sheets: The Four Basic Bedding Pieces    119

Electric Blanket Warning and Nine More Safety Tips    123

Looking for Mr. Good Bedding: Nine Shopper Tips    128

Diaper Stackers and Six More Wastes of Money    130

Skipping the Quilt and Seven More Money-Saving Secrets    131

Reviews & Ratings of 51 Top Bedding Designers    133

Tips on Green Crib Bedding    141

The Bottom Line: Our Budget Saves You $800 to $900    155

Chart: Bedding Designers Compared    156

Chapter 4

THE REALITY LAYETTE: LITTLE CLOTHES FOR LITTLE PRICES

When to Start Stocking Up on Clothes & Diapers    159

Nine Basic Sources    160

Baby Clothes    163

    Garage & Yard Sales: Eight Tips for the Best Bargains    164   

    Cyberspace: Web sources for deals    164

What Is a Layette?    167

    What Does More Money Buy You?    174

Drawstrings and Three Other Safety Tips    174

One Size Does Not Fit All    176

Laundry Conundrum: What’s Best for Baby?    177

Beware of Appliqués and 8 Other Smart Shopper Tips    179

The Fuzz Factor: Five Wastes of Money    180

Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes    182

Second Hand Bargains and 10 More Money-Saving Tips    184

Carter’s and Six Other Clothing Outlets    188

Best Bets: Best, Good and Skip It    191

Nine Great Mail-Order Clothing Catalogs    192

Our Picks: Brand Recommendations    196

Diapers    196

13 CyberSpace Diaper Sources    198

    Who’s Got the Cheapest Diapers?    201

Our Picks: Brand Recommendations    201

Which Cloth Diapers Work Best?    207

Buy in Bulk and Ten Other Money-Saving Secrets    211

The Bottom Line: Slash Clothing, Diaper Costs by $300    213

Chapter 5

MATERNITY/NURSING CLOTHES

Maternity & Nursing Clothes    215

Getting Started: When Do You Need Maternity Stuff?    215

Ten Surprising Sources    216

    Cyberspace: 15 sites    217

Your Pregnant Wardrobe: How Much Will You Need?    221

Reader Poll: Best Nursing Clothes Brands    226

Battling Your Wacky Thermostat    228

Fetal Monitors: Are They Safe?    230

Our Picks: Brand Recommendations—Undergarments    229

Our Picks: Brand Recommendations—Nursing Clothes    231

Help! My Feet Have Swollen!    232

Plus Size & 12 Other Money-Saving Tips    234

Reviews of Maternity Chain Stores    238

    Watch Out for Return Policies    239

Stay Fit: Pregnancy Workout Videos    241

Bottom Line: Save $1000 With Your Tips    243

Chapter 6

FEEDING BABY: BREASTFEEDING, BOTTLES, HIGH CHAIRS

Breastfeeding    245

Eight Sources for Help    246

    Six Web Sites For Breast Pumps    249

    Chart: Which Pump Works Best?    251

    Breast Milk Storage Options    252

    Reviews & Ratings: 12 Breast Pumps Compared    253

Breastfeeding in Public: Four Tips and Advice    254

Our Picks: Brand Recommendations    262

When to Buy a Pump    263

Formula    264

    Organic Formula and Other Options    265

    Nine Money Saving Tips    268

Bottles/Nipples    271

    Bottle Warmers & Sterilizes    272

Baby Food    273

Taste Tests and Five Other Safety Hints    274

Make Your Own and Five More Money-Saving Tips    277

    Toddler Foods: Waste of Money?    279

Reviews & Ratings of Six Brands    279   

High Chairs    282

Strap Me In and Five Other Safety Tips    282

Smart Shopper Tips: Basic Features and More    284

Reviews & Ratings of 21 Brands    286

Our Picks: Brand Recommendations    299

Chart: High Chairs Compared    300

Hook-On Chairs & Boosters    302

Chapter 7

AROUND THE HOUSE: MONITORS, DIAPER PAILS, SAFETY & MORE

Getting Started: What You Need, When    305

Best Bath Tubs    308

Six More Items for the Baby’s Room    309

The Best Diaper Pails: Reviews & Ratings    310

Coupon Sites Cut Online Shopping Costs    315

Bouncer Seats    316

Monitors    318

Bugging Your House and Four Other Shopping Tips    318

Reviews & Ratings of 10 Brands    323

    Chart: Monitors Compared    326

    Our Picks: Brand Recommendations    331

Swings: Godsend or Neglect-o-matic?    332

Baby Proofing: Safety    333

    Top Ten Baby Products That Should Be Banned    334

    Gates: Our Picks    336

    Ten Tips for Safe Toys    338

    Baby First Aid Kit    343   

    Top 11 Safety Must-Haves    345

Play Yards: The Best Bets    346

Chapter 8

CAR SEATS

Getting Started & Four Sources to Find Car Seats    350

Cyberspace: Six Great Sites For Car Seat Info    351

One Size Does NOT Fit All and Nine More Smart Tips    353

11 Car Seat Safety Tips    366

Four Money Saving Secrets    370

Reviews & Ratings of 13 Top Brands    372

What is the Lightest Infant Car Seat Carrier?    378

Model by Model Reviews: Infant Car Seats    382

Model by Model Reviews: Convertible Car Seats    396

Our Picks: Brand Recommendations—Infant Seats    415

Our Picks: Brand Recommendations—Convertible Seats    416

Booster Seats    417

    Nine Smart Shopping Tips: Testing, Harnesses & More    420

    When Is a Child Ready to Stop Using a Booster?    426

    Model by Model Reviews: Booster Car Seats    427

    Our Picks: Brand Recommendations—Booster Seats    443

Chapter 9

STROLLERS, DIAPER BAGS, CARRIERS AND OTHER TO GO GEAR

Strollers    446

    Six Types of Strollers    447

Untrustworthy Brakes and More Safety Advice    450

What Features Do You Really Need?    451

Silly Stroller Accessories & Other Wastes of Money    459

Stroller Overkill and Nine Other Money-Saving Secrets    460

Reviews & Ratings: The 35 Best & Worst Brands    462

Shopping Cart Covers: Our Top Picks    470

    The Latest From Europe: Trends & Fads    474       

Our Picks: Brand Recommendations by Lifestyle    510

    Bugaboo Smackdown: The Best Bugaboo Imitators    514

    Chart: Stroller Round-up    516

    Chart: All-Terrain Strollers Compared    518

    Three Mistakes to Avoid with Joggers    520

    Strollers for Two: Double the Fun    521

Discount Mail Order Source    522

Bike Trailers & Seats    523

Diaper Bags    525

Top Nine Items for a Well-Stocked Diaper Bag    528

Our Picks: Brand Recommendations    529

Carriers    531

    Four Carrier Types & Our Top Picks    531

Chapter 10

CHILD CARE: OPTIONS, COSTS & MORE

The Three Basic Options for Child Care    539

Dependent Care Accounts & Three More Money-Savers    541

11 Questions to Ask a Child Care Provider    542

Au Pair Option    543

Does Your Nanny Have a Past?    544

Chapter 11

CONCLUSION: WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Average Costs vs. Our Baby Bargains Budget    545

Our Parting Advice    545

Appendix A: Canadian Sources & Bargains    546

Appendix B: Sample Gift Registry    555

Appendix C: Multiples Advice: Twins and more    559

Appendix D: Phone/Web Directory    561

Index   

Contact Us   

Our Other Books   

About the Authors    Inside Back Cover