Baby Bargains!
by Heather Hales, associate editor

Getting ready for baby can be intimidating if this is your first time. You might wander through the maze of baby products wondering what your baby really needs and how on earth you are going to pay for it?! Well, we have compiled some great advice that we hope helps you at this stage of the game...

GET THE BEST FOR LESS
Taken from www.msnbc.com, by Denise and Alan Fields

Stroller tip: Buy last year’s model.  Manufacturers come out with new baby stuff every year; often they just change the color of the fabric. Hence you can buy a “2000” or “2001” model (basically the same as this year) for big savings. For example, Combi (the great stroller maker) has an “outlet” section on their Web site. Here’s a sample: the Ultra Savvy costs $299 in stores, but if you go online to Combi’s outlet store, you can get the 2000 model for almost 40% less, $189. This is a brand-new stroller; no seconds or used samples. You can often save 50 percent or more with this tip — just look for last year’s models in baby stores, usually in a “clearance” area.

High Chair tip: Go for the designer knock-offs.  Love that European high chair (such as the Chicco Mama or Peg Perego Prima Papa), but can’t stand that nearly $200 price tag? Consider a knock-off: Baby Trend is now selling “their version” of this high chair with all the same features. The price: $84.99 (on Amazon.com). Yes, that’s half the price for the same look.

Designer clothes tip: Hit eBay.com.  The Internet is a gold mine when it comes to really big savings! Go to the Internet auction sites. eBay is a big attraction for bargain hunters. Some tips: Look for the listings that say NWT: That means new with tags. These are brand new, not used items, usually offered at big savings, at least 50 percent depending on the auction. There are endless baby bargains here: strollers, car seats, furniture, clothes etc. Here’s an example: “Giesswein” Austrian wool jackets retail for $225. One was available on eBay for $122.

Crib (wrought iron) tip: Shop smart; do your homework.  What about a wrought iron crib at half price? These cribs are all the rage now and can cost $1,000 to $1,500. We discovered a new wrought iron line from Legacy (Child Craft) that has the same look, but only runs $550 (price doesn’t include the bedding in the crib). These cribs are brand new, so most folks won’t have seen them yet in stores.

STUFF TO SKIMP ON BUY LOW, NOT HIGH
Formula tip: Buy generic brands.  Baby formula can be outrageously expensive. We’re talking $15 for a can of brand-name stuff at grocery stores. Our tip: Did you know the federal government regulates the ingredients of formula? That means generic, or store brand formula is basically the same stuff as the name brands with the fancy labels. Our favorite: BabyMil (www.babymil.com), sold at Wal-Mart and Target under their store names. You save 40 percent or nearly $500 a year!

Diaper tip: Buy in bulk and hit the warehouse stores.  Diapers are another little expense that adds up in a hurry, especially when you buy them at retail in small packs at grocery stores. Our tip: Go to wholesale clubs like Costco, BJ’s and Sam’s. All sell name brand diapers by the case — at prices 20 percent to 40 percent less than grocery stores. You save $350 a year.

Clothes tip: Save money on basics like socks, onesies, turtle necks, T-shirts, leggings, etc.  For everyday comfort, basic brands like Carter’s, Little Me and Osh Kosh are best bets. Also, Old Navy and Target have great prices for their value. Scan the outlet stores. What are the secrets to getting the best deals? Find out when merchandise is being delivered and watch for seasonal clearance sales.

FORGET ABOUT IT PRODUCTS
a.k.a. DON’T BOTHER BUYING
It may be very tempting to buy every new fad and matching accessory when it comes to stocking your baby’s nursery. Stores, catalogs, and even your friends will tell you that you must have these products, or you fall prey to the “terrible mommy” syndrome. Here are just a few of the products that could be inducted into the “waste of money hall of fame”:

       -Dreft baby detergent
       -baby wipes warmer
       -bottle warmer
       -baby perfume
       -Diaper Genie
       -baby comforter
       -baby soaps/scented water
       -Origins baby massage cream, “Bare Hugs”

And there are many many others in the billion-dollar baby industry that should be banned from your home.

TOP BABY BARGAIN TIPS:
Surf for diaper savings: Diapers4Less (www.diapers4less.com) sells diapers at just 17¢ a diaper, which is 30 percent less than most grocery stores. A case of 204 small diapers was $35 including shipping. Save even more if you sign up for their regular shipping program.

Costco for strollers:  Yes, warehouses like Costco sell diapers and formula at rock-bottom prices, but what about premium Italian strollers? You can find Peg Perego strollers at www.Costco.com for as little as $129 (compare to $200 in stores).                                            

Consider GAP and Old Navy for maternity clothes:
Both the Gap and Old Navy have added maternity to their Web sites at great prices. Here’s a sample: $24 poplin tops and $38 for maternity jeans. That’s half the price of mall maternity shops. While maternity clothing is only sold online, you can return any items that don’t work directly to the stores.  Other places to look for Maternity Clothes:

Get a discounted car seat:  We found insurance companies that offer free car seats to parents that attend a parenting class. Another offers a $25 rebate coupon for the purchase of any seat, no strings attached.

Forget fancy bedding sets:  Winnie the Pooh bedding can run $300 a set. Our advice: skip the Pooh sheets and instead buy solid-color bedding. Then decorate the nursery with themed accessories and other items. You’ll save 60 percent or more. A simple set of sheets and cotton blanket runs a mere $50. Another piece of wise bedding advice: Skip the frills like diaper stackers, dust ruffles, matching curtain valences and the like.

Wear it again, Sam:  Second-hand stores that specialize in children’s clothing and equipment are a bargain paradise. We’ve seen $25 outfits for as little as $5 and other items like mobiles, bassinets, toys, and more baby necessities at discounted prices. Another great source: garage sales.

Shop generic stores:  Look in shops that do not have baby in their name. For example: Unfinished furniture stores have great deals on dressers, book cases and other furniture for the nursery. Save big by finishing the items yourself. Go to Target to get decorative knobs and other cute accessories at bargain prices.  

THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION
Parents think they have to sacrifice quality or safety in order to save money on baby products. Neither could be farther from the truth. We found numerous ways to save without sacrificing either quality or safety.

KEYS TO SAVING BIG ON BABY PRODUCTS       
Plan ahead. Some of our best deals are online, in factory stores or from mail order sources. You have to leave time to shop and then shipping.

Think outside the box. Some of the best deals on baby stuff aren’t in “baby” stores. For example: You can find incredible bargains on baby formula, diapers and clothes in places like warehouse clubs.

Don’t waste money. First-time parents think they have to buy everything! And the baby products industry feeds this frenzy by coming out with all sorts of ridiculous and worthless baby gadgets. You can save big by not wasting your money on such drivel.

Denise and Alan Fields are consumer advocates who have made a career out of chronicling life’s milestones. “Baby Bargains,” their third book, was inspired by the birth of their sons. The fourth edition of the book was released in 2001. (Publisher: Windsor Peak Press.)

Homemade Baby Products

Homemade Baby Wipes

RECIPE #1

• 1 roll of Bounty or Viva paper towels (others will shred)
• Use a serrated knife or coping saw to cut the roll of paper towels in half.
• You'll also need a container-- a leftover "large-size" store-bought wipes container (the kind that comes in a roll) that has a hole in the lid; or a Tupperware container that's about the same size, you will have to lift the lid each time.
• 2c water
• 1T Johnson & Johnson Baby Oil
• 1T Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo (other brands will mold before you finish the roll)

After you cut the paper towels in half, put one-half aside for the next batch. In the container, Stir the liquid mixture well, and then place the half-roll of paper towels in the container. Put the lid on, and shake a few times to saturate the towels. Lift the lid and pull the first "wipe" from the middle. They should tear off easily after that. These cost about 50 cents a batch, as opposed to $2.00+ for store bought brands. 

-Idea by Stretcher.com

RECIPE #2

• 3 cups of water boiled for 5 minutes
• Add 3T of baby oil
• 1T of Baby Magic

Take a roll of paper towels and cut it in half. (Buy the good ones, white with no print.) Take them off the roll and pull them apart and fold them. Fold one half in an old baby wipe box and the other half in another. Then mix the solution equally in each box.

-Idea by BabyZone.com

Diaper Rash Cream

Gently heat together:

• 1 oz calendula petals
• 1 oz comfrey root cut in small pieces
• 1 oz chickweed
• 1 cup sweet almond oil or olive oil

Heat this together over a double boiler for 40 -50 minutes or you can also put in the crock pot for a few hours on low. (You are trying to extract all the healing properties from the herbs into the oil) Strain the herbs out using cheesecloth and then add the herbal oil to a pan to warm and add 2 -4 teaspoons of beeswax.  Stir until the wax is melted , spoon into a clean jar and add one vitamin e capsule. You can also use this ointment to help heal sore nipples.

-Idea by Frugal-Moms.com

Homemade Baby Food

Fruits & Vegetables

* Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove any chemical residue.

* Steam or boil your baby’s favorite fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables until mushy. Use fresh fruits and veggies for the most nutritional value, frozen next, and canned as a last option. If you use canned veggies, be sure to use the "No Salt" versions. Use little or no spice.

* Puree the fruits or vegetables very well for smaller infants, or leave a bit coarser for older ones. For variety, mix two fruits together. If these are the first foods you are feeding your infant, you may even want to strain the pureed fruit. You can purchase an inexpensive baby food maker that does this for you.

* Spoon into ice-cube trays and cover with plastic wrap. Freeze.

* At meal time, simply pop out a few cubes of food and allow to thaw to room temperature or defrost in the microwave for a few seconds.

* You can make weeks worth of meals at a time!

For more Recipes:

Recipe Chic does baby food

Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron

The Healthy Baby Meal Planner by Annabel Karmel

Baby Let's Eat! by Rena Coyle

The Baby Cookbook by Karin Knight