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

Denise Fields (Author), Alan Fields (Author)

Book Description

Series: Baby Bargains: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on Baby Furniture, Equipment, Clothes, Toys, | Publication Date: April 9, 2001

The average cost of providing for a new baby can top $5,000 in the first year alone. Baby Bargains shows parents how to save money while selecting the best brands and the safest products. This fourth edition includes extensive charts comparing name-brand cribs, strollers, and more; a new section on bassinets, car seats, and bicycle child carriers; and a completely updated guide to catalogs, online stores, and bargain Web sites.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Denise Fields and Alan Fields write a monthly column for Baby Talk magazine. They have written several best-selling books, including Baby Bargains and Bridal Bargains. They live in Boulder, CO.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Windsor Peak Press; 4th New ed. edition (April 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 188939209X
• ISBN-13: 978-1889392097
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,494,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have For First-Time Parents!, June 27, 2001

By 

K. Schiebel (Redmond, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

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

Before you ever set foot in Babies 'R Us, you must read this book! The first trip I took to the baby mega-store was an overwhelming experience with too many options that left me without a clue as to how to begin. (There were tons of different types of baby gear and garb, and each item had multiple brands with multiple styles and costs.) The bottom line is that I had no frame of reference to know what I needed, when I needed it or how to make an informed decision.

Thankfully, a friend recommended Baby Bargains - and luckily it was before I had purchased anything. Baby Bargains breaks information into digestible categories - covering everything from cribs and strollers to diapers and clothing. It provides overviews of brands, product features, prices and even makes ratings as to what they consider the GOOD, BETTER, and BEST from each category.

In addition, it tells you what items you absolutely NEED, what things are nice to have and what items you shouldn't bother with. Not only does it explain what "layette" means to all the novices, but it makes recommendations on the appropriate quantity of blankets, sleepers and such to get you started.

Finally, it provides various resources for finding the products you want and for finding deals. I found baby bedding online at a much lower cost than in stores and even got free shipping.

Talk to friends with kids, but also get this book and take it with you while you shop!

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I have given > 10 copies of the Baby Bargain book away..., December 30, 2002

By 

Beeeil (Unionville, PA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

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

I love giving copies of books I enjoy away, in hope that others will share what I've gain from them. For example, over the years, I have given many copies of "Life's Little Instructions" book. But when it comes to practical books that one can use, I think the Baby Bargain book is my favorite. I enjoyed the book so much that over the past 3 years I've given more than 10 copies of the books away to my co-workers, friends and family who are expecting babies, and every feedback I've received has been the same - it's awesome!

My daughter just turned 3, but before she was born, we were clueless about what to get. Whenever we go into a Babies R Us, we feel lost because of the vast choices available. We decided that we need a book that will guide us through the baby products maze like what the excellent "What to Expect" book did with my wife's pregnancy.

The Baby Bargain book had helped me, as well as 10 of my closed friends and family, through the exciting period of expecting our new babies, preparing the nursery, buying the clothes baby will need when he/she comes out of the hospital, diapers, baby monitors, clothes, and everything else that may (and WILL) be needed. After reading each section of the book, walking into Babies R Us is no longer a daunting task, because I know exactly what to look for.

I compared many baby product books, including the Consumer Reports book, and I must say that the Baby Bargain book won hands-down. However, you must know what it is and what it isn't. This book is more about what to get and what not to, as opposed to where to get them or who has the lowest prices. In today's almost friction-less economy, price shopping is as simple as hopping online. It's difficult to put anything pricing information in print without being outdated as soon as the book is published.

The amazing thing about this book, I found, is that it makes a very interest read for men and women alike. I have a friend who read the book I gave him, cover to cover, on a 5-hour flight from east to the west coast.

While I can't buy a book for each of you reading this review, I highly recommend that you purchase this book and read it for yourself. I promise that it's going to be one of the most rewarding and exciting books you'll ever read.

By the way, congradulation on the new addition to your family, and remember, your life will never be the same again.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New 5th Edition about to be released (April 7th), March 19, 2003

By 

Nancy Bremeau (Silicon Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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

I was about to buy this book (as it comes highly recommended), but discovered from their website (windsorpeak.com/babybargains/default.html) that the new edition will be out in 2 and a half weeks. The book is only updated every 2 years and the new edition adds 70 new pages. If you can wait, I'd recommend it.