Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was truly the most helpful book we found for about-to-be parents. We are 4 months pregnant, needed to be thrifty in our expenses, and also needed guidance as to what the essentials are. The book contains the most realistic layette list we have ever seen (it actually tells you what not to buy instead of trying to sell you everything single baby gadget available), a list for a baby's first aid kit, questions to ask hospitals, tons of catalogs to subscribe to, information for maternity clothing (very helpful), reviews of popular books for new parents, breastfeeding books, reviews of breast pumps, what toys to have around for play, taking to the tub, books for infants, etc. The authors have a great style and an even better sense of humor about the topic that makes this very easy reading. I initially borrowed this book from our local library but ended up ordering the book from amazon because it was so invaluable. We are going to remember this book and give it as a gift the next time we know first time parents!

Each chapter of Baby Bargains focuses on major purchases for the preparation of the baby. They not only offer when one should begin shopping for each item, but also where the better buys are, what to look for, "Smart Shopper Tips", "Wastes of Money", and overviews and ratings of major manufacturers. They cover: stores, catalogs, outlets, mail-order, thrift stores, and garage sales. Listed for all companies are telephone numbers, addresses and e-mail and internet addresses. Topics include: Nursery Necessities, Bedding, Baby Clothes, MaternityWear, Around the House and On-the-Go items, Baby Proofing, and more. I have found the book invaluable in selecting the best items at the best prices for my baby-to-be. One store wanted to charge me more for Baby Bargain's recommended mattress. I showed them the book's pricing for the mattress and the store agreed to that price. I've already saved more than the cost of the book.

I'm going to be a first time dad soon, and was completely confused by the "stuff" you needed for a baby. ("What the heck is a 'layette'?") And I didn't just have to know which "stuff" I needed, but which brand of the "stuff" was best. Actual parents describe in plain language what items you need and who's brands to buy and not buy. But they go further! They help you understand where you can save some money and still provide quality for your child; what items you don't need, where you can buy generic and which items to buy for quality rather than cost. They point you to the places to shop to find bargains, both in your neighborhood and on-line. All of this is written with a no-nonsense approach. There's no politics being played here; if the product is awful, they'll tell ya'! I came onto Amazon intending to buy the Consumer Reports guide to Baby Gear and chose this book instead. It was the best decision I could have made!! All I can say is: Buy This Book!

I was told about this book through some acquaintances. It was exactly what I was looking for, a book that rated products based on the author's experiences, and gave honest but well-researched information. Not only have I learned a lot from it, I have taken the authors' advice and received a response from them via email about questions I had that weren't answered in the book.

Expecting our first baby, this book was the greatest resource of all the ones I accessed. The reviews of the manufacturers and customer-used products is what makes this book so helpful. The authors have gratiously offered a multi-level approach to recommendations so that readers can decide what suits them best. My only disappointment from using the book was that some of the sources for products were not very responsive in getting catalogs or other requested info to me (certainly not the authors' fault). GET THIS BOOK if you have any need to do baby related shopping!

My husband and I are in the process of adopting a baby. It is a bit awkward to go into BabysRUs to do all our shopping because people, especially the teenage salespeople, don't quite know how to treat us. This book taught us to focus on quality, not quantity -- a key lesson. We saved hundreds & hundreds with this book. We also discovered internet shopping too through this book. Look at "ibaby.com", "babycatalog.com", and "babycenter.com". We joined Baby Catalog of America and got an received an additional 10% off everything we ordered through them. Thank you Baby Bargains! We owe these authors big time! We highly recommend this book!!!

I bought this book when I was pregnant with my first child. It is an excellent resource. I was able to save when buying furniture for my son. We were on a very tight budget and this no nonsense guide is an outstanding resource.

This is a wonderfully organized, complete book on what to buy for your baby. I went from knowing nothing about affordable high-quality baby products, to feeling downright knowledgable about what to buy. I took this book with me to buy a crib and wasn't surprised that I knew more than the salesperson. This book is much more helpful and detalied than "Baby Stuff". But it! You won't be sorry.

This is precisely the book Consumer Report Magazine would have written, if they had done it the right way the first time around...(the one they do have out is outdated and doesn't go into great details). We used this book for all our purchases, and were able to give helpful (precise) hints for the baby shower. So, for instance, instead of receiving a "Snuggli" baby carrier, we got a "Baby Bjorn" instead...and found out that its track record in Manhattan makes it an all-out winner- comfort, durability, and safety-wise. This book is one of the top five MUST HAVES for 1st time parents. We saved $ by not making purchase mistakes.

The authors of "Bridal Bargains" give great advice on what's important and safe to buy for your baby and give excellent pointers on purchasing quality items for less (in a fun-to-read, humorous style). The authors tell you when it makes sense to buy top-of-the line and where to save-- from furniture to clothing to toys. As first-time parents, we didn't initially know where to start, but this book gave us a solid grounding. It also includes a pull-out card to take shopping that summarizes hints. The authors additionally provide updates to the book on a website. A must-buy from my perspective --I've been buying this for friends who are expecting, too.