Baby Bargains, 7th Edition: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby furniture, gear, clothes, toys, maternity wear and much more! (Baby Bargains) Reviews

• Good Product Info, Could Go Farther On Savings

  
  By A1IU5P856I6JYV on 2000-05-16
  Baby Bargains is one of the most valuable books I purchased during my pregnancy! The information contained within assisted us with almost all of our purchasing decisions guiding us towards things we needed and steering us away from things we didn't. However, like all good resources, improvements could definitely be made and more savings realized!

  Each chapter contains fairly complete information on your brand options, advantages and disadvantages of each brand, company contact and website info. Moreover, the authors guide you towards money saving mail order and website sources. Other reviewers critique the "best" rated brands as pricey and they are. However, the "best" rated brand may not be what is best for you and your family. You simply garner the information and make decisions based upon your needs and budget.

  Perhaps my greatest disappointment with the book is that the biggest savings are either overlooked or outright dismissed. Most dismaying was the lack of discussion on savings provided by breastfeeding, homemade baby food, cloth diapering, and homemade baby wipes. After all, we're talking about Baby Bargains and you'd be suprised how much these "repeat" necessities add up!

  All of these "cost savings" techniques are easier than you think, but the authors either never touch on the subject or if they do, they dismiss it. For example, homemade baby food is never touched upon. I'm not implying that we must all make all of our own baby food; however, there are some cost effective ways to decrease what you spend on baby food (i.e. mash single food ingredients instead of buying them premashed in baby food jars, etc. . .) An excellent book based on the subject is Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. It is based on the premise that you can spend as much or as little time making baby food.

  Moreover, it is clear from their tone ("Cloth diapers can't hold a candle to today's super-absorbent disposable diapers.") that the authors have never cloth diapered their children. The authors mention that Mother Ease has a following. Granted, they make some nice (and pricey) diapers, but they're not the only way to go (just like every family doesn't need a Peg Perego stroller).

  Many cloth diaper users use inexpensive Chinese prefolds, no pins, and snap or velcro wraps. The authors claim you'll spend more because of the various sizes . . . hogwash . . . most of us are able to safely skip sizes. I know, my son is comfortably wearing the same size cover at 7 months that he wore at 1 month. We invested approximately $100 7 months ago and are still going strong!

  Granted, cloth diapering is not for everyone, but it is easier and more convenient than most people think. Our biggest difficulty was the first couple of weeks . . . figuring out what diapers worked for us and how to care for them. Three dozen prefolds and an extra 2 loads of laundry a week. From the pail to the wash, I never realized how easy it could be. It's a shame the authors didn't try it themselves before dismissing it as "costing as much" as disposables and "most folks don't have the time or energy". It just isn't so!

  Finally, Baby Bargains totally misses the mark when it comes to coupons, particularly those available online. There are a plethora of sites dedicated to discounts, online coupon codes and rebates for the baby stores you're most likely to shop at. Had I known about these sites when we did our shopping last year, we'd have saved hundreds more than the initial savings we realized from Baby Bargains.

  Overall, I would recommend purchasing Baby Bargains. After all, it is a *really* good book for product information, what you need and what you don't. However, it could definitely go farther in saving you money with low cost alternatives and online coupon website recommendations!
  
  

• A better resource than the Consumer Reports version.

  
  By A6VYTKD83YQYC on 2000-08-29
  Put this one in the "I shoulda payed attention" category. I noted, while checking the reviews to the Consumer Reports book "Guide to Baby Products," that the Fields' book was clearly given the nod as the better book. Still, I've been a Consumer Reports subscriber for many years, and I reasoned that "Guide to Baby Products" must surely have information that "Baby Bargains" lacked. So, I bought both of them. My advice? Those other reviewers were right. "Baby Bargains" is as least as complete in its evaluations of products, and it's a much better source of background information. To boot, it's warmer in tone, funny, and a more enjoyable read all around. Buy "Baby Bargains" and skip CU's book.
  
  

• Great Bargains & Reviews, but read carefully!

  
  By A1NQPFDB5J94NT on 1999-12-18
  It will be my baby shower gift from now on! This book is EXCELLENT - great for 1st time parents or parents who want to buy the best stuff at the best price. It's also useful for ensuring good baby gifts, especially baby clothes. People who don't have babies buy all the wrong clothes - no easy diaper access, snaps in back & not front, etc. So be sure to share the baby clothes tips!

  Some readers complain that a lot of the recommended brands are pricey - like Peg Perego strollers. True, but you need to read ALL the recommendations. Peg Perego is said to be the best stroller. However, the text notes that only city-dwellers really need a stroller this light and durable. For suburbanites, the 4-in-1 travel system from Century is recommended, and it is cheaper than Peg Perego. I have a 4-in-1 Century Travel System, and I'm very happy with it. I bought it based on Baby Bargains' recommendation. Sometimes the book is wordy or confusing but this is a minor complaint. Read and reread this book - there's alot of info here - too much to memorize. Take it with you on shopping trips for quick reference! And be sure to check their website for updates!
  
  

• Invaluable for a first-time parent

  
  By A3971SDSSW6UNI on 1999-12-12
  Being a new parent is exciting, and preparing for the arrival of the baby can be very confusing. My first visit to one of the enormous baby stores left me overwhelmed by the array of products. Asking other parents what to buy only helped nominally since we got conflicting information based on individual biases. We looked at the Consumer Reports guide at the local bookstore and were very disappointed by it as it did not review individual products. Baby Bargains did in fact save us a lot of money. For example, based upon its recommendation we decided to give it a go without buying a changing table. We have found that by using a waterproof pad under the baby and arranging the room for easy access to changing supplies we have no need for one, which saved us $170.00. We also found the stroller reviews VERY helpful as both of us are 6' or over-it was important to us to have a stroller that would be comfortable for tall people. The ratings helped us find the only travel system combination that was rated highly for convenience and portability as well as having an expanding stroller bar. Previous trips to the superstore had left us confused by the huge array of strollers and staff that were unable to explain features or differences."Where to buy" information also helped save us money since prior to becoming pregnant we never paid attention to who stocked what in baby products or who manufactured 100% cotton baby clothes. I also never paid attention to maternity wear to know that Target stocks inexpensive cotton basics, which saved us a lot of money over maternity store pricing. They did the comparison shopping for us, and sometimes information on who manufactured and/or stocked the best products was surprising. Overall the book was well worth the small amount of money we paid since it saved us much more. I do agree with one of the reviewers below in that sometimes what was most highly recommended was more expensive. However, the ratings always gave information that helped us make an informed decision if we did spend more money. We opted for a more expensive crib based on the information regarding who used solid wood but saved money by avoiding double drop sides, a feature that the book pointed out was redundant if your crib was going to be against a wall. Great book for making the informed decision and should save you at least the cost of the book purchase...if it doesn't they will refund your money so you really have nothing to lose!
  
  

• Not great for the truly frugal, but good product reviews.

  
  By on 1997-01-01
  This book has very useful product reviews so those of us on the market for baby stuff can make informed decisions. The Fields also provide lots of information about where to get the best retail prices for baby stuff. They generally promote a couple large chains of baby superstores (which should be the obvious choice anyway, assuming there is one in your community). A few things about this book really surprised me, however. Since the book is purportedly about how to get what you need for your baby cheaply, I was stunned at how non-frugal the Fields really are. They recommended the following items as essential: 1) a "Diaper Genie" to squelch the odor of used disposable diapers. 2) A machine that warms baby wipes (what's wrong with using a warm damp washcloth?) 3) an electric piston breast pump that costs $1200 but that you can rent for "only" $50 per month. 4) a certain brand of frozen baby dinners (forzen baby dinners?? Haven't they ever heard of manual food grinders that easily and quickly convert adult food into paste suitable for babies?) While they did mention the possibility of using consignment and thrift stores, I am not convinced they have ever been in a thrift store (they usually focused on the more expensive consignment stores whenever the subject of second-hand items came up. Also, there was no mention whatsoever of buying clothes, toys and other items at yard sales, where you can buy many things for 90% off retail. They also tried to argue that cloth diapers are MORE expensive than disposable diapers, which is a ridiculous proposition unless you assume (like they did) that everyone would use a diaper service. You can save many hundreds of dollars a year by using cloth diapers and washing them yourself. The Fields also seem oblivious to the fact that moms don't have to work if the family just uses some creative frugality. (Their assumption that all mothers have to work drove them to recommend as "essential" the $50/mo expenditure on the more efficient electric piston breast pump.) I'm only glad I didn't fork over my own money for this book (I got it for Christmas). If you really want to learn how to cut the cost of child-raising, buy The Tightwad Gazette, The Tightwad Gazette II, and The Tightwad Gazette III (just released). These are available through Amazon books.
  
  
• The Bargain Hunter's Treasure!
  By on 2000-01-20
  Every new parent can relate to the huge money drain that comes with a new infant. We want our children to have the best, and it just seems the list of must-haves is never-ending. Many of us choose to do without certain items or find them second-hand, but there are certain things, like car seats, that are often better to have new. Thus the dilemma: how to find new items at the cheapest prices. Furthermore, how does one choose between the multitude of companies, brands, and styles of endless baby stuff? Baby Bargains to the rescue! This book is about "how to save money and still buy the best." If you're looking for a detailed comparison of brands and how they rank up, you`ll love poring over the chapters that range from Nursery Necessities to Maternity and Nursing Clothes to Catalogs, The `Net, Child Care and more. They also include lots of up-to-date safety info, "email from the real world" (letters from parents-they interviewed over 1000!), and they even tell you where to find specialty items like African-American bedding, affordable art prints for baby's room and rental baby equipment when you're on vacation. On top of all this, they include Smart Shopper Tips, a Phone/Web Site Directory, and they have a web site of their own
  
  
• I have given > 10 copies of the Baby Bargain book away...
  By A9IXR06EBF2PN on 2002-12-30
  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.
  
  

• Great Info, Few Savings
  By A2R05K2BYNPD1I on 1999-12-03
  This book was wonderful. I feel like I'll be spending more than I would have, but I'll be spending it for quality and safety. To their credit, the authors helped me sort through an endless sea of products and narrow my choices considerably. They also provide an invaluable list of business names, phone numbers, and web addresses. Though I agree with the review that stated guilty feelings over not going with the best recommendations in the book, you have to make decisions based on your budget. This book will give you the information on safety, quality, convenience, and price that will help you make well-informed decisions. Hey, maybe you can't always buy the very best in style and quality, but wouldn't you want to know that spending $25 more bucks on crib B instead of buying crib A might save your baby's life? I know now, and I'm not guessing when I walk into stores. Are you? So the title of the book isn't the most accurate, but who cares? I saved a few bucks in not buying cutesy things that I don't need that I once thought I did, but, more importantly, I learned a lot. I recommend that everyone expecting a baby buy this book. In fact, in a couple of years, when I hope to have another baby, I'll be buying the new edition.
  
  
• New 5th Edition about to be released (April 7th)
  By AQP8DXA1JFHEF on 2003-03-20
  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.
  
  
• A Must Have For First-Time Parents!
  By AWVQS3GWSD9UA on 2001-06-28
  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!
  
  

• One of the best purchases you'll make as a new parent!
  By on 1999-11-19
  Every new parent can relate to the huge money drain that comes with a new infant. We want our children to have the best, and it just seems the list of must-haves is neverending. Many of us choose to do without certain items or find them second-hand, but there are certain things, like carseats, that are often better to have new. Thus the dilemma: how to find new items at the cheapest prices. Furthermore, how does one choose between the multitude of companies, brands, and styles of endless baby stuff? Baby Bargains to the rescue! This book is about "how to save money and still buy the best." If you're looking for a detailed comparison of brands and how they rank up, you`ll love poring over the chapters that range from Nursery Necessities to Maternity and Nursing Clothes to Catalogs, The `Net, Child Care and more. They also include lots of up-to-date safety info, "email from the real world" (letters from parents-they interviewed over 1000!), and they even tell you where to find specialty items like African-American bedding, affordable art prints for baby's room and rental baby equipment when you're on vacation. On top of all this, they include Smart Shopper Tips, a Phone/Web Site Directory, and they have a web site of their own.
  
  
• Read this with a grain of salt
  By A1GU3S7P50PMWD on 2003-11-04
  I first read this book 4 years ago when pregnant with my first child. At the time, I loved having this wealth of advice on baby products, even though much of it did seem very subjective and opinionated. Over the years, with 2 babies, I have accumulated plenty of my own experience as a consumer of baby items, and I find I agree less and less with the opinions in the book. I recently reread large parts of the latest edition, and I find that there is almost nothing in the book I agree with! When using this book, I found myself tracking down products that I later regretted purchasing in the long run, and I found myself much more satisfied with products that got luke-warm or cold reviews from the book. This book is useful for letting you know what is out there, but I would not recommend using it to decide between brands of different items (e.g. strollers, clothing, high chairs, bedding). It is full of hearsay and highly subjective opinion, and for choosing among brands I find it almost worthless. I have found 2 much better ways to get advice on brands: Consumer Reports (at least for the few items that they have reviewed in the magazine --- on the other hand, their book is not that useful) and customer reviews of baby items here on Amazon (in the Babies R Us part).
  
  
• Beware: Amazon offers you sellers who have several editions when you search the latest edition
  By A2WXH54S81LWS0 on 2006-01-25
  The book is supposed to be good, but while searching for the newest edition at amazon.com, i was directed to a seller who had a very old edition and that was not specified during the sale process!!!
  
  
• The authors discriminate against gay parents
  By A18RU2ZRRDWGGZ on 2006-03-20
  I'm also a gay father of my own twins and I have to say that this book is not very helpful for gay dads. It is completely biased toward dad-mom couples, not dad-dad couples. Also, I am offended by content in the Toddler Bargains book where the authors mention the color of a child's room should be Martha Stewart "orange jumpsuit." This shows complete tackiness and character of the writers. I hope the producers at the Today Show, Oprah and the like read my review before considering having these people on their shows.
  
  The truth needs to be told. It seems they do not CARE about their readers or what they write for that matter. Their first and foremost interest is getting this book sold. I've read all the 1 star reviews and they all seem to make very good points.
  I have to laugh because the 5 star ratings all say the same thing (and reads like they are written by the same voice for that matter) This book is not a NY Times Bestseller and has more reviews than the ones that do. It has to make you think...is this a consumer scam.. my guess is probably so.
  
  
• relevant?
  By AHOAO08JARZ4T on 2000-03-13
  I found many of the reviews not to be relevant. Some products they don't like just because their predictions were wrong. Some reviews consist of we've never liked this product, we never will. It doesn't give you real complaints that you can use to compare. I found the book very geared for the wealthier consumer. The only things given A ratings are extremely expensive. If you used all of thier reccommendations, your baby will cost you triple. This book is for the "posh" baby, not for the real world.
  
  
• Poor Advice on Bottles - Writers Should be Ashamed!
  By AQ46112FZQQ9U on 2007-08-10
  I just recently got this book and was thumbing through it. I noticed in the bottle section, they attack "eco-activists" who are against bottles made with BPA (a chemical that can leach from the bottle into the fluid, and which has been shown to cause problems in animals). The authors are quite SNOTTY and say "show us the facts" and accuse the "eco-activists" of wanting to whip everyone into a fury, "facts be damned." The authors emphatically state, "We believe clear plastic baby bottles made with BPA are safe to use."
  
  Of course, now studies are coming out showing that BPA does cause reproductive problems in humans. We already knew it leached into the fluids (breastmilk or formula). So that means bottles made with BPA are NOT a good idea.
  
  I am just appalled by the snotty, accusing tone of the authors -- especially considering they are DEAD wrong. And their errors have led them to give advice to thousands of parents, and thus may have lead to toxic exposure to their babies.
  
  With such nonsense on the bottle issue, I don't think I can trust them with any of their other recommendations. Instead of donating it to Goodwill (where some unsuspecting person might actually follow their advice), I'm just going to throw it in the trash.
  
  
• This is a must have for any expectant parents!
  By AIQ9RDZ61R2MC on 2000-10-23
  There's a lot of baby equipment out there.. Just walk into Babies R Us and you can quickly get overwhelmed!

  Thankfully, I went armed with this book! It is true that many of the top suggestions are pricey, but I have found that you often (though not always!!) get what you pay for in terms of quality and features. If you get a less expensive and poorly constructed item, you may end up having to buy another to replace it. The authors do consider value in their ratings, so a less expensive and good quality product would get a better rating than a more expensive and good quality product.

  I used it mainly as a ratings guide and to figure out what safety/convenience features to look for when shopping for baby equipment and what to avoid. I also liked their listing of outlets.

  Sometimes I felt the authors let their personal design preferences affect their ratings, especially in the sections on bedding and clothing. Also, since they have two boys, they are more familiar with boy's stuff. In some areas, they only list one or two options, and a couple of times I have disagreed with their choices, based on experience.

  Some of the information and pricing is outdated, but thankfully they have a website full of updates. Nowadays you can get great deals online with coupons and rebates: their next issue should have more information on online shopping. Since I bought this book, I have emailed the authors a few times to ask questions about baby products and, miracle of miracles, they actually replied with a personal and useful response!

  I always recommend this book to my pregnant friends and relatives!
  
  

• It's all a fraud...
  By A1PP5OVQCVU2BW on 2006-03-19
  I saw this author guy on the Today Show.. he's a fake -showed what is hot in strollers for babies.. he doesn't even have a baby. It's all fraud.
  
  
• Saved us a ton of money! Buy it for your expectant friends.
  By A39OT6DKE34PR on 1999-07-03
  I can't say enough good things about this book. For my wife and I, it was like having a super-savvy friend walking with us up and down the aisles of "Babies-R-Us" and all the other stores that can overwhelm first-time parents. The Fields' do a great job telling you about items that will be almost certain WASTES of money -- I had no clue. So often people get caught up in the purchasing/registering frenzy that they don't really think through what they will really need when the little one comes. This book helped us to avoid some costly miscalculations.

  The authors' reviews of the big-ticket items -- cribs, strollers, high-chairs, etc. are all indispensible and frankly, they beat the plastic pants off Consumer Reports' Baby Guide. This book will always hold a hallowed place in our home for the wisdom it gave us dummies as we headed in to the $$$baby-zone$$$. It turned out not to be so expensive after all. Thanks Alan and Denise! Highly highly recommended.
  
  

• Disappointed
  By A1ULM0NKEZJVNU on 2003-04-07
  I was quite disappointed with this book. As one other reviewer remarked, I found a lot of "their" opinions being offered and even items that they recommended a year ago and now they weren't recommending. Up until reading this book, I spent most of my time reading reviews at Amazon[.com]on the different products that interested me and personally I think that is everyone's best bet. My baby is due in June, so I had most all of my baby items selected already when I went to read this book. A few things that bothered me included their criticism of the Graco stroller, which was highly rated by Consumer Reports, and mind you CR actually tests the stroller and points out the good and bad things. I felt what they had to say was their opinion, and then for them to recommend strollers costing [way to much]I thought was absurd. In one part they mention saving ... by buying a swing that required you to wind it manually -- all to save [very little]. Ridiculous. They mention to save money swapping toys with a neighbor so that your kid's toy always seem "new" to them. What about swapping germs and whatever else too. Another stupid idea. They took info they read on walkers hindering a baby's development and applied it to saucers. I read the same info they had in their book on walkers not being good at some other site, but at the other site they were applying their info to just walkers, not saucers. Some of the furniture they recommended I thought was flimsy. I actually saw some of the brands the book recommended, especially the changing tables, and the top part was flimsy particle board. Also, they took a problem applied to Baby Dreams swing gate crib and applied it to Forever Mine that makes a swing gate crib, yet they have never had a recall on their crib. One more comment to throw in -- their recommendations as far as monitors. I think I would say I have researched them all, and when I saw them recommend Fisher Price I was astonished, especially after all the problems I read at Amazon[.com] with the different ones. I think the best one out there is the SONY Babycall, and I think they say in the book that they didn't think it was worth the [money], it doesn't cost [that much],[it's] less. Take some time, days, weeks, whatever, and sit down here at Amazon[.com] and pull up the different products available, read the reviews, and go from there. I think you will be much happier.
  
  
• Parents of Five -we think this book is a rip-off.
  By A2816CZ3XHRU0D on 2005-08-21
  Thank goodness someone finally noticed! We are parents of triplets and one set of twins born within 15 months. Let me tell you-we feel that WE are the experts on what you really need! In our case, saving money was not our priority when reading this book. Instead, learning what we needed was. We wasted SO MUCH MONEY buying products recommended in this book and today still stew about how these advice-givers caused us to spend literally hundreds of dollars on unneccessary items for the babies through their preschool years. We bought higher-end strollers thinking that those brands would hold up better, (because the authors said they would and we barely even used them!) multiple high chairs which each cost $60 more than the "ordinary ones" because the authors claimed they had better features and didn't really and worst was tons of toys which were RARELY played with. Their grandparents also referred tho this book and bought items that we kindly thanked them for and returned knowing we would probably not need. As a mother of 5, my husband and I strongly suggest that you view this book not at all for shopping reasons because it causes you to spend unnecessary money. I think the title is misleading and there are really not many bargains or even bargain information ( for that matter) in the book. Read the next review after ours from Sam and Betsy and you'll see we are not alone!
  
  
• Should be titled Baby BMWs
  By on 1999-11-07
  Obviously I'm in the minority here, but I did not find this book to save me any money. It's strength is in product reviews (more valuable on that front than the Consumer Reports book) but they repeatedly recommend the designer brands.

  Has anyone else noticed the contradictions in chapter 11 (aptly numbered since you'll have to file for bankruptcy if you follow their advice up to that point)? They claim their budget allows $170 for bedding/decor but the brands that get an "A" average $200-300. And don't even get me started on the stroller/car seat/carrier, where they budget $200 for all three but their top recommended stroller (Peg Perego) starts at $200. Not a lot of room in their budget for a car seat and carrier if you blow it all on Peg Perego...

  In sum, I expected something a lot different with this book and while I have found it valuable, I haven't saved any money. If anything, I'm spending more since I'm made to feel guilty that the mass-marketed brands (Graco, for example) offer such poor quality.
  
  

• Be Aware !!
  By on 2002-10-10
  I bought this book because I was going to be a first time mom and didn't know anything about baby stuff. I followed everything the book said and I could not be more disappointed and angry. Some examples: this book said to get Huggies diaper because it was just as good as Pampers but cheaper. Well, Huggies leaked and got damp as soon as my baby peed. All the diaper problems went away as soon as I switched to Pampers. This book lists the amount of baby clothes you should get. Don't listen to it unless you enjoy doing laundry every day! The book also give its highest rating for Combi Ultra Savvy stroller. Just check out the rating and comments for this same stroller at Amazon. Need I say more? Just be careful new moms and dads. I don't think the authors did any research on their recommended products (like they claim to have done).
  
  
• I realize I'm in the minority here...
  By A5X6L30F5A3XZ on 2005-01-16
  I thought I would weigh in, since all the reviews here are glowing. I expected to find this book helpful (Bridal Bargains by the same authors was excellent), but for several reasons, this book was a waste of my money. We live in a big city without a car, so the car seat discussion was not helpful; we co-sleep with our baby so we didn't buy a crib; we are using cloth diapers and so sections on diapers and diaper pails (the company provides this) weren't relevant either; etc. It was depressing, reading all the sections on expensive must-haves, when really you *don't* need to buy so much for your baby. The authors give advice on ways to save money (mostly by buying quality items that will last, a no-brainer) but ultimately, you could just reject the notion that most of the items in here are necessary and be a lot happier.
  
  The sections I could have used help on, maternity clothing and baby announcements, were missing a lot of good sources.
  
  
• Authors author the 5 star reviews
  By ACWT9FLLUL5LT on 2006-03-13
  This pattern of positive reviews after each negative is getting old and I doubt they are written by real readers. No one would care that much and respond to EXACTLY what a negative reader would write... how would a reader know about a Feb 2006 update on March 8 ...and any given mom on any given day would be clueless on model numbers and names...and when new models come up (note: It ain't in February.. and given the fact that a book is written so far in advance of actually selling it.. products listed will ALWAYS be old... give me a break..these reviews are creative self promotion. We are on to you..... Love, from your readers at the blog.
  
  note to other blogging reviewers of this book: Agreed- there is definitely a concern here about credibility and I think all interested readers should beware that buying this book is a scam. It is a ploy for you to SPEND MORE MONEY and spread the word to help these authors pay their bills. There are plenty of other sources of advice out there...look at Consumer Reports Magazine and back issues, your local library, Parenting Magazine has new products every month, Babies R Us has in-store consultants to help you and a FREE registry online where you can read hundreds of reviews of each product ..Who needs an opinion of someone without kids to help you with a registry when you can ask for help in any store instead for FREE! AND then there are the blogs, babycenter.com and in store flyers that come out in the newspaper. ALL THESE ARE FREE--NO CHARGE. Save your pennies for better diapers!
  
  
• Wonderful, Helpful Book - especially for first-time parents!
  By AAP0J12JUSRV0 on 2000-01-13
  We are expecting a our first baby in June 2000 and were totally lost about buying baby products. This book was extremely helpful. It was a wonderful source of information, and I will be taking it with me when I go shopping for all my baby needs. I especially liked that the book recommended the best QUALITY items for the most reasonable price. Instead of being concerned with cheap items, the book pushed quality. I couldn't be happier with this purchase.
  
  
• I'm a lover not a fighter
  By A38ZBJAYKFP80D on 2005-09-20
  I'm with Ick. This book had way too many listings and made registering a nightmare for me and my friends. We ALL hate this book. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Gallagher Report. Also, LOVE LOVE LOVE Consumer Reports. This book is written by a writer not a researcher. This book ain't worth the library card to check it out. I did like the 1000 Best Baby Bargains by Kimberly Danger. That book REALLY helps you save money. I also heard this author's other books really suck. I found the 411 book at the dollar store!
  
  
• Message to the author
  By AP9EVYML3ODS on 2006-01-24
  To Mel: AKA (Denise Fields) Do you really think people don't know you are writing your own reviews on your book? Everytime there is a bad review, suddenely a marvelous 5 star shows up the next day. Get off your high horse and drop your ego.. Not everyone likes your book. You are not Martha or Madonna!
  
  About the book: There is a rule of thumb about this book. If you buy it, use common sense. Not all reviews are for you.
  
  
• The only thing this book is good for is a good laugh.
  By AEHQ7D2CER5HQ on 2006-02-16
  I thought I was the ONLY one who noticed this! Thank goodness for GA from Mass (reviewer below me) Not only does this book copy Consumer Reports work, they are trying to associate themselves with an independent multi-million dollar testing agency known for their honesty. This dynamic duo is a nothing more than a copycat with NO credibility to write what they do and should be sued for infringement and consumer fraud. The funny thing is that even though they refer to Consumer Reports in this book in a positive manner, they turn around and blast them claiming their book is better than Consumer Reports in some of these 5 star reviews. (It is SO obvious that the authors are writing their own 5 star reviews..read some for entertainment and be sure to check the dates-you'll quickly see a pattern!) This is one of those books where the authors make up their own expertise and then try to talk you into buying into it.. more like self-inflated ego to me. A few years back at the JPMA (trade show for juvenile manufacturers) they were the laughing stock of the show amongst companies because everyone knew all they had to do was smile and hand out some free product in exchange for a good review in this book. I have heard that manufacturers know that these authors are not credible nor experts which makes you wonder why they are trying to rip off parents too.. I suppose for the good press? This book is really a collection of press releases. There is no real research behind the content and I was not impressed at all by the actual writing or opinionated reviews. This book is like an online infomercial. I think the title is misleading and there are really not many bargains or even bargain information in the book. The only things given A ratings are extremely expensive. This is NO BARGAIN.
  Contact the FDA..this is consumer fraud.
  
  
• They all work for the author
  By AKC84ZGPLV28M on 2006-02-27
  I bought this book and now I am going to return it. I AM beginning to see a pattern string of positive reviews after each negative and I doubt they are written by real readers. No one would care that much and respond to EXACTLY what a negative reader would write unless it WAS the author. And in that case, that is unprofessional, tacky and downright pathetic that someone would do that. I mean, how would the readers know how they do their research if they are not the author...they don't write that anywhere in the book and if the information IS BASED on customer comments... give me a break..this is not a book..this is a paid ad. A few comments ..that is not research. Has ANYONE contacted Consumer Reports about this book. I would love to see how they rate it?
  
  There is definitely a concern here about credibility and I think all interested readers should beware. There are plenty of other sources of advice out there. Babies R Us has in-store consultants to help you and a FREE registry online where you can read hundreds of reviews of each product. And that is included in the price of the products you buy at NO CHARGE.
  
  

• Baby 411, Third Edition: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Baby's First Year (Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Baby's First Year)
• The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer
• The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy
• The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be, Second Edition
• What to Expect the First Year