Rating: 
Summary: Invaluable for a first-time parent
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Great Info, Few Savings
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best purchases you'll make as a new parent!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book!
Review: Great resource for comparing brands and narrowing down what's important and what's not in terms of features. As a new mom, I refer to this all the time while deciding on what purchases to make. It's made me consider other brands that I didn't even know about before buying the book!
Rating: 
Summary: Should be titled Baby BMWs
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST HAVE for anyone starting a family!!
Review: I can't say enough about how valuable this book has been to me. I was truly a "bible" to me during my entire pregnancy and continues to be my main and most trusted source of information on how to provide and what to provide for my son. It's the first gift I purchase for each of my girlfriends who are having their first, or who have children and don't already have it on their bookshelves.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST Shopping book - a MUST HAVE!!!
Review: This is a fantastic book! It has plenty of detail about specific items in EVERY category that you can think of. In addition the way the book is written, it is actually easy and fun to read! I look forward to reading the book to get more and more tidbits of info.! This would be great to buy for any expecting parents, even if they already have kids, because things are always getting updated. Thanks to the Fields' for a GREAT BOOK!!!
Rating:
Summary: Informative but not Objective
Review: This book provides essential information in determining how you prepare for your baby, but it has its limitations. I enjoyed the initial information on how to approach things and what to look at, but was extremely dissapointed in their choices of what rated an A. They seemed very down on the service at Babies R Us. As I have become intimately familiar with this store, I must say that I have not found the same situation. I understand that their experiences have not been good and that service varies store to store, but I have had nothing but great service at Babies R Us. The book is worth getting, but use your own judgement when applying what is written to your life. A Peg Perego stroller was not a necessary item for me.
Rating:
Summary: Great guide! Inside scoop on lowest cost items!
Review: This is a great book! I also purchased the Consumer Reports book on baby products(waste of money), and this book was much more informative and gave many more ratings. I especially liked the internet shopping tips, and other sources. THIS IS A MUST HAVE BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Best Book for people without time to shop for Baby Stuff
Review: It does it all for you without restricting your options because it gives you all available options and lets you decide what is the best product for your lifestyle. It does this by not restricting their comments to their tastes only. Also for homebound mothers it gives you All the internet sources which once I did my research sells the same items for good discounts and usually free shipping (just wait a month at most for the new free shipping period to appear). This is by far the only book you need!
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