Rating: 
Summary: Read this with a grain of salt
Review: 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).
Rating: 
Summary: Very Helpful!
Review: One of my friends gave me an older version of this book. I found it so helpful that I bought the latest edition..and the toddler edition. The authors offer great advice on which products to buy from maternity clothes to announcements. Registering and buying baby items was a breeze thanks to their recommendations. It is also helpful in steering away from the baby gimmicks on the market that you do not need. Thereby saving you money there as well.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Have!
Review: This book was my bible for baby shopping. I knew nothing about babies or baby products when preganant with my first, and this book helped me decide not only what to buy but how to shop for it. I used this book to select a crib, baby monitors, clothes... EVERYTHING! They never once steered me wrong. I found their advice to be excellent and accurate. If you are feeling lost with the whole task of preparing for a new baby - especially a first baby - this is a great book!
Rating:
Summary: well worth the price
Review: What I liked most about this book was the listing of all of the clothing websites, and the guidance on where to get stylish, boutique baby clothing, as well as the introduction to all-leather robeez and bobux baby shoes (which have become my baby shower/baby birthday party gift of choice). So much for my priorities. The book does give good advice on the mursery essentials -- car seat, diaper pail, play yard, etc. Most products are graded from A to F, so you know what to avoid. The book gives you good ideas on what to look for in particular items and discusses the relative merits of different products, so you can use your shopping time comparing the relative features rather than trying to figure out what they are. However, the book is no substitute for getting out to the baby store to see if you have a particular preference. The authors rely heavily on input from readers -- It's great to know what has worked for other parents, but I'd still recommend checking out the products in person before making a decision. The authors also relate readers' stories about bad experiences with certain retailers (which I won't patronize as a result). As a bonus, the book also helps prevent you, as a new parent, from spending money on things that may look cute or appealing but aren't at all necessary or just don't work (one piece outfits with buttons up the back or no snaps on the crotch, fancy crib blankets that you shouldn't use in the crib, diaper pails that don't keep in the stink). The book is well organized & indexed. Besides the basics, topics covered include childcare, bedding, maternity clothes, birth announcements, babyproofing, and much more. Overall, you should save more than the purchase price by reading the book.
Rating:
Summary: Great, Useful Book
Review: This is a great book that rates all the baby products out there on the market. It also gives links to a variety of websites where I have found great prices on baby items. The book is updated often so that it stays current. In between useful product reviews, the authors offer helpful tips and reminders. I think this is a must-have book for any new mom or mom-to-be.
Rating:
Summary: Don't know what I would've done without this book.
Review: I love this book. My friend lent me her copy from 2001, but I decided to go out and buy the most recent version of it since the 2001 version mentioned that lots of things were changing. I do not regret it. I am known to those closest to me as being very frugal. So this book was right up my alley. I loved that the book not only tells you what costs less, but guides you on getting the most for your money. I would've normally gone to the stores and gotten the cheapest costing items but I now realize that in a lot of cases that would've meant the cheapest quality. This book helped me realize that I didn't have to spend a lot for good things for my baby, but it's not necessarily the best idea to spend very little, either.
I normally fret about important purchases and was getting very frustrated when I thought of all the things we'd have to buy or register for. I mean, I'm a first time mom. What do I know? Thanks to "Baby Bargains," I feel confident in the purchases I've made and the items I registered for. I am at ease.
Get the book and make sure you get the latest edition available.
Our very good friends just found out that they're expecting their first baby in May. I'm going to get them a copy of this book ASAP.
Rating:
Summary: This is a must!!
Review: A co-worker of mine gave me this book as I am expecting my first child this November. I read almost the whole thing cover to cover and took it with me when I went to register. It really helps you to not feel overwhelmed when shopping for a first baby! I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: A must have for new mom
Review: This book helps with narrowing down items to get for that new bundle of joy. When there are so many products out there to buy, this book helps to better understand what is truly essential and worth the money. I highly recommend this book for every new parent.
Rating: 
Summary: First time parents need this book
Review: My partner and I dont walk into a baby store or buy a single baby item without this book in hand. I have to admit, walking into Babies R Us as a first time parent is extremely overwhelming. But use this book and things seem to make some sense and gives you some kind of order. What I would like to see in this book is a list of items for baby feeding and bedding with the quantity of items one would need. One reason for giving this 4 stars instead of 5. (However I do LOVE this book and would recommend it!) Another thing I feel it fails to mention is flat out telling parents what they should/could look for in certain bigger items like strollers. I wish there could be a section on (i.e. strollers)...look for ease of closure, washable seat, removeable (whatever)...etc. They do touch upon their Money Savings Secrets, but a lot of them are common sense. Yes, this book isnt perfect, but it does give insight into things you need, things you DONT, and how you go about purchasing these items.
Rating:
Summary: My Baby-Buying Bible.
Review: My registry and purchases thus far have been based off the information in this book. Most of the info is comprehensive and to the point, I love that they update it frequently enough to adapt to changing market place and company changes. I bought it more for the reviews then for the bargains and find myself looking through it several times a week. We went to pick out a crib last weekend and ALL the women doing the same had baby bargains in their hand. Great gift for early in pregnancy or to give yourself. This book goes through big purchases like cribs and car seats to diapers. Wonderful!
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