Frugal Parenting

If you’re a first-time parent like me, it’s hard to know which baby items are actually necessary, and which ones are just marketing ploys to get you to buy more stuff! It’s also difficult to know which stroller will work well and which car seat is safe.

Enter Baby Bargains* , a book designed to help frugal parents navigate the sea of baby paraphernalia just waiting to suck you in. My husband bought me this book, and I’ve referenced it often when deciding what to buy our little guy.

The book covers just about everything you can think of - baby cribs, car seats, bouncy seats, maternity clothes, strollers, baby clothing, etc. The book gives examples of why the item is a must-have, or why you should pass on it. What I found the most useful was the ratings given - the author of the book took the time to give a detailed rating system for most brands and baby items out there. Very helpful.

My only complaint with this book is that it wasn’t frugal enough. The author didn’t delve into money saving techniques like borrowing baby items from friends or family, or purchasing quality items from garage sales or consignment shops. The author also doesn’t fully address the idea of cloth diapering as a viable (and cheaper) alternative to disposables, nor does she talk about reusable wipes, making your own baby food, or other money saving ideas.

If you’re trying to be ultra frugal (like I am!), Baby Bargains is lacking. However, I think it makes up for it with its rating system of the essential baby items. If you’re a first-time parent, this book is very helpful. You’ll just need to do some further research if your dollars don’t stretch enough to buy brand new every baby item you need.

*This link is not an affiliate link. I’m just sending you to a good place to see reviews of the book.

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