The Top Baby Products for a Parent on a Budget
The key attributes of great baby products are their: cost, effectiveness (proven performance over tan), the activity that you will be doing with this equipment (especially for strollers) and convenience. But with all of the baby products on the market, how do you decide what to use? Well, what you do not want to do is to choose a product based on only one of the above named characteristics. It is better for yourself and the baby is you use products that offer a healthy medium. Likewise, do look for bigger named products. They have been on the market longer, and offer a better comparison than more newly created production companies. If you are still lost, look below at some the examples of products.
Travel Systems: I have always preferred cost effectiveness and convenience over anything else. With this in mind, using Travel Systems is a safe and great way to incorporate every piece of equipment I will need to get my baby to and fro. Also, more companies have moved to creating solely, Travel Systems, instead of separate travel pieces. What this means for consumers is that these great pieces are inexpensive.
The Bancroft Passage 540 Lightweight Travel System by Graco:
The average price for this Travel System is $190.00. Its suggested retail price is $249.0- still quite affordable. This Travel System includes 3 pieces ( Passage Stroller with 3 different comfort settings for baby, Snug Ride infant car seat with 5 Point Harness, and a stay in car base). This is best stroller for convenience because it offers 1- Handed folding! This stroller also comes with an adult food tray which hold 2, large cups or water bottles and a cubby for a small to medium sized snack. Additionally, this stroller has a lower storage bin for purses, shopping bags or diaper bags. Lastly and most importantly, children can grow in this stroller and enjoy its convenience as well. It holds babies from 0 to 40 lbs. The car seat comes with both 5 and 3 Point harness systems (very important for safety). Likewise, the stroller comes with a removable canopy (for extra head room in older kids) and a travel tray for toys, juice cups or anything for toddlers.
Aura Travel System- Tribecca by Evenflo:
Again, this is a pretty affordable Travel System for the features and convenience that it offers. The average price of this Travel System is $169.99. Its suggested retail price is $179.99. It comes with the usual 3 piece set-up (a multi- positioning stroller, 5- Point harness baby carrier car seat and a snug fit car seat base). One of the coolest qualities of this Travel System is that is offers 1- Handed driving capabilities. Based on user ratings, this Travel System makes great turns and can be stopped very easily with one hand. Like many other stroller, this one features a lower storage caddy that is big enough to store 2 diaper bags. It also houses a top, adult tray for drinks and snacks. Lastly, this stroller weighs very little but can support a whole lot. Its overall weight is only 44.5 lbs and it holds up to 35lbs in toddler kids.
Cribs: Your baby will spend a large amount of time in the crib. It is extremely important that this particular item be both, dependable and safe. One of the key elements that you want to look for in a crib is that it has a variance of mattress positioning. Your newborn needs to be higher than your infant or toddler child in his or her crib. Also, it is beneficial to buy a crib that can convert and grow with your child. This not only saves money but if the correct crib is chosen, it will be around for many more newborns and toddlers.
Baby Tenda Solid Wood, Convertible Crib: Baby Tenda is a name that has been around for years. It is both dependable and continuously recommended by Pediatricians and Consumer Reports alike. In the same manner, if you read Family Circus cartoon, you will see Baby Tenda products like cribs and feeding tables, used on the kids. Still, Baby Tenda uses real wood, that is laminated in EPA and Pediatric Approved laminates. The crib offers 3 varying levels of positions for the mattress and sells both mattress and box spring with the headboard/ footboard and railings of the crib. Likewise, Baby Tenda will sell you the toddler railings at the same time as selling you the original crib. Most convertible products will not sell the mattress and box spring or bedding rails with the original price! Now, I will be the first to admit, when I was approached by a Baby Tenda representative, I was shocked by the price. A standard Baby Tenda crib will cost $1400. There can be special deals given that will lower the price to about $900. Keep in mind though, the Baby Tenda crib will hold babies and adults up to 400lbs. It features a front door opening for, mommy/ daddy access when baby is crying, and toddler access, so they can leave the bed easily.
Stork Craft Rochester Stages Crib: What is not to love about this crib is the real question. The Rochester Stages Crib will grow with your child from a crib, to a day bed to a full sized bed with Sleigh Rails. It is made of natural, hardwood (great for added durability and style). Too, this crib boasts 3 positions for the mattress! Likewise, the Rochester Stages crib has one of the only features found in cribs of this type; the Rochester Stages cribs allows you to switch the crib from daybed, to full bed, and back to crib, with 1 hand (talk about convenience). But like other cribs, it is pretty standard when it comes to the maximum weight allowed in it (that weight is 150 lbs). It meets, and in most areas, exceeds, US and Canadian safety standards, but is not an American made product. This crib normally costs $179.99 (It does not include mattress, box spring or bedding rails).
Diapers: Of course the choice of which diaper to use is largely going to depend on your own personal preference; but, here are some noteworthy choices that may get overlooked!
When my son was still in diapers, we always shopped for the best bargains and we tried to find the most reliable brand for him. Being that he is a little boy (and especially when he became old enough to walk), it was important that his diaper was loose enough to allow ventilation, but not too loose, as it would allow leaks. It was also important that my son had on a diaper that would more with him. What we found was amazing when comparing brands, so we asked other moms of both girls and boys, and they agreed and thanked us for our findings.
For Babies Aged 0- 3 months (Sizes 0- 2): This brand would have to be Pampers Swaddlers. While this is one of the more pricey brands, you young baby is well worth it! This brand of diaper allows babies room- via a special cut- out on the top- front of the diaper- for their navel attachment, they are great for giving baby ventilation and you receive a nice amount of them the package for the price. Additionally, Pampers Swaddlers offers the highest value on their coupons in the Newborn Package that you receive from your Mommy/ Daddy and Me classes, as well as, what you get when you are leaving the hospital in your Take Home bags!
Secondly, if you want a less costly brand of diapers for your newborn, trust Smiles brand from Sam’s Club! These diapers come packaged in a box, with about 200 diapers for your newborn baby. They fit almost exactly like Pampers brand diapers, but for a fraction of the cost. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about your baby having an allergic reaction to this off brand diaper because Smiles are hypoallergenic!
For Babies in Sizes 3-4: These are my favorite sizes because of the time frame they equate to. Normally, a baby in these sizes is learning to crawl, crawling or sometimes, walking! Unfortunately, this also means that your baby’s diaper choice is super important. You need a diaper that will move with your child and safe guard against leaks. What brand is better for this than Luvs? The answer from this mom is No Other Brand Is Better! Luvs offer a low price for a phenomenally performing diaper. My son, despite all his movement, never leaked one time with this diaper onâÂ?¦.even with really bad diarrhea. After all, Luvs markets themselves as being the only diaper with a proven leak guard, and it’s true. Try them out for sizes 3 and 4!
Another excellent buy for this age is Smiles again. The average cost of smiles diaper package is about $19.29, in your local Sam’s club. They move with your child, and still hug them with the correct amount of static cling. Also, Smiles tabs are a very secure as they combine Velcro with a tape to ensure that the diaper stays on through all of babies ups, downs and rounds!
For Babies in Sizes 5 and above: For this size, you probably want the diaper that will give baby the hardest time to pull off, or if they pull it off, will go back on without a lot of trying and be secure. For you, I say stick with Huggies! Simply by the name Huggies, you can get a feel for what this brand of diaper does. It hugs your little one and secures that messes without fuss. Also though, Huggies are exceptional when it comes to getting them off and putting the back on.
While no diaper can stop your little one from ripping it off (unless that diaper is made of steel), Huggies’ Velcro attachment sticks on tightly and gives your baby a run for their mite. Also, when your baby is done taking it off and wants to put it on again, the Velcro attachment will stick anywhere the baby puts it, and give a great level of protection still.
Now, you have an amour of tips that can help you make challenging decisions and get your through one of your life’s most, difficult times. And people said babies don’t come with Instruction ManualsâÂ?¦.!
