Now in its eighth edition, "Baby Bargains" is a veritable reference guide to all there is to know about making purchases for your baby. The Fields penned the book after their first child was born, making it their third highly successful book on money-saving strategies. For "Baby Bargains" the couple spoke with more than 100 first-time parents, plus a panel of juvenile products retailers, to figure out how to save and where to spend.
We spoke with Alan Field to get the inside scoop.
There are so many items to buy - when is it a good idea to be willing to spend more, and what are some places to save?
I think a car seat is worth investing a little more money in, because sadly, vehicle accidents are still the number one cause of injury to young children under the age of 4. Investing a little bit more money in a car seat usually means the seat is a bit easier to use and adjust. So we're not just talking about spending money to get a fancier looking car seat. I'm talking about investing in a car seat that has features like side impact protection or an adjustable harness. One of the key issues with a car seat is misuse or not adjusting it correctly, so investing in something you're not going to be wrestling with in the back of the car is worth it. In terms of things to cut back on, for a lot of people highchairs may not be necessary. There are several new products on the market today that are popular - one is called the Fisher Price Space Saver. Basically it's a chair with a tray that straps to a regular kitchen chair. It costs about half the price of a high chair and is great for people who don't have that much room in their kitchen.