If you’re a first-time parent, you may mistakenly assume that by paying a huge price for designer baby gear you’ll be getting better quality and safety. That’s simply not the case. Middle-of-the-line products often hold up equally as well, and sometimes even perform better than pricey top-of-the-line models.
If you buy the highest-priced stroller, for example, you’re most likely paying for a larger frame, thicker padding, the baby head support, imbedded earphones for playing CD or iPod music, or weather shields—all of which make the stroller heavier, bulkier, and less portable.
Sometimes manufacturers rent well-known logos and brand names from other companies just to make their products sell better, and then they jack up the price of the product to cover their licensing expenses. If you buy car seats or strollers labeled “Eddie Bauer®,” “Jeep®,” “Carters®,” or “Oshkosh®,” it doesn’t mean the products are any less vulnerable to serious flaws and safety recalls. You can save money and get equally durable products sticking to plainer, more generic models from the same, respected manufacturers.
Tip
By the time you read this, your name, the date your baby arrived, your address, and many other details about you will probably have been released to the endless people and organizations out there who want to sell you things. If you want to keep your personal information to yourself, don’t divulge your home address, e-mail address, or your due date—and don’t sign up for contests or free subscriptions to baby or parenting magazines.