Are You Spending Too Much Money on Baby Gear?

Did you waste $57 today? I hope not. Unfortunately, so many new parents pay much more than they have to for baby products, because they don't know the secrets the insiders know.

Remember, just because you shop at so-called discount stores doesn't mean you'll get the lowest prices. The same is true for warehouse stores and online auction sites.

Even coupons that seem like great deals aren't always a bargain. For example, one online retailer recently offered a promotion where you could buy one board game and get one free. But the games cost twice what they cost at a competitor. So it wasn't really a deal at all.

What's a bargain-hunting parent to do? It helps if you can find someone who's done some research for you.

The Shopping Mom to the Rescue!

In an attempt to do a scientific, apples-to-apples comparison, I recently conducted a price test of six popular baby product web sites. I purchased a basket of common baby products from each site.

All of the sites I chose were well-established businesses, with reliable customer service, and a good selection of products. Many offered extra services, like reader reviews, shopping checklists and helpful tips. The sites were:

1. BabyCenter (http://www.babycenter.com)

2. Babies R Us (http://www.babiesrus.com)

3. Baby Universe (http://www.babyuniverse.com)

4. Baby Catalog (http://www.babycatalog.com)

5. Shopping.com (http://www.shopping.com)

6. Target.com (http://www.target.com)

Shopping.com isn't a retailer. It's a comparison shopping service. But I included it because it's supposed to be able to find you the best deals online. I wanted to see if it lived up to its promise.

The Results

Remember the $57 I talked about wasting earlier? That was the difference in total cost between the cheapest site I shopped and the most expensive. A pretty hefty chunk of change, considering my basket had just four items:

1. A Britax Roundabout car seat in Denim (the price can differ depending on the pattern)

2. The First Years On the Go booster seat

3. An Avent newborn starter set

4. A Boppy

I used my address in Maryland to calculate shipping and tax. Obviously, the cost to you will vary, depending on where you live.

And the Winner Is...

Coming in at a lean, mean $255.55: Baby Catalog offered the best deals. And this didn't include the extra discount you get by signing up for their Baby Club of America.

Shopping.com came in a close second at $257.34, making it a worthwhile stop for anyone in the market for baby gear. Plus, Shopping.com is integrated with Epinions.com, so you can get product reviews right there. I also liked the fact that Shopping.com calculated the total cost, including shipping and tax, in advance.

Baby Universe came in at $263.91. But keep in mind that Baby Universe offers a flat shipping rate of $6.95, no matter how many products you buy. So the more you buy, the better deal this site is.

Babies R Us was the most expensive, at $312.97, followed by Target at $300.74, and BabyCenter at $285.06. Interestingly, both Babies R Us and Target are under the Amazon.com umbrella, which means you should always comparison shop among the different stores on the Amazon site.

Keep in mind, too, that all of these retailers offer coupons and special deals from time to time. So it always pays to shop around.

(c) Stephanie Gallagher. All rights reserved.

Stephanie Gallagher reveals her closely-guarded shopping secrets in her ezine, The Shopping Mom's Weekly Tip. Click here to get the eCookbooks Recipe Sampler Cookbook as a special gift when you subscribe: mailto: theshoppingmom@aweber.com

PLAYSKOOL POPPIN' PARK ELEFUN BUSY BALL POPPER Toy Wins Infant/Toddler Toy of ... EON: Enhanced Online News (press release) The ELEFUN BUSY BALL POPPER toy combines the favorite ELEFUN character with the popular BUSY BALL POPPER toy to engage babies as they explore the world through ball play. “We are thrilled that the Toy Industry Association has recognized the ELEFUN BUSY ... and more »

Keeping the Baby Buys in Florissant Patch.com Before you leave the city to spend money on a new toddler bed or Easter outfits for your children, check out the two children's resale shops right here in town. By Maria Jansen Katie & Jake's Closet just opened its doors last year.

Live And Learn Patch.com You have the rest of your life to clean, but your kids are only babies, toddlers and teenagers once. 3. You are NOT alone - I realize Bethany has already covered this topic, but I just want to throw my two cents in here. She's right.

Water Babies joins Beacon network DCA (press release) The world's largest baby and toddler swimming company, Honiton-based Water Babies, has become the latest business to join Beacon, the South West's peer-to-peer business network. The hugely successful company has 46 franchises across the UK, ... and more »

Irondequoit events, Feb. 13 Irondequoit Post 10:15 am, Toddler/Talkers Storytime: Irondequoit Public Library — Evans Branch, 45 Cooper Road, Rochester. Toddler/Talkers Storytime for ages 2 and 3 with caregiver every Mondays or Tuesdays at 10:15 am Each session features stories, songs, ...

New Parent

10 Travel Tips for Babies and Toddlers New Parent By Colleen Lanin My preschooler daughter and toddler son have logged many hours miles on airplanes and road trips and have spent many nights in hotels during their short lives. It took a lot of trial and error to figure out how to keep little ones ...

Childcarriers.com Announces Sale On Bestselling Kokopax Child Carriers Daily Markets (press release) Childcarriers.com, retailers of front baby carriers, baby backpacks and hiking accessories for babies and toddlers, recently announced a sale on popular Kokopax child carriers. For a limited time, shoppers can enjoy sale prices on popular Kokopax child ... and more »

It's Baby & Toddler Time at the library Sierra Vista Herald Jennifer Perks, with her 10-month-old daughter Elizabeth, performs 'Horsey, horsey ride with me,' a bouncing song, during the first 'Baby and Toddler Time' event in the Mona Bishop meeting room at the Sierra Vista Public Library on Tuesday.

Indian baby's case opens doors into a dark world CNN International Doctors operated on the toddler, opened up her airways and placed her on a ventilator. They named her Falak, which means sky. Her condition remains critical, said Dr. Sumit Sinha of the India Institute of Medical Sciences. No one knows whether she will ... and more »

Where to Go With the Kids: Feb. 6-13 Patch.com Toddler Time Kids 18-36 months hear picture books read aloud and play with other children. Space is limited. Pick up a ticket at the Children's Reference Desk on the morning of the program. Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza, 10:15 or 11 am Free.