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30 Tips for Buying Baby Gear for Less
What to buy (and skip!) when you're on a tight buying-for-Baby budget
Superstores are filled to the rafters with "must haves" for Baby's first year. But do you really need that mountain of gear and gizmos—most of which your baby will outgrow in just a few short months? Here's the money-saving skinny on what baby gear to buy, borrow, or skip, plus thrifty tips for saving big bucks on big (and little) ticket baby essentials.
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Crib
Buy it!
Next to cuddling in your arms, your new baby will spend most of his time tucked in his crib. Finding the right one is simply a matter of matching your personal style with your checkbook. Hand-me-down cribs are always an option, but keep in mind that drop-side cribs are a definite no-no. Evidence that drop-side cribs pose suffocation risks led the US Consumer Protection Safety Commission to ban their sale, resale, and manufacture in June 2011. If you're in the market for a used fixed-side crib, check to make sure all the parts, including hardware, are intact and in good condition. Cribs that have been assembled and reassembled can become worn and broken.
Is someone throwing you a baby shower? Don't be shy about suggesting a crib as a group gift. Your friends and family will be giving you something Baby will really use, and you'll rest easy knowing that the crib's drop-side safety is not an issue.
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