The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide: From Pacifiers to Potties...Why, When, and What to Buy for Pregnancy Through Preschool

By Heather Maclean

Real moms reveal the secrets to successful baby gear shopping. You've waited your whole life to get your hands on that magic baby product scanning gun. And it's brilliant fun. For the first three hours. And then it gets downright overwhelming. You know you need a crib, but what about a bassinet, a cradle, or a play yard? The stroller you love comes with a carry-cot, but can you actually carry the baby in it? Will you be able to get the green beans out of the cracks in that adorable high chair? You're a smart chick'why is this so hard? It doesn't have to be The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide is the most comprehensive guide to baby products on the planet. Heather Maclean and Hollie Schultz, the founders of BabyGizmo.com, a product-testing and research coalition of moms, pediatricians, and child development experts, walk you through not only standard purchases like car seats and high chairs, but also new generation choices like luxury stroller systems and designer diaper bags. Amidst Heather and Hollie's real-life mom stories and confessions (yes, they tasted the toys on their babies' activity centers), you'll discover: What you really need versus what's just nice to have Which products to include (and not include) on your baby registry The best time of the year to buy certain items Which products to store in the perfectly packed diaper bag How to avoid the "bad baby product buying cycle" Even which products can make you pretty The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide will help you select the right products for your unique needs and lifestyle, so you can bask in the bliss of a perfect purchase, stroll with confidence, and know your neighbors have diaper bag envy.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1401603548
• ISBN13: 9781401603540
• Release Date: April 2012
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
• Length: 457 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.2" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Fun and practical--a wonderful gift for first time mothers

Wow! For first time moms, this is perfect! Adding that little baby to the family brings with it a flood of questions that need to be answered NOW. Is it okay to use a pacifier? What kind of crib is best? What mattress? The "Baby Gizmo Buying Guide" has all the answers, and not just for the newborn. It will continue answering your questions right through the end of toddler time. And it is realistic. "The experts say that children under age 2 should not watch television...yet...You, me, and 30 million other moms" (p 170) let your baby watch TV. The authors recommend things that are safe, soothing, and age-appropriate. They go into lots of detail about breastfeeding and breast pumps--just the kind of information you will need right away. Recommended.

Fabulous Reference Guide

When you are overwhelmed by what everyone tells you what you "have to have", this book helps narrow down what the must haves are versus the nice to haves and what is really not necessary at all. It pairs very nicely with "Baby Bargains" by Denise & Alan Fields

Well worth it for first time moms

Someone on my expecting club board recommended this book, and I had to buy it because I was clueless on what I would need for our new baby due in May. It's nice to have information on all products in one spot. The humor in it certainly helps the read too! I liked the list at the end of what you must have on your registry, as well as the "Must Have", "Nice to Have", and "Don't Need" ratings for each product category.

Everything a new AND experienced Mom needs to know!!

I just love this book!! It is full of all the information that I need for every aspect of my baby purchases!! And it's a fun read! I didn't feel like I was being talked down to by some expert on a platform, but rather that I was having a great conversation with one of my best gal pals. The author's humor and real-life examples were a wonderful touch and made this book really enjoyable. I also have to say that besides being fun to read, the book was designed to actually be functional. There's a quick buyers guide and tips for what to look for in each baby "gizmo" that I'd want, not to mention a section for me to write my own best picks while out shopping. I've already used this handy feature to compare items online and actually remember what I thought about each - a huge help when you have 3 little kids pulling you away from your computer every 2 minutes. Overall I really have to recommend this book to everyone - not just new moms but also experienced ones. Once you have a baby you're in this Mom's club, but no one told you about all the stuff that you'd need to purchase let alone be an expert on!! And no one wants to admit to not knowing the difference between a booster carseat and a convertible carseat. Luckily the Baby Gizmo buying guide arrived to discreetly (and humorously) let us know all the in's and out's of all that baby gear that we inevitably will end up buying. Thank you!!!

Good book for men

As a new father, my wife gave me this book. For a man who knows nothing about babies or what to buy for them, this is a great source of information. I have referenced several of the sections, when trying to select from the mountains of different babies products. Guys, if you have any questions, this book will help. It is a little big, i.e. not small enough to actually fit in your pocket. I don't know about you but I am not about to carry it around the store with me. I read up before I go. Overall, this is a great product. I would recommend it to anyone who has never dealt with babies before and to any new fathers who are worried about getting the wrong stuff.