The Diaper Genie Elite just dropped in price and is the lowest price Amazon has ever sold it for. In other words, it won’t get lower so this is a Grab It! price. It has 4 stars with 367 reviews.
Remember that Amazon changes prices frequently and it may have gone up by the time you read this post. If so, just keep checking Confessions of a Dealaholic for the next good deal.
You can save a lot of money simply by skipping over unnecessary baby items – or ones that you just won’t use enough to make them worth the money. Looking back, I can definitely say we squandered money by enthusiastically buying everything we could find for our first baby. Don’t make the same mistake! Here is my top 10 list of unnecessary baby items.
1. Baby Wipes Warmer – These can dry baby wipes out and you can’t take one in your diaper bag so your baby is going to get used to “cold” wipes anyway. Unless you live in the arctic and don’t have heat – skip it!
2. Newborn Lounger – It looks cute but you really don’t need it for anything. You can use the boppy pillow to prop your baby up or they can be on a blanket on the floor.
3. Baby shoes – They’re adorable but expensive. Babies don’t need shoes – just socks if you can keep them on. Experts say that babies should learn to walk barefoot so they are able to use their toes to balance. However, if someone buys them as a gift – enjoy the cuteness! (I love baby toms even just to put on a shelf!)
4. Crib mattress protector – We bought one and realized too late that the mattress is already waterproof and it looks like most of them are. So you really don’t need it – you can just wipe down the mattress.
5. Exersaucer – Do you really have room for an exersaucer and a jumperoo? Jumperoos are way more fun!
6. Crib bumper – These are not recommended by the AAP because they don’t prevent injury but do cause suffocation, entanglement and death. So don’t buy a crib set and pay money for something that isn’t safe to use. This is the most important item to skip out of all the unnecessary baby items!
7. Baby Food Maker – They can be convenient but if you’re on a budget, you do not need to spend the extra money. Just steam on the stove and use your food processor to puree. It’s best to get the most use out of what you already have!
8. Travel Systems – I’ve lost count of how many times I have heard moms say that travel systems are extremely bulky and a big pain. Just get a good infant car seat and the snap ‘n go. You’ll be good for probably 6 months and it is a lot cheaper. Then you can switch to a higher quality stroller and get more bang for your buck. We switched to the Contours Lite – so between that and the stroller frame we paid about $100 and nave never felt deprived.
9. Itzbeen – With smartphones everywhere, gadgets like these are definitely unnecessary baby items. Instead, you can use an app to keep track of way more baby info for free. I love Babybix because you can track sleep, wet and dirty diapers, nursing, bottles, growth, vaccinations and lots more.
10. Hooded towels – They look so cozy and soft, but we found them to be very difficult. They just weren’t big enough so we used them for such a short time that it was a waste. It is better to just use a regular soft towel that you already own which can save you up to $30.
There are some really hot sales happening right now.
1. The Learn and Groove Musical Table is 39% off at just under $28
2. The Pretty Pennant bumper-free bedding set is 52% off at only $58 and includes 4 pieces.
3. Amazon is having a baby sale in their clothing department – up to 50% off newborn essentials, sets, dresses and more.
4.The aden + anais Rayon From Bamboo Fiber Muslin set is 39% off and has 4 out of 5 stars.
5. The snugabunny bouncer is now on sale as well – 25% off.
6. If you’re interesting in a Britax Carrier – there is a $10 digital coupon available, just scroll down to clip it.
4. The highly popular Rainforest Jumperoo is only $69
5. The Boppy in the Monkey Dance print and the Ringtone print are both under $30.
The free mattress with a Da Vinci crib deal is still on and the Snugabunny swing is amazingly still $99.
The New Baby Checklist has been updated! Several categories have been added including baby toys and baby proofing and several sections have had items added – baby clippers for example. There is a tab at the top of the page that will let you access the checklist easily. Check it out by clicking the photo below.
When I first heard about Swagbucks, I thought it was some kind of scam or one of those programs where you put a decent amount of time into it but can never attain an actual reward. I was totally wrong. Swagbucks is popular with the mom crowd and for good reason – you can easily earn Amazon gift cards to buy baby stuff or anything else you need and stay on (or under!) budget.
1. Create an account on Swagbucks.com. <—if you join through my link, we both get some swag!
2. Get 30 swagbucks just for joining.
3. Earn more swagbucks by doing little things – add a photo to your profile and get 15 SB. Download the toolbar and earn 10 SB. Earn 5 SB by connecting with Facebook or other social media.
4. Take surveys, watch videos, vote in the daily poll, use their search engine instead of google, use coupons and more to earn Swagbucks. Try and do something once a day.
Once you get to 450 swagbucks, you can get a $5 Amazon gift card. That gift card can get you free stuff like this baby toy. You can save them up to get a box of baby wipes. You can use them one at a time to reduce the cost of baby gear and keep your budget on track. I have redeemed MANY $5 Amazon gift cards and it can really help long term.
And once in awhile – you could even buy something cute for yourself! Or rent a movie! There are lots of choices. And if you don’t shop on Amazon, you can get a gift card for Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, Home Depot (nursery paint!) or get actual products such as jewelry or toys. Have fun!
Pottery Barn Kids is an amazing store with high quality products. Being a dealaholic and a savvy shopper doesn’t necessary mean buying the cheapest item you can find. It is important to take into account the quality of an item. Sometimes, if you go the cheap route you end up paying more because you have to keep replacing the item until finally you get a quality piece.
When I was pregnant with my first, I loved perusing their website for nursery bedding. What I did to get a piece of Pottery Barn Kids in my nursery without breaking the bank was to void the whole set and just get a quilt. The quilt had butterflies which was the nursery theme and it looked like something handmade. It was beautiful and still is. I hung it up on the wall with butterfly quilt clips I found on Etsy. Now my daughter is a toddler and uses it in her crib. I saved a lot of money by just getting one item and I still felt I had a beautiful nursery. Plus the nursery sets have bumpers, which are advised against due to a SIDS risk.
Right now, Pottery Barn Kids has some beautiful baby bedding on sale. The one pictured to the left is the Lahaina set, which has a Hawaiian flair. There are lots of adorable items especially for those who want a gender neutral nursery. And with the nice discounts, you are getting a great deal on superior items. You can’t go wrong with that!
I have seen a lot of confusion about the different aden and anais swaddles available. I have created a comparison chart to break it down for all you ladies out there trying to figure out if you should buy the swaddle packs you see at Target or Buy Buy Baby or the pricier but seemingly equal ones you keep hearing about or fell in love with online.
| Boutique Line (Classic Muslin Collection) | Made-for-Store Brand (aden by aden + anais) |
|---|---|
| Swaddles are 47" x 47" | Swaddles are 44" x 44" (3 inches smaller) |
| 100% Cotton Muslin | 100% Cotton Muslin |
| Cozy Sleep Sacks are 4 layers | Cozy Sleep Sacks are 3 layers |
| Higher quality weave (softer) | Lower quality weave (like a lower thread count) |
| aden + anais chooses designs | Retailers print their own designs |
| Large catalogue available online | Limited catalogue of products in stores |
| Comes in boxes with a turquoise-cyan color | Clear plastic packaging |
| Original price is $49.95 | Original price is $34.95 |
| Click here for an example. | Click here for an example. |
So there you have it. There are definitely differences when it comes to quality between the aden and anais boutique swaddles and the Target and Buy Buy Baby swaddles although both are nice options. The boutique line is bigger and softer – and these swaddles are highly popular for a good reason. We used them not only for wrapping our sweet babe but as nursing covers, car seat covers, stroller blankets, tummy time “mats” and more. So those two main differences really make it an incredible product.
However, there is also a $15 price difference. But here is my confession of the day: you can get the boutique swaddles for the same price as the aden by aden and anais ones and possibly even cheaper! The boutique ones on amazon are constantly fluctuating in price. But there are almost always several packs that are $35 or under – so you are getting higher quality swaddles without paying more! (Note: They also have the aden and anais made-for-store brand on Amazon so make sure the description says 47 x 47 and that the original price is $49.95)
So just keep your eye on this page and watch the prices. Grab them when the price drops because you won’t have much time. These are great to have on hand for baby shower gifts as well. – aden and anais swaddles are one of the most used baby items in our home. Honestly – I wish they made them in adult sizes because they are so soft and heavenly.
So there you go – now get yourself a box and enjoy!
The Target vs Amazon baby sale war is ON! Yesterday, I posted about some incredible Target deals but today is all about Amazon. Here are the best deals I have found:
