With all the products on the market that are aimed at babies and new parents, choosing the right ones can be overwhelming at best. Being a parent means choosing the best product that you can afford. It can be difficult to decide from all the available products, so I’ve put together a comprehensive checklist to help guide you through your decisions.
First, make a list of the things you think you will need to purchase or add to your shower registry. You can actually find a list online if you do a search, or ask for one at the store you register at. They typically have very detailed lists to help you with registering, but they may not have everything you personally need. They comprise their lists according to what people buy the most, so take into account your own unique situations. Their list will help you think of less-obvious things that you may have otherwise looked over. When you have your list complete, you will be ready to start researching the many products. There are four main bullets to consider when choosing a product:
• Safety
• Customer Reviews
• Usability
• Economical and Environmental Impact
Safety is obvious. Products should be tested by a third party to insure safety for your infant. Things such as car seats and cribs need to meet certain standards in order to be sold on the market, but that doesn’t mean that all are equal. There are different materials used in some brands that are less safe than others. Newborn car seats that have a five-point harness are known to be safer than those that do not. Crib slats must be a specific distance apart from one another. Research the safety of brands and products before buying to be confident in your choice.
Customer reviews are very important to consider. They will help you decide when you are torn between two products. Sites such as Amazon.com will likely have customer reviews on products listed, so do a search for the product there, and then scroll down to read reviews. Some things look and sound good in theory, but either break easily or aren’t used as often as you may think. Reading customer reviews will give you insight into the product’s true worth, and this leads us to our third bullet.
Usability has to do with several things. When you see a commercial on television or an ad in a magazine, it’s because a company is trying to sell you something. Of course, this does not mean that you need it. That being said, you may have every intention of using a product, only to find that your infant hates it. Swings, bouncy chairs, jump-ups, and more all look like fun things to play with, to you. But that doesn’t mean that your infant will like it. Likewise, even if something gets rave customer reviews doesn’t mean that you will like it. If at all possible, test-drive products at the store before even registering for them or purchasing. Things like strollers are usually set-up so that you can check out their usability in-store. This will save you time and money later, so take advantage of it.
The fourth bullet is sadly one that is most over-looked by Americans. As consumers, we need to be aware of what is truly needed and what is not, because everything ultimately will end up in a garbage dump somewhere. It’s important to be conscious of what we are potentially throwing away. Things like diapers and plastic toys will be here for hundreds of years after they are done being used. Alternatives exist, and should be considered as equally as the other bullets I have suggested. Cloth diapers are reusable, cute and functional. Wooden toys are earth-friendly and non-toxic, while plastic ones are neither. Plus, wooden toys are timeless and beautiful. Both wooden toys and cloth diapers can come from sources that are sustainable.
Economically speaking, the way we use our money is probably the most powerful tool we have. Even natural products like cotton sometimes come from sources of unfair employment practices or are grown with harsh pesticides. Remember, what you spend your money on is like casting a vote either for or against something, so follow these tips and use your money wisely. Check out these articles for more information:
Let’s Talk About Creating a Shower Registry
Do I Need That? Helpful Gear for the Breastfeeding Mother