Some bottle sterilizers like this Philips deluxe model retail for more than $60.

For as little as around $20, you can buy a bottle sterilizer or put it on your baby registry for someone to snap up. But it’s $20 (or a lot more, depending on how techy you want to get) that could go toward someone really essential, like diapers and more diapers. Hot, soapy water or your dishwasher will do the job of cleaning bottles just fine, lactation experts tell me. In fact, one lactation consultant mentioned this potenial downside to bottle sterilizing. That is, if a plastic baby bottle (BPA-free, of course) has any milk residue in it and it’s sterilized (heated to a high, bacteria-killing temp), the protein in the milk could bake against the sides, leaving little, microscopic ridges for bacteria to grow and hide in later, when you use the bottle again. That’s a nerdy take on what could go wrong with bottle sterilizing but it’s worth noting.

I know some people will swear by their bottle sterilizer. Feel free to weigh in on this blog if that’s you. But if you’re looking to downsize your stuff list, I say that it’s safe to omit this item. What else do you think could go? What baby products did you buy or receive that you ultimately didn’t need or use?

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As it turns out, there are lots of baby products you shouldn’t buy used. I’m finding, though, that my list of “what not to buy used” is constantly changing, as safety standards get updated. Toys, for example, used to be on my ”okay to buy used” list. But since toy safety standards were revised as part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, I’m generally not recommending buying used toys unless they’re new or look like new since they might have been made before 2009, when the new toy safety standards got implemented. The new standards ban three types of phthalates, a chemical in plastic, and lower the bar on the permissible lead limit in paint applied to children’s products.   

On the other hand, cribs used to be on my “don’t buy used list.” But if you buy a stationary crib (no-drop sides), as we now recommend in Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, a stationary crib now seems okay to buy used, provided that all the slats are sturdy.

A stationary crib has no potentially dangerous drop sides.

 A stationary crib is a solid piece of furniture; the danger with drop sides, which can malfunction over time or be installed incorrectly, is eliminated. But here’s the catch: If you decide to buy a used stationary crib, know the date it was manufactured. The safest stationary cribs were made after August 2009, which coinsides with the new lead paint standards.

Feel free to chime in!

What baby products have you bought used? What tips can you offer other parents who may be considering going this route?

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True or false:  Babies younger than 6 months shouldn’t wear sunscreen.

 Answer False. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says it’s safe for infants younger than 6 months to wear minimal amounts of sunscreen on small areas such as the face, neck and the back of your baby’s hands. In general, however, the AAP advises that you keep a baby younger than 6 months in the shade of a tree, umbrella, or stroller canopy and to dress your baby in lightweight long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Why? “Babies are more prone than adults to sunburn because their skin is thinner and their body’s protective tanning response isn’t developed,” explains Jim Chow, M.D., associate director of the division of dermatology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, in Columbia.

If you can’t avoid exposing your baby to the sun, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher that contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

Blue Lizard Australian sunscreen (available at Amazon) contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

These key ingredients physically block the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays without irritating your baby’s sensitive skin. Otherwise, try to keep your baby covered.

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http://www.miladir.com/product-consumer-reports/best-reference-baby-products

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Have you taken advantage of the Great Trade-in Event? I’d love to hear from you about your experience with it. What did you trade in and what did you buy in return? Would you do it again if the program is re-offered?

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You can spend less, get better value, and still buy high-quality, safe products. And you don’t necessarily need to spend a bundle to get them.

The following budget cuts won’t compromise your baby’s safety, which should always be your top concern.

• Go with store-brand disposable diapers. Although Consumer Reports tests show that the name brands are the top-rated disposable diapers, because overall they tend to be more absorbent and fit better, you may find store brands more than adequate—and a cost cutter. You’ll save about 3 cents per diaper if, for example, you compare the cost of size 1 Par­ent’s Choice, Wal-Mart’s store-brand diapers, with Pampers, also size 1. Saving pennies per diaper may not seem like much, but with 10 changes per day (which is reasonable with an infant), you’d bank about $9 per month and $108 per year using the size 1 store brand diapers.

• Breast-feed if you can. It’ll save you $2,000 a year, the money you’d spend on infant formula.

• If you choose or need to use infant formula, buy milk-based formula. It tends to cost less than soy-based formula, so don’t buy soy or another type of special formula unless your pediatrician recommends it. The powdered version is the least expensive. And keep in mind that all infant formula sold in the U.S. must meet the same basic nutrient requirements specified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so if your baby likes store-brand formula, buy it—in the largest-size cans you can find.

• Don’t buy designer duds. Babies may be able to wear them only once or twice before they outgrow them, which inspires new-parent guilt and the sense that the money could have been better spent on diaper, wipes, or formula. If you can’t resist, watch for sales at your favorite baby stores and scout for designer wear at secondhand shops.

• Buying a crib mattress? Nix the convertible option. If you’re planning to convert your baby’s crib to a toddler bed, put this added feature in the “not necessary” category. While “dual firmness” convertible mattresses are available with an extra firm side for infants and a cushier, standard or memory foam on the other for toddlers, you don’t need to spend the extra money. Convertible mattresses cost $220 to $400 , compared to $90 to $200 for a non-convertible mattress. Don’t worry. Your baby will still be happy with a firm (non-convertible) mattress when he becomes a toddler.

• Shopping cart covers—feel free to skip this purchase entirely. It’s not a must-have. In fact, using one may be more trouble than it’s worth. Keep in mind that the covers themselves can harbor harmful germs—from blood as well as mucus and feces—longer than a bare cart handle because the germs can get embedded in the fabric. That’s why it’s important to wash a shopping cart cover in hot water and a bleach-based disinfectant and dry it completely after every time you use it. Another reason I put shopping cart covers in the “optional” category: These days, many supermarkets supply sanitizing wipes for cleaning the cart handle and seat when you walk in, which can do a good job of reducing the germ load there. If wipes aren’t provided, keep a small supply of disinfecting wipes in your purse or diaper bag. Even after wiping, keep your baby from gnawing on the handle by bringing his favorite teething toy.

Consumer Reports Best Baby Products (Tenth Edition) is chock full of money-saving advice. It’s organized in a handy A to Z format and reviews a wide range of essential baby (and parent) gear, with an emphasis quality and safety. It will help you find the best value and give you the information you need to determine when a bigger price tag means better quality and when it doesn’t, which baby products are must-haves and which are a waste of money, and which products might even be unsafe.

What did you do to save money on baby products? Post your own tips here.

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