Raising kids is expensive and now that I’m on boy #3, I’m not so quick to run out and spend a bundle on his clothes or other necessities. I learned some tricks from shopping for my older kids.

Shop Off-Season and Buy Ahead

If you can predict what size your child will be in next winter, there may be clearance racks in your favorite stores right now. Last spring I found fleece pants and a jacket for this winter at Gymboree for just a few dollars each.

eBay

Another way I’ve steered clear of paying full-price is buying used lots off of eBay. I look for the letters “EUC”, meaning “excellent used condition”. Then I look at the buyer’s feedback which is usually close to 100% positive feedback (meaning most or all previous customers gave the buyer high ratings) if I’m going to make the purchase.

Yard Sales

Yard sales are very hit or miss but I did luck out a couple years ago and found someone selling a ton of clothing in my son’s size for about $1 a piece. It’s worth taking a peek and definitely a great way to get toys cheap.

Consignment Sales

A great place to find bargain kids clothes and toys is at rummage or consignment sales. See listings in your area. I’ve done pretty well at a couple of these. Selling your own used items at these sales is a great way to earn extra cash, by the way.

Freecycle

A place for giving/getting other’s unwanted items for free!. I’ve seen baby and kids’ clothes as well as toys and even furniture given away here. Register for your local branch here.

Craigslist

Currently, I’m looking for kids’ bedroom furniture. My sister found entire bedroom sets for her two kids on Craigslist for about $200 a set. I keep checking for a similar deal. The tricky part is figuring out how to transport it once we find it…

Finally, let’s remember that kids grow quickly. It seems wasteful to buy expensive clothes that will only be worn for a short time. Kmart, Walmart and Target have cute stuff for kids at reasonable prices. Only on special occasions will you find me paying full price at a department store or boutique for my little boy’s clothes.

Contributed by Amybee
Tags: bargains, consignment, deals, sales, Save Money, Shopping
Posted in: Baby
No Comments »

Name of recalled product:
“Aubree’s” and “Hearts” baby socks

Hazard:
The flowers and the bows on the baby socks can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Units:
About 33,000 pairs

Description:
This recall involves “Aubree’s” and “Hearts” baby socks sold in sizes 0 to 12 months. “Aubree’s” socks have flowers attached to the toes. “Hearts” socks have bows attached to the toes of the heart-patterned socks. “TRUMPETTE” is printed on the soles. They were sold in packages of six pairs of socks in multiple colors.

Incidents/Injuries:
The firm has received eight reports of the flowers or bows detaching from the socks. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy: Refund
Consumers should immediately take the recalled socks away from babies and remove the flowers or bows to eliminate the hazard, or return the socks to the place of purchase or Trumpette for a full refund or store credit.

Sold at:
Buy Buy Baby, Right Start and Trumpette stores nationwide and online at buybuybaby.com, rightstart.com and trumpette.com from December 2012 through February 2013 for about $15.

Contributed by Dan
Tags: baby feet, baby socks, China, recall
Posted in: Recalls
No Comments »

Fisher-Price Recalls to Inspect Due to Risk of Exposure to Mold

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should immediately inspect this product and stop using it if mold is found. Units currently in retail stores are not included in this recall to inspect.

Name of Product: Newborn Rock ‘n Play Sleeper™

Units: About 800,000 units

Importer: Fisher-Price Inc., of East Aurora, N.Y

Hazard

Mold can develop between the removable seat cushion and the hard plastic frame of the sleeper when it remains wet/moist or is infrequently cleaned, posing a risk of exposure to mold to infants sleeping in the product. The CPSC advises that mold has been associated with respiratory illnesses and other infections. Although mold is not present at the time of purchase, mold growth can occur after use of the product.

Incidents/Injuries: Fisher-Price has received 600 reports of mold on the product. Sixteen consumers have reported that their infants have been treated for respiratory issues, coughs and hives after sleeping in the product.

Description: This recall to inspect includes all Fisher-Price Rock N’ Play infant recliner seats called sleepers. The sleeper is designed for babies up to 25 pounds and is composed of a soft plastic seat held by a metal rocking frame. The product has a removable, fabric cover that is sold in 14 patterns and color palettes.

Sold at: Mass merchandise stores nationwide and online since September 2009 for between $50 and $85. Units currently in retail stores are not affected by this recall to inspect. Only products that show signs of mold after use by consumers are included in this announcement.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy

Consumers should immediately check for mold under the removable seat cushion. Dark brown, gray or black spots can indicate the presence of mold. If mold is found, consumers should immediately stop using the product. Consumers can contact Fisher-Price for cleaning instructions or further assistance. Cleaning and care instructions can also be found here or by contacting the firm.

Consumer Contact: Fisher-Price; at (800) 432-5437, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online here  for more information.

Contributed by Dan
Tags: China, Fisher Price, mold, recall, unsafe baby products
Posted in: Recalls
1 Comment »

Four Retailers Agree to Stop Sale and Voluntarily Recall Due to Five Infant Deaths

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and four major retailers are announcing a voluntary recall to consumers who own Nap Nanny® recliners made by Baby Matters, LLC of Berwyn, Pa.

Retailers currently participating include Amazon.com, Buy Buy Baby, Diapers.com and Toys R Us/Babies R Us. At the request of the CPSC, these retailers have agreed to voluntarily participate because the manufacturer is unable or unwilling to participate in the recall.

CPSC is warning parents and caregivers that these baby recliners contain defects in the design, warnings and instructions, which pose a substantial risk of injury and death to infants. This recall includes the Nap Nanny Generations One and Two, and the Chill™ model infant recliners.

In July 2010, CPSC and Baby Matters, LLC issued a joint recall news release that offered a discount coupon to Generation One owners toward the purchase of a newer model Nap Nanny, and improved instructions and warnings to consumers who owned the Generation Two model of Nap Nanny recliners.

At the time of the 2010 recall, CPSC was aware of one death that had occurred in a Nap Nanny recliner and 22 reports of infants hanging or falling out over the side of the Nap Nanny, even though most of the infants had been placed in the harness. Subsequently, despite the improvements to the warnings and instructions, additional deaths using the Nap Nanny recliners were reported, including one in a Chill model. Since the 2010 recall, CPSC has received an additional 70 reports of children nearly falling out of the product.

The Nap Nanny is a portable infant recliner designed for sleeping, resting and playing. The recliner includes a bucket seat shaped foam base and a fitted fabric cover with a three point harness. Five thousand Nap Nanny Generation One and 50,000 Generation Two models were sold between 2009 and early 2012 and have been discontinued. One hundred thousand Chill Models have been sold since January 2011. The recalled Nap Nanny recliners were sold at toy and children’s retail stores nationwide and online, including at www.napnanny.com. All models were priced around $130.

For more information, consumers should review the return policy of the individual retailer from which they purchased a Nap Nanny recliner. If the product was purchased at one of the retailers below, see the link or call for instructions on returns:

• Amazon.com:
• Buy Buy Baby: Toll-free at (877) 328-9222,
• Diapers.com: (800) 342-7377,
• Toys R Us/Babies R Us: (800) 869-7787

Contributed by Dan
Tags: infant deaths, nap, recall
Posted in: Recalls
No Comments »

Recalled Due to Choking Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Products:

* Sassy®-branded Hug N’ Tug Puppy

* Monkey and Carter’s®-branded Hug N’ Tug Monkey Toys

Units: About 45,300

Importer: Sassy, Inc., of Kentwood, Mich.

Hazard:

The beads inside the clear plastic sphere at the center of the toys can be released and pose a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 12 reports of beads being released from the plastic clear plastic sphere body on Sassy-branded toys. There have been no such reports on the Carter’s-branded toys. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled toys for infants can be attached to a stroller or car seat using a ring connector on the toy’s head. They have arms and legs that can be easily pulled back and forth for play. The toys are approximately 12 inches tall, made of multi-colored fabrics, contain rattle beads inside a clear plastic sphere body and have the face of either a puppy or monkey. Recalled styles include: Sassy Hug N’ Tug Puppy, model #80213; Sassy Hug N’ Tug Monkey model #80214 and Carter’s-branded Hug N’ Tug Monkey, models #61083 that were sold on a blue packaging card and #61540 sold on a grey packaging card. Sassy®-branded toys have “Sassy®” written on the sewn-in label located on the back of the character’s head. The Carter’s®-branded toys have “Carter’s®” written in red on the blue plastic ring connected to the toy’s head and also the sewn-in label located on the back of the character’s head.

Sold at: Mass merchandisers such as Toys R Us and Target, independent specialty stores nationwide and online retailers such as Amazon.com and Carters.com between July 2012 and October 2012 for Sassy-branded models; and from August 2011 to October 2012 for the Carter’s-branded models. Carter’s-branded models were also sold in Carter’s retail stores. The Sassy-branded models sold for approximately $8 and the Carter’s-branded models for approximately $14.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy:

Consumers should immediately take the toys from children and contact Sassy for instructions on how to return the product for a free replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: Sassy at (800) 323-6336 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.sassybaby.com and go to the Product Recall Information link.

More Information

Contributed by Dan
Tags: China, choking hazard, rattle toys, recall, unsafe baby toys
Posted in: Recalls
No Comments »