Shoppers are always looking for a bargain, and you can’t really blame them. With wage growth flat and the cost of living increasing sometimes it does pay to shop around for the best deal. With the boom in online retail giants like Amazon and Catch of the Day sometimes you can find some serious bargains by opening up your search engine and punching in what you need to find. Yet there are some things that you shouldn’t cheap out on, and parenting purchases are some of those items. Let’s examine this a bit more and look at how to make these big ticket items last.
Prams, Let’s Talk Prams
Prams, strollers or double prams are one of the most important purchases you’ll make as a parent and are definitely one of the things that you should be prepared to spend a bit of money on. Cheap strollers from discount retailers may be initially affordable but if they break and you replace them a few times the cost really adds up over time. So shop around, sure, but be prepared to spend a bit of money on a pram and you’ll be guaranteed quality that will stand the test of time and lots of use.
Take good care of your pram by washing it regularly and always folding it according to the instructions. Some prams you can detach the fabric from and wash in the washing machine but please don’t use fabric softener as this can adversely affect the material.
Car Seats
Child car seat safety is extremely important, and is more so the younger your children are. When shopping for a car seat you may be tempted to cut some corners and save some dollars by opting for a cheaper option but this is not advised as often you’ll need to spend a bit more money for a safer seat. Some seats can be used from infancy through to the age of the age of eight years old so think of it as a long term investment into your kid’s safety.
Like your pram your car seat can be washed but again, don’t use fabric softener as this can remove the fire retardant properties of the material.
Toys, Toys, Toys
Soon your home will be flooded with toys, trust us. They have a way of appearing out of thin air, either donated from well-meaning friends and family or purchased on a whim at the shop or because you couldn’t bear the brunt of a begging toddler. Yet try to buy good quality toys. Fisher Price is a great brand that builds interactive toys built to last. Try to opt for wooden toys over cheap plastic toys from Kmart or Target as wooden toys are great quality and will last so your kids can pass them onto their own children. A good solid rocking horse is a great example of a toy that will last their whole childhood.
Clothes
Finally, you’ll be buying a lot of clothes through their child years as they’re not going to stop growing. Try to pick good quality fabrics that won’t fade after a few washes.
To Sum it All Up
First of all, buy a quality pram that will stand the test of time and take the above steps to look after it. Secondly, a good quality child seat is important for your kids’ safety. Choose good quality, wooden toys that are constructed with quality in mind and don’t cheap out on clothes either. Sometimes by spending more money up front you save in the long run.
How do you make sure that your parenting purchases are items that will last?
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