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Top 10 Baby Bargains

Tips from the Experts!

By Denise and Alan Fields

1. Get a free car seat. Midas Muffler & Brake shops offer what might be the best baby bargain—a free car seat. Instead of spending up to $150 on a car seat, go to any Midas location and pick up a name-brand Century car seat for just $42 (that's the wholesale price). When your baby outgrows the car seat, just take it back to Midas and they'll give you a certificate for $42 worth of automotive services. The bottom line: it's a car seat for free.

2. Surf the web to save 40%. A new web site (http://www.internetbaby.com) offers fantastic deals on strollers, high chairs and other baby stuff. Their prices are often 40% or more below those in stores.

3. Forget fancy bedding sets. Winnie the Pooh bedding can run $300 a set. Our advice: skip the Pooh sheets and instead buy solid-color bedding. Then decorate the nursery with themed accessories and other items. You'll save 60% or more. A simple set of sheets and cotton blanket runs a mere $50. Another piece of wise bedding advice: skip the frills like diaper stackers, dust ruffles, matching curtain valances and the like.

4. Wear it again, Sam. Second-hand stores that specialize in children's clothing and equipment are a bargain paradise. We've seen $25 outfits for as little as $5 and other items like mobiles, bassinets, toys, and more baby necessities at discounted prices. Another great source: garage sales.

5. Go to the dogs—for safety gates. Ever notice that baby safety gates look suspiciously similar to the ones used for pets? We found you can save up to 30% off the cost of baby safety gates by purchasing them through a mail-order pet supply catalog. The exact same safety gate in a baby catalog is $35—compare that to $25 in the pet catalog!

6. Discover hard-to-find outlet stores.