Jamie Grayson may be childless but the Denver-based 38-year-old makes a living demonstrating and reviewing baby gear.
In fact, he loves the stuff so much he tours around North American speaking about it. We went to Grayson to find out where parents should invest and where they can save in their baby’s first year. Here are his tips:
Splurge
Car seat:
“If I were to break it down,” Grayson said, “I would say hands down your car seat is the most important investment you can make. It’s your insurance policy for your kid.”
Grayson says all car seats on the market meet minimum standards, however, buying higher-end models can include features that give parents more ease-of-use and installation features.
Crib mattress:
Grayson recommends a brand that is non-toxic and organic.
“You don’t know what’s in all the foam that could off-gas and in theory that’s what your baby’s little face is going to be on.”
Stroller:
According to Grayson, the stroller is one of the bigger ticket items parents can get a decent return on.
“There are strollers out there that are a whole lot of money and nothing ever breaks and you can resell them.”
- Posters promoting ‘Steal From Loblaws Day’ are circulating. How did we get here?
- Canadian food banks are on the brink: ‘This is not a sustainable situation’
- Solar eclipse eye damage: More than 160 cases reported in Ontario, Quebec
- 3 women diagnosed with HIV after ‘vampire facials’ at unlicensed U.S. spa
Breast pump:
Grayson advises purchasing a new breast pump. He says buying used can present potential health issues and the pumps lose efficiency over time.
“The problem is pumps only have a warranty for X amount of hours or like a year so if you’re pumping a whole lot at work, or exclusively pumping or you’re sharing your pump, your motor gets used over and over and over so it will lose strength.”
WATCH: New parents guide to purchasing baby items without compromising budget
Save
Ditch the extras:
Grayson recommends leaving behind products that aren’t necessities and won’t give you a return, such as wipe warmers and change tables. He says a dresser with a change pad can serve the same function as a change table.
Buy used:
Parents can save by taking up offers for hand-me-down clothes and purchasing cloth diapers. Grayson says “if you invest in cloth diapers, even to use on occasion, you will save a lot more money than if you solely use disposables all the time.”
Grayson is not paid to endorse baby products, however, he does work with sponsors on speaking events and social media campaigns. To check out his product reviews visit babyguygearguide.com
Comments