Five overpriced kids products and their bargain alternatives
Posted by Danny Jensen in 
Having kids is costly. According to a 2009 estimate by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a parent will spend $160,000 to $369,000, based on income level, to raise a child from birth to age 17. Want to, gulp, know your estimated outlay? Check out the child cost calculator at Bankrate.
Since being a parent is so expensive, we’re always looking for any way to save. Here are five products aimed at kids that are a total rip-off, and what you should buy instead.
Bad Buy: Baby yogurt
Granted, these little yogurt containers are cute—the picture of the smiling baby on the side gets us every time. But there’s no reason the 24-month-and-under set needs a special yogurt made just for them.
Good Buy: Plain whole-milk yogurt
Children under age two need plenty of fat for brain development, but if the yogurt you offer them is made from whole, pasteurized milk, it’s fine if it’s not “just for babies.” To sweeten it, mix in a bit of fresh or frozen fruit, which will cut down on the amount of sugar per serving, along with the cost. Note: Never sweeten food with honey, as raw honey is dangerous for babies under 12 months of age.
Bad Buy: Jarred baby food
Don’t get us wrong. Jarred food is incredibly convenient, created under strict standards in the United States, and perfectly fine from a health standpoint. In short, there’s nothing wrong with serving it to your baby. But a bargain it ain’t!
Good Buy: Fresh fruits and veggies
Making baby food is easy. You don’t have to buy any special tools or stress yourself out brainstorming menu ideas; all you have to do is mash up a banana or some avocado and serve it to your wee one. For a tiny step up in the effort department, steam a sweet potato, scoop out the inside, and mix it with some formula or pumped breast milk to get the correct consistency. You can do the same with cooked apples or pears, or broccoli, or carrots, or squash, or … you get the idea. For the best advice, check first with your child’s pediatrician before starting solids.
Bad Buy: Name-brand diapers
We were shocked to learn from Consumer Reports that parents will spend $1,500 to $2,000 in disposable diapers for each baby! Until your child graduates to underwear, there are a few ways to cut costs.
Good Buy: Bargain diapers
Consumer Reports found a savings of 3 cents per diaper when buying the Walmart brand versus Pampers, which results in $108 over the course of a year—not exactly small change! The magazine also suggests that parents buy the largest-count, economy-size boxes; keeping your child in the smallest diaper size he or she can wear comfortably, since larger-sized diapers cost more; buying in bulk if you’re the member of a warehouse club; and, if you’re willing, using cloth diapers instead, which cost significantly less over time.
Bad Buy: Greeting cards
A present is one thing we’re always happy to spend money on, but we go crazy when we buy our nephew a $15 toy and the greeting card costs an additional $3. Talk about a waste.
Good Buy: Handmade or computer-printed
For adults and older children, a thoughtful note on regular stationery is plenty lovely. If you have preschoolers or older kids, put them to work crafting cards for any and all occasions, which is fun for them and sweet for the person receiving the card, too. We also found reasonably priced computer paper and accompanying envelopes for anyone who wants to send professional-looking cards at a fraction of the cost.
Bad Buy: Juice Boxes
Good things do not always come in small packages (much like baby yogurt). Ounce for ounce, these individual-serving-size boxes are almost double the price-per-ounce than the exact same juice in a larger bottle.
Good Buy: Bottles of Juice
Buy the big bottle and put it in your fridge, then stock up on some handy, reusable water bottles and cups with lids to serve your children. That way you can water down the juice you serve your family, which is a smart idea since experts believe too much juice can contribute to obesity, cavities, and other health problems. It’s also fun to make a drink of half juice, half club soda, a lemon wedge, and plenty of ice—bubbly, refreshing, and a lot better for you than soda or straight juice.
Andrea Pyros lives in New York’s Hudson Valley, where she raises her two kids and writes for coupon site RetailMeNot.com.
Leaving for Vacation? Read this first!
Road-Trips That You Can Remember In A Good Way
Vacations are a fun way to escape the routine of your daily life, but the road trip usually isn’t the best part of a family’s getaway, nor is the packing. What if you forget something? What are you supposed to do to keep everyone safe and happy in the car? This website provides valuable information on necessities to pack, along with fun car games and printouts to take with you. If you’re going anywhere this summer, you can’t afford to pass this up!
Click here to read more…
How to Organize Your Photos
Pictures are everywhere! If you’re like most parents, you document everything your child does with the camera. With camera options on your phone, it’s even easier to snap those pictures. But what are you doing with all of the pictures that you’ve taken? How are you supposed to organize them? Here are two great links to help you organize your photos and provide you with inspiring new projects that you can do with your photos, rather than sticking in the same ol’ boring photo album.
Click here to read more…
http://www.parents.com/fun/arts-crafts/photography/photo-crafts/
http://www.parents.com/fun/arts-crafts/photography/organize-your-family-photos/
No More Boring Brown Bags – Lunch Can Be Exciting Again
Try These New Tips Next Time You Pack A Lunch
You’ve decided to start brown bagging it to save some money. Now you’re faced with what to pack and staying healthy. Eating the same lunch everyday gets very boring and the food loses its appeal. You children will start trading their lunches, and then you’ll have no idea what they’re eating. This website offers great ideas for delicious lunch ideas, creative new food ideas, hot and cold recipes, and tips to make sure your child is having a healthy lunch. There’s even a link for peanut free recipes and an option to receive a FREE e-magazine with more great lunch ideas! We hope you enjoy this website, and your child starts enjoying lunch again.
Click here to see more:
Going to the Beach? Parenting Beach Tips
Make Sure Your Beach Trip is Fun AND Safe
Traveling to the beach this Memorial Day? Don’t leave the house without being fully prepared. This website has tips for beach related issues that we never even thought about. There are great game ideas, recommended beach products, tanning, FAQs, and even guidelines for sun damaged hair. The safety related articles are posted in the “Ocean Swimming” category. With over 120 tips, categorized into 19 different, easy-to-locate sections, there’s something in here for everyone and makes this website a must see for any parent!
To see more visit:
Summer Picnics Made Simple for Memorial Day
Don’t waste your whole weekend planning your Memorial Day picnic. We’ve done all the research and found the best website that will help you have a fabulous picnic without the stress and headache. Now you can be the host and enjoy the picnic as much as your guests. This website gives tips for planning the picnic, food, games, and other helpful hints to make sure your picnic runs smoothly.
Click here to read more:
Creative Fathers Day Gift Idea that Dads love
Does the dad in your home already have a closet full of ties, a garage with all the necessary tools, and enough homemade paperweights to last through four careers?
Presents on Father’s Day should come from the heart, and let Dad know that you really value everything he has done. We know that sometimes it’s hard to come up with an idea that can include the children and portray everything Dad deserves without breaking the bank.
Are you trying to think of a fun and creative way to let Dad know that you love him and appreciate everything he’s done? Here is a perfect way to let him know that you cherish the way he always takes care of you:
Materials:
- 1 White Cotton T-Shirt
- Fabric Paints (from local craft store)
- Paintbrush
Instructions:
- Pour some paint into a shallow foil baking pan, and have your kids place either the palms of their hands or their feet into the paint.
- Have them make a print of their hands or feet on the front of the t-shirt. Next to the prints, write either: “I’m in good hands with Dad”, “Best Dad, hands down”, or “I want to walk in Dad’s footsteps.” If you have more than one child, you can change the wording to “We’re in good hands,” etc.
- Have them wash all of the paint off their skin immediately.
- Tiny baby feet and hands are adorable mementos, but you can make this an annual tradition, a clever way to chart the kids’ growth.
PS What do you think about this Fathers Day Gift idea? Do you have any fun and creative gift ideas you can share? We’d love to hear from you!
PPS We also would love to research and post any topics parents are looking to find out about. Let us know if you have a topic you want us to research or provide our feedback on!
The State of Education in Our World – This is a “MUST-SEE”
The link to this video was sent to me this morning by Child Care Information Exchange. This video is so amazingly creative and so RIGHT ON, I just had to share it with you here.
Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert, gave a speech called ”Changing Education Paradigms”, where he talks about the general state of education in our world today, and also an interesting take on ADHD. He then took an excerpt of the speech and had it visually connected in the most brilliant and fun-to-watch way.
Please take 8 minutes and check it out:
When I was in the 2nd grade I was diagnosed with ADHD, forever changing my life, and this presentation by Ken Robinson is a breath of fresh air. If you know anyone who has children with ADHD, please pass this along.
PS Love this post? Hate this post? Either way I would love to hear your thoughts below…
PPS Have you figured out your summer plans for your age 5-12 year old? Click on our Summer Camp link to the right to find out more about our “Around the World in 80 Days” Campastic 2011.
Fun4GatorKids.com
Fun4gatorkids.com is the ultimate resource for finding stuff to do with kids in the Gainesville, FL area. They currently have over 1000 listings and are adding more each week!
Gainesville has SO much to offer for young children, but much of it is not advertised, and many activities and businesses do not even have a website, so kids and their caregivers often find out about them through word-of-mouth or just happen to discover things on their own.
www.Fun4GatorKids.com had 3 goals when developing this website:
1. To create a FREE online resource for parents, teachers and care-givers to quickly find activities, programs, businesses, and places to visit with kids in the Gainesville area.
2. To promote locally owned businesses and programs offering products and services appealing to kids. The website does this in two ways:
—All fun4gatorkids.com listings are FREE! And
—Advertising rates are priced below market value in order to allow small businesses the opportunity to advertise
3. To give back to the community by donating a portion of the proceeds from advertising to local charities benefiting children in the Alachua County area.
Please click on the logo to check out this wonderful resource:
A FREE website with over 1000 listings for family events, kids activities, childrens programs and classes, and MORE!
Finding a Quality Preschool for Toddlers
Finding a quality preschool for children can be quite challenging. There are several benefits to sending toddlers to a preschool rather than a daycare center. A quality preschool program helps children to develop their self identity. It also helps toddlers to discover and develop their positive attitudes toward learning. Preschools provide interesting learning tools and help the toddlers to gain self confidence.
They also help children to understand their capability to remember and build on things they have learned. Preschools also help children to develop their creative expressions through music, art and drama and by using their unique self expressions.
The most important factor in selecting a quality preschool is to make sure that it provides a safe and secure learning space for the children. It should be comfortable and provide areas where toddlers can enjoy activities without being easily distracted. It should have a staff that makes children feel comfortable and nurtured. The teachers and staff should be very caring, responsive and sensitive to the requests and needs of the children. They should get involved with the children and help them accomplish projects, solve problems and give adequate space and time for indoor and outdoor activities.
The location of the preschool is also an important factor that parents need to take into consideration. Most parents prefer to send their children to a preschool which is near to their home or workplace. As the child needs to be picked up or dropped by their parents, the preschool selected should be located nearby.
The amount of fees charged may also vary between different preschools. Some preschools may be subsidized by the state government for providing education to children who come from low- income families. Most charge monthly fees. It is also important to verify whether the preschool follows well defined curriculum. There may be some preschools that follow the same curriculum as daycare centers, while others may be preparing the children for kindergarten.
To contact the best preschool in Gainesville, FL for more information on our certifications, curriculum or to schedule a tour of our new campus updates just follow the link above.
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