|
     
|
|  |
Parental Spending Habits On Baby Products - Indulgent Or
by Delane Gillitts
http://www.ykbaby.com
It's so easy to look at those cute baby products and
immediately want to purchase every last piece for your
precious darling. But, is this really necessary? Many
parents are spending more and more on supposedly highly
educational products and adorable gear for their little
darling without evaluating if these things are really
necessary. And, the more that a parent earns the more
temptation to buy up the store exists. Is this really
necessary? Are our little ones really going to benefit that
much from so much stuff?
Some studies in America show that the larger the family
income, the more that parents are willing to hand over for
lots and lots of goodies for their little one. The problem
with this approach is many parents without this income feel
that they must keep up with the Jones'. Some estimates show
that the first time parent spends on average at least $6200
during the first year alone. One source - Champaign For Our
Children, Inc. - indicates that raising a baby costs at
least $785 a month, or about $8500 from birth to age 2. A
large portion of these amounts is toward baby products such
as toys, clothes and furniture. The spending habits by
parents for additional baby tends to go down slightly since
parents have already invested in major baby products such as
furniture and bedding.
Is remodeling the baby room with the latest wallpaper and
baby furniture really going to make the baby that much
happier? Odds are it won't (although it might if a stressed
out parent benefits from these comforts). Although studies
show that certain colors and patterns appeal more to
infants, the attraction to these colors and patterns is not
dependent on a designer name. Additionally, even though
infants benefit greatly from stimulation, an expensive and
fancy mobile doesn't exactly replace the benefits of an
adult face smiling and chatting with the baby.
Parents are definitely spending more on baby products than
in past generations. According to the JPMA (Juvenile
Products Manufacturers Association), the juvenile products
industry in 2004 grossed over $6.02 billion worldwide. Some
wonderful articles are written about the ridiculous products
that parents are conned into purchasing for their baby by
this industry. For instance, does your baby really need a
$400 cashmere blanket? While a parent should put safety and
developmental stages before how popular or luxurious an item
is on the market, a parent shouldn't feel obligated to
purchase every product out there just because some expert is
promoting it. Discretion and bargain shopping are some ways
to get around this must-have-it-all attitude.
Comparison-shopping, coupon hunting and second-hand deals
are some ways to get around these splurges.
In today's environment of over-stimulation, perhaps infants
are reaping the side effects of their parent's surroundings.
While simpler doesn't always mean better, sometimes products
can go overboard. The temptation to over indulge an infant
with goodies doesn't necessarily make the child that better
off. So, before you go and purchase a Gucci white mink coat
for your baby, consider the benefits of a slightly used
jacket from Amazon or a local garage sale. Maybe if you
shop wisely enough, you may be able to trim hundreds of
dollars off the first year's expenses and put that money
toward something smarter - like a college fund.
Submit An Article
|
©
COPYRIGHT 2005 ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED fdbaby.com
|
Get Exposure For Your Site! Advertise with us.
Click
Here For Details
on a Great Deal! |
|
|
Would you like
more information on baby?
Sign up here for our mailing list. You will get great information
before it becomes available on our website!
|
|
