User Contributions (non DJ)
Parental spending habits on baby products
The urge to indulge on baby products
Reckless spending on baby products when you're a first time parent or a first time grandparent is so very easy. Considering that babies are by their nature very adorable, baby products too seem irresistible. Are parents spending way too much discretionary income than necessary due to societal pressures or all these products really necessary to make your baby content and smart?
The more income in a household means the more money parents hand over for baby products. This trend is working its way down to households with lesser incomes as these families try to give their child the same benefits. Some studies show that first-time parents spend on average about $6200 in the first 12 months. Another study according to Champaign For Our Children, Inc. breaks down expenses to about $785 a month, totaling at least $8200 during the first 2 years. Most of these costs go toward nice clothes, furniture and toys. With each successive child, parents tend to spend slightly - and only slightly - less.
How necessary is it to decorate a baby's room with designer label wallpaper and baby furniture? Will the baby notice any difference if you purchase these things on discount or second hand? These differences probably won't matter (although they might add comfort to a stressed out parent). Even though certain colors and patterns have been studied and reportedly appeal more to infants, this doesn't mean the colors and patterns have to come from designer names. Also, even though a child benefits greatly from the right amount of stimulation, this too doesn't mean you have to buy an expensive mobile to replace the rewards that a baby gets from watching your smiling face.
The current generation of parents is spending a lot more than past generations on baby products. The industry loves this indulgence. In fact, the juvenile products industry in 2004 brought in over $6.02 billion worldwide according to JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association). Many parents unfortunately are buying frivolous items that are well marketed. For example, are you willing to purchase a cashmere blanket for $400? Just because an item is on the market or promoted by an expert doesn't mean that parents should rush out and buy it. Use discretion and try to stick to a budget. Also, not all products are safe for a baby or age appropriate. Try bargain shopping to find deals. Other ways to stay within your means and still offer your child lots of cool stuff is by comparison shopping, looking for second-hand deals at garage sales, or coupon hunting.
Today's society is full of over-stimulating products that give off bad side effects. While today's parents may be used to this over-stimulation, their child might appreciate a more simplistic approach. While the temptation to overload your baby with lots of goodies may appear the right choice at first, you should think about how this will affect your baby and your household budget. So, before you go out and buy that Gucci white mink jacket for your 10-month-old, perhaps you should consider putting that money toward something more beneficial, like his college fund.
Copyright 2005 Delane Gillitts. All rights reserved.
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