The Best Baby Items to Buy on Black Friday
We all know that baby stuff isn’t cheap. Cribs, strollers, baby clothes, diapers (all the diapers)… Is it any surprise that the average American spends over 200,000 on their kid before their 18th birthday?
As a new or expecting parent, you know how critical Black Friday is. It’s he sales event that can either leave you glowing from all of the money you just saved or flat broke.
Becoming a parent completely revolutionized the way that I shopped Black Friday and I can’t wait to share these tips with you.
You’re about to learn what baby items to buy on Black Friday, which purchases you should stay the heck away from, and key ways you can save more money (and even make money) on your purchases.
To help you organize your purchases, I’m also including a handy Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping planner. This should help you keep track of all your necessary purchases. You can grab it below.
Alright, mama! Let’s start saving some money!
(PSST!! Want to get to the good stuff? Just use the menu below to skip to the deals!)
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3 Things You Need to Know Before Shopping Black Friday
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. I only recommend what I trust. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions
Saving money is one of my favorite past times. Maybe it’s because I grew up dirt poor, maybe it’s because I worked retail for 5 years and I despise sales tactics. In any case, I’ll happily spend a half hour researching ways to save on a single, small purchase.
If you’re like me and desperately want to buy more and spend less, there are a few things you should know before we dive into the best baby items to buy on Black Friday.
Make a List and Stick to It
Going Black Friday shopping unprepared is like going to the grocery store without a grocery list. You end up meandering around the store and purchasing whatever looks good. If you don’t make a list and budget for your purchases, you will spend more money than you want to.
If you have the budget, focus on the products you need now and 6 months in the future (in about 6 months you’ll see more major sales).
If you’re a new or expecting mom, you should consider what baby or maternity items you will need in the near future. For example, if you’re in your second trimester, now’s the time to buy maternity clothes or snag that crib for a great price.
If you’re having/raising a baby on a budget and not sure what items you need, check out my free baby on a budget planner. It lists off the items you need for pregnancy, postpartum, and for you baby. Plus it comes with some handy budgeting worksheets and trackers I think you’ll love.
RELATED POST: The Baby on a Budget Planner
Sign Up for Newsletters and Memberships Now
Once you’ve figured out what you need, you should position yourself to get the best deals. Sign up for your main targets’ newsletter. Newsletters will undoubtedly send you exclusive coupons for Black Friday.
If you’re planning on participating in Amazon’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday events, now is the time to take advantage of their 30-day Amazon Prime trial so you receive free shipping and exclusive discounts.
If at all possible, don’t wait until the week of Black Friday. Many retailers are offering pre-Black Friday sales (Amazon included) to encourage more sales.
Be Wary of “Good Deals”
Otherwise known as the retail trap!
The retail trap is the reason why you see $5 movie bins or $2 cases of lip balm right next to the checkout. Black Friday is lined with amazing deals that will tempt you and make you spend more than you would’ve. That’s why preparing a list is so important!
You should also watch out for expensive brand-name items that are steeply discounted.
For example, if you were thinking about purchasing a high-quality, off-brand baby carrier for $40, but you see an Ergo Baby carrier that’s $50 off (but still $150), you might be tempted to spend a little extra simply because it’s a good deal.
If your goal is to purchase name brand items for a good price, then by all means, take advantage of these sales. BUT, if you want the least expensive products, try to resist these tactics.
Where to Shop
Almost every store has some kind of deal on Black Friday. My top list of stores is below. I’ve been following these stores because I’ve seen the best baby items to buy on Black Friday and they usually offer top-quality products for the best price.
Having said that, don’t forget to think outside the box. Resale stores also have massive sales on Black Friday. If you’re good with buying used baby gear or clothes, definitely check out your local Once Upon a Child or consignment stores.
My Top Stores for the Best Baby Items to Buy on Black Friday:
- Amazon (Black Friday and Cyber Monday)
- Baby Earth (A baby gear website that features premier brands like Stokke and Hauck)
- Buy Buy Baby *
- Carter’s *
- Kohl’s
- Walmart
- Target
- Shutterfly (if you’re planning on making baby announcements, holiday greeting cards, or baby shower invitations)
- Old Navy * (a must if you’re pregnant! They have great deals on baby clothes as well)
- Manufacturer’s Websites (Sometimes they have great deals)
*You may be able to shop exclusively online
SHORT ON TIME? PIN IT!
Best Baby Items to Buy on Black Friday
1 Car Seats
Black Friday usually means you can save between 20-40% off on car seats. This is one of the best baby items to buy on Black Friday, so definitely make sure you do your research on your prospective models beforehand.
My favorite places for shopping car seats include Buy Buy Baby (during sales), Walmart, Amazon, and sometimes Target. If during your research you find a specific model you’re interested, it wouldn’t hurt to check the manufacturer’s website as well.
Chicco, Britax, Graco, typically have the best discounts during Black Friday. Maxi Cosi will most likely have sales too, but I’ve only seen their carseats discounted at 15% OFF.
2 Strollers
Since we’re dealing with the same manufacturers, this concept really applies to strollers as well.
Having said that, if you don’t care about name-brand strollers, you can find jaw-dropping deals at Amazon. In fact, as I’m writing this, I’ve already seen $99 strollers thanks to Amazon’s Holi-Deals campaign.
The best Amazon deals usually come in the form of Lightning Deals and they are usually gone within minutes.
(If you have no idea what I’m talking about, head on over to my post about Amazon’s Black Friday event so you can learn how you can take advantage of Lightning Deals).
RELATED POST: 5 Simple Hacks to Save More Money at Amazon’s Black Friday
3 Baby Carriers
Once again, Amazon usually offers the best deals on off-brand products.
However, brands like Lillebaby and Ergobaby carriers offer great deals on their website and sometimes at brick and mortar locations like Target or Buy Buy Baby. On Amazon though, I’ve seen them as much as 75% off.
4 Clothes (Resale and New)
On Black Friday, Carter’s usually offers storewide 50% off plus incredible deals on booties, socks, small items like that. Generally, you can expect the same from Buy Buy Baby.
But if you think these prices are cheap, you need to check out your local resale shops. Gently-used baby clothes are usually discounted 25-50% off retail prices. During Black Friday sales, retail shops usually offer an additional discount or BOGO deals.
5 Diapers
Black Friday is the perfect day to stockpile diapers. I’ve seen a few diaper deals in-store, but so far Amazon holds the best deals, especially when you’re an Amazon Family member and you combine offers with their monthly subscription services.
6 Baby Accessories
If you’ve been thinking about changing diaper bags or snagging a stroller organizer, Black Friday is definitely the day to do it. My favorite places to shop include Buy Buy Baby and Amazon. Amazon offers accessories from smaller, upstart brands that offer the steepest discounts.
For example, Baby Charm, the only stroller bag I use (which has effectively replaced my need for a bulky diaper bag), is planning on having a 50% off sale on their diaper bag. I’ve never seen this bag marked down so low and I can’t recommend it enough.
7 Baby Video Monitors and Baby Movement Monitors
Baby video monitors are one of the best baby items to buy on Black Friday, however, you could also spend a lot of money here if you’re not careful.
Every year, Amazon offers very, very inexpensive baby monitors. So, if your goal is to buy the cheapest baby monitor on the market, that’s the place to go. However, not all baby monitors are created alike. Beware of off-brands that may or may not be reliable.
Typically, the bigger brands also offer discounts.
Owlet Smart Sock 2 – $100 Off!
8 Cribs
Expect the best prices on cribs, aside from clearance events. Wayfair, Amazon, Target, Buy Buy Baby, and Walmart are my favorite places to shop for cribs on Black Friday.
9 Resale Toys
In 2017, Amazon sold over $650 million in infant toys alone. It’s no secret that parents love buying their babies toys. Many parents think they need to purchase toys to encourage developmental learning. Or they feel bad that they don’t know what the heck to buy their baby, so they buy anything that looks cool.
The thing is, unless you have a specific item that you’re looking for, you really need to be careful about buying infant toys on Black Friday. Your budget can disappear in a heartbeat.
To save money (and avoid shiney object syndrome), check out your resale shops. Most resale shops offer discounts on their toys (between 20-30%), which can rival even Amazon’s Lightning Deals.
10 Swings
Fisher Price and Graco are notorious for having incredible deals during Black Friday events. Last year, Amazon and Buy Buy Baby were the clear winners.
Stay tuned for more Baby Swing Deals!
BONUS: ONLINE COURSES FOR MOMS
If you’re pregnant or a new mom and you need to learn about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and all things motherhood, NOW is your chance to save a lot of money on online courses.
In the past, new moms turned to books and her peers for advice on how to overcome early motherhood trials. Now we have the internet. Below are just a few of my absolute favorite online resources that are severely marked down this holiday.
Invest in Your Faith Mini Bundle!
The perfect bundle for the faith-driven mama! This bundle includes 10 e Courses, eBooks, and other resources to help you grow in your faith.
- Create a lifegiving and gospel-centered self-care plan
- Cultivate a more rewarding prayer life
- Memorize encouraging Bible verses
- Dive deeper into important passages like Psalm 23
- Organize your Bible study resources
- And more!
Final Tip: You Can EARN Money on Black Friday and Cyber Monday
What if I told you that you can EARN money on Black Friday? This hack is so easy and it literally takes seconds of your time.
When you’re Black Friday shopping, you’ve got to use Ebates or Ibotta.Any purchases you make with these apps can earn real cashback.
Sign up for Rakuten (Ebates)
Rakuten is an online affiliate of a lot of retailers. When you use their link to make your online purchases, Rakuten makes a commission off your sale (at no charge to you). Then, they give you a portion of that commission back via cashback. That’s real cashback, by the way. As in, they send it to your PayPal account where you can do whatever you want with it.
If you’re shopping mostly in-store, you can link your debit or credit card to your Rakuten wallet. Then, when you make qualifying in-store purchases, you’re still able to earn cashback.
I know what you’re wondering: how much do you earn?
Rakuten typically ranges from 1-12% cashback, but it really depends on the retailer and item you purchase. Still, on Black Friday, that can add up fast. I’ve earned well over $100 from Rakuten without even thinking about it.
You can sign up for Rakuten here and receive $10 cashback.
Ibotta
If you’re shopping in-store, Ibotta may have some good deals for you. Basically, once you make qualifying in-store purchases, you scan your receipt into the Ibotta app. Ibotta then provides your shopping information to retailers for market research. Then, they give you cashback for qualifying items.
It’s pretty easy to earn money with Ibotta because the cashback is pretty generous and there are several qualifying items. I also love that you can sync your membership cards so Ibotta can automatically detect your purchases.
If you’re shopping online, Ibotta is similar to Rakuten. You simply log into the app, find your retailer, click the link (which redirects you to the retailer’s website) and you make your purchases as usual.
When I signed up, I earned a $20 bonus credit. Definitely worth it! To join, just click here!
Stay Tuned for More Black Friday Baby Deals of 2019
As we draw nearer to the sales, I’ll update this page with the best baby items to buy on Black Friday. In the meantime, I hope this post has given you somewhat of a game plan.
Definitely bookmark or pin this page. You’ll need it later!
By reading this post, you’re already ensuring that you find the best deals. If you need a little help organizing, don’t forget to download your copy of the Black Friday Shopping Planner.
If you happen to be a pro at this whole Black Friday shopping thing, I would love to hear from you. What are some of your favorite tips? Did you find these tips helpful? Let me know below!
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