Thanks to online shopping, the days of struggling with shopping bags while trying to pacify a howling baby are long gone! Shopping online has given us access to a wide variety of stores and products, all from the comfort of our sofas. Unfortunately, being spoiled for choice also means that it’s tougher to find the best deal and you’re likely to second guess every choice you make which is why we have put together this guide to online shopping for a newborn baby to make what could be a stressful experience a whole lot of fun.

How to Shop Online for a New Born Baby

The list of new born baby must-haves may seem exhaustive but there’s no need to panic. Before you start shopping online, take a deep breath, calm down and remind yourself that you don’t need to walk down the aisles of massive department stores and car lots in today’s modern world. With New Jersey auto transport, monthly subscription baby products, or even same-day delivery options available on thousands of items your baby will depend on each day, online shopping has never been easier or more convenient.  Here are a few online shopping tips to help you navigate online shopping.

Start with a List

Once you go online, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of baby products and you will end up overshooting your budget or buying things you don’t really need. A shopping list is a simple way to stay on track when shopping for your baby.

When creating your list of newborn baby products, categorise each item as a primary or secondary requirement. For instance, nappies, feeding bottles and a cot are new born baby essentials and would be listed as primary purchases, while things like baby monitors and battery-operated swings would be secondary requirements.

You can also look out for sites that let you shop by interest like Cute Rascals which will help to make your list fulfillment easier once start shopping online.

Read User Reviews

Most online shoppers simply check the rating of an item and don’t bother to read the reviews. When shopping online for your newborn, make it a point to read at least a few of the reviews so that you can decide what will or will not work for you.

For instance, you might find a great travel system for your baby but once you read the reviews, you find that several users said that the system is fine for the boot of a car but too awkward to get on the bus. In this case, even though your item had a 4-star rating, it still wouldn’t be ideal for you if you plan on travelling by bus regularly.

Look Out For Coupons

Coupons can be a great way of saving money when shopping online for a newborn baby. Here are some tips for using coupons for shopping online for newborns:

• Research and compare prices: Before making a purchase, compare prices from different websites and look for any available coupons or promo codes. For example, you can keep your eye out for Nordstrom coupons to use on baby items.
• Check the expiration date: Be sure to check the expiration date of the coupon, as they often have limited validity.
• Subscribe to email lists: Subscribe to email lists of your favorite baby retailers to receive notifications about sales and discounts.
• Check the fine print: Read the fine print of the coupon to see if there are any restrictions or limitations on its use.
• Use multiple coupons: If possible, use multiple coupons to maximize your savings on a single purchase.
• Check social media: Follow baby product retailers on social media to stay updated on sales and promotions.
• Shop during sales: Take advantage of holiday sales and clearance events to get the best deals on baby products.
• Use cashback and loyalty programs: Take advantage of cashback and loyalty programs to earn rewards and savings on your baby purchases.

Use Price-match Services

Many retailers offer a price-match service which is an easy way to get the best deal while shopping online. A price-match service simply means that if you find a cheaper price at another online store, you can approach the retailer and they will beat it.

In the UK,  John Lewis offers this service and in the US, J.C. Penny and Target offer similar services. In fact, J.C. Penny will shave off an extra 5% on prices for competing physical or online retailer while Target’s price-match guarantee also matches prices that are listed in print ads.

Don’t Shop for New Born-Size Clothes in Advance

Everyone will agree that baby clothes are just adorable but don’t shop for baby clothes until your baby is born. You might feel proud and well-prepared when you look at your stock of new born outfits but your baby may be born larger than average and might not be able to fit into all those cute outfits you’ve bought.

Instead of buying a cute mock-waistcoat onesie, invest in swaddling clothes as you will need these for the first 3-4 months. Additionally, you will probably get a lot of baby clothes from family and friends so it would be wise to shop as and when you need baby clothes.

Don’t Buy Clothes that Go over Your New Born Baby’s Head

Putting clothes on a new born is scary enough without struggling to fit his head through the neck of a cute onesie. This can be a particularly daunting task if you’re a first-time parent. Instead it makes more sense to opt for round necks with snap button closures on the front or jumpsuits that come with zips.

Don’t Stockpile Nappies

Stockpiling enough nappies or pampers to fill an entire room may be great for comedic effect in movies, but it’s not a sensible choice in real life. There are plenty of brands and varieties to choose between and you can’t be sure of what you’re actually going to need. Just pick up enough to get you through a few days or a week at best.

And lastly..

Most importantly, don’t agonize over your shopping list or beat yourself up about what you might have missed. After all, it’s better that you put off a few purchases for later, rather than buy stuff that your baby doesn’t really need.

Additional resources: 

• Searching for items? Take your time and peruse different retailers online to see your options
• How to save money when shopping online
• More consumers are shopping online than before