I participated in a campaign on behalf of Influence Central for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
When it comes to baby products and gear there is a lot of information out there. As a new parent it can be overwhelming and you probably don’t even know where to begin. One of the biggest questions that you may have is: Is Your Baby Gear Safe? It can be hard to determine which products are safe for your baby as well as which ones will best fit your needs.
As the mother of three and the purchaser of A LOT of baby equipment – car seats, strollers, booster seats, high chairs, bath tubs, cribs, carriers and loads and loads of accessories, I have learned a few things when it comes to choosing baby products. Some have been great, others really weren’t worth the cost. So when it comes to these products you are probably wondering “what is safe?” and “what do I really need?”. I have a few tips to help you when choosing baby gear that is both right for you and safe for your baby.
1. Is your baby gear safe?: The first thing you will want to do is make sure the products you are purchasing for your baby are safe. How do you know? Many parent check ratings and read reviews but an easy way to know that the product you are looking at is safe is to look for the JPMA (Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association) certification seal. The JPMA has been using a unique certification process that has been guiding parents in their product selection for over 30 yrs. You can find out more about the JPMA certification process in their Baby Safety Zone and all of the JPMA Certified Products HERE.
2. What do you need the product to do?: Next I suggest considering what exactly you are looking for the baby product to do. If you are shopping for a high chair and you know you have a small kitchen space, you will need to consider that. Or, when you are looking to purchase a stroller, consider what you will be using it for. When I had my first child, I bought an adorable pink stroller with matching car seat. I quickly realized that although it was cute, it would not give me the performance I needed so I ended up purchasing a second stroller with large wheels that would accomodate and active lifestyle.
3. How long do you need it to last?: The life span that you are looking for is something you absolutely need to consider before you purchase a baby product. If you are planning on buying a crib that you will use for several children over the years, you will likely want to purchase one that is very durable and possibly a little more expensive. The same may be considered when purchasing car seats. For example, I purchased an infant car seat before my son was born. We did realized that he would be much bigger than our daughter and he outgrew the infant car seat by 4 months. I learned my lesson and now check the weight and height limits on products, purchasing the one that will hold the child the longest.
Do you have any additional tips for purchasing baby gear? Don’t forget to read more on the JMPA product certification and find more and 2,000 products in the Baby Safety Zone.
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