Top 10 Baby Bargains from Denise and Alan Fields

1. Get a discounted car seat. We found insurance companies that offer FREE car seats to parents that attend a parenting class. Another offers a $25 rebate coupon for the purchase of any car seat, no strings attached.

2. Surf the Web to save 40 percent. A new Web site offers fantastic deals on strollers, high chairs and other baby stuff. Their prices are often 40 percent or more below those in stores. A new directory in the back of the book highlights the best Web sites for new parents.

3. Forget fancy bedding sets. Winnie the Pooh bedding can run $300 a set. Our advice: skip the Pooh sheets and instead buy solid-color bedding. Then decorate the nursery with themed accessories and other items. You'll save 60 percent or more. A simple set of sheets and cotton blanket runs a mere $50. Another piece of wise bedding advice: skip the frills like diaper stackers, dust ruffles, matching curtain valances and the like.

4. Wear it again, Sam. Second-hand stores that specialize in children's clothing and equipment are a bargain paradise. We've seen $25 outfits for as little as $5 and other items like mobiles, bassinets, toys, and more baby necessities at discounted prices. Another great source: garage sales.

5. Go to the dogs -- for safety gates. Ever notice that baby safety gates look suspiciously similar to the ones used for pets? We found you can save up to 30 percent off the cost of baby safety gates by purchasing them through a mail-order pet supply catalog. The exact same safety gate in a baby catalog is $35 -- compare that to $25 in the pet catalog!

6. Discover hard-to-find outlet stores. Psst -- hear about the great baby clothes outlet store where everything is 50 percent off? Or the one that sells brand-name crib bedding at a fraction of retail? We sure did -- and we've compiled the most complete list of the best baby stuff outlets in the U.S.

7. Save $$$ and improve your child's IQ, all at the same time. Breast-feeding has received much press lately as a smart alternative to bottle feeding -- yet did you realize how much money you'd save by not buying all those cans of formula? We calculated the savings and realized breast-feeding will save up to $500 over the first six months of a baby's life.

8. Rent that formal dress. Invited to a wedding and you're eight months pregnant? Why buy a formal dress for $200 when you can rent one? We found that many maternity shops will rent you their formal dresses for one-time occasions at one-third the cost of buying.

9. Shop the new baby "mega-stores." Stores like Babies 'R Us, Baby Depot and Buy Buy Baby offer great deals on everything from furniture to strollers.

10. Travel in coach. Is that fancy $300 European stroller really worth it? We found several new models from a Japanese company that are high-quality and lightweight -- and sell for under $100.