Our Methodology

When it comes to buying products for your children, you likely don’t take purchase decisions lightly. You want to make sure you’re getting an item that is safe and reliable while still staying within your household budget. But narrowing down the options in a marketplace that’s crowded can be tough. For every item you want to buy, shelves are overloaded with products from various manufacturers.

One of the best things a conscientious parent can do is read reviews. Experts are out there every day testing different products for safety, as well as making sure they live up to what they promise to do. But the reviewer market can be just as overwhelming, with so many write-ups on every single product that you have no idea which one to read first.

That’s where Don’t Waste Your Money comes in. We have a team of in-house experts who combine their own specialized product knowledge with the many reviews already available out there. We comb through countless reviews, both from customers and experts from a variety of sources and distill the information to help you make the best decision for your own family. When combined with our own in-depth look at each product, this will give you a holistic picture of what you can expect from whatever item you choose.

If you’re searching for an infant car seat, for instance, we know that safety is a top concern. But our readers also drive a wide range of vehicles and live varying lifestyles. Although we do prioritize crash-test results and the overall build of each seat, we also look at how comfortable it is for your baby, including features like temperature control and seat angle.

The result is a review that helps you get the best overall picture possible of what you’re getting before you buy. Instead of jumping from one review to the next, you can see the top four, compared against each other, with the best qualities of each pointed out. If there are drawbacks to a product, we mention those, as well, to make sure you don’t learn the hard way that the item you’ve chosen has flaws.

When you’re looking for a product in the baby and kids category, it can help to first outline the features that are most important to you. While many children’s items are tested for safety, you should know what that means for your family so that you can ensure the product was tested for those specific features. Whether you’re heading to stores or buying online, by reading expert reviews ahead of time, you’ll be able to make a fully-informed decision.

Our Trusted Process

Product reviews are important, no matter what the item. But when it comes to buying products for the little ones in our lives, few things are more important than conducting research ahead of time. Their safety and comfort are top priority, so it’s important to learn as much as possible before we make a purchase.

At Don’t Waste Your Money, we know how important this research is. We employ a team of expert reviewers who study each product in-depth, gathering information from as many sites as possible to make sure you know what you need to know to make an informed decision. Whether it’s a toy or crib or one of many other items on the market today, we start with a pool of 15 different products, narrowing it down to the best in each field.

Once we’ve determined the top four products, the next phase of work begins. Using their own expertise, our reviewers comb through reviews and pull out the information that is most relevant to our readers. We look for comments that stand out, as well as recurring themes. If a stroller’s wheels aren’t as smooth rolling as the manufacturer promises, and multiple reviews mention that fact, we take a closer look at that complaint and pass the information on to you.

Our team doesn’t just take reviews from the obvious sites into consideration. Although we do study large review publications like Consumer Reports, we also pay close attention to specialized and independent sites. Since some of the best comments come from the people who use a product, we comb through reviews on popular sites like Amazon and Walmart to see what consumers are saying.

When you look at products within the baby and kids section of DWYM, you’ll see the top four products in each category, along with both positive and negative reviews. We also award one product of each four The Best Overall certification and another product The Best Bang for Your Buck certification. This lets you quickly identify the two products that stood out to our reviewers, but you still may find that one of the other two products has the best features for your own unique needs.

When we look at products geared toward younger consumers, we consider all the things parents typically want. In addition to safety, parents also want their children to be as comfortable as possible, which is a priority in products like car seats and cribs. But with some products, it’s all about fun. Sure, it’s important that a specific toy is safe, but will the child enjoy it? If not, parents won’t want to know anything else.

There are other factors that are important, as well, including portability and aesthetics. Does that stroller fold up as promised and tuck neatly into the back of an SUV? Will that crib fit well with the décor you so carefully set up in your nursery? Although we can’t speak specifically to every reader’s situation, we can provide information such as color, weight and dimensions so that you can pull out a tape measure and make sure it will work for you.

When you’re shopping for a product for the youngest members of your family, it’s important to have access to the widest range of information possible. Instead of spending hours filtering through reviews, our team of experts goes through them all for you and sums them up in an easy-to-understand format. When you check DWYM before buying a new baby or child product, you’ll have the confidence of knowing you’re basing your decision on the most up-to-date information possible.