That’s a wrap! Black Friday & Cyber Monday are finished for 2020. We hope you scored some great deals.
Black Friday Buying Guide
Thinking about braving the madness and getting in on the best deals of the year this holiday season? Black Friday is just around the corner, so itâs time to start making your shopping list!
What is Black Friday?
The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday, the first holiday shopping day of the year. Most major retailers open their doors very early and offer doorbusters and early bird specials for the eager holiday shoppers. Though, in recent years, stores have been starting to open even earlier, some even on Thanksgiving night.
All in all, Black Friday is all about the deals and discounts. Itâs been a great way for retailers to bring in shoppers, and a great way for shoppers to get bargains on their holiday shopping.
Are Black Friday Deals Actually Worth it?
Before you get out and brave the lines, youâre probably wondering if shopping on Black Friday is actually worth it. With such a wide variety of baby products of the market and new ones popping up all the time, it can be difficult to know which ones are worth buying on holiday bargain days.
There is one known fact though, and thatâs that babies are expensive! Diapers, clothes, a crib, bottles, formula, breastfeeding accessories; The basics alone can cost you a fortune.
Luckily, Black Friday is actually a great time to stock up if you are currently expecting, have a new baby, or just looking for gifts. With some preparation and research, you can find some insane deals on big ticket items this year and even some great deals on smaller accessories as well.
But baby items move fast, so youâll want to be ready once those deals hit.
What are the Best Types of Products to Buy on Black Friday?
Black Friday offers some serious savings on items, such as furniture, TVs, Blu Rays, movies, and other electronics. But thereâs also many deals geared towards new moms and babies. Most years youâll be able to save big on:
- Kitchenware and appliances
- Car Seats.
- Strollers.
- Playards.
- Rock ân Plays.
- Nursery items.
- Baby carriers.
- Pajamas.
Where are the Best Places to Find Deals for Baby and Mom?
Where you shop will depend on what youâre looking to buy and if you want to deal with the large crowds.
Online Vs. Offline
Stores and websites both offer amazing Black Friday deals now, even with the addition of Cyber Monday. But is it better to hit the stores or stay glued to your computer?
Shopping online makes it much easier to compare prices, and youâll typically be able to find more items than you would in-stores. Plus, you donât have to deal with the crowds. A major plus if you are sporting a belly bump.
However, you may not be getting what you thought when purchasing online. Whereas in stores, youâll be able to see and feel exactly what you are buying; No guessing involved.
Some stores are open on Thanksgiving night now, which can cut into family time. But for some people, Black Friday shopping is a family tradition. I remember growing up, my mom, my sister, and I used to head out early each year to hit the sales. While it was crazy at times, I sure enjoyed that time with my mom and sis.
The earlier you start shopping, the lower the prices, and the less likely limited quantity items will be sold out. There are also some super-low Black Friday sales that are exclusively offered in-stores only. Plus, there are never any shipping charges when buying in person.
Best Stores
Going to brave the crowds? Here are some stores you wonât want to miss:
- Target: Target is one store that opens early on Thanksgiving night. While it may draw time away from your family, you may save big on expensive baby items, such as car seats and video monitors, both of which were doorbusters last year. They also had playmats on sale for 50% off. Target also happens to be the only store that is actually worth buying Christmas decorations from on Black Friday weekend.
- Walmart: Walmart also opens on Thursday night. It can definitely be a nut house with all the people, but it sure is fun finding deals, deals, deals. They typically have movies that are normally $10-$20 on sale for $1-2. Plus, tons of bargain busters on kitchenware.
- Toys âRâ Us: Toys âRâ Us typically has loads of deals for mom and baby. Select baby monitors were over $100 off last year, and they had great sales on crib mattresses, Pack ân Plays, and cribs. They will also price match other Black Friday ads.
- Babies âRâ Us: This store often gets overlooked, but they almost always have huge sales on big boxes of their diapers and wipes. You know youâll be needing a lot of diapers mama, so now is the time to stock up!
Best Websites
Most of the stores mentioned above also have online deals on Black Friday. However, they arenât always the same deals that are offered in stores, so be sure to pay close attention to the ads. Some other great websites to shop this Black Friday include:
- Kohls.com: A great site to stock up on baby clothes. Last year carters baby clothes were 60% off.
- Albeebaby.com: Albee Baby is known to have deals on reputable brands of car seats, strollers, playards, bassinets, and other nursery items all weekend long.
- Fridababy.com: If you donât have a NoseFrida for your baby, itâs time to stock up on this snot sucker. Fridababy also carries tools for gassy tummies, brushing battles, and more. Last year on Black Friday, they had everything on their site at 25% off, plus free shipping with a promo code. Great site to hit if youâre a new mom.
- Amazon.com: Amazon is known for having awesome sales on all sorts of gear for baby and mom, including portable sound machines, quality diaper bags, playmats, car seats, strollers, Pack ân Plays, Rock ân Plays, breastfeeding accessories, and even cribs. It seems like they have deals for almost all your baby needs, doesnât it?
6 Items You Should NOT Buy on Black Friday
Black Friday is loaded with bargains, but be forewarned, not everything has the best discount this day.
- Toys: Toys may seem insanely cheap on Black Friday, but they are even cheaper once December hits. “Toys in general are almost always cheaper in the first two weeks of December,” says Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com.
- Fitness equipment: Hoping to get a good deal on some exercise equipment, so you can burn off that baby weight or reach that New Yearâs Resolution? Youâre going to have to keep waiting if you truly want a good deal. December and January have been shown to have the lowest prices on fitness equipment, such as ellipticals, ab machines, yoga equipment, and heart rate monitors.
- Winter clothes/gear: Winter clothes and gear may be tempting to buy right now, but they are priced lowest in January, so if you can hold out until then, do so.
- Linens: âWhite salesâ happen in January and February, when retailers are trying to get rid of the heavier fall/winter bedding to start stocking spring/summer bedding. Itâs best to hold off on buying new linens until then.
- Holiday decorations: Christmas decor is almost always much cheaper after the holidays are over when retailers are trying to clear it out. Target has been the exception, however, as you can find super low prices on artificial trees, lights, ornaments, and other decorations on Black Friday. Plus, for the last two years, theyâve offered $50 off holiday decoration purchases of $100 or more (in addition to other discounts) on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
- Final Sale Items: This is just never a good idea when youâre purchasing any kind of gift (1).
Top 10 Tips for Making the Most out of Black Friday
- Sign up for email alerts: A lot of companies offer an email opt-in, so you can be alerted once the Black Friday deals are announced.
- Check the ads: With crazy crowds and quick deals, Black Friday isnât the time to shop aimlessly. Itâs best to know what youâre looking for and planning on purchasing ahead of time. Generally, Black Friday ads start leaking and showing up early to mid-November. The ads will give you a preview of the deals and plenty of time to plan ahead.
- Make a timeline and a list: Once you have checked all the ads, make a list according to when stores open. Have each store listed, along with the item(s) you plan to purchase there and who itâs for.
- Start early: Black Friday used to be a one-day event, but those days are long gone, as Black Friday has morphed into a more of a month-long event. Keep an eye out on the specials happening in the weeks leading up to Black Friday, so you can judge how good of a deal the sales really are when Black Friday is finally here.
- Check online: Before you head out to the stores, be sure to compare your in-store deals to online deals. You may find the same deal online, or possibly even at a better price, and not have to fight the crowds after all (2).
- Price check: Be sure to price check your wanted items before purchasing to make sure youâre getting the best deal possible, or if youâre even getting a deal at all. A lot of stores will price match their competitorsâ prices. Use comparison sites, like shopping.com, , and pricegrabber.com to make sure you canât get a better deal elsewhere. You can also download apps, like ShopSavvy, on your smartphone, so you can easily scan barcodes to compare prices and get store discounts and coupons at local retailers.
- Stick to a budget: Easier said than done, but sticking to a budget will ensure maximum savings and keep your wallet happy. If youâre not one who handles credit card payments well, then itâs best to stick to cash for this major shopping event.
- Check retailersâ social media pages: Be sure to check retailerâs Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages to see if they are offering any additional sales or codes to followers.
- Check store policies in advance: Itâs always good to know a storeâs price match and return policy ahead of time. Almost all major retailers have some sort of price-match policy now, but some stores might not follow this policy on certain items, so be sure to read the fine print. Itâs also good to know if a store will charge a restocking fee if you happen to return or exchange an item.
- Always get a gift receipt: Be sure to ask for a gift receipt at the checkout, as it will make returns or exchanges much easier for the gift recipient.
6 Black Friday Mistakes to Avoid
- Not making a list: With deals everywhere, it can be easy to get distracted and purchase a lot of impulse buys, or not even end up with what you had planned on buying in the first place. Stick to a list to make sure you are getting all the deals you wanted without blowing your money.
- Not using a price comparison app: You can lose out on tons of savings by not using a price comparison app. Many retailers price match, so be sure to download an app ahead of time.
- Not sticking to a budget: âBargains,â âdeals,â âlimited quantities,â âlimited time only;â All of these marketing strategies can make it easy to spend, spend, spend. Ditch the credit cards this Black Friday, and stick to cash, so you donât go over budget.
- Buying without doing research: Some items can look like great deals when in actuality, theyâre not. They may be priced low, but they may also be low quality. Or they may be priced down quite frequently and not just on Black Friday weekend.
- Going shopping with friends: If youâre wanting to get all the best deals before they run out, then nowâs not the time to be shopping with your girlfriends. Stick to your timeline to hit every store you planned on to get the best deals of the year.
- Forgetting about Cyber Monday: Donât forget that Black Friday isnât the best day to buy everything in sight thatâs on sale. Cyber Monday actually has better deals on many items, such as clothes, shoes, and travel.
How to Get the Best Black Friday Deals on Amazon
If you want to get all (or even most) of your holiday shopping done in one place, then Amazon.com is the place to do it. Amazon not only has the widest range of deals, including many Editorâs Choice ones but also has many other ways that you can save big this Black Friday.
Invest in Amazon Prime
An Amazon Prime membership is a must-have to make sure youâre getting the absolute deals this Black Friday. Members have major perks, such as FREE two-day shipping, exclusive deals for Prime members only, and 30-minute early access to lightning deals.
Membership also comes with other daily perks, including unlimited cloud storage for photos, Prime Music, Prime Video, and the ability to borrow books from the Kindle library.
Whatâs the Deal with Lightning Deals?
Every year on Black Friday, Amazon has a ton of âlightning deals.â These deals involve highly discounted items that are only available for a very limited amount of time, often just minutes or hours. Lightning deals usually involve low stock items, so if you donât jump on it, it can be easy to miss out. As mentioned above, Prime members get early access to lightning deals, essentially moving them to the front of the line.
How to Make Sure Youâre Getting the Best Deals on Amazon
- Bookmark Amazonâs âTodayâs Dealsâ page: Amazonâs Todayâs Deals page is the central hub for all deals that Amazon has to offer, including deals of the day, savings and sales, and lightning deals. Bookmark this page and leave it open in your browser until youâre done shopping on Black Friday.
- Price check using Camel Camel Camel: camelcamelcamel.com is a free price tracker exclusively for Amazon. You can instantly see if the deal is truly the lowest price of 2017 or if itâs just a small sale that occurs quite frequently.
- Price check other retailersâ Black Friday ads: Amazon is known to price match competitorsâ Black Friday ads, so if youâre eyeballing a particular item, be sure to bookmark that page and then find it on Amazon and bookmark it on there. Chances are Amazon will match the price and possibly even beat it.
- Bookmark and keep checking MomsLovesBest.com: We will be keeping this page updated with all of the latest Black Friday deals for mom and baby, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back often.
We hope you find the perfect gift for the little one or mom-to-be in your life this holiday season.
Cyber Monday Buyer’s Guide
Want to save big on your holiday shopping, but donât want to mess with the crazy crowds? Cyber Monday may just be the perfect way for you to shop and save this year.
What is Cyber Monday?
Cyber Monday is an exclusive online bargain shopping day that takes place the Monday following Thanksgiving each year. This year Cyber Monday took place on Monday, November 30, 2020. The day made its debut back in 2005 when it was crowned by the National Federation’s shop.org and has quickly become one of the biggest shopping days of the year.
Cyber Monday allows you to shop thousands of retailers from the convenience of your couch. And with smartphones, you can bargain-hunt from pretty much anywhere.
Are Cyber Monday Deals Actually Worth it?
Bargain hunting online sounds all cozy and great, but are the Cyber Monday deals really worth it?
If you do the research, you will know whatâs worth buying on Cyber Monday and what you should buy earlier or even wait for. In many cases, Cyber Monday often provides better savings than Black Friday. In fact, since 2013, Cyber Monday has yielded more Editorâs Choice deals than the Friday before.
With Cyber Monday, there are more retailer-wide discounts rather than specific products that tend to pop up on Black Friday. Products that didnât sell as well as expected on Black Friday could also be at an even bigger discount on Cyber Monday.
What Websites Have the Best Deals for Mom and Baby?
If youâre a new or expecting mom, here are some websites you wonât want to overlook this Cyber Monday:
- BuyBuyBaby.com:Â Buy Buy Baby carries all major and popular baby gear brands and is known to have some awesome Cyber Monday deals. You can even find some pretty good pre-Thanksgiving sales right now on their clearance page. Plus, Buy Buy Baby has a price match guarantee, so you can rest easy knowing you got the best deal possible.
- Amazon.com: Amazon is known for offering a wide range of deals on baby gear each Cyber Monday. In 2016, Amazon had select strollers and car seats up to 40% off. They also had Jumperoos and gyms from Fisher-Price marked down by 30%. Other products to keep an eye out for on Amazon include sound machines, playards, and breastfeeding accessories.
Some Cyber Monday deals are also extended from Black Friday:
- Target.com: Target continues its sales on electronics, toys, and much more on Cyber Monday. Plus, they normally offer free shipping this day.
- Albeebaby.com: Albee Baby continues its amazing sales on select high-end car seats, strollers, bassinets, and other nursery items.
- Lillebaby.com: Last year Lillebaby had nearly everything on their site at 25% off all weekend long.
What are the Best Products to Purchase on Cyber Monday?
Cyber Monday is a treasure trove of online discounts, but what are the products with the absolute best deals on this day?
- Clothing and shoes: Kids grow fast, so Iâm sure theyâll be needing new clothes and shoes this year. Cyber Monday may be the perfect time to buy clothes for your family, as there are more Editor’s Choice deals on clothes and shoes on Cyber Monday compared to Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
- Beauty products: Cyber Monday is the day for deals when it comes to beauty products. Last year, The Body Shop had its best sitewide discounts ever. There were also some amazing sales from Sephora, Bath and Body Works, and several other beauty companies.
- Travel: Thinking about taking a family vacation or possibly even a babymoon? Cyber Monday may be the perfect time to book it, as it has more Editorâs Choice deals than Thanksgiving and Black Friday combined. You can get quality deals on hotel bookings, flights, and reservations made through Travelocity.com. If youâre planning on a cruise, however, it may be better to wait until âwave season,â (January-March) when most cruise lines announce their lowest prices of the year.
- Baby gear: There are almost always fantastic sales on strollers, highchairs, swings, Pack ân Plays, and other baby gear. If youâre expecting, youâll want to get your baby essentials at these crazy low prices (3).
What Should You Avoid Buying on Cyber Monday?
While there are great discounts across the web on Cyber Monday, there are also some areas where the deals fall short. Here are 6 items you should NOT buy this Cyber Monday.
- iPhones: iPhones tend to have better deals on Thanksgiving day and Black Friday rather than Cyber Monday. You can find some good deals on Androids though.
- Cameras: Thinking about getting a new camera to cherish all those family memories? Cyber Monday is not the day to do it. The best deals for cameras typically happen after the holiday weekend is over or during the week leading up to Black Friday.
- Video games and movies: There may be some deals on video games and movies on Cyber Monday, but if you see a bargain earlier, go ahead and jump on it.
- Kitchenware and appliances: There are nearly twice as many kitchen item deals on Thanksgiving and Black Friday than there is on Cyber Monday.
- Tools: Donât bother buying the hubby tools on Cyber Monday. The best deals of the year typically happen on Black Friday.
- Toys: Sites like Amazon and Target do have awesome deals on toys on Cyber Monday, but donât be fooled, as these are NOT the lowest prices of the year. Toys are cheapest during the first few weeks of December (4).
11 Tips to Make the Most out of Cyber Monday
- Make a list: Before you start shopping this holiday season, make a list of everyone that you need to buy a gift for and name potential items in mind. Cross the names off as you get your holiday shopping done. This will help prevent purchasing multiple gifts that you may have forgot about. Without a list, scrolling through Cyber Monday deals can be quite overwhelming.
- Stick to a budget: When a sale is listed as âlimited timeâ it can make it easy to jump on but remember, itâs not a deal if you have to charge it and then pay interest on your credit card later.
- Do your homework: Research products youâre interested in purchasing to see the range of prices they are being offered for. This will help you figure out if a Cyber Monday deal is truly a deal or not.
- Research timing of sales: Before you head out to electronically shop, be sure to note what time the sales youâre after taking place.
- Bookmark: Bookmark the pages of the deals you’re interested in, so you can open them instantly and not miss out on a âfastâ deal.
- Sign up for email alerts: Many companies let you sign up for email alerts, so you can be notified when the Cyber Monday deals are posted.
- Price compare: Use sites like Price Grabber, Price Jump, and Google Shopping to make sure youâre getting the best deal around.
- Check retailersâ social media pages: Be sure to check retailersâ Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages to see if they are offering any additional sales or codes to followers. You can also search #CyberMonday with the type of item youâre wanting to buy.
- Look for free shipping: Oftentimes, great deals can turn into not really deals at all after the shipping charge is slapped on. With as competitive as Cyber Monday is, you should always be looking for retailers that offer free shipping or provide codes to avoid that cost.
- Search for coupon codes: Before checking out, or even shopping, always look for any coupon codes that retailer may have. A quick google search with the retailer’s name + coupon code could save you even more bucks.
- Always check return policies: It never hurts to know a merchantâs return policy, especially if you are buying online. Will you have to pay to ship those clothes back that didnât fit? You donât want this to be a pain for the gift recipient (5).
Mistakes to Avoid this Cyber Monday
- Not checking shipping dates: The last thing you want is for a gift to arrive after the holidays are over, so be sure to check the expected shipping date on each gift item you order.
- Lack of price comparison shopping: âFlash salesâ can make it easy to quickly click âAdd to Cartâ without comparing prices first. Not looking at how much other sites are charging could cost you up to 20% or more this holiday season.
- Buying with FOMO (fear of missing out): Donât buy something simply because youâre afraid youâll miss out on the deal. If youâre unsure about the item, donât feel pressured into a deal. There will be plenty of other deals on items you actually need/want.
You should also take precautionary steps to protect your personal information this Cyber Monday, as it can be a good place to get scammed.
- Watch out for fake retailer and product apps: Fraudulent apps are on a rise during the holiday season but can be avoided by watching for some cautionary signs, that include: No product reviews, App lacks previous versions, If there are reviews, most of them are in butchered English.
- Donât use public Wi-Fi.
- Be leery of unbelievable deals: Be leery and stay clear of unsolicited emails and social media posts promising deals too good to be true.
- Make sure you have the latest security updates downloaded on your computer.
- Make sure checkout is secure before entering your payment or personal information.
- Stick to one charge card: Keep all your purchases on one card, so it will be easy to keep track of and watch out for any fraudulent behavior.
- Use credit over debit: While both tend to have zero liability, it is a big hassle to get your money back once it has been stolen.
- Use PayPal when available: If a site offers PayPal as a form of payment, itâs a good idea to use it, as it is more secure than a regular credit or debit payment (6).
How to Get the Best Cyber Monday Deals on Amazon
Amazon easily takes center stage on Cyber Monday with all the deals they have to offer. Hereâs how you can get the absolute best deals on Amazon this Cyber Monday.
Invest in a Prime Membership
Amazon Prime members get daily perks, such as unlimited cloud storage for photos, free streaming of music, videos, and audiobooks, and of course the famous two-day free shipping. But did you know that your prime membership could land you even better deals on Cyber Monday?
Amazon often has Cyber Monday deals that arenât offered to non-prime members. Plus, Prime members also get to âcut in lineâ and receive 30-minute early access to lightning deals.
Get in on Lightning Deals
Lightning deals are very short-lived deals (often hours or even just minutes) on highly discounted products and are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Many times these are low stocked items, so if you donât jump on it, itâs easy to miss out.
Other Ways to Seal the Deal
Here are a few other ways to stay on top and save on Amazon deals this Cyber Monday:
- Bookmark Amazonâs âTodayâs Dealsâ page: Bookmark Todayâs Deals page to have quick access to all of the best deals on Amazon, including deals of the day, savings and sales items, and lightning deals. You can find âTodayâs Dealsâ on the top browser menu on Amazon.
- Price check with Camel Camel Camel: You can track prices on any Amazon item using camelcamelcamel.com. This site instantly lets you see if itâs truly a good deal or not and will also alert you when the price does drop. It may not be the best tool for lightning deals, but is certainly helpful for other sales.
- Price match other merchants: Amazon has a reputation for price-matching and sometimes even beating the competitorâs price, so keep an eye out on the price ranges for items that youâre interested in.
- Bookmark and keep checking Mom Loves Best: We are here to help you find the best deals on everything you and your little one may need this holiday season. We will be keeping this page updated with all of the latest deals for baby and mom, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back often.
We hope this guide will help you to find some of the best bargains of the year this Cyber Monday and that youâll be able to find the perfect gifts for all the moms and babies in your life.