kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and KilleenTop money wasters for your baby

When first time mom Stacey Uhorchak found out she was pregnant for the first time, she and her husband Nick were already prepared. The Army wife is due May 21st. Although Nick is deployed to Iraq, he'll come home for the birth of his baby.

"We definitely went on a budget and saved up for it when we knew we wanted to have a baby," Stacey says.

And buying for your baby really adds up. Reports show that parents spend $6,000 during their baby's first year.

"The first one is always, you know, you go out and you buy all out. You get the extreme stuff and the expensive, high dollar stuff. The second one you definitely learn," says mom of two, Sophia Stephenson.

So what items do you avoid in the baby aisles? Alan Fields is the author of "Baby Bargains."

He says baby toothpaste tops the list.

"According to a pediatrician, you're supposed to wipe down your baby's teeth with a wet cloth," he says.

And also baby walkers, they're banned in Canada and have caused thousands of emergency room visits.

"Baby walkers are dangerous because they can easily roll down stairs and the baby can run into something or an object that will fall onto the baby," he adds.

Fields says many parents waste money on bedding in a bag when all your baby needs is one bed sheet. Tips that Stacey used from Alan's book.

"(I bought the bigger items) all neutral so that way we can use it for the next baby whether it's a boy or a girl," Stacey says.

She'll use her dog gate as a baby gate, saving her thirty bucks and she crafted baby room decor herself.

"I made the bow holder and her bows."

Stacey played it smart, buying a convertible crib.

"(It has) three uses: a bed, a toddler bed and then it will be a headboard and a footboard," she says pointing to her crib.

But beware if you're trying to save cash on cribs. Fields says buying secondhand cribs can be deadly.

"Many cribs do not meet the current safety standards, the drop side cribs are no longer sold in the U.S.," he says.

The same goes for car seats that have expiration dates. Meanwhile Stacey is anxious for Nick to return from Iraq for the birth of Caroline Grace Uhorchak.

"We're both very excited to meet her and see her and see what or who she looks like," Stacey says.

A very special homecoming for this Army family.

Reporter: Renee Cervantes