Finder Retail Awards: Aussie parents reveal their favourite brands

• • • • The Finder Retail Awards reveal the best parenting and baby brands for 2020
      • IKEA takes out best high chair
      • These are the big ticket items to look out for during the Christmas sales

7 December 2020, Sydney, Australia –The best rated brands across a range of parenting and baby products have been announced by Australia's most visited comparison website, Finder, in the 2020/2021 Finder Retail Awards.

From high chairs to strollers, the Finder Retail Awards reveal which brands are actually worth adding to your baby shower list, as voted by Australian parents.

Finder worked with world-leading data, insights and consulting company Kantar to analyse the results of over 8,000 individually completed surveys from more than 3,000 Australian consumers on their recent purchases.

Australians were asked to rate the brands of key baby products that they use across a range of factors, including whether they would recommend them to other parents and value for money.

Kate Browne, retail expert at Finder and former "Guilty Mum" reporter on ABC's The Checkout, said the Finder Awards were designed to work as a guide for new parents preparing for the arrival of their new family member.

"With so many brands on the market, it's incredibly hard for new parents to know where to start. Parents do want reassurance that they are buying the best when it comes to their new baby and this list gives clear guidance on the brands to look out for."

Winners of the parenting and baby product categories this year included a mix of high-end and budget brands.

"The good news is, as revealed by our list of winners, you don't have to spend a fortune on every item for your baby. Sometimes budget brands stack up just as well."

Value brands included IKEA, which was rated higher than any competitor in the high chair category, as well as ALDI (Mamia), which won best rated baby nappies.

"The list of things to buy the first time you are planning on bringing a baby home can be overwhelming and expensive. Especially if you're buying everything brand new. The good news is there are some ways to save without compromising on quality."

Browne shared some tips for parents looking to buy the best within a tight budget:

"The Christmas sales season is a great time to buy those big ticket items at a discounted price, like strollers and cots, so make sure you keep an eye out over the next few weeks.

"Another great way to save is to buy second-hand or, if you have generous friends and family, ask them to put in for some of the more expensive items."

Best rated parenting brands for 2020:

Baby Car Seat: Britax Safe-n-Sound

Price range: $179–$699

"With top scores across the board, it's no surprise that Britax Safe-n-Sound took out the award for best baby car seat this year. It was rated well above the competition for safety features, ease of installation and design and style."

Baby Carrier: Ergobaby

Price range: $99–$349

"Ergobaby is this year's best baby carrier brand, beating out the competition for comfort and support, durability and value for money."

Baby Stroller & Pram: Steelcraft

Price range: $399–$699

"With top scores for safety features and value for money, Steelcraft has taken out the best baby stroller and pram category. It also rated highly for ease of use and design and style."

Best High Chair: IKEA

Price range: $19.99–$129

"IKEA has trumped other brands such as Kmart, Target and Mother's Choice to win this year's award for best high chair. It topped the list for ease of cleaning, portability and value for money."

Best Cot: Boori

Price range: $299.95–$1,999.90

"A great cot can make a big difference to a parent's peace of mind and your baby's sleep routine, and this year, Australians have voted Boori as the best cot brand. It was top rated for safety, design and ease of assembly, and it was also recommended by 92% of Aussies."

Best Baby Nappies: Mamia (ALDI)

Price range: $0.14–$0.25 (per nappy)

"An ALDI brand, it's no wonder Mamia ranked best for value for money. It also received the best nappy score for anti-leak protection and it got good scores for comfort and absorbency too."

Best Baby Wipes: Little One's

Price range: $2.08–$5.33 (100EA)

"The brand may be called Little One's, but it received big scores for scent as well as strength and thickness. If you're looking for a great baby wipe brand, Little One's is recommended by 98% of Aussies."

You can find some product images here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dLHdYXLJLR2X6V4pw_vJjO_aF00sUtxO?usp=sharing

For more on the 2020 winners, visit www.finder.com.au/finder-retail-awards