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Good news: You don’t have to wait until Black Friday to save big on baby gear, Both Amazon and Target are hosting fall sales this October — Prime Big Deal Days and Target Circle Week, respectively — giving you a chance to save on everything from diapering essentials to fall clothes for the family, as well as gifts for the upcoming holidays. While two competing sales mean double the opportunities to save, it also means twice the number of deals to sort through. And chances are you don’t have the time to compare your Amazon and Target carts before checking out. Fortunately, that’s where I come in.

I’ve been covering Prime Big Deal Days, Target Circle Week and plenty of other sales events since 2022. Drawing from my expertise and personal shopping experience as a toddler mom, here are the pregnancy and baby deals you can expect (and shop) during Prime Big Deal Days and Target Circle Week.

Prime Big Deal Days

When is Prime Big Deal Days 2024?

This year’s Prime Big Deal Days will be held Tuesday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 9. 

What to Buy During Prime Big Deal Days 2024

Amazon doesn’t reveal its Prime Big Deal Days sales until the event begins (annoying, I know). However, I’ve found that the deals tend to be similar year after year, so I have a good sense of what will be on sale — especially when it comes to items that may be more discounted than at Target.

  • Maternity clothes: Whether you’re building an entire maternity wardrobe or just grabbing a few basics to get through the next nine months, Amazon’s wide selection of maternity leggings, sweaters and dresses could be up to 50% off during the two-day sale. The timing is perfect, with colder weather just around the corner.
  • Baby clothes: During past October Prime Days, brands like Honest Baby, Carter’s and Burt’s Bees Baby have offered up to 40% off nearly every article of clothing.
  • Car seats: Looking to upgrade your baby to a convertible car seat? Now’s the time! In 2023, Amazon shoppers saved over 30% on car seats from Graco, Britax and Evenflo. Rumor has it there may be a discount on UPPABaby car seats in 2024.
  • Video monitors: If the price of video monitors makes your jaw drop, you’ll be happy to hear Amazon has historically offered deep discounts on monitors from Nanit, Owlet and HelloBaby, just to name a few.
  • Nursing and feeding supplies: I’ve spotted great deals on rarely-on-sale wearable breast pumps during past October Prime Days — think 20% off favorites from Willow, Elvie and Momcozy. You’ll also be able to save on other nursing essentials, like breast milk storage bags and bottles.
  • Melissa & Doug toys: With their high-quality materials and endless ways to play, Melissa & Doug toys are loved by both parents and kids. And while they’re already reasonably priced (especially given the quality), Prime Big Deal Days have historically been a great opportunity to snag these for even less. Last year, the popular toys were marked down by 40%.
  • Holiday pajamas: I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my favorite recurring October Prime Day deal: Burt’s Bees matching family pajamas. In the past, you could save over 20% on buttery soft pajamas in a variety of festive fall and winter patterns.

How to Get the Best Deals During Prime Big Deals Days 2024

In order to maximize your savings during Prime Big Deal Days, I highly recommend you:

  • Sign up for a Prime membership if you don’t already have one because you literally can’t shop the sale without it. 
  • Create an Amazon baby registry if you’re expecting. This will make it easier to see which of your must-have baby items are on sale, and if it’s better to buy them now or use your completion discount later.  
  • Add items to your cart beforehand. Not only will this make it easier to see what’s on sale, but it can prevent impulse purchasing. 
  • Bookmark What to Expect’s Amazon Prime Big Deal Days hub so you can stay up-to-date on the best deals. 
  • Check out the products you shouldn't buy during Prime Big Deal Days to save even more money on baby gear. 

Target Circle Week

When is Target Circle Week 2024?

This year’s fall Target Circle Week will begin on Sunday, October 6 and end Saturday, October 12. 

What to Buy During Target Circle Week 2024

Much like Amazon, Target keeps its Circle Week deals under wraps until the sale begins. But, as usual, the deals tend to repeat themselves each year. Here’s what you should snag during the week-long sale.

  • Toddler and kid clothes: Two words — Cat & Jack! Exclusive to Target, this line of adorably stylish kids' clothes is made from durable fabric that can withstand years of play and washes. During past Target Circle Weeks, you could save up to 30% on these high-quality clothes, making it a great time to get your child’s wardrobe ready for winter.
  • Isabel Maternity clothes: If you can’t find what you’re looking for on Amazon, check out Target’s Isabel Maternity collection. It’s the same stylish, quality items as its parent brand, Ingrid & Isabel, but at a fraction of the price. And during past Target Circle Weeks, you could save even more — up to 30% off.
  • Diapers and wipes: Both Amazon and Target have great diapering deals during their respective fall sales. In the past, however, Target has offered a gift card when you spend a certain amount on already discounted diapers. So, you might as well earn a little gift for yourself while stocking up on these everyday essentials.
  • Legos: If any child (or even adult) is begging for Legos, consider buying them at Target. The retailer has offered many toy-related discounts during past Circle Weeks, but the Lego deals have been the most eye-catching. They’ve previously been 30% off and, in some cases, could be combined with BOGO 50% off deals.
  • Halloween costumes and decor: I don’t normally recommend waiting until the last minute to prepare for the holidays, but this time it may work in your favor. Since Target’s October Circle Week is usually close to Halloween, they’ve often offered various deals on costumes, candy and decor. 
  • Vacuums: Parents need a powerful vacuum to clean up their children's many messes (and this goes double for pet parents!). Target’s Circle Week has historically been a great time to upgrade your Dyson, Shark or Bissell, especially if you don’t want to wait until Black Friday. You could save up to 40% on cleaning machines from these popular brands.
  • Appliances: During past Circle Weeks, I’ve seen deep discounts on kitchen appliances. I’m talking up to 50% off large-capacity air fryers that make meal prep easier, coffee makers that provide your daily dose of caffeine in seconds and even the beloved KitchenAid mixer.

How to Get the Best Deals During Target Circle Week 2024

  • Sign up for the Target Circle loyalty program which, unlike Prime, is totally free. Though, if you shop at Target a lot, you may want to upgrade to Circle 360. With this membership, which costs $99 annually, you get same-day delivery services, courtesy of Shipt  — and there are no delivery fees. 
  • Create a Target baby registry if you’re expecting so you can see which baby essentials are on sale now, and which might be cheaper with your completion discount. 
  • Add items to your cart beforehand so you can compare prices between Amazon and Target, and prevent yourself from buying things you don’t really need. 

Should I Shop Prime Big Deal Days or Target Circle Week 2024?

Both Prime Big Deal Days and Target Circle Week are amazing opportunities to save money on just about everything you need to keep your household running smoothly. However, to maximize those savings, you’ll want to be strategic about your shopping and focus on the best deals at each retailer. Based on my experience covering October sales events at both Amazon and Target, you should shop Prime Big Deal Days if you are:

  • A parent-to-be: Amazon will likely have better deals and more options when it comes to must-have items like car seats, video monitors and breast pumps. You’ll also find a wider selection of maternity and baby clothes.
  • Trying to get ahead of holiday prep: Amazon has offered great deals on toys, decor and seasonal clothes during past October sales.

Similarly, you should shop Target Circle Week if you are:

  • A parent: Target has historically offered better deals on kids’ clothing, diapers and the ever-popular Legos.
  • A new homeowner: You could potentially save up to 50% on vacuums and kitchen appliances.
  • Doing last-minute Halloween prep: Target tends to use the October sale to clear out their spooky inventory, making room for winter decorations.