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Hellllooooo, fellow parents! My name is Heather and I have (at the time of this writing) survived 16 months of being a parent. If you're in a similar position, you know that's no easy feat! I've *attempted* to narrow down this list to just 10 items I considered absolute must-haves during my first year of parenting in hopes it'll help others navigate this wild time as well.
1. A Bumkins splat mat to *mostly* protect the danger zone underneath your toddler's high chair (there is no way to fully prevent this specific brand of mess, but this will help!) You can simply pick the entire thing up, fold it, and shake the debris out into the trash or toss it directly into the washing machine.
If you have a baby or a toddler then PLEASE do not hesitate to get yourself a Bumkins Splat Mat — honestly, buy two! I have a 1-year-old who seemingly loves to torture my husband and I at every meal time by staring us directly in the eyes, giggling, then tossing pieces of his meal over his shoulder onto the floor. It's a delightful routine, especially when the food item of choice has peanut butter or sauce on it. We have a wood floor that, thankfully, isn't too difficult to clean. But who wants to mop or vacuum multiple times a day? Certainly not me — and what parent has the time?!
The solution: this Splat Mat. I've tried other brands but none have held a candle to Bumkins. It's easy to fold it up and shake crumbs directly into the trash or wipe it down for a quick clean post-meal. However, my favorite thing about it is that when it gets really gross it can be popped directly into the washing machine! I dry it on the cold setting and low tumble and it comes out looking exactly the way it was when I first bought it. I also love that it comes in a ton of fun patterns (I have the Mickey Mouse one seen above and a Nintendo-themed one). You can also snag matching bibs (so cute) that can also be tossed into your washing machine!
Get it from Amazon for $17.39+ (available in 14 patterns).
2. And a modern high chair from Stokke that'll transform into a perfectly-sized mini chair as your child grows. They'll be able to use it right up against your kitchen table to dine alongside the family and it'll look great alongside your other furniture.
This high chair can really do it all. It holds up to 300 pounds (!!!) and it has an adjustable seat and footplate positions for the utmost comfort. Additionally, when your tyke outgrows the need for a highchair, you can remove the pieces to turn it into an actual chair for their playroom! We've tried a few high chairs out (as is a perk of my job, obviously) and this one is my crowned winner. My son fits the mostly comfortably in it, it's the easiest to clean (BY FAR!), and the legs don't stick out very far (so no one is tripping over them). I love that it comes in an array of stylish colors (we have walnut to match our wood floors and furniture) and that it can be used into toddlerhood.
Promising review: "I have tried several other high chairs and they are so difficult to clean and bulky. I wish I would have started with this one! You can pull it right up to the table, it's not bulky at all, and it's so incredibly easy to clean. Don't let the price scare you... Spend the money... Out of everything baby/toddler related, a high chair is the thing you use the most on a daily basis and for the longest amount of time so making sure you love it is crucial!" —Kelli Novak
Get it from Amazon for $319 (available in 17 colors).
3. A starter set of Chicco Duo Newborn Hybrid Baby Bottles with glass on the inside but plastic on the outside that'll ensure your baby's milk will only touch pure glass. This means no gross smells, aftertaste, or discolorations over time!
Before my son Noah was born we were hoping he’d like the Chicco Duo bottles (since, at the end of the day we knew we’d end up using whatever brand he preferred). These were our first choice because they have such unique features that other bottles don’t — so we were absolutely thrilled when he took to them right away!
On the inside of each bottle is a super thin layer of unbreakable glass that prevents babies from drinking directly from plastic. I know what you’re thinking… glass = heavy… but you’d never even know there was glass in these bottles! They’re so light weight my baby has no problem already trying to hold them up on his own. Their other great feature are the nipples they come with. They have a slow release design to help prevent your little one from chugging their bottle and developing gas bubbles in their bellies. Additionally, they’re shaped for intuitive latching which I can only assume would be helpful for parents who are both bottle feeding and breastfeeding their babies.
We’ve purchased three sets so we always have a bottle at-the-ready, but you can easily clean these by hand or in the dish washer and use them in a sterilizer or bottle warmer without concern. Big win for babies and parents!
They're also dishwasher safe, can be used in a bottle warmer or sterilizer, and are free of BPA, BPS, PVC, and phthalates.
Get the 8-piece set from Amazon for $41.96+ (also available in a 10-piece set and in pink).
4. An easily attachable back seat mirror, so when you glance in your rearview you'll be able to see your little one despite their rear-facing car seat.
I have this mirror in my car and it has definitely given me some peace of mind while driving around with my baby. It only takes a split second to glance back while at a red light and see if he's asleep or happily (hopefully) chewing on a toy — super helpful. Now that he's a bit older, it's also an added entertainment option for him. He waves, smiles, and giggles at himself in the mirror (yes, it is just as adorable as it sounds).
Disclaimer: only look in the mirror when your car isn't in motion!
Promising review: "These are high quality. We were given one as a gift originally, and ended up ordering three more, one for each car for both of our kids. We've also ordered these as gifts for other moms. They're sturdy and large enough to get a full view of a rear-faced baby/toddler. They're on a swivel, which makes changing direction easy to do. Once the toddler is curious enough to touch, though, it can be problematic as we found ourselves needing to reset it after she played with it." —Rachel Lakose
Get it from Amazon for $27.65.
5. A Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced parents will be able to rely on to help them make their baby a bottle in a flash — which is *much* appreciated when they're screaming their head off because they've decided they're hungry.
The number one item I simply could not live without is the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced. Literally I would happily spend my last penny on this product because it has made that much of a difference in my life.
It’s essentially a Keurig for baby bottles. It has the capability of mixing formula with the proper amount of water and dispensing it at the *perfect* temperature for baby. It has a button on it so I can easily choose how many ounces I want for my son’s bottle, depending on how recently he’s eaten sometimes we needed only need 2 ounces instead of 4 ounces, etc. The bottle settings stayedin place so when my baby was screaming (he used to get very hangry!) I just had to place a bottle under the dispenser and hit the “start” button. It was so easy I was literally able to do it with one hand while holding him.
The spout has to be cleaned every four bottles, which I used to do with hot water and a paper towel, and the water needed to be refilled once a day (like a Keurig). Other than that, all I had to do was ensure the formula container is filled. My husband set it up like a baby bar cart in the nursery so we didn't have to stumble down our stairs to the kitchen while bleary-eyed and half asleep in the middle of the night. It really is a godsend and I don’t know what I would have done without it!
Get it from Baby Brezza for $184 (available in three colors and with an extra funnel) or Amazon for $199.99 (in white).
6. A sling diaper bag for when you're just heading out on a quick errand and don't need to lug around a massive bag of items — this smaller option will do the trick!
I have this bag in the Disney Princess print of this sling bag and have gifted various other prints to other moms in my life. It's the perfect size to hold a bottle (or a cup as your kiddo gets older), some diapers, wipes, and a burp cloth (just the essentials) which is great when I'm taking my baby along for a short outing. I typically put my own things (wallet, keys, mints) in the zippered front pocket, so i only need to take one bag out of the house! I also, as a big Disney fan, love the design. I've gotten tons of compliments from other parents which is always an added bonus!
Get it from Amazon for $69+ (available in five styles) or on Petunia Picklebottom for $69 (available in six styles).
7. An iconic Sophie the Giraffe teether your little one will, for unexplained reasons, likely cherish and love chomping away on as their pearly whites start to (painfully) poke through.
Sophie the Giraffe has become a valued member of our family. I ran out to buy it when my son started teething (badly) as he simply refused every other type of teether we already had (of course). I was skeptical as to why a toy giraffe would cost nearly $30, but I soon learned it clearly had magical powers. Sophie has apparently been around for over 55 years (who knew!) and is made entirely of natural rubber. She has various chewable parts (ears, horns, and legs) that Noah was able to grasp onto himself way easier than any other teether. She's becoming my go-to baby shower gift and we simply don't leave the house without her!
PSA: Do not wash Sophie with water or if you do, do not get water into the squeaker hole! I've seen a number of TikTok videos noting that if you do this the inside can potentially get moldy.
Promising review: "I was super hesitant to spend $25 on a teething toy. It’s honestly just a regular squeaky toy but the other reviews were spot on and my child absolutely LOVES his Sophie. Something about that rubbery smiley giraffe is just so darn appealing to babies. She is without a doubt one of his very favorite toys, especially once he started teething." —Courtnee Thompson
Get it from Amazon for $25.40.
8. A baby butt spatula you'll either laugh or cringe at but will thank your lucky stars that you thought to purchase it when you see how much nicer it is to apply diaper cream to your baby's booty with it instead of your finger.
Both my mom and my mother-in-law poked fun at me for getting this lil' spatula but I have ZERO regrets. I love my son more than life itself, but I am more than pleased to not have to put my finger in his butt after he's recently pooped and I think that is OKAY! I'd like to think he's happier to have a lil' spatula do the job ANYWAYS! That being said, this lil' tool is fantastic as it's super easy to clean, doesn't waste any product, and suctions onto my changing table with ease.
Promising review: "If I could give this little tool 10 out of 5 stars I would!!! It makes the whole process of applying diaper rash ointment SOOOOO much easier. And this thing cuts down on how much diaper rash ointment is wasted because your fingers are not getting covered in ointment. I HIGHLY recommend this product to anyone with a baby!!!" —Hazel-91
Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in six colors).
9. A Bugaboo Butterfly stroller designed for traveling families — it's sleek, suuuuper compact, and has a spacious storage compartment despite its smaller size.
The Bugaboo brand just continues to impress me and makes my life as a mom easier and easier. Their Butterfly travel stroller is absolutely fantastic and I use it more often than any other stroller I own.
It’s super lightweight (16 pounds total) and actually does pop up/close without hassle. You truly only press in two buttons and it unfolds like magic. My husband and I couldn’t believe how simple it was to put together and how compact it is when closed. I’d also say the Butterfly is a great stroller option for anyone who lives in a city or has a smaller living space.
It has a strap so you can literally throw it over your shoulder and carry it — perfect whether you’re traveling or just bringing it back and forth from your car. I took my son to visit my parents in North Carolina and it fit in an overhead compartment without a problem. The wheels handles bumps and debris with ease. We've been using it anytime we're on-the-go or running a quick errands instead of our bigger stroller option. Overall, I’ve found it to be a great stroller option and will totally recommend it to any new parents going forward!
Get it from Bugaboo for $429 (available in three colors and ships within three weeks).
10. A Hatch Restore to act as a night-light, a white noise machine, alarm clock, and a sleep trainer. Fingers crossed you and your kiddo will get some sleep this decade with the help of this gadget!
At first, we were only using the Hatch Restore primarily as a night-light in my son's room for diaper changes, but now we've fully taken advantage of the ability to set up a routine on the device. We set a bedtime routine complete with a soft reading light, specific lighting and sounds for him to fall asleep to, and lighting and sound to help him stay asleep. It's also so easy to turn all of those settings right back on when he goes down for a nap during the day (which isn't always at the same time).
You can check out my full review on both the Hatch Rest and Hatch Restore here.
Get it from Amazon for $129.
Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.