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Helllooooo parents (or soon-to-be parents!) my name is Heather and at the time I'm writing this my son has just turned 1. (Eeep!) So, a lot of these items I've personally tested out! I can happily tell you *all* about what has worked for my family, but kindly wanted to note that I'm aware every baby is different! So, what worked for me may not work for you. But hey, it's worth a shot. Right?
1. 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 had 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 $49.99+ (also available in a 10-piece set and in pink).
2. 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.
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 $39.99.
3. FridaBaby's Baby Basics Kit, complete with all the odds and ends you'll need to unclog your tyke's stuffy nose, trim their nails, help them pass gas, and keep their skin nice 'n' soft.
I'm going to be honest and let you know that, despite going through pregnancy and birth, I absolutely cannot handle the snot sucking tool. I gag and have to leave the room every time my husband uses it on our son. That being said, it does *exactly* what it's supposed to do — as does every item in this set! I would be nothing without the SnipperClipper! This kit definitely a must-have for all parents.
Promising review: "I’ve bought this kit twice for baby showers and love it! I wish these products were bundled like this when I had my kiddos — it’s so convenient and I’ve used all the parts of the kit many times over. Worth it!" —Tess
4. Expandable drawer organizers from Oxo, so when your kiddo ruins yet another outfit (it's inevitable) you'll quickly be able to grab an appropriate one to change them into.
Once I saw these existed I knew I had to have 'em for my little one's room. We bought him, as I like to call it, an investment dresser that he can use for many years to come — which means they have really big drawers right now! His clothes are super tiny, so I use these to keep them organized in the larger space. Now that we're approaching summertime (and he's in swim classes) it's been great to be able to easily create a separate space for all of his swim gear!
5. A portable highchair seat to clip onto any table, a must-have for anyone planning to dine out with their baby or, at least, bring them to Grandma's for dinner.
This lil' seat can be used with tables up to 3.3" thick. It's collapsible, washable, and has a storage pocket! I have one of these for my little guy and it's been great! We actually attached it to my husband's desk (we both work from home) so our son has somewhere to play where we can easily keep an eye on him. We *also* brought it with us to Easter (now that Noah is eating solids) and attached it to a family member's table so he could join in on the fun. It worked great and was super easy to clean afterewards.
Promising review: "I absolutely love these chairs! I run a daycare and use them every day! They clean so easily with just a wet towel. The material is thick and sturdy and they screw very snugly on the table! I have seen reviews from people saying the belt is not tight enough but I have never had that problem with all ages of children. My number one choice of high chair! Plus they fold down and can be put in the storage bag attached very quickly and easily. I have used many kind of high chairs but these are the best, space saving and great for travel." —katy
Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in nine colors).
6. A Halo Innovations Bassinet Flex Sleeper that'll slide up closely to your bedside, making it easier than ever to grab your newborn when they inevitably wake up crying hour after hour.
We tried two other bassinets before moving the Halo Flex Sleeper into our room — it ended up being the winner! Instead of putting it on the side we slotted it in at the end of our bed so my husband and I could both easily see/grab our baby when he woke throughout the night. There was ample room for him to squirm around and the mesh side made it easy (and safe) to check on him without waking him. When we retired the bassinet it easily folded up for storage! Can't beat it.
Promising review: "I assembled this by myself at nine months pregnant and had no issues at all! The baby is now a month old and sleeps great in the bassinet every night! We have had no problems with it being level and he doesn’t roll at all. For the price, it’s perfect. The sides are breathable and my baby is within eyesight all night long." —Lmoon
Get it from Target for $99.99.
7. A Boon drying rack with a surprisingly chic design to provide you with the perfect spot to dry your little one's bottles and accessories without ruining the entire look of your kitchen.
I have this drying rack! We keep it next to our full-sized drying rack and as my son has gotten older we've also started using it to dry reusable food pouches (and all the pieces that go along with that) as well as his sippy cup and any teethers we've washed.
Promising review: "Newborn twins are a mess. They took over our house within moments of coming through the door. For this type A mama, it was a horrifying side effect of the two most precious things in the world. A friend gave us one lawn at our shower and we promptly hopped on Amazon and bought a second to manage the sheer volume. The lawn and the accessories are a convenient and cute way to keep your bottles and pump parts organized. There is ample space in one for one baby's needs." —Lacey
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two colors).
8. A Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine to act as a two-way audio monitor, 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!
The Hatch Rest is ideal for parents as it also has a sound monitor option. For the hour or so Noah (my baby) used to sleep in a bassinet in our room before my husband and I got into bed, I was able to listen in and hear if he was fussing, crying, etc. We were also able to set it to a specific program so the light/sounds turn off on their own in the morning (one less thing for us to think about). You can check out my full review on both the Hatch Rest and Hatch Restore here.
Promising review: "My favorite feature about this product is that I can control everything through my phone. If I'm in a different room in the house, but I want the nursery to play birds chirping for the baby, I can do that through my phone. The audio baby monitor works very well and the speaker quality through the Hatch is terrific. I also love that it's travel-friendly, so we use this baby monitor whenever we're on the go. Lastly, the night-light is perfect when I'm changing the baby's diaper at 3 a.m. or during a middle-of-the-night feeding." —Chelsea
Get it from Amazon for $69.99.
9. A cradle cap comb that'll remove dry skin from baby's scalp so gently they won't even notice — shoutout to the soft rubber bristles on this comb.
My son had a few areas of cradle cap on his head that was, honestly, pretty gross. I used a gentle shampoo, a wash cloth, and this brush to remove it painlessly while he was in the bath. He didn't even squirm, he just let me repeat the process three times until all the cradle cap was gone. The thin comb was so essential to the process and quickly removed all the flakes.
Promising review: "The pictures posted here are legit. It makes removal so much easier and gives more consistent removal than my previous method of washcloths or just scratching the cradle cap off with my fingernails. It’s amazing and gross and wonderful. My babe doesn’t even flinch when I spend 10 minutes clearing his scalp of all the goo. It seems to be soothing to him. I just apply baby shampoo, then brush a little with the blue brush. Then I slowly start to comb in sections all in one direction. Then I go back and forth in multiple directions. It’s shocking the amount of dead skin that comes off. I’ve even used it successfully in his eyebrows (he gets some cradle cap there, too). This is a KEEPER!" —ZMomUtah
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
10. 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 need only need 2 oz instead of 4 oz, etc. The bottle settings will stay in place so while my baby is screaming (he gets hangry!) I just have to place a bottle under the dispenser and hit the “start” button. It’s so easy I can literally do it with one hand while holding him.
The spout has to be cleaned every four bottles, which I just do with hot water and a paper towel, and the water needs to be refilled once a day (like a Keurig). Other than that, all I have to do is ensure the formula container is filled. My husband set it up like a baby bar cart in the nursery so we don’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’d do without it!
Get it from Baby Brezza for $184 (available in three colors and with an extra funnel) or Target for $199.99 (in white).
11. And a Baby Brezza Bottle Sterilizer and Dryer, because why not add another gadget into the mix? This one will automatically sterilize bottles, breast pump parts, and other accessories with natural steam.
As a new mom I’m quickly learning what items are a necessity in my day-to-day, one of them absolutely being the Baby Brezza Sterilizer.
As an infant my baby boy was going through about 12 bottles throughout the day/night, as he was eating about every 2–3 hours, which means I always needed to have the bottles and nipples clean and ready to go. “Back in the day,” as my parents and my in-laws have told me, you’d need to boil every part of the bottle in water on the stove. Who has time for that??? Certainly not me in 2023. Thanks to this sterilizer I don’t have to bother with any of that!
Promising review: "You guys...if you are expecting (or trying to get a gift for someone who is)...GET THIS PUPPY NOW. I ended up getting this after a few sleepless nights and not feeling like my bottles were staying clean while drying on the grass counter mat. This has been a lifesaver. It is so easy to use and works in a hurry. The best part = it dries your bottles too. No more waiting around for them to dry. Every evening I load em' in and they are sterilized and dried within 45 to 60 minutes. What could be better?! Definitely a game changer everyone should have on their list." —MorganS
Get it from Amazon for $109.99.
12. An enzyme-based spot cleaner that'll have your little one's clothes looking like you just pulled them off the rack in a store. Baby food stains be damned.
You can also use it on carpets, bedding, cloth diapers, etc.
Promising review: "I just purchased this. It took stains out of baby clothes and I used it on the fabric on a toddler chair and it looks brand-new. I wish I would have taken before and after photos! Love it already! I had read some reviews about it leaking during shipping but I received it with a tight lid in a bag with a spray too lid separate so no leaking!" —Brianne
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
13. A battery-operated stroller fan with a flexible handle so you can adjust it as needed to keep your mini-me the perfect temperature while heading out on a summer stroll.
Reviewers have also attached it to their little one's cribs and car seats for extra air flow. I personally used this in my stroller during my son's first summer (he was about three months old at the time) and will definitely be using it during our walks this year as well.
Promising review: "As summers get hot I knew I needed a fan for my newborn. This was perfect for his crib side, stroller, and in the car. It's quiet, and I love the three settings. I don't use the light but it's nice to have. I can leave it on all night on low on a hot night so my son has some air movement in his crib and a breeze on our walks when his stroller gets stuffy. I fully charged it before I used it so the battery life isn't bad but will only last maybe two hours on highest setting before dying. Battery life is short but not bad if you use it on the low setting. I charge it every few days and its held up nicely. Not too bad for the price." —Queen Sweetnez
Get it from Amazon for $22.39 (available in three colors).
14. A universal cup holder that can be easily attached to your stroller or diaper bag to ensure that you keep yourself hydrated as well as your little one. It comes in an array of fun colors and has drainage holes in the bottom. 👏
Ryan & Rose is a family-owned small business that creates stylish accessories parents will love. Reviewers also love adding this cup holder to other objects like their spin bikes, beach chairs, shopping carts, and more.
Promising review: "I am obsessed with these holders! I have a huge stroller that a conventional cupholder won't work on, the Ryan And Rose Cutie Holder is perfect! I am actually order a second one that I can use to hold to hold my cell phone! The uses are endless! Stock up when you can!" —ShopTillYouDrop
Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in 11 colors).
15. A robot vacuum and mop combo you can rely on to clean up your disaster zone of a home while you adjust to being a parent.
I have this robot vac and am SUCH a fan. The first few months with a baby are seriously no joke — it's a next-level version of exhaustion I'm not sure anyone could properly prepare for. That being said, I was happy to be able to run this through the house while the baby was sleeping and know that at least one household chore was being taken care of. I love that it returns to the dock and empties itself (one less thing I have to do myself!).
Promising review: "Been using for a couple of months now. Has saved us hours of cleaning time already. We have an 11-month-old baby crawling and playing on the floor daily. We run the robot every 2–3 days and it does a great job on the basics. It's not going to leave your floors spotless, but it does enough to give us peace of mind with the baby." —Jacob P.
Get it from Amazon for $649.99.
16. A stretchy Boba Wrap you can wrap around your body so you and your baby can snuggle wile you're on-the-go. Cuddling and being productive at the same time? Sounds like a parenting dream come true!
Promising review: "I have tried three carriers. This carrier is fantastic. It is stretchy, breathable, and lightweight. My 3-month-old wants to be held and carried around when she's awake. This carrier makes that so much easier. I have two older children and having my hands free to do things for them makes everything easier. " —MomBoss
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in 17 colors).
17. A rubber ducky thermometer that actually will make bath time lots of fun! Your tyke will love playing with it, and you'll love knowing the water is *just right* at all times. Win-win.
I have this lil' gadget, and it's great! I discovered, upon having a baby, that I actually had no idea how hot my bath water was. This helped me keep the water temperature in check to make sure it was safe for my little one. And — it's super cute!
Promising review: "This duck simultaneously makes me and my kid happy. She loves playing with it in the bath and I love being able to get an up-to-second read of her water temperature. It's great, set it and forget it." —Michel
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in three styles).
18. 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 gifted the Beauty and the Beast one to my best friend — we both love them! It's the perfect size to hold a bottle, 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 $59+ or Petunia Picklebottom for $79 (available in six styles).
19. Rascal + Friends Premium Diapers, founded by a mom who was looking for the *perfect* diaper — it's affordable, super soft, and free of latex, lotions, and fragrances.
I first tried these out in a size 1 when my son was a 1-month-old and they held up to the test (the test being an infant that goes to the bathroom constantly). He often would leak through most diapers because his legs were *so* tiny (we used to have to put pants with drawstrings on them to create a seal!) but these were great!
Promising review: "Absolutely LOVE these diapers! They are so soft and I love how wide they are! So far i haven't had any leaks or blowouts. We love them!!!! Very true to size!" —kenzie
Get a pack of 29 from Walmart for $12.56 (available in sizes 1–7 and in packs of 88).
20. Or a Coterie diaper subscription, so you'll never have to think twice about whether you have enough diapers in your stash. These are *so* soft you'll have a hard time believing they're not actually made of cotton.
I've *also* sampled Coterie diapers and, let me tell you, they are the real deal. They're definitely a more "luxurious" diaper that are made from apparel grade materials (they really do feel like a soft, cloth material) and have 3D advanced webbing that make then feel super plush. They are also fragrance-free, do not contain any lotion, added dyes, parabens, chlorine, or latex. Most importantly — my son has never leaked out of a Coterie diaper. They really are worth the money and are just a fantastic product. I also adore their wipes, so feel free to gives those a whirl as well!
Promising review: "We absolutely love them! We went on vacation and didn’t have to change him as much as the warehouse brand. Longer nights sleep and practically no rashes. I’m super happy just hoping they make for bigger boys like mine who is about to outgrow size 6 at age 1 1/2." —Tania C.
Get them from Coterie starting at $90/month (available in sizes newborn–06).
21. A pop-up beach tent complete with a splash pool and UV protection that'll keep your baby cool — can't promise they'll be calm and collected, but it's a start.
This item is noted for children under the age of 3.
Promising review: "Found this after our first experience with our 9-month-old at the beach. He wanted to crawl straight in the beach so I wanted to find something that would keep him busy but yet be able to play with sand and water! This was perfect!!!! He loved it and it kept him occupied all day, on and off. We didn’t use the shade since we had a canopy up already for shade so not sure how strong the shade part of it is." —Brittany
Get it from Amazon for $29.65.
22. Stretchy Posh Peanut footie pajamas featuring an oh-so-soft bamboo material your little one might actually like the feeling of against their skin. (Imagine!)
My son has a few different styles of Posh Peanut pajamas (this Hot Wheels two-piece set and this Star Spangled one-piece, for example) and he really seems to enjoy them! Even I own a pair of their Barbie pajamas (which have already sold out) and can attest to how nice the fabric feels against my skin. They've all washed beautifully (no shrinking!) and I just love how many fun prints they're offered in.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this romper, I swear my baby sleeps better when she wears it. It fits well and feels very soft and luxurious, like a second skin. I’ve already ordered more. Just remember to size up! at 2 months of age and in both the 75th percentile for height and weight, the 3–6-month size is getting small." —Heather
Get them from Posh Peanut for $48 (available in sizes newborn–2T).
23. A baby nail trimmer that'll gently file down their surprisingly sharp lil' claws without you having to worry about cutting them too short — a truly frightening task for new parents.
For the first few months of my son's life I used this tool regularly (before I moved onto actual nail clippers). It's fantastic, very gentle, easy to use, and didn't wake my little one as I filed down his nails while he napped in my lap. I even changed the head to one of the more rigid ones and used it on my own nails! It's a great product any parent will be happy to have in their line-up.
Promising review: "My 2-month-old baby girl smiled throughout her 'manicure' with this nail file — no tears! Much easier than clipping her nails. There are different files and speeds so you can choose what’s right for your child. It is easy to use and change the files on and off. This is a must-have for new moms! Will be recommending this to all my friends and family for their children." —Steve Benson
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in seven colors).
24. 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.
25. A touchless forehead thermometer with a built-in sensor that'll make taking your tyke's temperature a breeze. Perfect for any parents that err on the side of caution and find themselves checking their kiddo's temp anytime they look a bit flushed (ahem, me).
Promising review: "This is a great thermometer — accurate, looks great, a must have! If you have kids, forget about sticking a thermometer in their ears. I have four kids now, and a thermometer is a must have. Hold this thing close to the forehead, push the button in, and you get a reading in about one second. This thing looks good, feels good, and is accurate. We’ve used multiple thermometers in the past. The head scanner that you run across the forehead...no good. In-ear thermometers...accurate, but expect a battle. Rectal thermometers...very accurate, but expect a war. This is the easiest one out of all of them. We find it especially useful when we need the quick 'I don’t feel that great' check...i.e., man cold. Overall, highly recommend!."—BearDownChi1
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
26. A car seat buckle release tool that'll save both your nails and your precious time! No one wants to struggle to open those (thankfully) extremely secure buckles while their kiddo is hitting a pitch that could likely break glass.
This gadget doesn't attach to the car seat, so no need to fret about kiddos unbuckling themselves while you're driving.
Promising review: "Love that my kindergartner can unbuckle himself. It makes morning school drop-off SO MUCH EASIER! And he likes the independence of being able to do it himself!" —Lauren
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in five colors).
27. A FridaBaby medicine dispenser syringe you'll pat yourself on the back for buying when you discover your tyke actually despises medicine. This beauty doubles as a pacifier and will make giving them their recommended dosage with ease.
Promising review: "This thing is worth its weight in gold! A must have in my opinion because it makes life so much easier. We use it with gripe water or Tylenol around her immunizations. We bought it because she would cough and sputter because she wouldn't swallow well when given it in the cheek even in tiny amounts. It makes it a much faster process because all she has to do it suck like using a normal bottle or paci, and she has never turned away because of taste either. It also happens to soothe like a regular paci afterward. Great buy." —Sullivan
Get it from Amazon for $12.84.
28. An Oogiebear tool that's confusingly kinda cute even though its purpose is *a bit* gross — to remove earwax and boogers safely from your little one.
I use this little tool to remove boogers from my son's nose (which he absolutely hates). It's not an easy task because he's VERY squirmy, but the Oogiebear definitely helps make the process go a bit more seamlessly. Absolutely recommend.
Promising review: "I mean does my child love it? No. But does it take less than a second to use and get the boogers I'd expect Shrek to possess and not my 3-month-old baby? Yes it does! He's happy as soon as it leaves his nostrils, which again only takes a second. And it's easy to clean!" —Kaitlyn Spires
Get it from Amazon for $12.95.
29. A caddy starring Mickey Mouse you'll easily be able to attach onto your stroller and fill with all the many things you'll need for an adventure outdoors with your little one.
I have one of these on each of my strollers and honestly don't know what I'd do without them! They provide an easy place to stash a burp cloth, my keys, sunglasses, a hat, and my iced coffee. Anything that makes my life as a mom easier is truly worthwhile. I even got a second one (in the cute Winnie the Pooh floral print) to add onto my travel stroller.
Promising review: "Love this system, it’s been so useful. My daughter was already a toddler by the time I got this bag but it’s been amazing. We use the little bags for important items we don’t need all the time like hearing aid accessories, inhaler, and first aid kits. And the biggest bag for snacks." —Jessica Thorton
Get it from Amazon for $69+ (available in seven styles).
30. A Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor, which uses patented sensor fusion technology to track baby's vitals and nursery conditions. We really are living in the future.
It also tracks your baby's breathing and sleeping patterns, plays sleep sounds and lullabies, and allows you to talk to them through a two-way microphone. This is the monitor I use in my son's room, and I have been nothing but impressed with it. I love that I can pull it up on my phone at anytime in the night, that it shows his breathing in real time, and that it isn't an eyesore in his room. It also has a fun feature that lets you snap a screenshot of your baby when they're on camera — trust me, you'll find them in many silly poses you just might want to capture.
Promising review: "This monitor is great! I'm so happy that I got it! The monitor was highly recommended by a number of friends I was hesitant with the price, but it is 100% worth it. After ordering, it came very quickly, and was packaged nicely. I was so excited to unbox it. It was very easy to set up, and I had no issues connecting it to my internet. I was nervous about this, as many reviews mention it being challenging. The picture quality is very strong, even in night mode. I look forward to using it more, and the peace of mind that it will give me while my baby sleeps." —Stephanie Lawley
Get it from Amazon for $399.
31. A Fisher-Price kick and play piano you may have seen on TikTok or heard about from other parents — it'll keep your kiddo entertained for MONTHS, which is a lot more than other toys can boast about.
Check it out on TikTok!
I have this toy and even have a backup of it for my parents' house — it's that good. My son is a very energetic little guy and has been fond of this toy since he was about two months old! He loved aggressively kicking the piano (of course), pulling at the toys on the bar, and (once he learned how) would often flip onto his stomach and hit the keys of the piano with his hands. Now that's he's mobile, we've detached the piano and he plays with it separately.
The attached mat can also easily be tossed into the washing machine and the dryer, which was essential for my kiddo as he spits up on everyyyyything. Overall, this toy gets a 10/10 from me, even if the songs do get a bit annoying. (Just part of the territory these days!)
Get it from Amazon for $39.88 (available in two colors).
32. An Angelcare Baby Bath Support, great for littles who want the freedom of splashing their tiny toes directly in the big tub.
Promising review: "I’ve had two of these and I love gifting them! This is the best baby bath! I bought one for my son four years ago ( I’ve handed it down since ) and one for my newest baby. I cannot recommend this bath enough! It’s easy to clean, the babies loved lying down in it and it’s convenient!" —Jocelyn Turner
Get it from Amazon for $19.78 (available in two styles).
33. Plant-based konjac bath sponges that'll actually make bath time *so* much fun. Apologies to your rubber ducky.
Promising review: "My 2-month-old always cried during baths, I thought she was the only baby who hated bathtime! I bought these sponges because she has cradle cap and wanted something soft enough to use on her head but strong enough that it’ll get rid of the cradle cap. Well, I ended up using the sponge on her whole body and this was the first time she enjoyed bath time! I think she didn’t like the feel of the rags I was using but likes the sponges instead. This was definitely worth buying!"—Angie
Get a set of three from Amazon for $11.99 (available in three styles).
34. A splurge-worthy Bugaboo Fox 3 bassinet and seat stroller set you'll pat yourself on the back for selecting once you realize how lightweight it is and how smooth it rolls along the sidewalk.
This is the main stroller we decided to go with — and not just because it's pretty to look at. (Shout out to the many color options!) It was extremely easy to put together and only took my husband about 30 minutes. It's simple to disconnect the bassinet and the coordinating car seat with the click of two side buttons. Overall it's very versatile and comes with a handful of useful accessories you can tack on to your parenting wish list. For example, I also have the footmuff insert which I've used to keep my tyke nice 'n' snug during winter outings. I've used this stroller more times than I can count — it's a breeze to fold up and pop into the trunk. I can't say enough good things about it, TBH.
Promising review: "This stroller is an absolute dream! We used to have just a standard stroller with our first baby, and the wheels were SO loud and bumpy on any sort of crack, but the Fox 3 doesn't jolt or make any noise. It even handles grass easily too! I don't know how they do it, but it's amazing! We took the bassinet out for a stroll, and baby loves to look out the mesh windows — genius! The leather handles feel luxurious, it turns on a dime, and folds and stores easily too. I wish the instructions had some words to go with them, but we were able to figure it out and put it together rather quickly. I'm so glad we took a chance on this one. Worth every penny!" —JulieP
Get it from Bugaboo for $1,011.75 (available in 25 styles) or in graphite on Amazon for $1,011.75.
35. A custom-made outfit that'll make you want to snap 10 billion photos of your tiny human — as if you weren't planning to do that regardless.
BFFs and Babes is a woman-owned small business that sells customized apparel for both adults and kiddos. My son Noah was teeny tiny when he was born and mostly fit only in preemie-size clothes. Luckily for me, I had received some samples of custom-made goodies for him from BFFs and Babes that fit him perfectly! He basically lived in them for his first month of life. Despite being tie-dyed and washed TONS of times (babies are pretty gross) the colors never ran and stayed just as bright as when I first received them!
Get it from BFFs and Babes on Etsy for $22+ (available in sizes newborn–18M) and check out all of their baby products here.
36. A Skip Hop changing pad with a darling mobile above it to keep your antsy kiddo distracted while you handle the dirty work. Sigh, being a baby is *so* much better than being an adult.
I got this for my best friend for her baby shower and since her little one has come along it's quickly become one of her favorite products! Her daughter loves staring up at the mobile and doesn't fuss as much when getting changed. She also loves that's it's very simple to clean — a big bonus!
Promising review: "This changing pad is the best thing I’ve bought for our nursery. This is my second baby and with my first we had a traditional changing pad with covers. The Skip Hop changing pad is soooo much easier because I am not constantly changing and washing the covers. My baby loves looking at the mobile and it is so stylish in the nursery." —MelM
37. A mug warmer to keep on your nightstand so you can continue to sip on hot tea even if you completely forgot about it while tending to your fussy little one.
Promising review: "I'm a chronic coffee forgetter. I can't drink it straight from the brewer (too hot for me) so I set my mug down to cool slightly and often get distracted. Of course I then come back to my coffee to find it's already cold. I've currently got the warmer at my office and it's working great. I can sip my coffee leisurely over the course of an hour and it's still nice and warm." —Elle
Get it from Amazon for $13.49.
38. A Nespresso Vertuo coffee and espresso maker for any new parent that needs something a bit stronger than regular ol' coffee but still wants it made in a snap.
It heats up in 15 seconds and has a 40-ounce water tank so you don't have to fill it every morning. I recently got a Nespresso machine myself in preparation for becoming a new parent. I'm a BIG Starbucks fan, but I know it isn't always practical to jet off and grab a latte. Making homemade versions of my Starbucks faves has been a breeze with my Nespresso — definitely reccommend.
Promising review: "I like iced coffee with high caffeine. This fits the bill perfectly and is a joy to use and drink. My Starbucks monthly bill has come down considerably after buying this unit, and I'm ready to hit the ground running that much sooner in the morning. I especially enjoy the self cleaning feature and the ability to run it for smaller or larger cup sizes. Truly a premium product." —David T.
Get it from Amazon for $209.95+ (available in four colors, plus in bundle options with the Aeroccino milk frother).
39. And a coffee subscription to Partners Coffee, which will be a gift that'll keep on giving. No worries about suddenly discovering there is no coffee to be had.
My husband is a coffee connoisseur and is a BIG fan of Partners Coffee. We've been to a variety of the brick and mortar locations and can confirm that the coffee is just as delicious at home as it is made in the coffee shops. My husband will often go out of his way to pick up a bag, so this is definitely something on our to-buy list before our baby arrives. In addition to choosing what kinds of beans you need (based on how you make your coffee), you can select from 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month subscriptions — worth every penny.
Get it from Partners Coffee starting at $42 (available in nine flavors and in five bean styles).
Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.