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1. A set of foam play mat tiles that you can arrange in multiple design patterns and thankfully won't clash with the rest of the room (because gray and cream go with everything). They can also withstand an absolute beating from the kids!
2. A four-pack of car window shades to block over 97% of UV rays that could be harmful to your most precious cargo. No suction cups here! Installs with the magic of "static-cling technology."
3. A hypoallergenic Newton baby crib mattress that's both breathable (meaning babies can sleep face down with no worry) and washable (so you'll never have to see any pee, poo, or puke stains). Also, it's 100% recyclable!
4. A time- and lifesaving/changing formula dispensing machine for mixing and warming consistently perfect formula-based ba-bas in a matter of mere seconds.
5. A leak-proof, super-durable, five-compartment Bentgo kids lunch box every other kid in your kid's class will have — but there's a good reason for that! They fit a lot of food, nothing gets smooshed, and the removable tray is also microwave- and dishwasher safe.
6. A high-fidelity white noise machine because you can't put a price on a good night's sleep (for babies and parents). This model boasts 20 unique nonlooping sounds, which should help to ensure no sudden wake-ups from little ones.
7. A super-soft, giant 4-foot-tall Vermont Teddy Bear that'll grow with your kids (even though it stays the same size) from snuggle buddy to eventual recipient of all manner of suplexes and body slams.
8. A do-it-all Nanit Pro smart baby monitor for next-level, 24/7 information gathering (aka spying) on your child while they're sleeping (or supposed to be sleeping) from any location via their smartphone.
Usage: For as long as you want to watch your kids sleep, but you'll definitely get at least three years out of this, and then you can use it for watching anything else around the home (indoor security cam, perhaps).
A $250 camera? Yes, indeed, and worth every penny! The Nanit is a big-time investment in everyone getting a good night's sleep. The camera mounts above the crib and streams live HD and night vision to iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, or Echo Show devices. That essentially means your phone becomes a monitor (via the app) that you're less apt to lose and won't forget to charge. The night vision allowed us to hang back whenever we heard a noise so we could make better decisions about whether the baby's "got this" or we needed to handle the situation. We get weekly reports on our baby's sleep patterns as well as updates and tips sent directly to the app. Not sure how we lived without this, would recommend it to every parent.
Promising review: "My wife and I were looking for a camera for our newborn son, and we knew that we needed a camera that we can use while we travel. We came upon this multi-stand as we were looking at the Nanit. We have been using the stand mostly while we travel, and we love it. It is really convenient to pack in our suitcase as it does not take up much space. The setup is pretty easy, as all you need is an outlet and Wi-Fi. The only thing about this stand is that it does not go above the crib. When we travel, we usually put this on a table or nightstand just to capture the noise, so when we hear our son crying, we can go to the room. This stand can be used for a long time, as when our son gets older, we can put it in his playroom and monitor him. Overall, a great accessory for the Nanit!" —Amit Patel
Get it from Amazon for $249.99.
9. A faux-leather Graco 6-in-1 convertible high chair, which transforms from an infant high chair to a baby high chair, an infant booster, a toddler booster, and then a regular kid-sized chair. And the best part? You can actually seat two children at the same time (ideal if you have two littles ones close in age).
10. A fancy and famous French giraffe named Sophie who's been chewed on and chewed up by teething babies for over 50 years. Well worth the investment, too!
11. A contactless, smart digital thermometer for taking temps without even having to make contact on skin (super useful for sleeping or fussy children). Store up to eight family member temperature histories too!
12. A durable small Becco Backpack that lets the kiddos customize their knapsacks with awesome attachable/moveable Becco patches (like lightning bolts, animals, hearts, stars, and, of course, initials). With a water bottle holder on the side and two interior pockets, there's plenty of room for all the school or camp necessities.
13. A portable charger power bank because every parent's worst technological nightmare is their phone running out of juice when they need directions or when their child NEEDS to watch YouTube vids. Works with iPhone and Android and can charge two devices at the same time!
14. A Canopy humidifier with dishwasher-safe parts that can hydrate rooms up to 500 square feet. Also uses paper filters and employs sensors to run until the water tank is empty (preventing mold). As an added bonus, there's a built-in aroma diffusion function too!
15. A stunning, super-light, aluminum-framed Woom "Original" bike (which comes in seven sizes, from balance bikes for beginners to cycles for tweens and teens) to give your kids a truly safe and thoughtfully-built opportunity not only to learn to ride but eventually become an experienced cyclist.
16. A lightweight, washable, water-resistant Pendleton outdoor packable blanket for every outdoor event without proper seating and for those kids who never want to "touch grass." Easy to carry, easier to store in your car!
17. A lightweight Evenflo "Otto" self-folding stroller that can be opened and closed with one hand, which is clutch because you'll most likely be holding the baby with the other! Drives well, travels well, and fits almost anywhere.
18. An easy-to-use, stainless-steel apple corer because do you know how many apples you're going to core for your kids? Do you? A LOT! And sometimes they'll want them peeled. Or sliced. Or peeled AND sliced!
19. A Lovery activity gym and playmat (which is washable) for developing your baby's physical, cognitive, visual, and motor learning skills. So much fun (learning) packed into one playset!
20. A deep-tissue massage gun with 15 replaceable massage heads, seven adjustable speed levels, an LED touchscreen, and six hours of runtime because parenthood will gift you a lot of things, especially unexpected aches, pains, and soreness.
21. A folding wooden ruler growth chart to mark your kids' heights without marking up your walls. Installs with adhesive strips, so no tools are needed. Also comes with "age stickers" for every year of vertical growth.
22. A robot vacuum because your hardwood and carpeted floors need all the help they can get when there's a kid in the home. Compatible with Alexa, this sucker will map out a dynamic path of your home (all you have to do is pick up all the stuff from off the floor).
23. A simple and sort of splurge-y (but totally worth it) Marimekko Iso Milla bag that will seemingly fit every little baby bauble you'll need for immediate access and while on the go.
24. A Papablic sterilizer and dryer for quickly winning the war against the staggering amount of funky-smelling baby bottles currently amassing in your kitchen in a desperate attempt to overthrow the ever-changing status quo.
25. An easy-to-transport SlumberPod portable sleep pod because trying to get your kid to sleep in new surroundings away from home is always challenging. This portable, blackout privacy sleep nook for babies and toddlers even has a built-in fan for those warmer nights. Now everyone can sleep!
26. And finally, a splurge-worthy, power-reclining, spill-proof nursery glider chair with a built-in USB charger and adjustable head support because parents certainly need to be as comfortable and cozy as their babies during those overnight feedings.
Usage: At least two years for a single child, but you're apt to keep this in their room until they're out of the crib. And then it can become a normal chair in the home!
I tested out this super comfy nursery glider for our second child, and I can't stress what an important piece of furniture this is going to be for new parents. So much time is spent in the first few months of your child's life feeding, rocking, soothing, and even snoozing with them. And a lot of that needs to be done while in a seated position. So shouldn't that chair be totally awesome? Spacious and supportive, this glider is a dream, especially with the adjustable head support feature (no more piling up random pillows). And best of all, the chair controls are on the outside, making it harder for little fingers to find. Looking forward to using this chair even after the kids have grown out of needing it!
Promising review: "Just purchased this chair for my daughter and son-in-law’s nursery. The baby isn’t due yet, but the soon-to-be parents find themselves sitting in their new favorite chair in the entire house! Streamlined, attractive, comfortable, and supportive." —Martin
Get it from Nurture& for $1,099 (available in three colors).
When they ask if "it's worth it," go and tell 'em...
