23 Products From Target New Parents Will Totally Wish They'd Known About Sooner
Here are some must-have items you will find very useful.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. A postpartum recovery essentials kit that is definitely essential. This kit includes four pairs of disposable underwear, four instant-ice maxi pads, 24 perineal-cooling pad liners, a bottle of perineal-healing foam, and a toilet top storage caddy.
Promising review: "Oh my gosh, this is a must-have for every mom out there! I was gifted this and it’s one of the best things I ever received. The hospital stuff was fine, however, this kit was a lot more easy, discreet, and comforting. It has made my recovery so much easier, especially as I had to sit up for late-night feedings. If you’re unsure of what to gift an expecting friend, do this. They’ll love you forever." —campbellsoupcrew
Price: $49.99
2. A baby nasal aspirator and saline spray to save parents sleep when baby is sick and filled with snot! Don't worry, the simple design and instructions make it easy to use and clean.
Promising review: "I think every parent needs one of these. This suctions so much better without needing to shove those regular bulb syringes into their tiny noses & is super easy to clean." —janemonreal
Price: $19.99
3. And a digital forehead thermometer that is noncontact and gives a one-second instant reading. Its easy-to-read backlit display and fever alarm make it very user friendly.
Promising review: "While preparing for our infant, everything I read said that rectal thermometers are the most accurate. I'm not going to lie...I wasn't into that. So I did some research, and this had great reviews. It's been so easy and slick with a newborn. I also wanted to test its accuracy, so I've taken her temperature right before and after pediatrician appointments and it's always within .3 degrees. It comes with a nice felt bag to make it safe to transport. Highly recommend!" —lcattau
Price: $48.99
4. A cool-mist humidifier because no one tells you how often babies get sick! Having this handy will definitely help you out on those hard-to-sleep nights because baby has a stuffy nose or is coughing.
Price: $59.99
5. A pack of Boogie Wipes that are a serious game changer for stuffy noses. These wipes are made with natural saline, which is gentle on the skin, helps clean and dissolve snot and boogers, and wipes away dirt and germs. They’re gentle enough to be used on noses, faces, fingers, and toes. Trust me, I even started using these!
6. And a travel wipe dispenser – it's a great solution for quick and easy on-the-go diaper changes. It also includes a strap that conveniently hangs on strollers and diaper bags!
Promising review: "Works perfectly and just what I was looking for! I was looking for a travel wipes container to keep on the back of our high chair for meal times, and was having a hard time finding something that wasn't too bulky and that would hang nicely. I've been using this for a few days and so far it's kept my wipes wet and fresh so that it's easy to clean up my little one. I'm overall satisfied and have yet to have any issues." —babyblue
Price: $8.99 (available in two colors)
7. A Babyganics Essentials Gift Set that is perfect for expecting parents. This kit includes lotion, shampoo and bodywash, hand sanitizer, wipes, and dish and bottle soap. It seriously has it all!
Promising review: "I loved getting this for my baby shower. I have always heard great things about Babyganics from my mommy friends. Now I don’t want another brand. I love that they offer a variety of items. I also love using these items knowing that they are safe and chemical free." –Almarie
Price: $27.99
8. A Sleepsack to help baby fall asleep easily and with style. This original wearable blanket with sleeveless design nestles baby like a soft blanket without the risk of sleep-related dangers.
Promising review: "We love the Halo Sleepsacks. The 100% cotton is great for all types of weather, and the styles are cute. They fit our little one great, and will last for a while since they are longer. Wear these for bed every night, definitely recommend." —Target reviewer
Price: $24.99 (available in five sizes and six patterns)
9. A baby nailcare set so you can safely give baby a mani-pedi without going to the salon! The kit includes one NailFrida clipper and one S-shaped nail file. They totally *nailed* it with this product!
10. A pack of Arm & Hammer Nursery Fresheners so you can keep your diaper bags, diaper pails, changing tables, and hampers smelling *so fresh and so clean clean*.
Promising review: "I’ve been using these for years in my kids' rooms. I just place one in the closet to keep the room smelling fresh. I’ve also used them in diaper pails when they were smaller and they help. Currently I have one in my trash drawer in the kitchen as well!" —Target reviewer
Price: $10.99 (for a pack of 10)
11. A grow-with-me training toothbrush set that is as highly practical as it is useful! This set includes two training toothbrushes for different stages to start oral care habits at 6 months and up.
Promising review: "We have been trying to teach our 5-year-old to brush his teeth or let us brush his teeth for years. This spring he wouldn't let anyone near his mouth, especially not a dentist. This toothbrush has been a miracle. I put his favorite toothpaste on as usual, I handed him the toothbrush and told him to open his mouth. Of course he sucked off the toothpaste right away but then something happened that has never happened before in the last 5 years for our son. He started to move the toothbrush back and forth on his lower teeth all the way around. Next I flip the toothbrush so that it would reach his upper teeth and he did it again. It was not perfect but he has never never done that before. If you have a child who's having a hard time independently brushing their teeth or letting you brush their teeth, this is a winner! Thanks to the company who designed it and invented it, I have a hunch that there might have been a parent involved in the process of the invention. Thank you thank you thank you!!!" —Krisztina
Price: $12.99
12. An avocado silicone teether as adorable as it is useful. Made for babies 3 months and up, this teether massages baby’s tender gums to help relieve pain from teething. When life gives you avocados, make guacamole!
13. And some chamomile soothing tablets that are almost more of a lifesaver for you than baby. These tablets help calm, relax, and soothe infants who may be teething, upset, or restless. Made of all-natural ingredients, you are left feeling safe.
Promising review: "These little tablets are so great for my teething baby. She takes them with no issues; she seems to really like how they taste." —Sarah Marie
Price: $6.99 (for a box of140 tablets)
14. A bath spout cover that is simply adorable and practical. This soft, tough rubber protects baby during bath time; its easy-to-adjust strap secures and tightens on most spouts.
15. A bathtub elbow rest – it's a game changer. Before we found this product we were using a towel and this totally saved the day!
Promising review: "My daughter has this for my grandson since he was about 6 months; now 2 years old in great condition still. I bought it now for my house to make it easier from me when I bathe my grandson at my house. LOVE IT!" –happy grandma
Price: $15.99
16. A shopping cart cover that gave me so much peace of mind when grocery shopping. This ingenious product fits most shopping carts and restaurant-style high chairs — AND it folds up into a small pouch so you can throw it into or attach it to your diaper bag/purse.
Promising review: "Love the protection these provide from dirty shopping carts and restaurant high chairs specially for my baby born right at the start of the pandemic. Folds up to store in diaper bag or can be hooked onto diaper bag too. Wish they had different (solid) patterns though!" —Mama2BabyD
Price: $24.99
17. A car seat and stroller cover to keep baby nice and toasty on those chilly fall days. With elastic edges to secure around any car seat, this cozy cover frames baby's head in plush fleece.
Promising review: "This is the fourth car seat cover I have tried, and the BEST one. The other covers never fit right and would always slip off. This one fits PERFECT and even has some room to spare, so I know it won't slip off. It is nice and warm (I live in Northern MI, so it gets pretty cold and snowy) and it covers up baby completely (two of the others didn't cover completely). I also like the way it unzips so there aren't flaps constantly in my way while I'm trying to buckle my baby in. I have found zero issues or cons with this cover." —Emily
Price: $39.99
18. A travel bottle drying rack that is perfect for those weekend getaways. This compact drying rack and bottle brushes are ideal for the on-the-go parent. The cute grass-like blades hold items upright for drying while excess water collects in the bottom tray.
Promising review: "I have taken this drying rack everywhere with me and my baby. On plenty of flights, long car trips, and stays at the grandparents. It's not too big to take up space in my suitcase, but it holds just enough bottles and feeding items for trips away from home. The extra brushes that fold up in the case are also very durable and handy. I have gotten my money's worth out of this drying rack, and it makes me feel like I have a convenient part of home with me that makes cleaning bottles easier instead of drying bottles on a paper towel." —KM
Price: $14.99
19. And a UV sanitizer to help clean baby's bottles and teething toys. This device sanitizes items in just 11 minutes! AND there is no cleaning or descaling because of its UV technology. You can even use this beyond baby to sanitize the remote, phone, keys, and other household items!
Price: $149.97
20. A Babybjörn bouncer that I don't know how I would have lived without. The natural rocking stimulates your child’s development and helps them stop crying (I swear). It's easy to wash, has an ergonomic design, folds flat to store easily, and is just plain wonderful.
Promising review: "A simple, well designed item that has become an essential for our household. We got a good amount of use out of a borrowed one with my first child, so we bought one for our second child. It's become one of our essential items. My baby boy sits in it comfortably — and safely out of the way — while he watches his toddler sister get up to all sorts. Packs flat to store and travel with easily, but is great quality and very robust" —Rebecca
Price: $249.99
21. A baby swing to help rock baby to sleep when the above bouncer is not working. Trust this mama of two, the more options the better. This dual-motion baby swing lets your baby sway side-to-side or head-to-toe with a variety of soothing music and sounds.
Promising review: "Best product with supervised soothing for newborns. My baby sleeps for hours. It doesn’t make that much noise as mentioned by some. Baby girl enjoys seeing the toy and loves the music; it works like a sound machine. It's a lifesaver for working parents like us. We used it since baby was 5 days old and it's a must-have. Definitely worth the price since I can use until baby is 8–9 months of age." —Kani
Price: $169.99
22. A Lovevery play gym that is next-level cuteness. The set includes high-contrast black and white cards, high-contrast ball, batting ring, teether, Montessori mirrors, learning card sets, and play space cover. Plus it was designed by child development experts for play and tummy time with purpose.
Promising review: "I am so happy to have this for my baby! He is absolutely delighted anytime he’s on it. I love that it’s well made with thoughtful activities for his development. And I love that it happens to look nice, too. The parent booklet that comes with the gym is super helpful! Worth the larger price tag!" —Berg
Price: $140.99
23. And a grab-and-go formula and snack container to take along on your push car ride! This set includes one 10-oz. container, two 6-oz. containers, one easy-pour formula lid, two spill-resistant lids, and one dry food lid with a handle. It seriously will take your snack game to the next level!
Promising review: "I’m very happy with this purchase. The top layer is for formula, but we’ll likely use it to hold small snacks like Cheerios or something since we don’t use formula. We’ve been using the other two containers to hold pacifiers, nipple shields, etc. It’s so easy to just stick it in our diaper bag and not worry about items floating around the diaper bag getting dirty. I’m happy to have purchased this useful container set!" —Jane
Price: $9.99
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Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.