Expecting parents tend to fall into one of two camps: those who buy everything and anything and those that get a few outfits, diapers, a bassinet and wait and see for the rest. The truth is, the happy place is often somewhere in the middle; you want to be prepared, but having kids is expensive enough without needlessly accumulating things that won’t be used while they take up precious space.
In a quest to hone in on the must-haves and latest game-changing options parents-to-be often sift through lists with pages and pages of items. Confusion deepens when you factor that in practically every baby-related category there are massive price ranges making it hard to know what’s actually worth splurging on and where there’s room for savings.
Here’s a look at the cult baby products that actually live up to their hype. This is a relatively long list. We are not saying that new parents need every one of these items. Parenthood is personal, so do and buy what makes sense for you and your family’s lifestyle.
More Must-Buy Baby Gear:
- 7 Best Teething Toys That Offer Relief To Irritable Babies
- 5 Super Convenient Diaper Subscription Services
- The Ultimate Guide to the Best Baby Bottles
20 Cult Baby Products Worth The Hype (and Price)
-
Snoo Smart Baby Sleeper and Bassinet, $1,495
Let’s start with the Bentley of baby buys, the Snoo. Developed by, arguably the most famous living pediatrician, Dr. Harvey Karp, the Snoo will add one to two hours of sleep to your baby’s routine in the first six months. It uses sound and motion to mimic the environment in a woman's stomach. It’s not just about longer sleep, however, it’s about safer sleep. New parents often worry about SIDS, with the Snoo you can rest easy as your baby will be securely fastened inside the bassinet to prevent rolling over. No question that it’s very expensive, but they have a rental program that comes out, per day, to be about the price of a morning coffee. For parents looking to buy instead of rent, note that the website has sales throughout the year.
-
EZPZ Products (prices vary)
EZPZ’s products are made from 100% silicone, considered to be a lot safer than plastic, and they’re free of BPA, BPS, PVS, phthalate and latex. EZPZ is best known for their all-in-one plates and placements, but they have a whole line of developmentally-focused feeding products for infants, toddlers and little kids that celebs like Chrissy Teigen and Jessica Alba have raved about.
-
Sage Spoonfuls Big Batch Glass Storage Set, $29.99
Making your own baby food will not only cut down on food bills, but will help ensure less toxins and heavy metals in your growing little one’s meals. It might seem like an arduous task but it really only takes an hour on the weekend to make enough food for the week. These glass storage containers make it easier and safer (never use plastic which is more likely to contain chemicals harmful to your baby). Simply make the food and divide it into these small containers and defrost as needed.
-
Believe Diapers, $14.95
No doubt these diapers are premium priced, which is a large pill to swallow when your baby is going through up to 10 diapers a day. That said, not only is there a 1-to-1 charity component with Believe, but they’re eco-friendly and non-toxic. Unlike major competitors, which don’t list what their diapers are made of, you’ll know exactly what goes into Believe - and everything is baby-safe, something that is far from a guarantee with most big box store brands.
-
Comotomo Silicone Baby Teether, $6.80
We don’t need to tell you that babies love biting their fingers. Inspired by this fact, this teethers mimics little baby fingers. It’s made with safe (and chewy) silicone; it’s important to be very careful about the materials used for any products your baby puts in its mouth. Silicone has no estrogen-mimicking toxins like BPA to worry about. Comotomo’s teether is also easy to clean and has a non-choking design.
-
Bumpsuit, $68
Emily Ratajkowski, Elsa Hosk, Ashlee Simpson, Jessica Szhor, Morgan Stewart and Hilary Rhoda are just a few of the celebs who have sworn by Bumsuit’s support trainers to help not only recovery from birth, but to keep up with newborns with added ease. You’ll want to buy two sizes - one for immediately after birth and one for a few weeks after. If your budget allows you might even consider ordering two in each size so you’ll always have one on hand in-between washes.
-
Potty Safe, $22.95
There’s nothing that can make a parent want to have a mini meltdown quite as much as when their tot has decided to be “helpful” and empty the content of their training potty - with Potty Safe, that will never be an issue. The Shark Tank-backed toilet is the first to offer a childproof latching system that prevents children from lifting the insert and making a smelly mess.
-
iPlay iLearn Baby Activity Gym Mat, $42.99
As the years go by, some basics never stop being worthy buys and this adorable mat is one example. It’s a bright, fun and easy-to-store way to keep your baby entertained in between naps and feeds.
-
Lovevery Play Kits, start at $36/month
If you look up the educational background of some of the world’s most influential people (think founders of Google and Amazon), you’ll find that many of them were brought up in a Montessori education system. Whether you’re committed to the education style or looking to dip your finger, Lovevery’s Montessori Play Kits are an amazing place to start. Their kits are designed to entertain and educate your newborns to toddlers with toys, books, activities and ideas for play. Curated boxes show up on your doorstep filled with researched playthings for your child’s growing brain. Baby kits (0-12 months) ship every other month, while toddler kits (13-24 months) ship every three months.
-
Frida Mom Products, prices vary
Fridamom makes dozens upon dozens of products you’ll come to swear by - and not only for your baby, but for the hospital room and postpartum for mom health as well. As far as baby goes you’ll find everything from “snot suggers” to easy-to-use nail clippers and many products are $10 or less. For moms, this kit should be a staple in every hospital room.
-
Oribel PortaPlay Monsterland Adventures, $139
This activity center offers stage-based playtime for your baby - meaning as your baby evolves and grows, so do the toys in PortaPlay (Stage One: 5 to 8 months; Stage Two: 8 to 12 months; Stage Three: Up to 5 years old). It’s a genius way to cut down on clutter and keep your little one entertained for years to come.
-
WubbaNubs Pacifiers, starting at $13.95
WubbaNubs are latex, BPA and plathalsate-free pacifiers that also happen to be beyond adorable. The soft, cozy plush toys attached to the pacifier are made from an ultra-soft-cotton blend. Made by a mom for moms, founder Carla Schneider believed the importance of designing a product to instantly comfort babies - not to mention these pacifiers make for adorable photographs.
-
Bonpoint Baby Socks (set of 7), $130
Bonpoint is the Hermes of baby, toddler and kids fashion and accessories. A wonderful entry point, this sock set comes ready-to-gift to yourself or fellow new parents. Inside you’ll find seven pairs of soft cotton blend socks ribbed with narrower-gauge rolled-over cuffs so they can be worn mid-length or folded over into ankle socks. If ever there were socks that would be worth handing down from one child to the next, these would be it.
-
Lollacup Weighted Straw Sippy Cup, $16
As cute as it is functional, some might remember this sippy cup from Shark Tank. The innovation here is that there is no valve which allows babies as young as six months to master drinking from a straw sippy cup (the straw has a weighted end). Unlike most sippy cups, it’s also made in the USA and free of BPA, PVC, latex and phthalates. If you caught their Shark Tank episode you know the brand’s founders are committed to quality (they refused to do a deal that involved manufacturing overseas), which is critical for products that your baby will be putting in its mouth.
-
Progressive Crawlers Organics, $36
Developed by a pediatric physical therapist and the mother of three children, these organic cotton pants for babies have specially placed innovative grip patches that help with stability and strength to allow appropriate floor traction on a variety of surfaces in your home.
-
The Baby Dream Machine Sleep Starter Kit, $119
This 5-in-1 gadget makes use of proven sleep enhancers including red light (which helps the body produce natural melatonin), pink noise (sounds similar to white noise, but is a mix of high and low frequencies that is more balanced and natural), organic essential oils to provide sleep-enhancing aromatherapy and a cool mist humidifier setting to keep baby’s room at the optimal humidity level for sleep, which is between 40-60%. The Baby Dream is also a cute night light.
-
DockATot, $175-$305
DockATot is a multi-functional lounging, playing, chilling, resting and snuggling dock for babies and tots 0-36 months. Note that while it might be tempting to let your little one snooze in this “docking station,” DockATot is only designed for supervised sleep (a baby may obstruct its airway by turning towards one of the elevated sides). It’s a lifesaver for awake time when you’ve got a long list of to-dos as its deceptively simple design is very often instantly soothing. It comes in two sizes and a myriad of print options.
-
Yana Sleep Pillow, $199
Hide this pillow from your significant other! While it’s perfectly made to optimize sleep in the third trimester of pregnancy, the Yana pillow is comfortable for just about anyone. It wraps around your body and contours to your curves to make sleep when you feel like a hippo less of an arduous task.
-
Baby Brezza Smart Soothing Mat, $99.99
It doesn't provide the safe sleep security of the SNOO (this product is best used for awake time: remember the ABCs of safe sleep: alone, back, crib) or the automatic adjustments to your baby (motions and sounds shift based on baby's voice and movements with Snoo), but for a fraction of the price those on a budget can help soothe their little one with this mat that mimics sounds and motions of the womb. It’s an underrated product from Baby Brezza, which is best known for their formula devices and bottle sterilizers
-
SnoofyBee Changing Pad, $35.99
This unique changing pad features a removable barrier to make changing diapers less of an arduous task (no dirty baby hands to wipe!). The pad itself is also easy to clean and to tot around when on-the-move. Plus, it comes in a bunch of colorways and with a teether.
