56 Helpful Parenting Products

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Take it from someone who is nearly 10 months into this thing.

BuzzFeed Staff

This gadget doesn't attach to the car seat, so no need to fret about kiddo's 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 $13.99+ (available in five colors).

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.

Geddy's Mom is a small business that develops gadgets to keep baby safe and clear of things that could hurt them.

Promising review: "Every parent of young kids needs this! This is a really cool little gadget that gives me the peace of mind that one of my little ones won't decide to put a charger in their mouths while I have my back turned. It is definitely my new go-to for baby shower gifts. The design is super cute and easy to use. Just snap it over your charger when you are done charging to protect your family!" —AV

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $12.95 (available in four colors).

The best part? It uses REGULAR-SIZE GARBAGE BAGS! No need to buy those tiny ones that are made just for diaper pails. It also has an odor-resistant steel pin and a dual-air lock to keep the smell of those stinky diapers contained. I have this diaper pail in my son's room, and it certainly gets the job done.

Promising review: "I've gone through all the other top diaper pails first before selecting this one. I was a little uncertain about the quality of this one since I've never heard of it before but was I in for a surprise! This thing is the best one yet. It has a metal pail and the dual compartment design keeps the smell out better than any other top brand, even using regular trash bags. I'm very happy." —Steve E.

Get it from Amazon for $84.99.

Promising review: "I hooked up two of these without any issues! They work great! I would definitely buy them again if I ever needed more dimmer switches." —B. McNeil

Get a set of two from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in five styles).

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).

Promising review: "I had some outlet protectors already, but my 10-month-old daughter figured those ones out. These ones are nice because they are discreet. They sit flush with the outlet. They aren't distracting so my daughter doesn't find interest in them. And they are too thin for her to pry them off. I actually kinda had trouble getting them out of one of my outlets, but I find that a good thing. They are definitely child-proof. Can't beat the low price either. And they arrived very quickly." —Bazoo Studios

Get a pack of 30 from Amazon for $5.99+ (also available as an 8-pack, 60-pack, and 120-pack).

The set includes 18 feet of edge guard and 8 corner cushions, capable of covering 20.4 feet of surface area. Also, comes with 3M double-sided tape (36 feet of tape for the edge guard), while the corner guards are pre-taped.

Promising review: "Great product that saved my son a trip to the ER! Funny story, when I installed these to cover my fire place brink corners I did so only to stop the nagging of my wife. BUT not 10 minutes after finishing the install did my son come up to the fire place and trip falling head first into the foam covered brick corner... THANK GOD I finally listened to my wife! Instead of a trip to the emergency room, he just bounced off of the foam and went about his business unharmed!" —Chris Y.

Get it from Amazon for $21.35 (available in two sizes and three colors).

The set comes with locks (with strong 3M double-sided tape on the back) and two keys.

Promising review: "These are awesome! I spent hours with a drill and screwdriver installing push down locks on cupboards five years ago. I now have another crawling baby, and those ones are all broken. I was dreading installing new ones and saw these. They literally go on in seconds, the bracket means it lines up perfectly, and the adhesive is strong! My older kids think the magnet key is super fun. Baby stays out of the chemicals, and I put one on the trash door so the dog stays out of the trash so everyone gets to live longer. Win-win. I also love that you can 'turn' them off and on so when my kids are bigger we can flip the switch but if little kids were visiting, we could put them back on." —Joseph J. Krakker

Get a set from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in five quantities).

I picked this toy up on a whim at a local toy store and am so glad that I did! My son is a busy, busy guy and finding ways to keep him entertained while my husband and I (quickly) eat dinner has been a challenge. This toy, from Fat Brain Toys, has been such a help. We bring it everywhere with us! It has a very strong suction so he can't immediately fling it across the room. It's definitely one of our diaper bag must-haves,10 and I'll certainly get it for other new parents in my life.

Promising review: "Bought this as a high chair toy to buy me time in the kitchen. Sticks well to both Stokke tray and Inglesina tray. My 6-month-old loves to rattle it, shake it, bend it, chew it. We also throw it in the diaper bag for the car since it's small enough. Worth the money." —kc9

Get it from Target for $9.99 (available in two colors).

My son has refused every spoon but these (he's very opinionated, it seems). There are sensory bumps on the spoon to help decrease gagging as kiddos learn to eat with utensils — a feature you won't realize you need until you're in the thick of it. I've been impressed with ezpz and definitely look forward to testing out their little cup and suction bowl (Noah would literally throw them to the ground right now).

Promising review: "I’ve tried a couple of different spoons for baby-led weaning, and these are by far my favorite! They are easy for my little one to hold, easy to clean, soft on her mouth and actually hold a good bite of food. Great for the two-spoon method while she's learning how to scoop. They are slightly weighted, which helps too. I highly recommend!" —Claire

Get a set of two spoons from Amazon for $15.99 (available in four colors).

My son has these bibs in a variety of styles: Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, and Mickey Mouse. They're super cute and make for silly photos, but best of all, they can be easily rinsed off or thrown into the washing machine. I've put the bibs in with his regular laundry and then dried them on cool — they come out nice 'n' clean. We also have a Bumkins Nintendo-themed splat mat I simply could not live without, as it catches all the food debris my son tosses over the edge of his high chair.

Promising review: "This is easy to put on and easy to clean. We just rinse, wipe and dry. I can see our son may be able to take it off one day but that's part of the process. I like how light it is compared to the silicone bibs we have." —hmfan24

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $6.59+ (available in 34 styles and sets).

Promising review: "Must-have. I love these. We just moved in with family, and they had a coffee table with super-sharp corners and I have a little one who pulls up on everything and is trying to walk. To say I was on edge is an understatement. My sister-in-law didn't want an obnoxious baby proof item around her house, but these were so discreet she didn't even notice that I had installed them. They are so soft that my little one started gumming on them to soothe his gums, LOL. They were super easy to install, stuck on very well and with not much effort, and came with plenty so if I need them I’ll have them handy. Super satisfied! If you’re thinking about getting, them please do!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three quantities).

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 15 colors).

My son basically only sleeps in Carter's double-zip pajamas. I don't leave Target without grabbing one of the styles if it's one he doesn't have yet! The sizing is spot-on (which cannot be said for all baby clothing brands), and they wash really well (not much shrinking at all). The double-zip is ESSENTIAL so I don't have to take his pajamas all the way off when quickly changing his diaper during the night. I also simply love how adorable they are! Both the cotton and fleece options have fun designs (including holiday themes) and often have cute little creatures on the feet, which make me squeal with delight every time I dress Noah in them. I've tried a lot of different pajamas, and these have simply become a staple in his closet.

Get them from Target: the construction themed double-zip pajamas for $8 (available in sizes NB–9M), the lemon double-zip pajamas for $8 (available in sizes NB–9M) and check out all of the other styles as well.

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 four colors).

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 $25.37.

My son received this as a gift around the holidays and it's, surprisingly, fantastic! It's really a simple toy, but he enjoys playing with it *all* the time. He loves the sounds and the lights while I personally like that it's not HUGE (so many musical toys are very bulky). It's been a great toy option for the car thanks to its size.

Promising review: "The best baby distractor EVER! Every person with a child must have this toy! I had about five tucked in various places in case one got lost. My son loved them from basically birth, and sometimes it would distract him for hours of not crying! (Heaven for a new mother.) Of course, in the beginning you have to keep pushing the button for them, but compared to swinging him in his car seat that was easy! Then when he got older, he would spend entire car rides just playing with this one toy. I give it to everyone I know who has a baby." —NH-Mommy

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

My baby used this tub for about four months, and it was fantastic. I liked that it was a secure place for him to sit inside our bathtub instead of in the sink. It was very easy to clean (a must) and has adjustable seating options that were simple to swap as he grew longer.

Promising review: "We have a newborn and absolutely love this tub for her. The sling supports her perfectly. The size of this tub is perfect, big enough that my 3-year-old fit in it (when he insisted on trying it out) but small/compact enough that its not obnoxious to store. If you have a standard size bathtub, there is plenty of room to hang this on a suction hook inside the tub to store (and this Skip Hop tub has its own storage hook to make this simple to do). This is the fourth baby bath that we have owned/tried, and it is hands down our favorite. I have no complaints, absolutely love it!!" —E

Get it from Amazon for $39.99.

My son is admittedly a bit wild (ahem, he has been from Day 1 when he tried to escape his swaddle). So, while I loved the Skip Hop whale tub, I had to retire it once my son tried to slide his little booty off the edge of the seat to lay completely vertical in it (someone, plz, send me prayers). I ordered the Angelcare seat on a whim and it's been a great solution! He gets to splash and kick to his heart's content and doesn't actively give me a heart attack during bath time! It also hangs nicely on a suction hook, taking up way less space in my bathroom.

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 three styles).

Naturally, I have this to go with the whale tub. Even though my son has grown out of this tub, I'm still using the mat! It's squishy, doesn't take up space in the bathroom (since it can be hung up when not in use) and, honestly, does save my knees from discomfort.

Promising review: "I love this whale mat. I have back problems and it makes kneeling down easier on my knees and back. Another very cool feature is the hook and loop yellow tab at the end. Right after bathtime, I just hang it up on the shower curtain rod to dry. So simple. I also have the matching whale 'cup' that is designed for pouring water over kids/toddlers/babies in baths. It's adorable and functional as well. It just makes bathtime less of a chore and more ergonomic. Did I mention how cute this is?" —Spoonie32

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "My 1-year-old was always getting close to the faucet to play with the water and would end up crying all the time because he would end up bumping his head. But this saved him from that. Now he gets to enjoy the water without bumping his head, and if he does, it won't hurt him since the whale is made of rubber. It's a plus that I can hang the spray tub lower and not have to stretch in my tippie toes every night. It's adjustable, so it fits pretty much all the faucets. This is a must-have if you have little ones." —Sam

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in two colors).

I have this for my son (pictured above) and am *very* glad that I do. As you can see from his first time in a shopping cart at Target, all he immediately wanted to do was chew on it — which is disgusting and germy! The cover protected him from sucking on unknown grossness...thankfully.

Promising review: "Love! I was in the market for a nice shopping cart cover. My newest baby definitely is one that puts everything possible into his mouth, so a shopping cart cover was a must this time around. It's easy to unfold and fold up. A little tricky to put on the first time, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. It seems to be fairly padded. Covers a standard Walmart cart thus far. I believe it will work for high chairs as well. I do wish it came with its own toys. I would definitely recommend for children who are comfortable sitting up on their own." —Alicia

Get it from Amazon for $25.49+ (available in three styles).

It's recommended for children between 8 and 45 pounds and can be used in four different holding positions — feeding/breastfeeding, side carrying, front facing, and face-to-face.

Tushbaby is a small business run by three California moms — they specialize in products that bringing a little more ease to everyday parenting life.

See it in action on TikTok.

Promising review: "This has been one of MANY items I have purchased thanks to TikTok, and I'm glad I did. Super easy to use, easy to adjust, and most importantly it helps with support tremendously. It comes with pockets and a place to hold bottles/sippy cups, which can be very handy. My 8-month-old weighs around 30–35lbs, and he's basically attached to me 24/7, carrying all day was killing my back and arms! Thank God for this invention, my arms and back can rest." —Jennifer Calle

Get it from Amazon for $84.99 (available in two styles).

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 $19.99.

The BabyBjörn bouncer was an item I bought for myself when my son was DYING to be able to sit up but wasn't there just quite yet. We'd plop him into this bouncer, and he'd be THRILLED to sit for a bit and watch my husband make his morning espresso (haha) or happily watch Encanto for the trillionth time (don't judge my parenting screentime). Honestly, he was just so happy to be upright! It easily folds down, so it's a breeze to throw in the car and bring to someone else's house. He loves this thing, and I'd definitely recommend it to any parent to have on-hand.

Promising review: "My son is what is referred to as a Velcro baby. He will not let me put him down for even a moment without crying horribly. I spent two months unable to make myself food, comb my hair, or even shower without him crying his little eyes out. I was exhausted but then...my mother suggested this little bouncer and everything changed! From the moment I put him in the chair, he was calm and happy. It's very well made, easy to move from room to room and the cover is machine washable. The design is simple and brilliant. The straps can be put on with only one hand. Super easy to get him in and out. He is four months old now and starting to figure out that he can make it bounce. The cover is solid canvas and soft. The seams are very strong. It make zero sound while he bounces. I now have a moment here and there to do things around the house while my little man plays in a safe comfy little seat. Highly recommend!" —Zuya

Get it from Amazon for $199.99+ (available in three styles).

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.

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 six styles).

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.

Ruggable's rugs are honestly a work of art — not just because they look great regardless of what room you put them in, but because they can handle a stain like no other. I have a Mickey Mouse rug (seen above to the left) in my baby's room, but my sister (who has three big dogs) has truly put the quality of their rugs to the test. Within a week of owning one she successfully cleaned blood, poop, and coffee off of it without a remnant of a stain left behind.

Promising review: "I love this rug so much! It's perfect for kids and pets, and it's so easy to keep clean. I actually use it where my kids eat and it hasn't gotten stained at all. 100% would recommend!" —Ashley C

Get it from Ruggable for $99+ (available in 10 sizes and 3 styles).

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 $49.99+ (also available in five styles and in pink).

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 $219 (available in 17 colors).

Promising review: "We use it at night, during the day at home, and even on the go. With our first baby we had white noise on our phones, this just makes our lives so much easier. We just leave it next to the baby with timer, and she sleeps for a few hours" —Tatiana Figueiredo

Get it from Amazon for $16.20.

Promising review: "These are fantastic for keeping my child from dropping her sippy cup over and over during meals. I'd recommend to any parent who just wants one thing to be easier. But isn't that all of us?" —Leigh Powers

Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in six colors).

BuzzFeed editor and mother of two Chandni Reddy is a big fan of this drying rack:

"Is it possible for a drying rack to be life changing? Why yes, it is. I caved and bought this grassy patch after my kitchen started to look an episode of Hoarders. This thing instantly organized my kitchen by creating a dedicated spot for baby stuff. Bottles, pump parts, sippy cups...this bad boy can hold a LOT (at least six bottles and four cups at once) and dries everything quickly. Did I mention it's a heck of a lot more cheerful and stylish than your regular drying rack?"

I *also* 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 $21.24 (available in two colors).

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.

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 highchair! Plus, they fold down and can be put in the storage bag attached very quickly and easily. I have used many kinds of highchairs but these are the best, space saving and great for travel." —katy

Get it from Amazon for $84.99+ (available in nine colors).

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.

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

Get it from Target for $39.99.

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 six colors).

I have both a Hatch Rest and a Hatch Restore, and they’ve both been essential to my baby's nighttime routine. We keep the Hatch Rest in our bedroom and the Hatch Restore in my son's room.

I love that I can control both the lighting and sound of the devices on my phone with Hatch's easy-to-use app. My husband typically gives the baby a bottle before bedtime in his room, while he's doing that I turn on the "rain sounds" that we’ve been using as white noise for our little one. However, the most helpful feature on both devices is the ability to adjust how bright the light is. We’re still getting up for middle of the night feedings and diaper changes so it's been invaluable to be able to raise the light a bit when doing so but then be able to quickly lower it once the baby has settled back into sleep. It's also not a harsh light and has a bunch of different color options so it's been easy enough to find a brightness that suits our needs.

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).

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.

While there are heavily praised high-tech swings on the market, there's a chance your baby might not be interested in all of that fuss! I was lucky enough to test out one of the more advanced swings, and guess what? My son hated it. However, this simple Graco swing was my absolute saving grace during the first few months of parenthood. It was basically the only place my son would calm down and relax (he's been VERY energetic and has always been on the move). The simple swaying (paired with his favorite movie, Encanto) ensured that I'd get a bit of peace to tackle other things around the house that need to be done. He was often distracted by the stars that would swing above him (though note that it is not a spinning mobile) and spent quite a bit of time trying to reach them. Whatever works, amiright?

Promising review: "This swing saved my life! I couldn't put my baby anywhere or in anything without him waking up 10 minutes later. I was getting so tired and couldn't get anything done around the house... until I bought this swing! He loves being in it whether he's asleep or awake. I also like that it plugs into the wall so you don't ever have to worry about batteries going dead. I've had it for about a month now and it's still going strong. I highly recommend this swing!" —Lyndsey Parker

Get it from Amazon for $109.97 (available in two styles).

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 $324.

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.

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 $33.99 (available in two colors).

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.

Get it from Oxo or Amazon for $22.99.

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 $41.30+ (available in seven styles).

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).

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 2022. Thanks to this sterilizer I don't have to bother with any of that!

After washing the bottles and nipples (I use Dapple's lavender bottle soap and a Dr. Browns cleaning brush), I place each piece on the rack inside the sterilizer. Once it's filled with six bottles, I remove the rack, pour filtered water into the bottom section of the sterilizer, replace the rack, pop its dome back on, and set it to sterilizer and dry for 30 minutes. It's honestly fantastic and super easy to use. TBH, I’d say this is a must-have for anyone who formula feeds and breastfeeding mamas who also pump/use bottles. Added bonus? You can also use it to sterilize pacifiers and any breast pump parts. It's a fantastic item for any parent, trust me.

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.

The set contains two feeders, two large silicone teats, two medium silicone teats, and two small silicone teats. My kiddo enjoys this — we treat it like a lil' snack. He likes chewing on the rubbery end and sucking yummy fruits out of it. It keeps him busy for a bit without creating a total mess.

Promising review: "This is amazing!! I am such a germ freak, so the mesh ones were not going to fly with me. The fact that this entire thing comes apart to sterilize is wonderful. Then add the different-size heads for it; great for those just starting foods. My little one has two teeth and absolutely loves this thing. We use frozen cut-up fruit and veggies and he goes nuts. Keeps him occupied for hours!! Definitely recommend. 😀" —Danielle Fox

Get a set from Amazon for $12.95 (available in two styles).

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 to keep my tyke nice 'n' snug during winter outings and it's already been great to have on-hand! 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).

I recently received the newest stroller from Bugaboo and so far I can say it's definitely worth the splurge. Honestly, the brand just continues to impress me and makes my life as a new mom easier and easier.

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).

My son is going through a phase where he's refusing to eat anything that *isn't* in a pouch. One of my mom friends suggested trying these out, so I promptly added these into my cart. They arrived swiftly and have been a great solution to our dining problem! They're easy to fill, as the side opens like a ziplock bag, and even easier to rinse and reuse. We've been using them regularly and are thrilled with them. You can also fill and freeze them if you want to meal-prep your kiddo's food for the week.

Promising review: "These reusable pouches are great. They are easy to fill and use. They have been uncomplicated to wash and I have been very glad I purchased." —Kelly

Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $10.99.

I also repurpose swaddle blankets as cute backdrops to take pics of my son when he's in a cute outfit (which is most days, TBH). I ordered this one specifically to act as a background for his Halloween costume — he was Prince Charming, of course. Photo prop aside, this blanket (and all the muslin ones I've acquired over the last few months) are fantastic for keeping in the car, the basket of the stroller, or plopped on the floor for baby to roll around on. Honestly, the potential is endless for this universal item!

Promising review: "I bought this for myself. It is so soft and cozy, and the neutral, solid color makes it very adaptable. It could be a sweet baby blanket, or an adult can use it as a shawl/wrap." —Amazon Customer

Get them from Amazon for $15 (available in seven colors).

I've been lucky enough to receive *a lot* of diaper samples since having my son, Noah. So, this likely won't be the last time you hear me analyze a diaper brand. #SorryNotSorry. Anyways, I received a super cute package from Hello Bello (Kristen Bell's brand) featuring candy corn printed diapers for Halloween — and, yes, they are absolutely as cute as they sound! I love a good theme so right off the bat I was tickled to put Noah's lil' booty into diapers that were appropriate for spooky season (and who could blame me?). I've also had the pleasure of receiving their Grinch themed diapers (so cute) and most recently their newest Cat in the Hat designs (definitely check those out).

However, I'd be remiss to say the best part is that the Hello Bello diapers actually do what they're supposed to — hold in pee and poop! While I appreciate the adorable themes and patterns Hello Bello offers, I'm happiest when I don't have to change my son's outfit five times a day because of pee gone awry. I'm even happier to report there was one day Noah pooped A LOOOOOT (how does so much come out of such a tiny body????) and there were absolute no leaks through the diaper — not a single blowout has been had. At the end of the day, that's what really matters.

Get the diaper bundle from Hello Bello for $69.99 (available in sizes newborn–6, comes with 224 diapers, 7 different styles per bundle with 24 to choose from, 4 packs of wipes, and a free item of your choosing).

In the meantime, I often find myself sitting in it while hanging out with my son in the playroom (hahaha). This chair is super cute and you've probably seen variations of it all over social media. It comes in tons of colors/styles so you can pick one that's perfect for your decor! We've been using it to take my son Noah's monthly photos (which is getting increasingly hard to do as he gets older) and it's been great to see how much he's grown from month to month! It's not a *necessity* item per se, but it is a cute and enjoyable one that'll be there for your kiddo as they grow.

Get the navy chair from Pottery Barn Kids for $119+ (available with or without custom monogramming) and check out all of the other style options.

My son has been loving this Fisher-Price ice cream jumper for as long as he's been able to hold his head up. He's always been an adventurous baby who has longed for mobility (send prayers my way, please) so this has been one of his favorite toys. It's been great for helping him burn up some energy (he has SO much of it), entertaining him for a bit, and knowing he's safely contained so I can go pee (seriously). The height is adjustable so as he grows taller we're able to give him more jumping room. It has three different play settings with various sounds my son absolutely adores — and he loves holding onto the steering wheel and "driving" along to the tunes. I also love that once he's past the bouncing phase we can remove the jumper entirely and turn it into a shape-sorting toy!

Promising review: "It is perfect! Fairly easy to put together and great that it can be used for infants and toddlers. My granddaughter loves it!" —Nala

Get it from Walmart for $139.99.

I got these for my baby's closet after realizing I had stocked up on a variety of sizes. It's super easy to clip them over the bar in the closet and then easily see which clothes are newborn-sized versus which are 0–3 months (and all of the other sizes as they grow, of course). I went with a neutral theme so they can be passed down to someone else or used with my next kiddo, but there are *tons* to choose from! Carrie Dee is a small business based in Syracuse, NY that sells nursery closet dividers.

Get them from CarrieDee on Etsy for $7.95+ (available four sets and two display size options).

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.