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The year between your baby’s arrival and that big first birthday is probably peak parenting *stuff*. While plenty of pregnancy items are more or less optional (you can just about squeak through all nine months in your stretchiest pre-kid clothes if you so choose), you can’t really avoid investing in clothes, accessories, and feeding supplies for that little one once they’re on the scene. The right products can make the difference between organization and chaos, keep your baby comfortable and occupied while you get things done, and make things like sleep and feeding as hassle-free as possible — so read on for all our favorite things to buy in the all-important first year.
Eating & Feeding
Favorite Baby Food: Serenity Kids Pouches
There’s a time and place for your standard apple and prune fruit purées, but when you’re looking for something a little more interesting, these Serenity Kids pouches are exactly what to buy. They’ll help you expose your baby to protein-filled ingredients like salmon, turkey, bison, and more, even on days when you have zero time to cook.
Favorite Puffs: Gerber Puffs
An old but reliable favorite, these are a great first crunchy snack for crawling babies who are still getting used to solid food. They dissolve easily in the mouth and don’t have a whole lot of flavor at all, so they’re really just practice for handling bigger and more interesting bites down the road.
Favorite Baby Food Maker: Beaba Babycook Neo Baby Food MakerOne Skimm mom writes, “This was great for quickly steaming or softening veggies, then blending them into purées when we were just starting solids — so easy to use. I still use it multiple times a week, and not just for the baby — I'll steam veggies in it for me and my husband for dinner.” So while it’s certainly an investment, it’s one that will earn its kitchen-counter spot.
Favorite Bottle Washer: BabyBrezza Bottle Washer Pro
You can get through the baby stage just fine without ever stepping within a 20-foot radius of a bottle-washing machine. But you’ll be spending a lot more time at the sink. One Skimm mom says she skipped the bottle washer with her first and second, but invested in this one for her third and never looked back — the fact that you can fully wash and dry (skipping the sterilization cycle altogether) makes this essentially a countertop dishwasher that completely eliminates the need for hand-washing.
Favorite Bottle Sterilizer: Chicco Advanced Sterilizer and Dryer
If you want the sterilization option specifically (for example, if your baby has medical needs that require the extra level of cleaning), this Chicco machine offers just sterilizing and drying cycles for less than half the cost of the BabyBrezza.
Favorite Bottle Box: Babylist Bottle Box
We’re fans of this curated bottle box (which makes a thoughtful new-parent gift) because it takes into account what veteran parents know to be true: There’s really no way to predict which bottle brand your baby will like. Choose from glass, plastic/silicone, and mixed material selections, and see which one’s a hit before you commit to stocking up.
Favorite Nursing Pillow: My Brest Friend Deluxe Nursing Pillow
No matter how you feed your baby, a positioning pillow can help, and since babies eat a lot, you’ll be spending tons of quality time with your pillow of choice. This one “truly lived up to its name,” one Skimm mom raves. We love that it’s adjustable and has a washable cover, complete with outer pocket.
Favorite Bottle Drying Rack: OXO Tot Space Saving Drying Rack
You already set aside a whole bedroom for your family’s new addition — do they really need to claim all your counter space, too? No, if you opt for this standing drying rack instead of the horizontal kind that takes up a square foot of valuable food-preparation real estate. With nine pegs, a drip tray, and a compartment up top for fiddly little bottle parts, this is a workhorse that also saves you lots of space.
Favorite pacifiers: NUK Timeless Comfy Pacifier & Babylist Pacifier Box
Pacifiers are like bottles: You can stock up all you want before the baby comes, but when it comes down to it, your baby’s going to like whichever brand they like. So while we recommend these simple, one-piece silicone pacifiers from NUK, we also endorse the Babylist Pacifier Box, which includes our NUK pick plus five other different styles from Philip Avent, Itzy Ritzy, BIBS, Chicco, and Dr. Brown’s.
Favorite pump: Spectra Baby S1 Plus
Multiple Skimm moms swear by this small, but powerful everyday pump, including one who writes, “Out of everything I tried, it did the best job actually expressing milk.” It weighs three pounds and has dishwasher-safe parts as well as (perhaps most importantly) a rechargeable battery so you’re not always looking for an outlet. Check to see if it’s covered by your insurance before buying this on your own.
Favorite hands-free pump: Elvie Wearable Electric Breast Pump
“Compact, easy to bring along, and genuinely hands-free,” one Skimm mom writes, calling this “the perfect secondary option” to use anytime, from a night out to a hair appointment. Small, light (just over half a pound), and quick-charging, this is a mom hack if ever there was one.
Favorite pump accessory: Caraa Baby Pump Bag
Calling out its lightness and its convenient, insulated compartment for pumped milk, one Skimm’r says this bag is “a must for pumping moms who are returning back to the office.” It fits the Spectra pump (our regular pump pick) specifically, and is designed so that you can even plug the Spectra into the wall without removing it from the bag.
Favorite Bib: Mushie Silicone Baby Bib
These Swedish-designed bibs come in enough different patterns that you could easily have a different one for every day of the month — but you won’t need more than one or two, because they’re incredibly easy to wipe down or fully wash off in the sink post mealtime.
Sleep
Favorite Crib: Nestig Wave Crib
This is a longtime Skimm mom favorite, and as the years go by, we’ve never had any reason to second-guess ourselves. The beautiful, simple Brazilian pine design features natural wood (in light brown, white, or walnut shades), and can transition from a mini-crib to a full-sized crib to a toddler bed. Add optional wheels to the mini crib or crib variations to easily move it around the house, and just keep in mind you’ll need custom-sized sheets for the included mini crib mattress.
Favorite Travel Crib: Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib
Weighing in at just 15 pounds and with a 15-second setup, this travel crib (which you can tote around in backpack form) is a fan-favorite at Skimm HQ. When you reach your destination, it’s good for more than just naps and bedtime, too: There’s a side “door” panel that zips open but locks shut when not in use, so babies can crawl in and out while exploring their new surroundings.
Favorite Crib Mattress: Newton Baby Breathable 2-Stage Crib Mattress
You don’t need a mattress that’s “breathable,” but what you arguably do need is a mattress that’s completely washable (all the way down to the core), and that’s exactly what this is. We love that no matter what the toddler and baby years throw this mattress’s way — from blowout diapers to stomach bugs and beyond — it’s easy to wash it all out.
Favorite Sound Machine and Light: Hatch Baby
The new and improved Hatch Baby is so handsome and effective that we’ve been tempted more than once to steal it for our own rooms. Even if you use it purely as a night light and sound machine (you’ll find light and sound options to suit any preference), you’re getting your money’s worth, but there are tons of other features, ranging from sleep logging to three months of a sleep consultant chat (which you can extend by paying for a premium subscription). It’s not just for newborns, either — this makes a great OK-to-wake clock for older kids.
Favorite Swaddles: Halo Sleepsack Swaddle Cotton
In this day and age, you don’t ever have to master the art of swaddling with an actual blanket if you don’t want to. In fact, once you try these, you’ll wonder why anyone ever does. These cotton sleepsack swaddles are the GOAT as far as we’re concerned, which is why one Skimm mom even brought them to the hospital to use with her last baby. They zip like a sleepsack but have velcro panels so you can keep your baby securely swaddled — no 2 a.m. YouTube video swaddling tutorials required.
Favorite PJs: Hanna Andersson Sleepers
Our number one baby PJ brand to gift to others and also gift ourselves? Hanna’s adorable, durable, and whimsically printed sleepers now come in two equally good varieties: the original organic cotton HannaJams, and the stretchier HannaSoft variety made from TENCEL modal and Spandex. The HannaSoft PJs last a little longer per size because they’re just so stretchy, but if you’re loyal to that old-school cotton feel, shop the familiar version to your heart’s content.
Favorite WiFi Baby Monitor: Nanit Smart Baby Monitor System
Another longtime Skimm HQ fave, the Nanit still hasn’t been dethroned by other monitors we’ve tried. It’s easy to install, easy to share with multiple caregivers, easy to watch straight from your phone (whether you’re two doors down from the nursery or across the world on a work trip), and the insights into wake times, nap length, and more are just plain useful.
Favorite Basic Nursery Light: MediAcous Night Light For Kids
Have we considered getting one of these for our bedroom long after the baby’s moved to a separate nursery? Sure have. The gentle light is just that pleasant and easy to turn on and off at night. One Skimm mom says, “This little light was hugely helpful for nighttime feedings — very soft lighting, and so easy to just tap on and off. A simple thing that made a big difference.”
Favorite Sleep Sack: Woolino 4 Season Ultimate Baby Sleep Bag
Don’t let the price tag scare you away, although it certainly did that to us at first. Yes, this is over $100, but when you consider that it fits babies from 0-2 years — no need to buy separate sizes for 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, etc. — it’s not really that bad. Machine-washable and made from merino wool and organic cotton, it’s comfortingly heavy but still breathable.
Favorite Bassinet: BabyBjörn Baby Cradle
If you’re in a two-story house with a newborn, it can help to have a bassinet on both floors, and one Skimm’r says this was her downstairs bassinet for multiple babies. With a clean, neutral look and a clever design that lets your baby’s movements subtly rock the whole bassinet, this is a light, cozy, easy-to-clean sleep spot for babies up to 18 pounds (or six months).
Favorite Pregnancy Pillow: Bub’s Maternity PillowFavorite Crib Sheet: Ely’s & Co. Patent Pending Waterproof Crib Sheet
Favorite Crib Sheet: Ely’s & Co. Patent Pending Waterproof Crib Sheet
These 100% cotton-jersey sheets with a waterproof TPU layer underneath let you skip the separate mattress protector, but still keep your baby’s mattress dry in the face of spit-up, leaky diapers, milk spills, and more. You can wash and dry them like regular sheets, too.
Favorite Blankets: Aden + Anais Cotton Muslin Swaddles
Ever since we saw Prince William bring baby George home from the hospital in an Aden + Anais swaddle 13 years ago, we’ve been obsessed, but the truth is we pretty much never use these blankets for their main intended purpose. We much prefer the Halo Sleepsack Swaddle for actually swaddling babies — and we use these for just about everything else: as burp cloths, bath towels, stroller blankets, even grown-up hair towels.
Favorite Rocking Chair/Recliner: Appleseed Anza Recliner
A good recliner is worth the investment, because newsflash: You’re gonna be sitting in this thing a lot. This super-soft chair lets you swivel or glide, and you can choose from manual and motorized options in three neutral colors. Give your future self the gift of a cozy place to nap, nurse, and read bedtime stories, plus cuddle that sweet little baby.
Favorite Humidifier: Carepod One Stainless Steel Humidifier
This one has a high price tag and earns it. There’s really no point in buying a humidifier you can’t easily keep clean, and this one — with no filter and a stainless-steel basin — can be cleaned in the dishwasher or with boiling water. You can buy a series of cheaper, less effective humidifiers over the years, or commit to the Carepod and keep it forever.
Favorite Travel Sleep Pod: SlumberPod Original Blackout Sleep Tent
The SlumberPod has a cult following because it solves a huge travel-related sleep problem: the need to put babies to bed in shared rooms where everyone else isn’t quite done using the lights yet. Just place this tent over a pack and play or mini crib, use the included fan to boost ventilation, and put your monitor right inside a purpose-built pocket so you can keep eyes on your baby while trying to get the rest of the family to sleep.
Favorite Decongestant: Frida Baby NoseFrida SnotSucker
Yes, it’s a disgusting concept, but you just can’t think too much about that. When your baby’s too young to even remotely understand the concept of blowing their nose, there’s simply not much else that offers real relief from congestion. So trust us — you’ll be buying one of these and sucking snot too before you know it.
Diaper & Poop
Favorite Changing Pad: Keekaroo Peanut Changer
One initially skeptical Skimm’r was completely won over by this changing pad after years of using other brands, and the difference came down to three things: First, how easy it is to wipe clean after a diaper change. Second, how truly comfortable the contoured pad seems. And third, the fact that it can turn any table or dresser it fits on into a perfect changing station.
Favorite Diapers: Pampers Swaddlers
Your diaper of choice will come down to a lot of things: price, your ingredient preferences, how sensitive your baby’s skin is, and of course, however each brand fits. But we’ve tried plenty over the years and will still always start with Pampers Swaddlers, which have caused us the least skin issues and still sit below the price point of fancier diaper brands.
Favorite Diaper Paste: Boudreaux’s Butt Paste
When there’s a diaper rash situation that’s rapidly spinning out of control, this is one Skimm mom’s forever go-to — a dye-, paraben-, preservative-, and talc-free paste with 40% zinc oxide that’s designed for “moderate to more irritated” skin.
Favorite Wipes: Amazon Elements
There are a few necessary elements of an effective baby wipe: the right degree of wetness, a little texture, and a package that makes it easy to grab both a single wipe…and a massive handful when necessary. We’ve been surprised and impressed by these Amazon Elements wipes this year — much cheaper than brands we’ve used and loved in the past, they’re extremely effective at cleaning up everything from diapers to post-meal mess, and the packaging is easy to open quickly but also fully close when you’re on the move.
Favorite Diaper Bag: Skip Hop Diaper Bag Backpack
This unisex diaper backpack does just about everything you need, and all for under $50. You can easily keep both hands free while carrying it (it also has stroller straps and a luggage sleeve so you can slip it over suitcase handles), there’s a pocket specifically for wipes on the side, and inside you’ll find three compartments and a changing pad.
Favorite Compact Diaper Bag: Caraa Baby Changing Sling
This one’s both more of a statement bag and more of an investment piece, and it’s small — not the traditional hulking diaper bag so big you regularly lose things at the bottom. You have room for your wallet, phone, a couple diapers, wipes (in a special magnetic compartment), the included changing pad, and one or two other snacks and essentials, but that’s really all you need.
Favorite Hand Sanitizer: Purell Cottony Soft Hand Sanitizing Wipes
You’ll find these in our purses, diaper bags, travel bags, and cars — any place we’re likely to be dealing with a baby-related mess. We love that in addition to their 62% ethyl alcohol hand sanitizer formula, they have a physical wiping element to remove everything from food to diaper mess from your hands. And since they’re individually packaged in little pouches, they’re super easy to take everywhere.
Favorite Trash Can: Munchkin Step
This self-sealing diaper pail is pedal-operated, and has space for a lavender-scented Arm & Hammer air freshener puck at the top. All you need is some refill rings (you can use this kind, too) and you’re ready for a diaper disposal process that’s as pleasant as possible.
Favorite All-Over Cream: Coterie Bun Balm
This isn’t just a diaper cream — it’s designed for use anywhere, targeting dry skin areas in particular. Since there’s no zinc, it won’t stay on your hands forever like a typical high-concentration diaper paste, and instead of petrolatum, it has ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter. Keep it on the diaper table, but use it anytime.
Favorite 3-6 Month Toys: Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Flip Fish
This large, soft fish toy has so much for young babies to explore, from illustrations under each scale to different textures, crinkling sounds, a mirror and lots of colors. Bring it in cars or on planes as a distraction, and definitely use it for tummy time: “This soft, textured fish was hands-down the biggest motivator to get my baby to roll over,” one Skimm mom raves.
Favorite 6-9 Month Toys: Mushie Stacking Cups
A simple set of stacking cups is a huge hit with this age group — whether they’re ready to actually stack them yet or not. You can use these anywhere: the playroom, the bath, outside — and as your little one gets bigger, they’ll be able to stack and sort them in increasingly sophisticated ways. These Danish sets come in four different color schemes and have eight cups per stack.
Sofie
Sofie La Girafe Teether
Favorite 9-12 Month Toys: Sofie La Girafe Teether
It’s Sophie’s world, and we’re all just living in it — this ultra-popular squeaking teether is easy for babies to grip and chew on all day long, and Skimm moms love it, too (one just warns to make sure you don’t immerse Sophie in water, which ruins her squeaker).
Favorite Play Mat: House of Noa Little Nomad Play Mat
These modular play mats give you all the benefits of a clean, customizable floor surface, without making you compromise on style. The subtle, pretty prints would look at home in even the least baby-centric living rooms, and with size options ranging from 4-by-6 inches to 10-by-12 inches, they really work for just about any space. They’re made from EVA foam and are easily wipeable.
Favorite Playpen: Dream on Me Playard
The simplest, easiest, most foolproof playpen we’ve found (over years of research) is this collapsible version that you can expand and hide away at will. With a fully washable fabric layer covering the floor and the sides, it’s easy to keep clean, and you can even pack it up in the car for vacation in just a few seconds. One Skimm mom notes that it’s especially useful for babies with older siblings, since it’s much easier to keep tiny toy pieces out of this playpen than it is to patrol an entire gated portion of the living room for stray Lego helmets.
Favorite Books: Sandra Boynton Board Books
There’s a reason you’ll find Sandra Boynton board books peeking out from wrapping paper at baby showers all over America. Do these books make sense? Strictly speaking, no. But will you enjoy repeating their silly phrasings and exploring their zany illustrations again and again with your little ones? Absolutely.
Favorite Baby Memory Book: ZICOTO Keepsake Baby Memory Book
With a pretty linen cover and space to add photos, memories, and stories from birth to age 5, this is the perfect memory book for parents who need a little help getting the creative juices flowing. It also makes a sweet baby shower gift.
Favorite High Contrast Book: It Had to Be You: A High Contrast Book For Newborns
High-contrast images are some of the first things newborns can really focus on, and while there are plenty of great picture books out there with a similar illustration style, we love this one from Feminist Baby author Loryn Brantz for its sweet, poetic message.
Favorite Activity Mat: Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym
One day you’ll wake up and realize your baby seems to be engaging with toys a lot more — and that’s a great time to introduce this affordable, endlessly entertaining play gym. You can use it to spice up tummy time, or lie your baby on their back and let them kick the piano keys and bat the hanging toys around. Most elements, like the keyboard and included maracas, can also be used independently, even when your baby’s fully running around. For a pricier, more elevated pick (that makes a lot less noise), we also like Lovevery’s now-classic Play Gym.
Favorite Teether: RaZbaby Bites Silicone Baby Teething Toy
It’s tough to be a baby when you’re old enough to need teething toys, but not old enough to hang on to them for more than a few seconds at a time. Which is why this cute raspberry-shaped toy is one of our favorites: It’s easy to clip to car seats, high chairs, and more with a toy strap, but thanks to its texture, it’s also somehow harder for babies to drop than other teethers we’ve tried.
Favorite Activity Center: Skip Hop Explore & More 3-Stage Activity Center
Different families come up with different pet names for this activity center, but whether it’s destined to be your baby’s office or DJ booth, there will come a time when it’s one of his or her favorite places to hang out. With an adjustable footrest, a chair that swivels, and plenty of playthings to keep little hands and feet busy, it’s a non-boring place to park kids who are good enough at crawling to get themselves into some trouble.
Favorite Swing: Graco Simple Sway Baby Swing
With a five-point harness, 15 sound options, and swaying and vibration features to help keep babies happy, this is a cozy spot for your little one to hang out while you finally go pour yourself that cup of coffee you deserved three hours ago. Just note that the AAP advises against ever letting babies sleep or nap in a swing.
Favorite Bouncer: BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss
We’ve been talking about how much we love this bouncer for years, and don’t see any reason to ever stop. It’s simple, it takes up no space, it folds completely flat, and it gives you a chance to catch up on cooking, cleaning, or just resting around the house while your little one lounges comfortably. Plus, the covers are removable and washable (we endorse keeping two around the house in case of diaper accidents).
Favorite Seat: Coco High Chair Insert & Shopping Cart Seat
This portable, washable insert can help smaller babies sit correctly everywhere from restaurant high chairs to grocery carts. Since you never know what kind of high chair you’re going to find at a restaurant in particular, we love the peace of mind it gives new parents to have this on hand.
Favorite Baby Shampoo and Body Wash: Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Fragrance-Free 2-in-1 Shampoo & Wash
We like to avoid fragrance with skin products for babies, both because it can irritate sensitive skin and because babies smell pretty great on their own. This fragrance-free shampoo and body wash is gentle and uses aloe vera and shea butter to keep skin soft.
Favorite Baby Bath Tub: OXO Tot Splash & Store Bath Tub
This birth-to-18-month bathtub is actually pretty good-looking, but the best thing about it is that you won’t actually have to look at it all that much — because you can collapse it and hang it from a hook post-bathtime. Whether you’re short on space or you just don’t want a baby tub in your face all the time, that’s a major plus.
Favorite Baby Skincare (Moisturizers): Tubby Todd All Over Ointment Original Formula
As the name suggests, this fragrance-free moisturizer can be used everywhere, and it works for all ages, too, starting with newborns. Whether you’re targeting specific eczema spots or just keeping it on the diaper table for post-bath rub-downs, this is a quality lotion to keep on hand.
Favorite Bath Toys: Lovevery Bath Toy Set
This nine-piece baby bath set (for infants 9 months and up) offers more play options than you’re likely to ever get through in a single bathtime. With two duckies, a ball and tube, a mirror, a waterproof book, and more, you’ll have at least a week of bathtime material before you start cycling back through it all again.
Natemia
Wooden Hair Brush & Comb Set
Favorite Brush Set: Natemia Wooden Hair Brush & Comb Set
This sweet little set is highly giftable, but also just a practical addition to any baby hair routine. You get a bamboo comb, firm-bristled massage brush, and goat hair brush designed to care for cradle cap and keep hair neat without any touch of discomfort.
Favorite Rinsing Cup: Munchkin Rinse Cup
No more grabbing a random cup from the cabinet and watching it slowly mildew over the course of several months on the side of the tub — this soft plastic rinse cup is all you’ll ever need for bathtime moving forward. (If your kids will ever stop playing with it and let you use it.)
Favorite Soft Washcloths: MUKIN Baby Muslin Washcloths
These 12-inch square cotton muslin washcloths will come in handy far beyond bathtime — use them as burp cloths, all-purpose cleaning wipes, even handkerchiefs to cry into when your partner accidentally spills your just-poured coffee onto the brand new nursery rug. We’re kidding about that last one, but hey, they’d work.
Favorite Hooded Towels: American Soft Linen Baby Hooded Bath Towels
These 30-inch square baby towels (with obligatory adorable little hood) are made from 100% Turkish cotton, and are the perfect cozy layer to wrap your little one in after bathtime, aka either the highlight or lowlight of any baby’s day.
Favorite Nail Trimmer: Megainvo Baby Nail Trimmer
If you’re traumatized by the mere idea of taking a nail clipper (however baby-friendly) to your newborn’s nails, this electronic trimmer is just the trick. With different heads you can use for babies, toddlers, and even adults, it ensures a comfortable trimming experience.
On the Go
Favorite Infant Car Seat: Doona Convertible Infant Car Seat/Compact Stroller System with Base
For city dwellers and frequent flyers, this all-in-one car seat/stroller combo makes things easy. So easy, in fact, that we’ve regularly asked why no one’s invented the exact same thing for a convertible car seat. There’s no need to juggle a heavy infant seat and separate stroller frame — just clip this seat into a car, plane seat, or Uber, and then extend its stroller legs Transformers-style when you’re ready to stroll again.
Favorite Blanket: Nozone Baby Blanket
This UPF 50 baby blanket comes in handy particularly during the first six months of your baby’s life, when sunscreen isn’t yet encouraged (but you still very much want to avoid sunburns). Keep it on hand for stroller walks, picnics, park meet-ups, or beach days — pretty much any time you’d be slathering the sunscreen on an older kid.
Favorite Carrier: BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Mini
This is always the first carrier we recommend to new parents — particularly the kind who (like us) don’t have patience for aesthetically pleasing, but logistically complicated fabric slings. It’s easy to put on and can be loaded one-handed, which is pretty much the most important thing you can say about a piece of baby gear.
Favorite Stroller Bag: Minicoton Basket Bag
An investment piece that’s not strictly necessary from a practicality standpoint, but bound to bring a smile to your face whenever you glimpse its whimsical profile and color scheme on your stroller. The drawstring closure and water-repellant fabric come in handy, and the handles are adjustable so you can even just use this as a handbag when helpful.
Favorite Stroller Fan: Momcozy 8000mAh Portable Stroller Fan
This tripod-style stroller fan has 360-degree rotation, four speeds, and up to 27 hours of battery life per charge, depending on the speed you choose. Keep it in your car or stroller organizer, but know you may end up stealing it to use at your desk or while running errands on particularly hot days.
Favorite Stroller Book: Where’s the Unicorn? A Stroller Book
Strap this little book right to the stroller to make walks and waits more interesting for your little one (and prevent them from immediately hurling it into the nearest stranger’s lap). With colorful artwork featuring unicorns, mermaids, and more, it’s bound to buy you at least a few minutes of quiet time.
Favorite Stroller Accessories: Mushie Adjustable Silicone Toy Straps
Keep all your baby’s favorite teethers and toys within reach with these silicone straps (which also work for high chairs, activity centers, and more). No more retrieving filthy playthings from the ground every 47 seconds as you try to get your steps in for the day.
Favorite Disposable Changing Pads: Peekapoo Disposable Baby Changing Pad Liners
For on-the-go diaper changes and even particularly nasty diapers at home, we like to keep a pack of these on hand (and a few liners in every diaper bag or car). They’ll make your life a lot easier when it comes to unsanitary public changing stations or poop explosions.
Favorite Formula Dispenser: Munchkin Formula Dispenser
These little plastic dispensers are nothing fancy, but help make on-the-go formula mixing as easy as possible. Each one has three compartments, so you can carry enough powder for multiple nine-ounce bottles at a time.
Favorite Portable Allergy Kit: Allergy Lifestyle Insulated EpiPen Bag for Kids
This insulated, waterproof hard-shell case is designed to keep crucial allergy equipment like EpiPens or inhalers protected and ready at a moment’s notice. Take it on trips or leave it with a teacher or school nurse to keep necessary medications organized and easy to reach.
Favorite Travel Stroller: Colugo Compact Stroller+
There are lots of travel strollers competing for your attention (and several hundred of your hard-earned dollars), but here’s why we love this one: It’s truly easy to fold, with a light (under 17 pounds) and incredibly narrow frame that fits easily into the included carrying backpack. It fits in an airplane’s overhead bin, but it’s also strong enough to withstand gate-checking, and sturdy enough that you could use it as an everyday stroller without regrets. In fact, that’s what we do — because folding this up to pull in and out of the car multiple times a day is just that painless.
Favorite Bathing Suit: SwimZip UPF50+ Long Sleeve One Piece Swimsuit
Yes, this looks like a cute little surfer bodysuit, but it’s also very practical, offering comprehensive sun protection (read: You don’t have to wrestle sunscreen onto a crying baby). We got plenty of compliments on the neon yellow version this summer at the beach, doubtless from other parents jealous of our comparatively minimal sunscreen responsibilities.
Favorite Travel Sound Machine: Hatch Go Portable Sound Machine
This mini sound machine from the makers of our favorite full-sized version clips on to any handbag or stroller handle and plays 10 different white noise sounds for up to 15 hours per charge. So it’s great for stroller walks, car naps, week-long trips to grandma’s very-not-baby-friendly house, and anything in between.