Parents' Picks for Baby Gear in 2023
40 products recommended by parents who’ve “been there” and “done that”
Over three million babies are born each year in the United States, with the most popular birth months falling between July and October.
Suffice it to say, this is the high season for baby showers and new arrivals. Whether you’re becoming a parent, or looking to celebrate someone who is, knowing what gear is trending in 2023 is a dizzying exercise, particularly if you’re not a parent yourself, or haven’t been around young children in a long time.
I polled about a dozen moms and dads of kids ranging from one month to about five years old, living in cities ranging from Menlo Park to Minneapolis to Melbourne (Australia!), to get smart about what products are game changers.
Consider this your cheat sheet from birth to about 2 years.
Mobility
Babyzen Yoyo stroller - It’s, “agile, easy to use, comfortable for the little passenger, and packs easily into the overhead cabin of most aircraft saving parents the hassle of having to check luggage for short trips,” said a business school classmate. “We used ours daily: from the urban, potholed streets of Manhattan, where we live, to vacations spots all around the world.”
Uppababy Vista stroller - There are “multiple configurations for 2-3 kids meaning the stroller grows with your family,” reported a mom of two from Colorado (but currently an expat in Australia). “This has worked well for us and has a big under basket to carry things plus the ability to click in different capsules and seats.”
Doona car seat and stroller - “We loved this for city life and travel. It’s also amazing for dining out. It’s small enough to fit tableside at restaurants!”
Stroller cup holder - “Great for holding your beverage when going on walks with baby.”
Ridesafer travel harness - “This is THE number one item I recommend to all toddler parents. It replaces a car seat and the need to carry one through the airport which is a travel game changer.”
Lalabu carrier - “I loved this carrier because it was the perfect mix between a wrap (which can be hard to manage) and a super sturdy carrier (which can be uncomfortable),” said a mom of two boys. “It’s stylish, too!”
Baby K’tan - “I couldn't get the hang of ring slings, and the wrap style ones just frustrated me. I liked the Baby K'tan because it felt like a cheater wrap. Once I felt confident enough to do it, baby wearing was a lifesaver though.” (On the topic of baby wearing, another mom said, “I loved baby wearing and went through a bunch of baby carriers. I recommend a fitting which many stores offer to see what is most comfortable for the parent.”)
Diapering
Leander mat - “Expensive but worthwhile. Nice because you can wipe sterilize and it is supposed to keep baby warm while changing nappy. It also means you can modify any table top to be a changing table vs getting the ugly table.”
Hatch Grow - “This changing pad doubles as a scale which was helpful for checking the amount of milk the baby consumed after a feeding. I found having the data gave me a sense of control.”
Sleep
Halo sleepsack swaddle - “Having one or two as a backup was super helpful.”
Hiccapop inflatable toddler bed - “Sleeping kids while traveling is a thing. You’re already massively weighted down with baggage and pack and plays are their own whole piece of luggage. Something like this works well to sleep our daughter (she doesn’t need a pack and play but she does fall out so the bumpers keep her in, and it means we don’t need an extra bed (or bedroom) for her when booking Airbnbs, which can be a major cost savings. Ideally she sleeps in her own room though so it just gives flexibility in sleeping arrangements.”
Hatch Rest+ - “The green light helps keep kids from getting up whenever they feel like it, plus white noise machine/nightlight combo. Great for travel.”
SNOO bassinet - “This literally rocks the baby to sleep for you and they have secure swaddles which make life so easy,” reports a mom of twin girls in Nashville. “Bonus: they look super cute in your space!” Another mom of two in the Seattle area said, “both our boys slept great in this for the first four months.”
Blackout curtains - “Great for travel to help make the room dark.”
Feeding
Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair and baby tray - “Swedish design, sleek, minimalist, adjustable from baby to adult.”
Inglesina fast chair - “Super portable, minimal footprint, and easy-to-clean.”
Chair covers - “The Inglesina fabric gets dirty easily and these covers can go in the wash.”
Comotomo bottles - “Super easy to handwash, and I liked that they're made out of silicone, not plastic,” said a Mom who tried several different types of bottles with her daughter.
Bbox cutlery - “These worked well for both of our girls. They are good for getting them started eating solids. Soft spoon so you can scoop up what doesn’t go in the mouth and currently our 7-month old’s favorite toy as well.“
EZPZ mat - “Start with the smaller version. The suction function helps ensure they don’t throw it on the floor.”
Silicone bibs - “At 6 months a cloth bib works better but at about 9 months onward the silicone bib works better. It will catch food for a second chance and is a much better clothing protector than a cloth bib.”
Kitchen helper - “We use this daily during breakfast and dinner time. Our daughter loves to see what we are doing and as she gets older, she can help out. I chose this one because it collapses down.”
Clothing
Kimono style clothing - “I found it really difficult to put clothes on a tiny baby, especially anything that would go over our daughter’s head.”
Magnetic clothing - “Pricey but worth it for nighttime diaper changes. When they’re so little and fragile and crying, you want to get their clothes off and back on as quickly as possible.”
Ten Little (footwear) - “Comes with cute stickers that our daughter loved!”
Entertainment
Magnatiles - Mentioned by nearly everyone, these are “a firm favorite for our toddler, from about age 1 all the way through to age 5+.” They’re reportedly, “versatile, easy to clean and easy to transport.” Plus, they’re a great toy for teaching kids about shapes and forces—an early lesson in physics!—and also for encouraging them to collaborate and share their toys with friends.
Tegu (similar to Magnatiles) - “Our daughter loved stacking these and the magnets help direct her.”
Black and white toys and books - “As babies begin to develop better vision, they’ll start to become obsessed with black and white visuals. You’ll start to appreciate the few minutes of free time that you get.”
Noggin Stick - “I learned about this at my pediatrician’s office. It helps the baby learn how to track things with their eyes.”
Einstein musical toy - “This is annoying-looking, but it’s useful at preventing meltdowns and at 10 months, our daughter still loves it.”
Lovevery subscription - “We really like their playmat and started subscribing to their toy kits when our daughter was five months old. The toys are developmentally-appropriate and foster open-ended play. The items are well-constructed and include guides about how to play with your child.”
Squigz - “Great for teething, and also for sticking on (and pulling off) windows and doors at about 8+ months.”
IKEA Kitchen set - “Now that our daughter is a toddler, pretend play is huge. Our most used item is the IKEA kitchen with miscellaneous pretend foods.”
Education
The First Six Weeks - “This book was our bible as new parents. It’s helpful to read before the first baby comes so you can prepare. I re-read it when our second came along. One note, the author is Aussie so not everything will translate.”
Good Inside membership - “The best thing I’ve done for myself as a parent, tied with Peloton 😃.”
Feeding Littles course - “A friend recommended this, and it provided helpful foundational knowledge.”
Consumables
Puracy stain remover - “It’s pure magic for removing stains from fabric and with a baby (now toddler) we have plenty of stains we battle every day.”
Earth Mama foaming baby shampoo and body wash - “This unscented product is a bath time fave.”
Supergoop stick - “These sticks made it easy to put sunscreen on her face.”
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