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From bath time and bedtime to sick days and travel days, there’s something for all those moments you’ve never navigated before.

I am a contributor and former BuzzFeed Shopping writer based in Cincinnati, OH where you can find me curating lists on ~a little bit of everything~ (and adding a few things to my own cart in the process).

This is probably one of the main things other parents told me to get as soon as I told them I was starting to shop for my baby. I knew I wanted a camera system, but I truly had no idea what that meant or where to start picking one. It even has a built-in light, which makes those middle-of-the-night feeding and changing sessions much easier, since you won't risk stubbing your toe like 10 times in the dark. This one is great because it works with an app on your phone, so you can always keep an eye on your little one. I also really like all the different features that come with the app — two-way sound, cry detection, stand alerts, white noise, lullabies, and more.

Promising review: "After comparing several baby monitors, we decided to go with this one, and I’m very happy with our choice. The picture is sharp, the two-way audio is clear, and I love being able to check in on my baby from anywhere. The notifications for crying and movement are very helpful, especially during naps and nighttime. It feels like a high-quality, thoughtfully designed product. The installation was easier than expected, and the app experience has been smooth. It’s made our daily routine much easier and gives us real confidence when our baby is sleeping. I would absolutely recommend it to other parents." —Ronald

Get it from Amazon for $289.99+ (available in four versions/mounting styles).

I feel like it's been ingrained in me that you have to make sure the water is the perfect temperature when you give your little ones a bath, but like, how the heck are you supposed to tell?! Like you think I'm gonna be able to stick my hand in there and be like "ah yes, the perfect 90ish degrees (as recommended by the Cleveland Clinic)," nope, that's not gonna happen!! So this is a great option, so you actually make sure you have the water not too hot and not too cold. Plus, this cutie little duck is just a great thing for your baby to stare at while you give them their bath.

Promising review: "Great for bath time. As a first-time mom, this has made bathtime easy. Leaves out all the guesswork about the water's temperature. It lets you know when the water temperature is too hot for the baby and when it’s just right. The battery had lasted a while; we used it 3–4 times a week and for over four months. Also, it’s cute! Who doesn’t love the original rubber ducky?!" —Linds

Get it from Amazon for $13.49+ (available in four styles and a charging version).

Promising reviews: "These are a game changer! Worth the purchase. Our newborn pees and poops so much that we had to constantly change the reusable changing pads. These disposable pads hold up great, don’t leak through and are a good size for a changing table." —Olivia Dodrill

"These are perfect for on the go use. I have definitely been caught off guard with pee in the middle of a diaper change and these absorb really well. Better than the changing mats because although waterproof, they don't absorb so it just runs everywhere. I even use them on our home changing table just in case of an accident. Also, really good for changing a poopy diaper to make sure nothing gets on your changing pad. You can just roll everything up in it when you're done and dispose. They are a good size as well to make sure you have everything covered and contained." —Davena C.

Maybe I'm just naive but before getting pregnant I had zero idea babies slept in a swaddle like this. I thought we were either wrapping them up in a large blanket-like swaddle or just letting them be free. This brand was recommended to me by a few people because it's on the more affordable side and has different configurations for babies who like to sleep in different positions. You can have both arms in, one arm in and one out, or both arms out, which is a great option for when your baby is starting to roll and needs to have their arms free for safety. There's also a zipper that starts on the bottom so you can still change their diaper in the night without having to fully unwrap and rewrap them each time.

Promising review: "This sleep sac is very well made with adorable patterns and incredibly soft fabric. It keeps our baby warm and cozy, and the material is sturdy enough to gently hold his arms in place without waking him. Since we started using these, he’s been sleeping so much better and rarely wiggles his arms free. Highly recommend for better sleep and peace of mind!" —GC

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in three sizes and 17 designs).

Promising review: "Beautiful and functional — great size for one baby. Bought this for my third after using a larger bag with my twins, who are now 3 and 5. Didn’t want to lug around a massive diaper bag anymore! Love the design, especially the outer pocket for wipes. Plenty of pockets for easy organization." —Taryn K.

Get it from Béis for $178 (available in two colors).

The set comes with three soft attachments for kids and three additional attachments for adults!

Promising review: "I didn’t even try using regular clippers for my newborn cause I was so nervous — these make nail trimming nerve-free! Love that even if I miss the nail there is no pain when it touches skin. My baby is so content whenever I trim his nails (and he loves to get fussy whenever he can — lucky me). I plan to get this as a baby gift for anyone I know who is expecting!" —AlyssaP

This bassinet comes with the mattress and sheets and the whole pad is washable.

Yes, yes, yes, I know the Snoo is all the rage, but frankly I was not interested in shelling out over $1,500 on something my baby will use for like six months?! I don't even wanna spend that much on a bed for myself that I would use for years. This Newton version was the best choice for me because it is much more affordable and I like the fact that the side goes down so you can easily reach in and grab your baby when you need. And no, this one doesn't rock your baby to sleep, but I've seen conflicting research about that because a lot of babies have a harder time transitioning to a traditional crib when the time comes because that doesn't move and they are used to it. This is a great option for me and I love that it is designed to be extremely breathable and has mesh sides so you can always see your baby inside.

Promising reviews: "Such a high-quality and beautiful bassinet. We have gotten so much use out of it as a bedside sleeper, a travel crib, and currently use it for our 6-month-old as a 'kitchen bassinet' when we have to set him down to get things done. Highly recommend!" —Nicole Roggow

"This exceeded expectations. My baby is large and grew out of her other bassinet too quickly. She has so much more room in this... Love this bassinet so much. You can tell it was made well." —britnee paredes

Promising review: "We've been very impressed with the build quality (solid wood!), sturdiness, safety, extensive versatility (bassinet to crib to toddler bed), and the aesthetic is picture perfect — we love it! It's great how Nestig includes the bassinet mattress and all the conversion parts, including toddler rails, etc. The only cons are the relatively high price and the fact that it's handmade means there will be some variability in alignment and fit precision." —anonymous

Get it from Nestig for $999 (available in four colors and different mattress add-on options).

Read more about the minimum safety requirements for crib mattresses at the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and check out the Newton Mattress safety certifications.

Promising review: "This product provides more peace of mind for a parent than any other baby product on the market... We’ve ordered this product many times, one for each of our children, despite the steep price, because it is that quality of a product. The outside lining of the mattress is easily removed with a zipper and is machine washable. However, the inside of the mattress can be simply washed and cleaned with a hose or in the shower. It’s waterproof and is best rinsed off in the bathtub if a bathroom accident occurs. We simply leave it out to air dry after it’s sprayed off and have never had a problem. Products that are necessary, quality-made, and safe are worth the elevated price to me! This product is a nonnegotiable in our household, and I hope it’ll be a staple for your family too! Lastly, if you purchase a transitional crib, one made to also be used as a toddler bed, too, you’ll be able to use this mattress for years. The crib mattress is large enough to grow with the child and made to accommodate crib-style starter beds ranging all the way through the toddler years." —Jordan Abramson

Get it from Amazon for $299.99 (available in two colors).

It can even work on grass, blood, oil, and other stubborn stains.

Promising review: "So I am a mom of a nourished, happy, almost 9-month-old boy.... Who has given us more than our fair share of mustard yellow to orange, bright breast milk diaper blowouts? Let me tell you, they make one heck of a stain. I had Resolve stain remover and Honest Company stain remover... A stain still remained after using and scrubbing. This stuff, Grandma’s Secret, WORKS. What I do is rinse the clothing of any remaining 'residue,' spray with Grandma's Secret, scrub it in a bit, let it sit for a few minutes, and either I’ll rinse it out after or it may sit for a day or so before going through the wash, but either way, STAIN IS GONE!" —Mellisa B.

Get it from Amazon for $6.98+ (available in two sizes and various multi-packs). 

As you can imagine, babies' skin is sensitive, and there are soooo many different ointments and treatments out there, it can be hard to know. I think I'm drawn to this for a few reasons: I personally use Aquaphor products and love them so I have experience with them and feel comfortable with them, it has sooo many different uses so I can just have one product on hand instead of a bunch of different ones, and it's pretty cheap (especially compared to other products) and comes in a hefty size so you won't have to constantly buy refills.

Promising reviews: "This has been the ONLY thing to help clear my newborn’s diaper rash! Even other Aquaphor products did not help. This stuff really works! So happy!" —KC

"I can't recommend Aquaphor enough! It's been a lifesaver for my baby's delicate skin. Whenever I've tried other products, my little one ended up with diaper rash and discomfort. But with Aquaphor, his skin stays moisturized and nourished. It's truly the best." —Rosa

Get it from Amazon for $12.97+ (available in six sizes/styles).

Former BuzzFeed Shopping writer Heather Braga has this and says, "When I had my first child I used the Baby Brezza Bottle Sterilizer and Dryer, which is absolutely fantastic, but still had to hand wash and scrub the bottles before popping them into the machine. This new FANTASTIC model takes that completely out of the equation. I got it before having my daughter and it has truly changed my life — not an exaggeration. I haven't used a bottle brush ONCE and she's almost 8-months-old! It has six different cleaning modes, but I always use the 88-minute one that does all three features. The only somewhat downside is you'll need to purchase detergent tablets, but I promise you it's worth it. 

Here's what you'll need to do: fill the front partition of the machine with your bottles/nipples (or pump parts, whatever) and drop the detergent tablet into the bottom. Next, empty any water from previous cycles from the water basin and replace it back in the machine. Finally, fill the top container with clean (I used filtered) water up to the max line mark, then pop that back in as well. Choose which cycle you want to run and, BOOM, you're done! The whole water dumping/refilling process probably takes about...... five minutes? It is a bit bulky, so rather than keep ours in the kitchen we leave on top of our washing machine. It's also worth noting it holds four bottles at once, so we typically need to run it twice a day. TL;DR: It's a miracle machine."

Many new parents become stressed about their baby losing or gaining weight, so this is a great way to be able to keep track of that and make sure they are staying on track. 

Promising review: "The Hatch Grow Smart Changing Pad and Scale is a fantastic addition to our nursery! It combines a comfortable changing pad with a built-in scale, making it easy to monitor our baby’s growth. The app integration is seamless, providing real-time data and tracking. The design is sleek and modern, fitting perfectly into our nursery decor. Highly recommend for any new parent looking for convenience and peace of mind!" —Kevin

I feel like there's a trend out there of creating diaper carts with all the essentials you'd need throughout the day, but I couldn't have one of those cause I live in a three-story townhouse and I'm not about to be lugging a cart up and down the stairs. This was great option for me cause it has a bunch of different sections and pockets where I can store different items and know where they all are without just having them thrown into a center section and having to dig around to find what I need.

Promising reviews: "Perfect for bedside changes in the newborn phase. After we needed it in our room, we transitioned it to storage in our kids room and it’s great. Multipurpose!" —Nicolette

"I got this for my friend as a baby shower gift. I had received one myself for my own baby. My baby is now 9 months old and I still use it. It’s great to be able to just grab this caddy and have everything you need. I’d even fit my Stanley Cup in it, snacks, and whatever else I needed. I love the little side pockets it has as well. My friend also said that she loves hers!" —Josh & Kelsie

Get it from Amazon for $19.45+ (available in two sizes and five colors).

If there's one thing I heard from basically everyone when I talked about the products I needed to buy, it's that you'll need a lot of burp cloths to deal with spit-up and spills, and to have around for who knows what. I saw so much about muslin versions being superior because they are softer and super absorbent, which are two things you definitely want when dealing with a newborn that has sensitive skin and all the messes that are gonna come from them. I used at least five of these a day for the first 11+ months of my daughter's life. While I don't have to use them constantly anymore since she's not spitting up and drooling, I definitely still grab them when she is sick and has a runny nose.

Promising review: "When I was a new mom, I ordered several different brands of cute burp cloths with all different designs and colors. None of them comes close to comparing to these. These absorb so much better and are super soft and easy to clean. I use them every single day and still use them with my toddler just to clean stuff up or wipe his nose when he is sick, as it's soft and doesn't irritate him. Highly recommend these to any parent of babies!" —Momming Simplified

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in two pack sizes and nine colors).

Promising review: "This nasal aspirator is definitely worth the money. I haven’t had as much luck with others as I’ve had with this one. It has a powerful suction to get those hard to reach boogers, and the best part in my opinion is the mask that you can put over their mouth and nose and have mist coming out of it. That really helps loosen everything up. I’d recommend this to any parents looking for a good aspirator!" —J. Resendiz

Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in two colors).

I already deal with anxiety in my everyday life, so if there's something out there that could give me peace of mind that my baby is safe while they sleep, you can bet I'm gonna get it. This has been such a game changer, letting me sleep without constantly checking the camera for movement. While this isn't as necessary now that my daughter is older, my anxiety says I will keep using it until she reaches the weight limit!! And TBH, this has really helped when she's been sick and congested, and I'm worried about her breathing at night.

Promising review: "Absolute must have! As a first-time mom dealing with postpartum anxiety, I love this Owlet. It gives me a sense of comfort knowing my newborn is breathing/safe sleeping. Worth every penny." —Maria 

"After using this for almost three months now, I absolutely love the Owlet! As a new mom who's been afraid of SIDS, as I have a family member whose baby brother passed away from SIDS before all of this technology to prevent it, I was afraid of the possibility, and this product has helped me to sleep at night. I had pre-partum and now postpartum depression, and one thing I have never worried about every single night is my baby sleeping soundly all throughout the night. I do still check on him, but I'm not panicking, trying to figure out if my baby is breathing. I love being able to see his sleep cycle and keep up with his movements! To anyone looking for a great gift for a new mom-to-be that can be used for a long time and by several children, this product is the one to go with. I feel that in this day and age, this is not a want but a need, especially for parents with anxiety!" —Alice Wood

Get it from Amazon for $299.99 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "We love these bottles! They are the only bottles my newborn will fully take and not spit out a ton of milk. They are very lightweight, making them easy to hold. I love how they filter out the bubbles, too. The only con is cleaning all the small parts of this bottle, but they clean up pretty quickly once you get used to it. Overall, they keep the milk temperature very well, and the quality is great. We love Dr Browns for our baby!!" —Keeley

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $17.96+ (available in five styles and two sizes).

I don't typically worry about my daughter sleeping in complete darkness on vacation, since her room isn't like that at home, so I didn't really think this would make a difference for me. Boy, was I wrong. Once she started getting bigger, I realized sharing a hotel room with her wouldn't work; she has way too much FOMO to sleep when we are awake right next to her. This has made it so we can share even the tiniest of rooms, and she can still get a peaceful night's sleep without wondering what we are doing while she tries to fall asleep. Since we don't worry about it being completely blacked out, we don't fully zip up the sides to leave a little light in. 

Promising review: "We used this for a week-long trip to California, where we stayed mostly at a hotel, but then stayed with family for a few nights at the end of our trip. It worked out perfectly! Quick setup (though I wish the darn metal pieces weren’t so long, haha), and despite that, it’s still easy and lightweight once it’s all up! It fits in one side of my carry-on suitcase! Great to know we’ll have complete darkness for naps and bedtime for my 1-year-old! We just used it again this weekend when we went out of town, and I'm just so happy about the purchase I needed to leave a review!" —Hannah

This has a variety of sound options, a clip for easy attachment, and a long-lasting battery.

Promising review: "This thing is our secret weapon for getting four-hour stretches of sleep with our newborn. Whether she’s in her bassinet, her car seat, or a pediatrician appointment, she settles down and conks out within a few seconds of turning on the ocean waves sound. This little device is the real MVP in our whole baby arsenal — we literally wouldn’t survive the newborn stage without it." —Ashley

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in five colors).

Promising review: "Our 6-week-old baby girl has been backed up for almost a week and in terrible pain. She couldn’t sleep, settle, or do much of anything without grunting, pushing, writhing, and churning in pain. Her cries were heartbreaking and no amount of belly massages, leg bicycles, or any other movements could get her to poop or release the tremendous gas pressure in her belly. After many sleepless nights, we purchased the Windi after reading other reviews of its incredible relief. Thank goodness for the next-day arrival. She pooped within seconds of use. Many diapers and wipes later, she is probably a pound lighter and so, so much happier and content. This is the BEST product out there — and if you’re reading reviews because you aren’t sure, just buy it. It does exactly what it promises and then some! Absolutely amazing." —Amazon Customer

Get a 10-count from Amazon for $12.74 (also available as a 20-count and 40-count).

This bad boy is super versatile and a must-have for new parents. I got it before I gave birth to use during labor and then I kept it in her diaper bag to use on her stroller, at restaurants, or even in the house if she's napping and it's feeling a little toasty. I love that the arms easily bend so you can find a way to attach it basically anywhere rather than having to find a sturdy place for it to stand up.

Promising reviews: "I got this for my newborn since we live in south Florida and it’s very hot for the majority of the year. I used to have a clip on fan for my first child but the clip broke and there was a limited amount of places you could put it because it was a clip on. I’d seen so many others using this fan with the legs so I decided to try one and I’m so glad that I did. You can you use the fan in more places and it’s easy to travel with as well as charge. Very happy with this purchase." —Andrea Lynne Rose

"I used this while I was in labor in the hospital and it kept me cool. Now I use it on my baby stroller and it keeps him cool. It’s not super loud and it’s the perfect size. I keep an extra one in my diaper bag. I love that once you secure in place you can twist the top to adjust where you want to go. I’ve had my first one for almost a year and it still works well. Gives a lot of airflow compared to another one I tried and returned on Amazon." —Miss Pops

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four colors).

Play gyms are a great place to rest your newborn and have them engage with different textures and sights, a nice place to practice tummy time, and a little entertainment center as they start to get older. I really like the different sections on the mat to help keep your kiddo entertained, so they won't get tired of using the same toys constantly.

Promising review: "My baby is now five months old and she’s been playing in this play gym since she was three weeks old. You can add and remove toys and high-contrast cards according to your baby’s age. I have carried it with me when traveling out of state and had no problem assembling and disassembling it. It is bigger than other play gyms so my daughter still plays on it. I have washed the mat hundreds of times and it has held up well. My baby loves this play gym and I do too!" —Suve’s Take

I saw this thing allllll over TikTok (and because of that, it kept selling out), but people can't stop raving about it. It can be adjusted to grow with your baby so they can start lying and kicking the piano, transition to tummy time where they can look at themself in the mirror, and then when they can sit up, you can move the piano so they can use their hands. Eventually, they can even take the piano on the go. There are over 65 songs and sounds, and a bunch of different toys and textures for them to play with. 

Promising review: "Got this for my 3-month-old! He’s learning to reach, grasp, and lift his little legs up. This is such a great way for him to practice those motor skills and get him to be entertained for those quick little wake windows when I have to tend to my toddler. It is soft, easy to put together, made of good quality, super cute, and easy to clean! I would 10/10 recommend this product to any parent of littles who love toys that sing 🥰 because you won’t get these songs out of your head!" —Jadah Rodriguez

Get it from Amazon for $58.97+ (available in three versions).

Promising reviews: "Must have! This thing is amazing; it works very well for us. Good length, and it's soft/firm. I was able to gently scoop my 4-month-old's ear wax and pick out her sticky, crusty boogers. She enjoys being clean, so she sat/laid down very still for us. I would definitely buy this for a baby shower gift and definitely recommend to anyone." —P. T.

"Love these things! So easy to get those little boogies out of my newborn’s nose. I think it’s worth it to get the two pack and have the little case for them! Otherwise I feel like I’d lose it if it was just one loose." —Catherine Christina

Get it from Amazon for $9.98+ (also available in multi-packs, a version with a light, and with a case).

This comes with the diaper pail, one carbon filter, and one roll of refill bags.

Promising reviews: "Pretty awesome design that really traps all odors! Fits a good deal of diapers as well before needing to be changed out for a new bag. At first, I did not like the continuous bag feature where you have to tie it off to end and start a new bag, but now I’ve realized it’s quite convenient so I don’t have to go get another bag and put it in, it’s already there." —Susan P.

"This was in my top five purchases for having a newborn. Super easy to use and zero smell! Refills are really easy to get (on and off brand). Can't recommend highly enough!" —Amazon Customer

Decided for infants who are 3+ months old.

Promising review: "My baby loves using this toothbrush, especially during teething, gives her relief and makes me happy. The silicon is soft and gentle on her mouth. It’s a great tool for my baby to get used to having something in her mouth to introduce to toothbrush later." —Momo

Get a set of two from Amazon for $13.99.

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. 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

You can use it from the time your baby is a newborn up until they are two years, so yes, you'll get your money's worth. You can front carry facing in, facing out, and back carry. Plus it is trendy as heck! Influencers are all raving about how comfortable it is. And I've seen numerous 'regular' people buying these after being influenced saying these are absolutely worth the price because it makes baby carrying so much easier and more comfortable.

Get it from Artipoppe for $440 (also available in other styles here).

The car seat comes with the base needed to install it into your car, but you can also install it without a base just by using a seat belt, which is super helpful when traveling and taking cabs!

Car seat and stroller shopping was way more intimidating than I expected. Before I started my research, I just assumed all car seats were basically the same thing just by different brands, but boy was I wrong. This was a newer car seat that is known for being incredibly lightweight, which is something I was looking for cause I didn't wanna lug around a bulky version wherever I go. I also love that it comes with a base you can leave in the car and just snap the seat in and out, but you can also use it without a base, which is super helpful when traveling when we needed to take an Uber or anything. Not to mention there are green indicators to tell you when the seat is installed correctly, which is super helpful, especially for a first-time mom since installing seats is really intimidating so just having peace of mind that I did it correctly is sooo nice.  

Promising review: "Our baby LOVES this car seat. Very light, comfortable and easy to wash." —MadelineS3

Get it from Nordstrom for $475.99 (originally $650).

PSA: It goes without saying, but please keep your eyes on the road.

Promising reviews: "This camera is a new parent must-have. I was using a mirror and constantly was readjusting it and relying on my mirror to see his mirror and it was stressful. I knew there had to be something better when I ended up driving at night with my 2-month-old to the hospital and he was freaking out and I couldn’t see him so I was pulling over to check on him every few minutes and it was a nightmare. This camera has been my saving grace. I was hesitant at first reading reviews saying it’s not night vision but mine automatically switches even in parking garages to night vision. I love that I can see my baby and not have to fix a mirror. Or turn my head to see fully what’s going on with him in the back. I really really recommend this for peace of mind!! —Jennifer C

"This is honestly the best purchase I’ve ever made since becoming a mom. Like, hands down, my favorite product ever. This camera definitely makes life easier, and I wish I had it for my other two when they were babies. It took less than five minutes to get it up and running and they included everything I needed. I have a Dodge Grand Caravan and it reaches all the way to the third row. I recommend it to all my mom friends!" —Kristin Morgan

Get it from Amazon for $26.98+ (available with a USB or cigarette lighter charger adapter and an updated version).

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BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.