The Best Baby Must-Haves, According to a Parent of Two
As a mom of two school-aged kids, I like to think I’m in the loop about parenting hacks. I’ve tried lots of different baby and kid products over the years to make my job as a parent a little easier — but, admittedly, a lot has changed since I first became a mom more than a decade ago.
Many of my friends are either expecting or still have little ones in the house, and I’m amazed at all the tools to help with baby sleep, feeding, and diapering. That got me thinking: What would I put on my registry if I were in their shoes?
Read on for my dream baby registry must-haves as a parent of two.
Feeding
Bottle set
Babies can have so many different needs and preferences when it comes to bottles. I remember spending so much time trying to figure out which one my kids would like and doing “bottle taste tests” with expensive, full-size bottles. This bottle set comes with five different types of bottles, making it so much easier to pinpoint what your kid will actually use.
Buy Bottle Box
Silicone bib
When my kids were little, we had loads of cute patterned bibs — but they were all fabric, so we had to launder them to clean them. Silicone bibs are so much easier to wipe off when baby makes a mess. You can even throw them in the dishwasher, andI love that these ones have catchers to keep food off the floor.
Buy Lalo The Bib
Sleeping
Hatch Rest
One of my kids was a light sleeper, so a white noise machine to drown out background sounds was a naptime essential. More than a white noise machine, Hatch Rest would have been a game-changer with its soothing audio and night light options, but I had my sons before the first Rest came out. As my kids became toddlers, I would have loved to use the device to create sleep routines.
Buy Hatch Rest
Hatch Rest Go
I remember packing our white noise machine every time we traveled to make sure my son could sleep on the go. But we never had an option for playing audio for car seat or stroller naps, because Hatch hadn’t come out yet.. Hatch Rest Go is the ideal solution, making it easy to keep up with a little one’s sleep routine without an outlet, no matter where you are.
Buy Hatch Rest Go
Diapering
Wipe Warmer
OK, a wipe warmer may seem like an unnecessary luxury — but looking back, it would have made midnight diaper changes so much easier. A warm wipe is just so much less jarring than a cold one, making it easier for baby to fall back asleep after a change. I love that this one comes with a nightlight, too!
Portable Diaper Changing Kit
If you have little kids, you know pretty much any surface can become a diaper changing area. This portable changing kit makes it so much easier (and, TBH, more sanitary) to change baby at home or on the go. It even holds diapers and wipes, and it has a snapping strap that attaches to a stroller, baby carrier, or diaper bag.
Buy Portable Diaper Changing Kit
Clothing
Magnetic Footies
My kids lived in footie pajamas as babies (yes, even during the day). I swore by zippers to make changing easier, but magnets? What an awesome idea to streamline diaper changes and emergency outfit swaps (if you know, you know). These ones are made of silky-soft modal for extra comfort.
Bamboo Sleep Sack
Sleep sacks are a great workaround to keep blankets out of the crib. I adore these bamboo sacks, especially for hot summer nights. They’re lightweight enough to keep baby cool, but they provide an extra layer of comfort when the A/C is on. It also comes with a two-way zipper for easy diaper changing.
General Care
Video Monitor
Back when I first became a parent, most of us used audio-only monitors. This Nanit has all the bells and whistles. Not only can you watch and hear baby from your phone — the app actually notifies you when they stir or or get up, so you don’t have to be watching or listening all the time.
Buy Nanit Pro Smart Video Monitor
Travel Crib
Lugging a pack and play around can get cumbersome — and honestly, my kids never slept great in them. The Guava travel crib is so sleek and easy to transport, and it actually seems comfortable. I love that it unzips on the side so baby can go in and out during playtime.
Having the right baby essentials on hand can make the transition into parenthood feel less stressful, and your baby registry is a great way to get set up before your little bundle arrives. Not sure what to add to your registry? Here’s what I tell my friends who are expecting to check out.