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From the newborn trenches to the chaos of toddlerhood, these products have been my go-tos.

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 for something my baby used 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 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 to. That is soooo convenient when you have to grab your newborn to feed them several times throughout the night. 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. 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 and a travel crib, and we 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

"Total game-changer for ease with a newborn, especially at night. Really likes being able to fold it down so I can put my arm in to soothe the baby as well. Very sturdy and easy to put together, and super easy to move around the room, which is convenient. We LOVE Newton products." —Breanna Dudley

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 soo 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 review: "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 has developed diaper rash and discomfort. But with Aquaphor, his skin stays moisturized. It's truly the best." —Rosa

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!" —Alyssa Corvin

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in two pack sizes and 12 colors).

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 (and check out some other mounting and color options here).

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 $16.99 (available in four styles).

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).

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 arm out, or both arms out, which is a great option when your baby is starting to roll and needs their arms free for safety. There's also a zipper that starts at the bottom, so you can still change their diaper at night without having to fully unwrap and rewrap them each time. This was such a win for me because my sleep-deprived self could not (and honestly didn't want to) figure out how to wrap my baby back up in a blanket at 2 a.m. when I desperately wanted to get my 30 minutes of sleep before the next feed. This made it SO much easier to bundle her back up quickly and securely. 

Promising review: "This sleep sack 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 $34.95 (available in three sizes and 17 designs).

IDK about you, but the thought of cream getting stuck under my nails gives me the ick like no other, so this was absolutely something I needed. This is seriously such a genius invention, I think any parent should have it. Plus, it provides an even distribution of diaper cream, and you don't have to contort your hand into awkward positions to apply it to the right places.

Promising reviews: "My wife bought this for our newborn. I'll admit that I thought it was silly since we've been applying diaper cream with our fingers for years. All that said, it's been a surprisingly useful tool that helps better apply the cream and, of course, keep fingers clean. I love it and fully admit I was wrong. Definitely worth checking out." —Jason Jones

"Yes, it’s weird. I laughed (to myself) when I got one as a baby gift. Then my baby got her first rash, and after wrestling a diaper closed with fingers covered in diaper cream, I remembered this, and oh boy, what a lifesaver. It applies cream evenly and wipes clean. I now have two and will probably buy a third for the diaper bag. It’s also nice for people with sensory issues or who are new to diaper-changing. Yes, it’s weird, but it’s also super useful." —jp

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in two colors; also available in a mini version for your diaper bag and a two-pack).

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 $18.24+ (available in three styles and two sizes).

I went through quite a few cups when I transitioned my daughter away from bottles when she turned one. This was the winner because it had everything I was looking for — a spill-proof, weighted straw since my daughter was struggling to keep it upright while drinking, a lid to cover the straw and protect her from germs, and handles so she could easily grab and hold it. Yes, yes, yes, there are a lot of parts to clean, and that does suck, but I just got four of 'em, so I only have to suffer through cleaning them every four days lol. 

Promising review: "Tommee tippee thank you for making this cup. Trying to get my 14-month-old away from bottles, and he won’t do sippy cups at all. But thankfully, this straw cup is around because he uses it while walking around and lying down. It literally does not leak, my child has yeeted it across the room and absolutely nothing! He likes the handles and used them immediately. Super durable. Cleaning it, there are four pieces, but I put it in the dishwasher, and it’s fine." —Cortney Haskins

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $11.99 (available in two color combinations).

These are designed for children ages 9 months to 4 years (up to 44 pounds).

Oftentimes, I have myself a stage five clinger, and let me tell you, those 25 pounds start feeling realllyyyyy heavy after walking around for 20+ minutes. This is amazing because it holds them up from their butt to help take some of the weight off my hip, so I am not doing that awkward side bend trying to stick my hip out for more support. It's super easy for my daughter to get in and out of, so when she starts squirming to get down, I can get her out, and then when she inevitably wants to get back up like five minutes later, I can do that too.

Promising review: "It's beautiful and easy to use. I loved everything about it, and I loved the handwritten letter even more. It made me say, 'Awww!' It made me feel so close to the brand. That's highly appreciated. I loved it. And the baby carrier is excellent. It significantly reduces the baby's weight and makes walking with a baby on your hips easier. It's saved me a lot. Thank you, thank you, thank you." —Sofia S.

Get it from Wildride for $119+ (available in three colors and other versions here).

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

I was *not* interested in cutting my baby's nails with actual clippers. I have to do that to my cats, and I made one of them bleed once, so that was automatically off the table for my human child. This has been an amazing alternative. I've never felt like I was even remotely close to hurting her. Plus, since they are being filed and not cut, there's no risk of accidentally making any jagged or sharp edges that she could cut herself on.

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

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

I've seen a lot of stuff that says it's better not to lock your kiddo out of every cabinet because they should be able to explore, but in some cases, that is just not possible. We have a cabinet full of cleaning supplies, cat food, and other things we can't move but do not want her getting into. These have been great because, just looking, you wouldn't know that they are locked, so my whole house isn't covered in ugly locks. Aside from the aesthetics, it's also great because my daughter doesn't go up and try to mess with any locks on the outside. 

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 they line 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 of 12 from Amazon for $28.49+ (available in four quantities).

I'm sorry, I love my baby girl immensely, but there is NO WAY I'm taking what's essentially a straw, putting it in her nose and SUCKING HER BOOGERS OUT?! Like, you've got to be kidding me, just the thought of that makes me gag. Sure, you can try to tell me there's a little filter inside so they won't actually get in my mouth, but no, I will not be partaking in that. I would much rather pay a little extra to have it done automatically and wayyyy the heck away from my mouth. A little insider tip: grab some saline drops to help loosen stuff up before going in with the aspirator.

Promising review: "As a mom of four, I’ve tried my fair share of baby products, and when it comes to keeping little noses clear, a good nasal aspirator is a game-changer. I recently tried the Grownsy Baby Nasal Aspirator, and I have to say — it’s a lifesaver! One of the things I love most about this aspirator is how easy it is to use. The design is simple and intuitive. The soft silicone tip is gentle on my baby’s tiny nostrils, and the suction is strong enough to clear mucus without causing discomfort. This is the only nasal aspirator I found that does not leak. Cleaning is a breeze. The parts easily come apart, and I love that it’s washable." —Amazon Customer

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

I got this for my daughter, and I can tell it makes a huuuuge difference. Pack-and-play mattresses are notoriously uncomfortable, but this one actually has some padding. It is also made from Newton's traditional material, that is breathable, unlike other brands. It's significantly larger than the old one I had, which I can tell is a lot more comfortable for my daughter. She is quite petite, but she flips and flops all over the place while she is sleeping, so having this space helps prevent her from slamming her head into the sides. The only drawback is that it is a little bit larger when packed up (which makes sense since it's so much bigger when built). But honestly, that doesn't bother me too much. When we check it on an airplane, those extra few inches don't make a difference. I can see it becoming an issue if you already have limited space on a road trip, but we were able to fit it in my trunk with no issue (even though we were stuffed to the brim because babies have A LOT of stuff to travel with). 

Check out the travel crib in action on TikTok.

Promising review: "The deluxe travel crib and play-yard is exactly what I was looking for. My almost 2-year-old toddler is tall enough to climb out of a standard pack-and-play and won't sleep unless she is contained. (Which is fun to learn when you’re in a hotel room on vacation in a small town with limited shopping options 🫠). This is the only travel crib I could find that would keep her in so we can actually spend the night away from home again." —Heather

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

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Plus, kids' mattresses, baby shower gifts, storage and organization solutions, travel must-haves, quiet toys, and finds from Walmart.

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

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.

Jessica Hall is a freelancer and former BuzzFeed Shopping writer, and is based in Cincinnati, OH where you can find her curating lists on ~a little bit of everything~ (and adding a few things to her own cart in the process).