There are thousands of baby products on the web that promise to solve each and every problem of new parents. It’s overwhelming when you’re sleep-deprived and looking to make a quick purchase but are bombarded with options. After all, your child’s first year of life is practically a haze of sleep deprivation, adrenaline, and baby giggles. If you are a struggling parent and aren’t sure what your time and money is worth, I’m here to help. I’ve rounded up the baby items I fell in love with during my son’s first year of life (and some I wish I hadn’t bothered with).
Be sure to check out our other parenting guides, including the best baby monitors, best breast pumps, best strollers, and best baby carriers.
Updated May 2024: We’ve added the Doona Car Seat and Stroller, BabyBjörn Mini Baby Carrier, Mockingbird Highchair, and BabyBjörn Balance Soft Bouncer as new options.
Special offer for Gear readers: get a 1 year subscription to CABLING for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to CABLING.com and our print magazine (if you wish). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.