Here’s the stuff I wish I’d known about sooner.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed
Hi! I'm Melissa, and this is my little beb.
She loves doughnuts, dinos, and being a general ham. 🤓
As I've learned in my first year of parenthood, new babies come along with a loooot of stuff. And it can be hard to figure out what's actually worth it — and what's not.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Amazon
To help sort through, I rounded up some of my favorite super-practical baby products, or the stuff I keep coming back to. They're all items that save me time, money, sanity, or (ideally!) all of the above.
First, a quick disclaimer: All babies are different, so none of these things below are one-size-fits-all. But I wanted to include some of the things that have been most useful for me personally — in hopes that these might help someone else. That said, let's do this. 🙌
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
A waterfall rinser that cups up against your baby's head and helps you avoid the biggest problem at bath time.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Shampoo in the eyes! 😭
Get the Skip Hop waterfall rinser from Amazon for $9.99.
Amazon
A sleek and functional humidifier that's super helpful during cold season.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
I picked this up this last winter after my kid caught her first cold — and went from sleeping soundly through the night to waking up every few hours with congestion. But running a humidifier next to her crib at night seemed to make an immediate difference. I especially liked this one because it's quiet and compact.
(Also, I know this is on the pricier side — but I bought the top-rated one on Amazon because I wanted to make sure it worked as promised. And it did!)
Get the MistAire ultrasonic humidifier from Amazon for $39.99.
Amazon
A lightweight, foldable (and waterproof!) changing pad that you can use on the go.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
After realizing the changing pad that came with my diaper bag was terribly flimsy and absorbent, I bought this one as a replacement. And it's way better: super durable, lightly padded, waterproof, and easy to clean. (It also folds neatly into a rectangle when not in use, so you can tuck it into a diaper bag.) It's great for use on those hard, plastic changing tables in public restrooms — or in the car.
Get it from Amazon for $6.63.
Amazon
Amazon
These tiny storage containers, which are perfect for packing snacks to go — and not having them get crushed in transport.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
These have lasted me through a billion dishwasher cycles, and they're perfectly sized for travel-friendly snacks like cereal, crackers, a hardboiled egg, or berries.
Get a six-pack of small lidded Rubbermaid containers from Amazon for $8.50.
Melissa Harrison / BuzzFeed
A first-aid kit with all the essentials — an extra toothbrush, a medicine dispenser, etc. — that you can store within reach.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Some reviewers point out that you might not use every single thing in this 17-piece kit (which is fair, I haven't), but it's still worth it to stock one of these IMO — because it's probably less expensive than buying several items separately.
Get an American Red Cross first-aid kit from Amazon for $14.57.
Amazon
Amazon
This swaddle sleep sack that turned out to be my overnight MVP.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
I've written before about how this thing was basically responsible for my daughter sleeping through the night pretty early on. The key is in its velcro sides, which snugly hold a baby's arms in at night so they're less likely to "startle" awake.
But TBH, my biggest tip (and one I'd wished I'd hadn't learned the hard way, lol) is to get at least two of these. Because inevitably, one night, your kid will have a blowout — and you'll want to be able to swap in a clean one ASAP so they can go back to sleep. In short? Always have a backup!
Get a Halo sleepsack from Amazon starting at $12.92. Available in multiple sizes and colors.
Amazon
And a sleeveless version for when your baby outgrows the first one.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Once your baby learns how to roll over and crawl, you'll want to swap in a sleeveless version. For the colder months, there are also versions made out of micro-fleece, instead of cotton.
Get a sleeveless Halo sleepsack from Amazon starting at $14.57. Available in multiple sizes and colors.
Amazon
A set of pacifier clips so you're not constantly picking up dropped ones.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
These can clip right to your baby's shirt and are especially useful for times when you can't reach them right away, like if you're driving and they're in the backseat. I especially liked this set because the fabric is very durable — even after lots of washes.
Get a set of three pacifier clips from Amazon for $6.99, or a set of four for $9.99.
Amazon / Via Instagram: @melissaharrison
And a set for saving dropped sippy cups, too.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Depending on your setup, the handy strap can hook onto high chairs, shopping cart bars, or strollers.
Get a Nuby Keepeez adjustable bottle strap from Amazon for $6.99.
Amazon
A top-rated instant-read forehead thermometer so you can take your baby's temperature with the least amount of fuss.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Fever season is already pretty nerve-wracking for any new parent, so anything that can help along the way is a win in my book. Enter: This thermometer, which you can press to a sleeping baby's forehead — without waking them up — and get an instant read on whether or not their temperature is something to worry about. Still stressful? Yes. But slightly less so.
Get an Innovo Medical digital thermometer from Amazon for $29.99.
Amazon
A stocked supply of 12-hour overnight diapers, so lil' bebs can sleep through the night without incident.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
This may seem like an obvious one, but I'm including it here because when I first had my daughter, I (admittedly) didn't immediately realize there were different types of diapers, depending on the brand: daytime ones and extra-absorbent nighttime ones. And TBH? You can never have too many of each.
Get a 104-pack of 12-hour Pampers diapers from Amazon for $23.27, or Walmart for $24.49. Available in several sizes.
Amazon
And these handy electrical outlet covers — for when you inevitably start childproofing.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
It seemed like as soon as my kid could crawl, she beelined straight for the electrical outlets. (Or those springy doorstoppers.) These handy plugs completely childproofed the former. They pop right in — covering up the outlet — and adult hands can pop them out by hooking a finger into the tiny ridge up top. Keep 'em stocked!
Get a 36-pack of Safety 1st outlet covers from Amazon for $3.49.
Melissa Harrison / BuzzFeed