When I was pregnant with my first son, I came across endless, exhaustive baby gear lists of items everyone said you absolutely needed. The more lists I received, the more I wondered how new parents survived before these supposedly game-changing gadgets, like bottle warmers, formula dispensers, and the infamous Snoo, ever existed. (I also cringed at the thought of my already overstuffed New York City apartment becoming overwhelmed by all of these baby things…where would they all go? Did I have to give up any semblance of design in my apartment to make room for the oftentime garish kids’ toys?) The truth—you can get by with a lot less than you think (particularly in the newborn stages) and no, you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics entirely when you have a baby.
Before you go and buy four strollers, or overpriced items that claim to make your baby sleep better, in an anxiety-driven panic, take a breath and pause. As long as your child has a place to sleep, food to eat, plenty of diapers, and lots of love, they will be just fine. (Down the road, you might determine that your baby only likes their wipes to be warm and it makes a huge difference to have a wiper warmer. Or, you might feel like a running stroller would be great to add into the mix because you love running! But you probably won’t be doing too much running for the first few months, particularly if you’re the birthing partner and still recovering, so it might make sense to hold off until the need is there. I’m all for the big and little things that make life as a parent easier.)
For now, let’s focus on the well-designed, highly functional items that will actually make an impact on your new life with the little one. Here, 15 useful things for the design-minded parent.
Compass Rocker
Just because the whole world is telling you that you can’t survive new parenthood without a glider doesn’t mean it’s the only option. Yes, you will spend a lot of time in whatever chair you pick to feed your newborn in, so it should be very comfortable. But do you have to give in and buy a bulky chair that looks a lot like what your grandpa sits in to watch TV every night? No. Nursery Works has very chic rocker options that are quite comfortable. (I have one and love it!) Alternatively, opt for a vintage rocker that fits within the design aesthetic of your home.
Peanut Changer
Forget about the diaper changing pad with the cute cloth cover that will inevitably need to be washed daily (or, more likely, multiple times per day). The Keekaroo Peanut Changer is made of a solid shell that makes cleanup super easy and fast. Change your first few blowout diapers and you will quickly know exactly why that’s so important. Put the Keekaroo right on top of a dresser you already have and like (or get a new dresser from the beautifully-designed Leanne Ford collection for Crate and Barrel) and your changing table is set.
Diaper Pail
I’ll admit, I never really appreciated the Ubbi Diaper Pail until I found myself using variations from other brands while traveling with my little guy. I bought the Ubbi because I thought it was the best looking option out there. It’s minimal appearance aside, the real selling points are the fact that it’s literally made of steel and has an easy locking system to prevent any smells from coming out.
Nightlight And Sound Machine
This sleek nightlight and sound machine has a variety of brightness options and sounds to pick from to help your little one sleep. Most importantly, it’s easy to customize the settings and use from your cell phone. We have used it from day one and will continue to use the OK-to-Wake function as he moves into the toddler stage.
Smart Baby Monitor & Floor Stand
A baby monitor is one of those baby list items you absolutely have to have and the Nanit is the only one out there that can track your baby’s sleep, breathing motion, and growth. You can also check the temperature and humidity in your baby’s room, watch a timelapse reel of their night’s sleep.
Zip Baby Pajamas
When your baby is crying and all you want is to get them in their pajamas as fast as possible, you don’t want to be fussing with snaps. (Trust me!) My friend Camilla Marcus, who is a mom of two (and soon-to-be three) kids, introduced me to this brand after she had her firstborn and the pajamas she gifted us remain a tried and true favorite. Baby Mori’s ribbed, two-way zip pajamas are made of the softest organic cotton and, perhaps most importantly, have fold-over mittens so your baby doesn’t scratch themselves in the middle of the night.
Silky Soft Swaddles
When you have a baby, you’re going to use a lot of swaddle blankets. They’re not only good for swaddling, but for throwing over your shoulder or your lap when you’re burping baby and they spit up. You want a swaddle blanket that is soft and going to hold up through a lot of washes but will also look nice when it’s sitting on your couch or strewn about your house. While those beloved hospital swaddles are great, Aden and Anais swaddles check all the boxes.
Car Seat & Stroller
The Doona is a stroller that folds into a car seat at the click of a button and it is absolutely one of my favorite baby gadgets we own. You can stroll around with your baby and then put them right in the car without needing to transfer them to a car seat (meaning it’s a lot less likely you will wake your sleeping baby in the process). It is super lightweight and compact and particularly perfect for urbanites.
Warmmuffs
If you live in a place that gets cold in the winter, this stroller muff and gloves that attach to the stroller are truly game-changers. They keep both you and your baby super warm and make it easy to plop them in the stroller and head out (rather than spending a lot of time bundling the babe in a billion layers). Just make sure you get a blanket that will fit your stroller size.
Bouncer Bliss
Whether you have extra help or not, every new parent inevitably needs safe places to put their little one down for a few minutes. There’s a reason this washable, breathable bouncer tops every baby gear list—parents and babies alike love it. You can pop your baby in there while you empty the dishwasher or clean a few milk bottles (while you watch them, of course), and babies find the gentle rocking motion very soothing. Tip: Buy it in a fabric color that will look good in your living/family room because it will most likely live there. The all-black and the quilted sand cream colorways are particularly nice looking.
The Play Gym
If you’re like most new parents, you’re worried about giving your child all the right tools for development at every stage. This well-designed play mat and activity gym was created by child development experts who have done all the work for you and taken the guesswork out of the equation. If you purchase a subscription, they will send you a kit for each stage that is filled with different toys, tips and activity ideas for baby and parent.
Little Nomad Play Mat
Forgo the brightly-colored plastic play mats and go for something that will blend in well with the decor of your home. House of Noa makes safe and easy-to-clean mats that are expandable look like beautiful rugs.
Bandana Bib
There is probably no such thing as having too many bibs when it comes to life with babies. Between the constant feeding, spitting up and then teething (which means a lot of drooling), you run through a LOT of them in a single day. I love waterproof cloth bibs (like the ones from Roller Rabbit and Oso & Me), but bandana bibs are perfect when you are going places with your baby because they look like a chic wardrobe accessory (or, neck warmer in the winter) rather than a big bulky bib. Bibs makes lovely bandana bibs out of organic muslin cotton.
Tripp Trapp High Chair
You likely won’t need a high chair until around six months, but Stokke makes sleek, well-designed options like the Tripp Trap Chair that are convertible from the newborn stage (the chair is used as a place for baby to rest and be at the table with you) to baby to toddler. Alternatively, there’s the Stokke Clikk High Chair that’s slightly cheaper (and comes with the high chair/tray/harness), super lightweight and easy to pull apart and put back together, and very easy to wipe clean.
Lotus Travel Crib
If you plan on traveling with your little one, you’re going to need somewhere for them to sleep. Or, even if you’re just headed over to your friend’s house for the afternoon and there’s a naptime somewhere during that time, the Guava travel crib comes in handy. It’s super compact (it can be carried as a backpack with the Lotus Carry Bag) and lightweight (just 13 pounds) and perfect for parents on-the-go.
Photo: Edward Berthelot/Getty
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