Best baby products to include on your registry (as picked by moms)

Our baby girl is due at the end of summer (!!), and I have to admit that as a first time mom the to-do list has been overwhelming. Not only is there that whole navigating pregnancy and delivery thing, but it’s been a total time suck trying to get everything ready for her arrival and having no idea what babies actually need beyond a stroller, crib and car seat.

Oh, and diapers, apparently. So many diapers.

I could have gone down the internet rabbit hole trying to figure it all out—instead I went straight to the source by asking real moms. What better way to curate the perfect baby registry list than by crowdsourcing everyone’s favourite products that they actually used and loved with their own little ones?

So, I put the call out on Instagram, and was flooded with the sweetest DMs, voice notes and e-mails from so many moms with their totally unbiased, tried and true recommendations. I also had a few friends look over my registry to see if there was anything I’d missed (like a snot sucker–who knew?).

While baby products are always evolving, there were some standouts that came up over and over again, and those are the ones I’ve featured here. Whether you’re looking for baby items to register for or baby gift ideas for someone else, here are the top picks as picked by other moms.

Most of the best baby buys are linked in my Amazon.com or Amazon.ca storefronts so you can easily add them to your own registry or cart. I’ll also be updating this article once I’ve personally used these with our daughter, to share if they lived up to the hype.

Best stroller system

When it comes to baby products worth splurging on, a solid stroller system and an incredibly comfortable recliner are the most important since these are where you and baby will be spending the majority of your time.

While there are countless stroller options on the market in all sorts of configurations (multiple children, travel friendly, compatible with bassinets and car seats, etc), two brands seem to come up over and over again: Nuna and UPPAbaby.

The prices are pretty comparable (AKA expensive) at $1000+, so it really comes down to preference and the integration of compatible products like accessories and car seats. The NUNA Mixx Next Stroller had a solid amount of votes, thanks to its compact size which folds down easily and holds kiddos up to 50 pounds.

However, the clear winner (and the one I see most when out and about) is the UPPAbaby Vista V2 or Cruz V2. The Vista is popular for families planning to have at least a couple of children, since it can be reconfigured to hold up to three kids at a time.

The Cruz is quite a bit lighter and about $500 cheaper (though it doesn’t include a bassinet like the Vista), which makes more sense for families with only one child. Both come in about a dozen fabric options, have loads of storage and feel bougie thanks to the leather handle.

What we picked: We were originally set on the Vista, but when we went into the store and realized how heavy it is to lift into a vehicle it was an immediate no—thank goodness for brick and mortar stores where you can test things, amirite?

So, we played around with some of the Nunas, and while they had some great features like being easy to pack up there always seemed to be something we didn’t quite love, like feeling flimsy or certain models not being able to switch the seat to face either forward or back.

In the end we went with the UPPAbaby Cruz which feels sturdy enough for our Canadian winters, and I guess if we end up adding to our family we’ll just have to bite the bullet and upgrade to the Vista.

RELATED: CYBEX e-Gazelle S Stroller review: Is the premium price worth it?

Best travel stroller

My friend Hannah from @gettingstamped has two kiddos and travels A LOT so I trust her opinion on this implicitly: she recommends the Doona Car Seat and Stroller System (which interestingly isn’t sold in Canada, FYI), and the Joolz Aer+ which only weighs 13.2 pounds, folds down to fit in an airplane overhead storage bin, and can be folded down with one hand in seconds.

What we picked: You’d think that being a travel writer this is the first thing I would have purchased, but the amount of money we’ve already spent leading up to baby’s arrival is staggering so we’re holding off on getting a travel stroller until we have a trip booked. However, when we do I’ll be going with the Joolz.

Update: We got the Joolz Aer+ and love it! Read more about our experience travelling with it here, and check out this video:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Tamara Elliott | Travel + Lifestyle (@globeguide)

RELATED: Essentials for travelling with a baby: The best tried and tested gear

Best car seat

This seems to be another one that really comes down to personal preference and stroller compatibility, with the winners being either the UPPAbaby Mesa or the NUNA PIPA car seats. My friend Colleen (and mom of two boys) says “we love our NUNA setup for stroller and car seat. They click into each other and are lighter.”

A few others mentioned that they paired a NUNA car seat with an UPPAbaby stroller by using an adapter, since the NUNAs are lighter than Mesas.

What we picked: Our original plan was to do the NUNA car seat/UPPAbaby stroller combo. Luckily, UPPAbaby recently came out with a new car seat model called Aria which is now the lightest on the market at six pounds, so we went with that and it will clip right into our stroller without an adapter.

Also, don’t forget to register for a car mirror so you can keep an eye on your little one in the backseat!

Best bassinet

Babies only need a few months in a bassinet before transitioning to a crib, so typically you don’t need to spend much on them (my friend Chrystal, a mom of four, told me she completely skips this step altogether and puts them straight in a crib).

A great workaround if you buy the UPPAbaby Vista is to simply use the included bassinet–they also sell a stand that converts to a laundry hamper once you’re done using it, to elevate the bassinet off the floor (or get this cheaper Jolly Jumper one). Other top picks are the Halo or Maxi-Cosi Iora Bedside Bassinet.

However, there’s one product on the market that’s definitely a splurge at $1700+, yet many parents are happy to fork over the cash as they describe it as a ‘life saver’: the Happiest Baby SNOO Smart Sleeper.

Created by renowned pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp, this responsive bassinet ‘hears’ baby’s cries which triggers womb-like rocking and white noise (adjustable depending on age), which naturally sleep trains babies so parents don’t have to get out of bed to soothe them. AKA, more sleep for everybody which is a total win during that tough newborn phase.

Aside from the extra shut-eye, it also keeps infants safely on their back all night long, using safety clips that prevent rolling.

“We cannot live without it. It gives me so much peace of mind that she’s not going to roll over onto her face, SIDS etc. because of how it locks the baby in, and my daughter loves it,” says my friend Ali, who snagged one during a Boxing Day sale. “She moves around way too much for a regular swaddle, so I’m really glad we bought the SNOO.”

The SNOO is typically used up to six months or until the baby gets up on hands and knees, and also includes an app with features like a sleep log, mobile alerts and a weaning setting.

Happiest Baby recently announced some of the features will be moving to a premium subscription that second-hand users will need to pay a fee for–to that, Ali says “either way, I can tell you that we would absolutely pay for it now because it was a game changer for sleep.”

The SNOO includes a fitted sheet, mattress and three SNOO sacks made with organic cotton and breathable mesh to reduce overheating. 

If it’s out of your budget, there are plenty of lightly used ones available on Facebook Marketplace for half the price, where you can also sell yours once your babe has outgrown it (just be aware of the app changes and potentially needing to pay a monthly fee if you want access to those features). They also have a rental program which works out to about $5/day and includes a mattress, sheet and two SNOO sacks that you get to keep–a small price to pay for a better night of sleep. Click here to buy

What we picked: We originally planned to use my sister’s hand-me-down UPPAbaby bassinet, then started going back and forth on the SNOO and considered buying one secondhand because, you know, who doesn’t like sleeping. Then Happiest Baby generously sent me a SNOO Smart Sleeper to test out so I’m very excited to try it with our baby girl and see if it’s as life changing as everyone says!

Best baby carrier

You’ll definitely need a baby carrier if you plan to get ANYTHING done, and this is another one that seems to come down to personal preference. It’s probably best to just go to a store and literally try one on for size and see which ones feel the most comfortable–you might even want different ones for each parent to avoid having to readjust the straps each time.

Top picks from moms are:

• Beluga baby wrap
• Baby Tula Discover Free-to-Grow
• Boba wrap
• Ergobaby Omni 360 (lots of votes for this one)
• Baby Bjorn

What we picked: Some people swear by their baby wraps, but have you ever actually watched them put one on? It looks as complicated as wrapping up an Egyptian mummy! No thanks, my future sleep-deprived self has no interest in such shenanigans.

Instead, we registered for and received an Ergobaby Embrace which is super soft and cozy without any wrapping or tying for the newborn phase.

We’ll try out the Baby Bjorn carrier my sister passed down to us once baby girl gets bigger, and if for some reason that one doesn’t feel like a good fit we’ll buy the Ergobaby Omni 360.

Best baby monitor

Baby monitors were another tricky one: I got lots of recommendations including the Nanit and VTech portable sound monitors, but once I actually started combing through online reviews there seemed to be lots of issues like failed batteries, losing connectivity and dead screens.

There were also votes for the Owlet which monitors baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels and sends an alert if anything is wrong, but it’s pretty pricey at $500+.

What we picked: After exhaustive research, I came across the new Maxi-Cosi See Pro 360 Baby Monitor which retails for less than $300, doesn’t require Wi-Fi and is ideal to travel with.

So far it has great reviews as well as some incredible features: most notably CryAssist technology which translates your little one’s cries using AI to guage if they’re sleepy, fussy, gassy, agitated or hungry. There are also temperature and humidity sensors, built-in lullabies and white noise, noise and motion detection. Click here to buy

Best baby swing

My friend Michelle said a baby swing was a ‘total life saver’ while raising her three girls, so who am I to argue with that? If you like the idea of ever showering again you’ll probably want to pick one of these up to keep baby occupied.

Top recommendations were the Baby Bjorn Bouncer and Mamaroo Multi-Motion Baby Swing which has five unique motions, five speeds, and four sounds for hands-free soothing.

What we picked: After sussing out a few in-store, the clear winner in our books is the Maxi-Cosi Cassia Swing which is ultimately what we went with. Not only does its streamlined design totally fit our aesthetic (it comes in five colour options), but it’s also the easiest to use, relatively well-priced, and has five swing speeds, 12 sounds, adjustable recline positions, 360° seat rotation and a built-in mobile.

Best breast pump

A breast pump is essential if you’re planning to breastfeed (and you can even use it in ‘stimulation’ mode while pregnant to help collect colostrum). I did a deep dive trying to decide on which kind to get since there are soooo many options, and also asked my mom friends which ones they suggested. 

While the Mandela brand came up a few times, I wasn’t that impressed by the mixed reviews. Then, a few girls in my prenatal class mentioned the Momcozy pumps, which turned out to be a winner! I went with the Momcozy M5 model which has an attractive price point, great reviews, and most importantly for me is totally hands-free. It also comes with a sleek case to hold all the accessories, is easy to clean, and perfect to travel with since it only requires a couple of pieces. I’ve also heard good things about the Momcozy S12 which is more budget friendly.

Globe Guide tip: Some health insurance plans will actually cover the cost of a breast pump

Bottle system

The Philips Avent system of bottles, bottle warmer and a sanitizer is a popular option, which work seamlessly together. We ended up getting all three for our baby, and like that the warmer and sanitizer are light and relatively compact.

However, cleaning bottles/pump parts and then sanitizing them every day can feel like quite a chore. The Grownsy Automatic Baby Bottle Washer cuts out a few steps by washing, sterilizing, drying and storing with the touch of a single button. It comes with 60 detergent tablets, and has four different cleaning modes to eliminate 99.9 per cent of germs. It’s a bigger and heavier than the Philips sanitizer, but since it takes care of so many more jobs than the Avent does parents might not mind losing a bit of countertop space.

Other items we purchased

Just in case you haven’t gone broke yet, there’s a whole other list of essentials you’ll need for a newborn. Here’s everything else we either purchased or received as gifts from our registry.

Changing station

• Keekaroo Peanut Changer
• Colby by DaVinci 3 drawer dresser, which doubles as a change table and is good for smaller spaces (there’s also a 6 drawer version if you have a larger nursery)
• Drawer dividers to keep items organized
• Ubbi diaper pail (some people also recommended the Diaper Genie, but we like the Ubbi as you don’t need to buy specific bags for it)
• Bum cream and diaper cream spatula
• Skip Hop diaper caddy

Nursery

• Baby hangers: These expand from 11 to 14” as clothes get larger, and I love the little teddy bear clip that you can hang other hangers or hooks from to keep multiple pieces of the same outfit together
• Olio Flynn Recliner Swivel Glider: It’s a splurge, but oh-so-comforable and doesn’t look like a recliner so I can see us repurposing this in our loft someday as a chill hangout spot. My only regret is not getting the power version but I just couldn’t justify the extra cost at the time
• Crib (we scored our Restoration Hardware crib on Facebook Marketplace for a quarter of the price), mattress, sheets and waterproof mattress protector.
• Collapsible fabric storage cubes to hold books and toys.
• Sound machine and nightlight: Lots of products on the market combine both, like the Hatch or SNOObie White Noise Machine & Sleep Trainer which I was also gifted (and is a good next step for parents transitioning baby from their SNOO to a crib). We also got this cute, affordable egg-shaped night light that has seven colours, a dimming function and timer, and I’m obsessed with this tiny noise machine since it’s perfect for travel.

Miscellaneous

• Diaper bag: We chose the Dagne Dover Indi Neoprene Diaper Backpack which comes in multiple colours and sizes, is easy to clean, has tons of pockets, stroller clips, a mini changing mat and extra pouches. It’s also ideal for travelling thanks to a laptop compartment and exterior sleeve to slip it onto your luggage. (Update: we actually use the Sidekick bag from No Reception Club instead to hold our daughter’s diaper items, since it’s compact enough to just throw in my purse instead of carrying a big bag around. When we travel, the Getaway Bag is amazing for the plane!) 
• BIBS pacifiers
• Muslin burp cloths
• Hooded towels
• Baby memory book
• Bath
• Digital thermometer, electric nail trimmer, silicone toothbrush
• Nasal aspirator: The NoseFrida SnotSucker is a cult favourite (but a bit gross to use and clean TBH–you’ve been warned!). The Grownsy Baby Nasal Aspirator is a good alternative as it does the hard work for you by not requiring mouth suction, has three adjustable suction levels designed to be gentle on nasal passages, and easy-to-clean features.

Best postpartum essentials for mom

Don’t forget about yourself, ladies! The bag of postpartum essentials you’ll need to pack regardless of where you’re delivering is just as important.

Aside from toiletries, snacks, a phone charger and outfits for both mom and baby, here’s what I packed:

• Frida Mom Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit (can buy the full kit or purchase items separately)
• Depends and/or overnight pads (don’t use Always brand)
• Flannel or muslin receiving blankets
• Bio-Oil for stretch marks
• Momcozy nursing bras

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