Once you become pregnant, you’ll be bombarded with ads, articles and sponsored posts dictating everything you need to buy to ensure your baby is the best dressed, happiest and most well-rested on the block. You know they’re not all amazing, so what are the top baby products in 2019?
I found myself registering and buying items off these lists fast and furiously. However, one thing I learned rather quickly as my daughter grew from month-to-month was that we truly didn’t need 80% of the things we registered for and bought. In fact, we ended up scrambling at 2am to buy the things we actually needed and returning the many things we didn’t.
Compiled with the help of seasoned mamas all over the globe is this list of the top baby products for 2019. Hopefully, it will take away some of the anxiety and make those first ventures out just a little less scary.
1. Dock-a-tot
Designed in Scandinavia where co-sleeping is the norm, the highly regarded Dock-a-tot is a must for any parent who is considering bed-sharing. Not only does it provide soft bumper-like sides to keep baby safe and snug, it comes in a vast collection of colors and sizes. It’s great for co-sleeping, travel, crib-training (for safety), and lounging.
2. Jumparoo
Once your baby is able to hold their head up and sit unassisted, they’ll want to move constantly. Our answer to this wiggle worm syndrome was a jumperoo. These typically come in two forms – with a saucer and without. Our daughter preferred the ones without the saucer so she could really test the strength of her legs. The Skip Hop Explore & More is a favorite for saucers, while the Baby Einstein Neptune’s Ocean is one of the best for free-form jumping.
3. Sound Machine
From the moment they’re born, babies are fickle sleepers, with any abrupt sound sure to wake them up. Not only does a sound machine help cue babies that it’s time to sleep, but it also keeps them asleep longer by drowning out other background noise. A crowd favorite is the Hatch, which is programmable via your phone. Plus, it offers different lights, which let your child know when it’s time for sleep and time to rise. (Read more here.) Project Nursery also has a more affordable option that comes with a few different sounds, lullabies and white noise.
5. Sleep Sack
Newborns prefer being swaddled as it most resembles life in the womb, so most won’t sleep the first few months without one. There are a million different types of swaddles out there, with the Nested Bean and Halo sleepsuit almost always listed as a crowd favorite. The Halo sleep sack offers two different ways to wear it – with the arms constrained or free, which allows the baby to grow with the suit. The Nested Bean Zen Sack sack is weighted in the middle, which mimics the weight of a mother’s hand. Both are around $25-30.
5. Boppy
For nursing mamas, the Boppy offers extra support and cushion for the baby and you when you’re sitting in a rocker or on a couch. In addition, from 3 months and under, it’s a great prop to rest your infant on. From 4 months up, it’s great support for babies just learning to sit. Plus, they’re under $30 and can be used the entire first year.
6. Swing
For many moms (myself included), the only way to get our baby to sleep longer than 20-minute increments was to let her sleep in a swing. One of the top baby products in 2019 for this category is the Fischer-Price Dream Cradle n’ Swing. Boasting 6 speeds, lullabies and a mobile, it fully cradles the baby while gently rocking them, making it a safe and sound place to sleep. Other moms swear by the MamaRoo 4-infant seat, a compact swing that’s controlled entirely by your phone. It’s one of the most expensive on the market, but gives you the ability to customize the type of motion, the music and the speed from your fingertips.