10 Baby Products Worth the Hype According to a Self-Proclaimed Minimalist Mom of 2
Every baby is so different and every family operates differently. Finding things that work for your lifestyle is key when it comes to baby products. As a self-proclaimed minimalist, I tried really hard to not bring too many extras into the house unless the item really served an everyday purpose or was multifunctional. Here are my top 10 baby products I would buy again and again and always recommend. And yes — some items are pricey, but don’t worry, I’m going to do a little girl math for you so you can see why they are so worth it.
Remember to create an Amazon Baby Registry and add the products below. With an Amazon registry, you will get a 15 % completion discount, a goodie box, and 1 year of free returns!
1. BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Mini
I was never big on baby-wearing just because my kids were good about me putting them down, but even as someone who didn’t wear their baby daily, I used the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Mini a lot. Here are some instances where I used it for those on the fence about baby-wearing or which carrier to get.
When either of our kids were going through their witching hour and just needed to be close.
If I just needed to get things done like cleaning baby bottles or dishes from dinner.
When we went to the beach. Wearing baby allowed me to give them a cozy place to nap and ditch the stroller so we didn’t have to drag it through the sand.
We used it when we went on hayrides to the pumpkin patch, walking through a Christmas tree farm, trolley, and train rides.
I went with the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Mini for a couple of different reasons. It did not have a strap that went around my waist (which was the main reason), it was breathable and lightweight for those hot days and I could quickly get the baby in without any wrapping or assistance from someone else. I have a Solly baby wrap and while I loved the material and prints, I would pass on purchasing that and would have gone straight for the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Mini. However, if you want a great, lightweight, buttery soft swaddle, I highly recommend Solly Baby’s swaddles.
2. Ikea Hemnes Dresser
I bought the Ikea Hemnes Dresser for my daughter’s room and just bought it for my son’s room this past week. The Hemnes Dresser is not only affordable but the quality is great, a lot better than most IKEA pieces. The drawers open and close so easily. I’ve had my daughter’s dresser for a little over two years and it is so functional, especially when paired with the SKUBB storage boxes. The storage boxes easily help organize the tiny little clothes, bows, and socks and we still haven’t filled the bottom two drawers because there is so much room in these dressers. I am really excited that these dressers will be able to grow with kids throughout the years.
3. BabyBjörn Baby Bouncer
The BabyBjörn Baby Bouncer is one of those products that is hit or miss based on the baby. However, even if baby doesn’t love it, it is still worth the buy. My daughter didn’t care for it, but it came in handy when we visited family, if we wanted to eat dinner outside on the deck, and mainly when we just needed a place to put her down at home for a few minutes. She didn’t hate it and wouldn’t mind being in it for a short period of time. On the other hand, my son loved the BabyBjörn Baby Bouncer. He basically self-propelled himself in this thing for 6 months. We couldn’t even add a toy bar because he rocked himself so hard, that the toy bar would smack him in the face if we did.
It folds flat and is so easy to bring it with you wherever you go. The bouncer goes everywhere with us — trips to grandma’s house, any outdoor party, any indoor party — really anywhere we know we will be for more than an hour or two. It’s great when we are at family or friend’s houses to have a spot, that is not the car seat, to put baby down to either enjoy dinner or engage in whatever is going on.
This product was put to the test. My son had daily blowouts in our BabyBjörn Baby Bouncer for the last 6 months and it has really held up after being put in the washing machine and dryer daily.
4. Willaby Soft Heirloom Lace Baby Blanket
The Willaby Baby Blanket was something I went back and forth with on the price. Was it worth it? And I think it is. It has gone through the wash over the last two years about a dozen times and is just as plush as when I first bought it. We love using this as a blanket on top of our babies’ legs in the car seat or as a stroller blanket during the cold New England winters. The dyed lace trim and organic cotton gauze really make this blanket feel like an heirloom. I can’t wait to pass it on to my children in the future.
Note: When I first got the blanket, I thought they sent me a different product because it was just flat fabric. When it arrives, wash it, and then it will look like exactly what you ordered.
5. Cybex Sirona S SensorSafe 360 Rotating Car Seat
The Cybex Sirona S SensorSafe 2 Rotating Car Seat is hands down my favorite baby product we have ever bought. It is worth every penny. We have two. This makes putting my baby and toddler in the car so much easier. My husband’s car has a non-rotating Graco car seat and I hate it with every bone in my body. I don’t know if I am just awkward or if it is because I am lefty, but I will do everything not to have to put her into that car seat.
There were a few differences that made me go with this rotating car seat rather than another.
The maximum weight limit is 65 lbs compared to others that max out anywhere between 40-50 lbs.
You can rotate the car seat into the forward position as well as rear-facing whereas other rotating car seats only allow the rotation to happen when the car seat is in the rear-facing position.
The car seat is very plush and roomy.
This is a big ticket item but compared to the Nuna Pipa Infant Car Seat which we used for about 10 months compared the price of that to using this car seat for 3+ years and the amount of time you are saving because you are not fighting your kid on getting buckled is priceless.
6. Ubbi Steel Odor Locking Diaper Pail
The Ubbi Steel Odor Locking Diaper Pail resides in our living room next to our changing table and it is right behind my couch and I never smell a dirty diaper unless it is left open. The second best thing about this diaper pail is that it uses the standard garbage bags you use daily for your trash — so nothing special is needed at a premium price.
7. Electric Baby Nail File
I didn’t get the Electric Baby Nail File until I went to go clip my fresh newborn’s nails and was like nope, can’t do it. I ordered this on Amazon and got it in 2-day shipping and we love it. We still use it on our 2-year-old.
8. Bumkins Wet and Dry Bag
The Bumkins Wet and Dry Bags are basically perfect for anything you could possibly think of. Here are some instances in how I used mine over the last 2+ years and what fit in the bag:
Carry two Lansinoh Manual Breast Pumps , breast milk storage bags and a couple of Dr. Brown Bottles on the go.
Carry both the left and the right Willow Go Portable Breast Pumps on the go and a couple of Dr. Brown Bottles on the go.
Put our wet bathing suits in or dirty clothes.
Snacks
Anything wet that you don’t want to get other things wet.
Anytime after I used it, I would throw it in the washing machine and let it air dry. It folds up pretty compact and lives in my diaper bag.
9. Newton Crib Mattress
The Newton Crib Mattress prevents me from staring at the monitor all night once baby finally rolls onto their belly because this mattress is truly breathable. I do love that we didn’t have the extra expense of a mattress pad or cover because of how easy this mattress is to clean. We just use a crib sheet and a washable hospital bed pad that I took home from the hospital after giving birth — thanks to my friend’s advice.
My daughter had a few times where she peed through her overnight diaper and it was so easy to unzip the mattress and throw it into the wash and that was a huge selling point that I realized after the purchase. The ease of washing the entire mattress helps justify the cost of this mattress so much, but in case it is just out of price range the Halo mattress is a similar easy-to-wash mattress.
10. NumNum Baby Self-Feeding Spoons
The NumNum Baby Self-Feeding Spoons are just an awesome tool to have in your arsenal when starting your feeding journey whether it be baby-led weening or not. They give your baby the option to explore the food you give them on their own and sometimes thats just gnawing on the spoon with a little bit of the avocado on it. The spoons fit their little hands perfectly and allow them to actually pick up food themselves.
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