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Parenting can be really tough sometimes. The pacing, the lack of sleep, and the seemingly endless loads of laundry that pile up. Add to that the stress of the cost of raising a kid in the 21st century.
According to a report of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average middle-income family will spend more than $12,500 per year on child-related expenses. Many of these expenses come from buying products that are supposed to make parenting easier—or your baby happier. Sometimes they’re great…other times they’re not. It’s so frustrating as a parent to spend money on something (and get excited about what it offers) that doesn’t live up to its claim.
Let us help you save time and money! If you’re in the middle of “baby central,” or if you’re preparing for it, here is a list of must-have products (according to other parents) that will put your hard-earned money to good use, because they really work!
1. NoseFrida “The Snot Sucker”
This is an absolute must to have on hand. One bad baby cold and you’ll realize the reason why this product is a necessity.
It clears your baby’s nasal passages painlessly and effectively so they can breathe—and you can breathe easy.
Pick one up here for $14.99.
2. Boudreaux’s Butt Paste
If you’ve never seen or experienced a baby having a bad case of diaper rash, you’re lucky, because it’s just awful—and something that you’ll do anything to avoid ever happening again.
This cream has zinc oxide to protect your precious little one’s rear end from diaper rash. It can also soothe the skin when babies have allergic reactions to wipes or diapers.
Get a 16-ounce tub here for $16.99.
3. Oball Classic Ball
This fun plastic play toy is inexpensive and easy for little hands to hold (which strangely enough is not true of a lot of baby toys).
It’ll provide hours of safe and fun entertainment for your baby! You should know that some models of the Oball were recalled because a small disc with beads would break apart, posing a choking hazard, but the Oball Classic Ball without beads is just fine for your little one.
Get one here for $8.02.
4. BabyBum Diaper Cream Brush
Baby butt cream works well because it’s thick and doesn’t allow moisture to penetrate. These same properties make getting butt cream off your hands a nightmare. Enter BabyBum Brush!
Use this to apply the cream on your baby’s bottom and save yourself hours of scrubbing at the sink.
Get it here for $9.99.
5. Back Seat Mirror by Cozy Greens
Hours of frustration wails from a child and hundreds of the car “pullovers” were avoided with the invention of this simple tool.
The mirror goes on the back seat so you can see how your baby is doing and baby can see and be comforted by you.
Get one here for $24.97.
6. Adan + Anais Baby Muslin Blankets
These are like the SUVs of blankets. They pretty much do it all: swaddle your baby, act as a burp cloth, dry your baby after a bath, or wipe up spit up.
They’re soft yet super absorbent. Throw them in the wash, dry with high heat, and they’re good as new!
Get a four-pack for $49.95 (trust us, they’re worth it!).
7. Boppy Pillow
This product is extremely useful, and its function changes as your baby grows older. Moms use it during the infant stage to elevate their baby during breastfeeding.
As the baby grows, it can also act as a support to lie on. Once the baby is past 6 months of age, the pillow can prop them up to ensure proper seating (and that the baby doesn’t fall over).
Get the original here for $39.99.
8. Marpac Hushh for Baby Portable White Noise Sound Machine
If you’ve ever tried to get anything done while your baby is sleeping, you know that every noise you make is amplified exponentially.
This portable sound machine provides background noise so that you can move about freely without waking your baby.
Get yours for $28.28.
9. Boogie Wipes
Wiping seemingly endless mucus from your baby’s nose can make their tender skin inflamed and raw.
Boogie Wipes are soft and natural, and they clean up baby’s nose without hurting their skin.
Get a three-pack for $9.95.
10. Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump
The biggest problems with pumps are that they’re too big, they’re not strong enough, or there’s only one pump. Medela is the gold standard in breast pumps, and they made themselves a winner with moms with this model.
It’s got varying settings, it’s small and light, and there are two pumps. This is a game changer!
Get everything you see here for just over $200.
11. Dr. Brown’s Baby Bottles
Gas and bubbles are always an issue when you bottle-feed your baby.
The Dr. Brown’s bottle’s ingenious construction has made feeding time so much more manageable—and babies’ bellies happier.
Get a four-pack of the eight-ounce original bottles for $19.99.
12. Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder
Babies can’t eat certain foods because the size or shape of the item might make them choke.
Not only does this product allow your baby to eat foods that normally wouldn’t be safe, but it also provides hours of entertainment as your baby sucks and plays with their food. (P.S. the clean up is worth it!)
Get two of them here for $7.
13. JJ Cole Car Seat Cover
Onesies, jackets, and blankets are always an issue when you’re trying to transport your baby in a car seat (and trying to keep them warm at the same time).
This shower cap-style car seat cover makes traveling easy and comfortable. Plus it’s approved by car seat technicians so you know it’s safe for your little one.
Get one in Graphite here for $23.93 (other colors available but prices may vary).
14. Boon Lawn Countertop Drying Rack
Bottles and nipples must be fully dried to keep them clean and sanitary, but keeping them upright is always an issue.
This drying rack solves the problem in a cute and fun package!
Get it here in white for $24.99.
15. Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleeper
Need to take a shower? Wash dishes? Write a quick email?
This sleeper is your ticket to free hands (and a little time to get things done).
Get one here for $59.99.
16. Summer Infant SwaddleMe Original Swaddle
Babies love to be swaddled! But we challenge you to find an overwhelmed new parent who can do it effectively and without frustration.
That’s what makes this product so awesome. It’s comfy fabric and foolproof swaddling mechanism make even the most sleep-deprived caretaker a pro.
Get a three-pack for $23.99.
17. WubbaNub Plush Pacifier Toy
Most parents have a love/hate relationship with pacifiers. They’re constantly falling out of a baby’s mouth and onto the floor, which upsets the baby, which upsets the parent.
This smart company figured out that adding a slight weight to the end of a binky helps it stay in the baby’s mouth (keeping everyone happy). Brilliant!
Get the penguin WubbaNub here for $13.95—there are several other animals to choose from as well!
18. The Mommy Hook
You’re shopping with your baby, and you’ve got the car seat, the bottle, the blanket, and a ton of toys. There’s just one problem: There’s no room for your stuff.
The Mommy Hook solves this problem and allows you to hang your bag off of the shopping cart so it’s organized and easy to get to.
Get one here for $13.97.
19. Skip Hop Treetop Friends Activity Gym
Parents swear by this because it provides hours of heavenly, distracted playtime for their babies. HOURS.
The great thing about it is the arches and toys can be disconnected if you need a flat mat for just tummy time. It’s great for babies of all ages!
Get yours here for $74.99.
20. Puj Tub
The sink always seems to be the most comfortable and convenient place to bathe a newborn, and the Puj Tub makes doing this often-difficult task a breeze!
Unfold it and hang it flat for easy drying. You’ll never struggle to find a place to store a tub again.
Get one here for $44.99.
21. Baby K’tan Baby Carrier
This wrap-style carrier is a big hit among parents of newborns and babies under one year. It offers the comfort and flexibility that parents love in wrap carriers but avoids the messy, complicated “over” wrapping.
It’s also super portable and easy to throw in a diaper bag or backpack.
Get the original here for $49.95. (Multiple sizes and colors are available, but prices may vary.)
22. Ergobaby 360 Baby Carrier
Show us a comfortable baby carrier and we’ll show you happy parents! If you’re in the market for something a little more structured than a wrap, the Ergo is your new best friend.
This super padded, super comfy product allows the baby to face both ways and fits moms and dads of differing and heights and weights equally well.
Get one here for $179.
23. Motorola MBP36S Remote Wireless Video Baby Monitor
The quality of baby monitors can range from just awful to blissful, which can make your life hell or heaven.
Here are all of the reasons why parents love this amazing monitor: “Good picture and sound.” “Easy to set up with a two-way microphone.” “Great video and audio quality even in dark rooms.” Sounds like a winner to us!
Get one here for $107.69.
