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Bet you didn’t think you’d ever be reading the words “banana toothbrush” and “gripe belt” about your baby, but you’ll be verrrrry grateful you did when you see them in action.

As a Senior Shopping Writer at BuzzFeed, I specialize in a broad range of topics, including beauty, cleaning, fashion, personal care, home, fitness, and my beloved “TikTok made me buy it.” My work has been featured across lifestyle and writing publications during my ten years in the digital media space, including Bustle, HuffPost, HelloGiggles, and The Washington Post.

Promising review: "The Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother has been an absolute lifesaver in our house! My baby absolutely loves it — we jokingly call it his 'TV' because it instantly grabs his attention and calms him down. I honestly use it every single day, and I’m already thinking about buying a second one because it’s been that helpful. The songs are clever, soothing, and calming without becoming repetitive, and the little sea animals are adorable and move so smoothly. The light is just right — not too bright — making it perfect for naps and bedtime. The battery life has also been excellent, and the crib attachment keeps it securely in place. Overall, this has been one of the best baby purchases we’ve made. It has brought so much comfort to our little one and made our lives easier. I truly couldn’t imagine parenting without it, and I highly recommend it to any new parent!" —Kelly K. 

(I did not get my son one of these because I wasn't really on TikTok when I was pregnant and apparently missed this cult entirely, but for what it's worth, my son really loved this mirror my mom installed in his crib — he'd stare at Mirror Baby and talk to him until he went to sleep!) 

Get it from Amazon for $35.99 (available in four styles). 

Promising review: "This has been such a good find for my baby! Whenever my baby gets really gassy and uncomfortable, I use the Frida Baby Windi, and it helps a lot. The relief is usually very quick, and my baby seems much more comfortable afterward. I also like that it’s made with natural and safe materials, which gives me peace of mind as a parent. It’s easy to use once you get familiar with it, and it has honestly been very helpful during those difficult, fussy moments caused by gas. Every parent knows how hard it is to see their baby uncomfortable, so having something that actually works makes a huge difference. Definitely recommend for parents dealing with gassy babies!" —Natalia

Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $12.74. 

Check a TikTok of the Baby Shusher in action. 

I thought this was a scam and a half when my mom suggested it to me — what is a machine going "shhhh" going to do that I can't?? — but oh, what a fool I was. This gizmo came into my home and is officially my co-parent now. My little guy was a super reflux-y, bad sleeper who was up literally every hour at night for the first three months, and it was hard to transfer him back into his bassinet. Once this little thing was introduced, it started calming him right away. There were nighttime wake-ups where I could literally just turn this on before he fully opened his eyes, and he'd let out a little sigh and go back to sleep. Absolute witchcraft. For me, it was a very handy tool for figuring out whether he was just having trouble connecting a sleep cycle and wanted to go back to sleep, or if he was genuinely hungry for a bottle (at which point the Baby Shusher wouldn't work, and I'd get up to feed him). 

Pro-tip: this goes out of stock a LOT, and usually takes a week or so to ship. If you know someone who is expecting and you want to get them something genuinely useful, order this for them before the baby is born! 

Promising review: "All my kids have LOVED this teether. I buy one for every single baby shower, it is a must-have!! I also love that there are little loops with the banana peel, so I can hook a binky clip to it, so we don't lose it. Also makes it easy for the baby to hold." —Erica 

Get it from Amazon for $7.61 (available in three colors). 

Promising review: "My 10-month-old has struggled so much with sleep, it’s actually ridiculous! From gas to reflux to CMPA, we’ve done it all! When I realized she has a sensitive temperament and responds well to the heartbeat/touch, I thought I would give this product a shot! She absolutely LOVES it!! I have it on the breathing and heartbeat, and she sleeps so much calmer! I used to HATE naps/bedtime, but now I feel much better knowing she feels comfortable with this stuffy! So thankful for this!" —Alyssa Walker 

Get it from Amazon for $35.15 (available in otter or bunny versions). 

I bought this because everybody on the internet told me to, and boy, am I grateful I joined that bandwagon. My kiddo started daycare at four months when I finished leave, and he got like three colds in a row, and basically produced snot like it was his job. It was hard for him to drink his bottles with his nose stuffed, so I'd have to bring this puppy out a few times a day. He'd get mad when he saw it, but once I started playing the music in it he'd go into a little baby trance and let me suck his snot out. It was SOOOO effective and deeply satisfying to see all that gross goop get evicted from him, and he was so much more comfortable after I used this! Just a heads up — sometimes it helps to loosen the snot with some baby saline, wait a minute or so, and THEN suck out the boogies! 

I didn't get this version, but I had one like it, and I am SO glad I did. Sometimes dry boogers get so deeply rooted up their little nostrils that you genuinely have to excavate, and tools like these make it super easy! 

Promising review: "High quality, easy to use product. Makes cleaning my baby’s nose and ears so much easier. I also really enjoy the feel of the material used. It doesn’t feel like cheap plastic." —Bonnie A. 

Get it from Amazon for $9.98 (available in three styles). 

My little guy wore these on the subway, and even when the B train came screeching down the track at decibels that feel illegal, he didn't even flinch. I know these work too, because anytime I forget he's wearing them and try to get his attention, he just stares into the abyss (very unlike my son, who is an extrovert). I also loved how easy these were to adjust to fit his head, how well they stayed put, and how comfy they were for him! He never once complained or tried to pull them off. 

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in nine styles). 

Promising review: "I'd previously purchased Loop Experience 2s for concerts and had begun using a pair to help block out noise to manage migraines at home. When my toddler began being a little louder, and my wife and I planned to welcome a second baby into our home, I knew I'd need something to take the edge off. The Engage 2 is perfect for me. They fit well (the largest tip size is perfect for my ears) and, honestly, I forget I'm wearing them! They block out all the excess noise while what I want to hear (my child talking, conversations, etc.) comes through crystal clear. The price is $35, and that's a price that's perfect for what you get! There's a lot of value here. I'm sure as time goes on, I'll use these more and more." —Indyrock

Get it from Amazon for $35.95 (available in four colors, including a pink PARIS HILTON VERSION, just a very chic heads up!!). 

This was another rec from a friend when my son would not do tummy time! He had torticollis, or a weird tightening in his neck muscles on one side, that made him really resist it, but I needed to help him strengthen those muscles so he could turn his head properly. This crab stunned him out of crying like, nine times out of ten. It's loud and colorful and looks like an alien on your carpet, but worth every penny. You know how there was that TikTok trend where people threw slices of cheese at crying babies, and they'd get stunned and stop? Turning on this crab is like that, without wasting good cheese. 

Get it from Amazon for $9.49 (available in three colors). 

Promising review: "As a busy mother who frequently struggles with stubborn car seat buckles, I find the UnbuckleMe Car Seat Buckle Release Tool to be an exceptionally well-designed and practical accessory. The tool reliably disengages buckles with a single, smooth motion, eliminating the need to pry with my nails and allowing me to maintain my manicure without compromise. Its compact form includes a secure attachment point for keys, so it travels with my everyday carry rather than getting lost in the diaper bag." —Jen M. 

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in six styles). 

Promising review: "The Boon Countertop Lawn has been an unexpectedly versatile and adorable addition to my kitchen! While marketed for baby items, I quickly found it incredibly useful (and cute!) for so much more. It's perfect for drying small glasses, reusable straws, bottle parts (yes, still!), and even delicate utensils. The design is genius: the 'blades of grass' hold items up just enough so they actually dry properly, unlike flat mats where water can just sit. No more puddles or damp spots! It's easy to clean, adds a playful touch to the counter, and truly excels at airing out those tricky-to-dry items. Highly recommend it for any small, air-drying needs!" —Amanda S. 

NOTE: Babies shouldn't sleep with these on! 

Promising review: "My daughter absolutely NEEDS this! We just sized up from 0m+, and she’s six months now. The velcro and flexibility of these belts are definitely worth the money; they last forever! Super flexible, she can still move around. It smells so good, no leakage from the heat pad, and 100% pain relief for her!" —Melissa Jett

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three styles and two sizes).  

I got this for my little guy at around six months, when I first started using a jogging stroller with him. I wanted to be able to check quickly to make sure he was tolerating the motion, and also wanted to be able to see if the sun was in his eyes, and I needed to adjust his hat. This mirror is perfect for quick checks! The very cute consequence of this is that he has figured out he can also see ME during runs, and sometimes will just beam very happily at me in the mirror for a half a mile. 🥹🥹🥹

Psst — if you're looking for a cheap, reliable, no-nonsense jogging stroller, I'm using the Baby Trend Expedition here! And my son is wearing this very nifty, super portable baby sunhat that I never leave the house without. 

Check out a TikTok of the fan in action.

I bought this because my son is a tiny prince, and I will not let him roast in the heat!! And oh boy, are we both in love with it. He luxuriates in it as it blows back the three or four hairs on his head, and I feel at ease knowing something is keeping him comfortable. When we get home during walks on hot days, he's never overheated. If we eat outside, I'll put him in my lap and position the fan on the table to blow on both of us, so I can confirm that the gust is LOVELY and oh-so-cooling. I am also stunned by how long it lasts! I had it on full blast once and forgot to turn it off, and it was still going five hours later on one charge! 

Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in eight colors).  

NOTE: These do NOT go in the freezer, they go in the fridge! 

Promising review: "Cute, colorful, and easy for little hands to hold. The different textures are great for teething, and chilling the keys gives some extra relief for sore gums. Easy to clean and keeps the baby entertained at the same time. Simple teether that gets plenty of use." —Shari

Get it from Amazon for $4.28 (available in two colors). 

I cannot recommend this enough for SO so so so many reasons, but I'll start with the first — my little guy was a late-term preemie and just barely five pounds when I took him home. He had all these weird preemie breathing habits that scared the heck out of me. My anxiety was through the roof, especially when I took him home, and none of my swaddles fit him without him wriggling and managing to shove his mouth and nose into the fabric. After two weeks of frantically testing swaddles, Love To Dream's preemie size was the only one that legitimately fit him well, and finally let me relax a bit — it didn't creep up his face, it was compressive enough that it was super easy for me to see him breathing, and it was super easy to slide him into it after nighttime feeds without waking him up. It remained his perfect sleep solution for months, especially as he learned to self-soothe with his hands as he got older. 

The other reason I recommend this? Transitioning babies out of swaddles when they get to rolling age is HARD. But Love To Dream even has transitional swaddle sacks that make it easy for you to wean them off it, instead of going cold turkey like a lot of other swaddles and making nighttime feel like total chaos. My son used Love To Dream from week one all the way to month four when he started rolling, and I owe them a lot of sleep!! 

Get it from Amazon for $34.95+ (available in five sizes, three fabric types, and dozens of styles). 

I was instructed by many mom friends that I needed to get this precise mat for my little guy, and I'm so glad I did. The vocals from the singer are gorgeous and soothing and fun?? I know all the songs by heart now and love singing them to entertain my baby. But the thing I love the most about this mat is that IT IS THE ONLY REASON I EVER GOT TO SHOWER when I didn't have family around to scoop him! Even when my kiddo's tolerance for being away from me was like .2 seconds at best, I could lay this just outside the bathroom and watch him kick to his heart's content. He's almost 8 months now, and I STILL use it for this (although now that he's rolling, I stick it in his crib with him to make sure he stays safe!). 

Bonus!! It grows with your baby, so it'll prop up when your kiddo can sit, and they can use their hands on it. Plus, a lot of parents on TikTok hacked it by putting their babies in bouncers and setting the kick and play in front of it — a great way to help keep a reflux-y baby propped up, and more entertaining since they can see the piano more easily before they're sitting up on their own! (The GIF above is when I used it that way for my son!) 

Promising review: "I recently bought this set, and it has been a game changer for our diaper routine. The soft silicone applicators make it super easy to apply cream without getting my hands messy. The suction base is a fantastic feature, keeping the spatulas within reach and preventing them from slipping off the table. The variety of colors is a nice touch, and having three in a pack means I always have a clean one ready to go. They’re durable and easy to clean, making them perfect for everyday use. I highly recommend this set for any parent looking to simplify diaper changes!" —Damankaur

Get a set of three from Amazon for $6.99. 

I had this on hand, like the cliche overprepared first-time mom I am, but I'm so glad I did. When my son was born, he was soooooo so little, and he HATED diaper changes. The instant a cold wipe hit him in the hospital, he would howl like I'd dropped him in an ice bath. Once we got home and I set up the wipe warmer, he was much more chill during that part of the diaper change, and it felt like there was less disruption during the nighttime cycles of wake-feed-change-sleep. I didn't end up needing warm wipes by the time he was eight weeks old or so, when he stopped caring, but it was so worth having during that time! 

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in three colors and three sizes). 

It's worth noting that for babies under a year, rectal and armpit temperatures are the most accurate, but this is a good tool to determine whether you need to either take that yourself or take the little critter to the pediatrician to get it done there. 

I used this for my kiddo as a quick peace of mind tool when he was getting tons of colds at the daycare, and I was looking out for fevers. Again, rectal temp is the gold standard, but this was really useful for me to be like, "Does he have a fever, or does he just feel warm to me because I'm a paranoid first-time mom who is perpetually sniffing out trouble??" And the one time he did have a low-grade fever, this was handy for me to know it was time to take him to his doc! Loved that I could take his temperature in his sleep without him even knowing, especially because this kid came out of the womb suspicious about mommy prodding him. (The snot sucker and my son are not friends.) 

My son loves Philips Avent pacis like nobody's business, so of course he loved his little giraffe buddy from them, too!! As he's gotten older, the giraffe has come in handy in an unexpected way — he gets SOOOO fidgety and distracted when he's taking a bottle, but my sister figured out that if you hand this lovey to him to keep him occupied, he'll focus more on eating! 

Get it from Amazon for $14.95 (available in five animal designs). 

A mom friend of mine gave this to me before my son was born, and I was like, "Aw. Cute!" Cut to several months later, when my son worshipped this fish as if it were a baby god. It was the first toy he ever noticed or really cared about as he got out of the newborn stage, and he'd do ANYTHING for it. He hated tummy time and screamed like he was getting kidnapped anytime I tried to do it, but this fishy helped distract him until he got stronger. He rolled over for the first time because he was trying to get to — you guessed it — this fishy. It has kept him occupied in MANY moments I've needed to get something done in a pinch. I love you, fishy. I hope both sides of your fishy pillow are always cold. 

Promising review: "I know it’s unconventional, but I don’t have a pet. I use these to tie up my son’s dirty diapers to prevent them from smelling up the trash before the trash is taken out. And for that purpose, these bags are wonderful. I like that they’re scented. They work so well at keeping the smell of whatever is in the bag contained, and they’re pretty thick and durable for being a poop bag. I feel like they’re worth it because each little individual roll has a lot of bag and can last anywhere from a few days to a week, sometimes longer. They’re easy to use and tie up, which I appreciate as someone who has carpal tunnel and struggles with fine motor skills occasionally. These are the best bags I’ve used out of all the ones I’ve tried over time, and the designs on the bags are cute too!" —Nick T. 

Get a dispenser with 105 bags from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two styles). 

The first time I saw a friend of mine with one of these, I was like, WHY ARE YOU PUTTING YOUR BABY IN JAIL?? But all the babies I know who use this love their baby jails and apparently sleep much better with it, especially during chaotic vacations. I already bought one for my kiddo so I can use it when we travel! 

Promising review: "This is the best money as a parent I've ever spent. It has totally changed the game in terms of traveling with a kid. We can now sleep in the same hotel room without sneaking around in the dark after 7 p.m. It's surprisingly sound-blocking, especially if you put the sound machine IN the tent with them. It makes my life SO much better. I actually bought a second one for my other child. It's compact enough that you can travel with it on a plane without losing all your luggage space, it's quick and easy to set up, and is really durable. I would recommend this to anyone who ever has to share a room with a kid, especially if they're sleep trained." —Amazon Customer

Promising review: "Can’t rave about this adorable baby shower head enough. Not only is it portable, but it’s so fun and colorful. My boys love it. It makes bath time so easy compared to having to pull down the head and bulky showerheads. Not only that, but if you don’t have a showerhead that comes off, this is your solution. The pressure of the wash is perfect even for the newborn stage. I was worried about a battery/power in the bath, but the space where the battery is stored is so secure, and I have had no issues with water leaking into it. Highly recommend this to anyone with kids!" —K Jonsson

My son is deeply emotionally dependent on Phillips Avent pacifiers. The only thing he loves as much as those pacifiers is CHUCKING THEM OUT OF HIS CRIB in the middle of the night. He is not quite old enough yet to figure out how to find a glowing paci in his crib and put it in his mouth, but the glow factor has been a huge boon for me, the pathetic mom belly down on the floor at three in the morning looking for the telltale glow of the abandoned paci. Switching to these glow-in-the-dark ones at night has been such a boon! 

Get a set of four from Amazon for $13.89 (available in two styles). 

Promising review: "I bought this for my kiddo when he was only six months old, that was over eight months ago. My kid still loves this toy. It’s also been a great toy for teaching him colors. When he dirties the tissues, I just throw them in the washer, and they clean really nicely, too." —Lyndsay Alz

I used these, and I'll be honest — they worked maybe 50% off the time. But that was still a SIGNIFICANT improvement from my very pee-happy son, who managed to pee not only into my face and my mom's face, but his OWN, MANY TIMES. My next-door neighbor told me about these, and I was supremely grateful to have something to mitigate the excessive amount of laundry I was doing to compensate. 

Get a set of six from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two styles). 

These were a must must MUST-HAVE for winter, especially in NYC, where more often than not I was walking to get wherever I wanted to go. I am a total wuss about the cold, and before I had a baby, I often kept hand warmers in my pockets. I doubted any pair of gloves could legitimately keep my hands warm in the absurd freezes that we had the winter my son was born, but these went above and beyond. I wore them in rain, snow, and some of the coldest temps I ever felt, and my hands stayed toasty. That was extremely important to me, because when my hands go numb from cold, I can't use my phone (something that would make me very nervous if I needed to do something baby-related!), and I'd be worried about my coordination picking up the baby. 

It's also just one less ~~thing~~ to prep or remember to pack on your way out the door, when you're trying to remember a zillion things your baby needs and you forget that you are also a human who needs things, too. 

Get it from Amazon for $52+ (available in seven styles). 

I got this for my little guy when he started doing tummy time in longer stretches, mostly because I had a feeling he'd enjoy it, and boy, oh boy, did he ever. He had a blast batting at the mat with his hands to make the fish inside it swim around. It also helped him with balance and coordination, since he was experimenting with shifting himself around and lifting up his arm during tummy time for the first time, too. 

Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in two colors). 

Promising review: "We bought this little music player for our daughter to use on stroller walks, and it has been really convenient. It has two music melodies and two different white noise sounds, so we can choose what works best depending on the situation. We usually use music while walking, and the white noise is especially helpful when our daughter wants to nap in the stroller. I also really like that it’s battery-operated, so there’s no need to remember to charge it before going outside. It’s small, simple, and easy to take with us." —Kate

I lived in a tiny NYC apartment when my son was born, so making space on the counter for this was a gamble, but oh my STARS, I would have been lost without it. As a first-time, very anxious solo mom who was deeply overwhelmed by the number of bottles my VERY HUNGRY late-term preemie went through, I was both on high alert about everything being perfectly sterilized and also the amount of upkeep bottles took. This bottle washer made everything a breeze. As soon as I hit four bottles, I just filled up the reservoir tank, plopped the bottles in with one of the detergent tablets, and watched all the bottles magically get taken care of in an hour without the hullabaloo of running the dishwasher or boiling water on the stove. I adore mine so much that I put stickers all over it to express my undying gratitude. (You can see in the photos I also decorated the Baby Brezza — my version isn't on sale, but the Baby Brezza Formula Pro is 20% off, and having a Brezza if you're formula feeding at all is also worth its weight in gold!) 

Get it from Amazon for $299.99 (available in two shades). 

Promising review: "Absolutely love this Moonkie phone teether! The silicone is super soft, flexible, and completely safe for little ones to chew on. The pressable buttons keep my baby entertained while providing great relief for teething gums. It's lightweight, easy for tiny hands to hold, and very easy to clean. Highly recommend to any parents looking for a durable and cute teething toy!" —dayron mora

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two colors). 

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BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.