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Even with a village to raise a child, you’re still gonna need a lot of stuff to get the job done and make things a little easier.

I'm the father of two small humans and one very small canine and the former SEO Strategy Manager & Editor for the BuzzFeed Shopping Team.

Promising review: "As a first-time mom, washing bottles and pump parts became one of my biggest daily tasks. This bottle washer has made life SO much easier. I love that it filters tap water in just 1 minute, so I don’t have to worry about buying bottled or store-bought distilled water. My favorite feature is the 5-in-1 system—it washes, sterilizes, dries, and stores everything hygienically. The 12-minute quick wash is perfect when I need a clean bottle fast (especially for those night feeds), and I can also use the 29-minute standard or 45-minute heavy cycle when I want a deeper clean. It even holds up to 8 bottles at once, which saves me so much time. Overall, it’s one of the best baby purchases I’ve made. It gives me peace of mind knowing my baby’s bottles are clean and ready whenever I need them!" —Erika pavico

Promising review: "Aquaphor works great to prevent diaper rash on my infant. It also makes cleaning the area easier and moisturizes the skin. I use Aquaphor during every diaper change and am one of those parents who swear by it! Highly recommended for this reason." —Anita

Promising review: "This bath rinse cup has been a fantastic addition to our bath time routine. It has a removable rain shower insert, which makes rinsing my daughter’s hair and body gentle and tear-free, which is a huge relief for both of us. The handle is comfortable to hold, even with wet hands, and it is never too heavy, even when full. The cup’s versatility to switch between a steady stream and a soft shower is perfect, depending on which child we are bathing and what they prefer. It’s also super easy to clean. The price is super reasonable for how functional it is, and I would highly recommend it to any new parent!" —Henry

Promising review: "Very easy to use; the numbers are very clear. It reads very quickly. You hold it just a couple of inches away from the forehead, and it reads almost immediately. I would recommend this to new parents and toddlers because it reads so quickly, and you're not frightening them by holding it on their forehead. It's just holding it in front for just a few seconds, and you have a temperature." —nila mikoleit lasher

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five colors).

Promising review: "I had tried to convince myself I didn't need this mattress and even purchased a different one when we set up the nursery, since our baby would be in a bassinet in our room initially anyway. We ended up switching our baby to his crib around five months, and inevitably, every night he'd flip over onto his belly and bury his face in the mattress. I couldn't sleep and instead just watched his vitals on the Owlet to make sure he could still breathe. After two nights, I took the plunge and ordered the Newton, and I am so glad I did! You can absolutely breathe right through it with ease, so I feel so much better about having our little guy sleep on his stomach with his face buried in it. I haven't had to clean it yet, but I love the fact that the whole thing is easily washable because it's only a matter of time! He's also sleeping great on it — usually 10–12 hours! Definitely worth it, in my opinion, especially if you have a stomach sleeper!" —Dana

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

Promising review: "We've been using Pampers Aqua Pure wipes since my first child was born, and they're still the only wipes I regularly buy for my youngest. They've been a staple in our home for years. I love that they're made with 99% water, which makes them gentle enough for everyday use on my kids' skin. They're soft, durable, and clean well without being overly wet or falling apart. We go through a lot of wipes, so having them delivered automatically means I never have to worry about running out or making an extra trip to the store. Overall, these are dependable, gentle baby wipes that have worked wonderfully for my children, and I plan to keep purchasing them." —Everyday Finds Edit

Get a box of 336 wipes from Amazon for $49.99 (also available in other pack sizes). 

Promising review: "My son has several versions of this hooded towel. The dinosaur is so freaking cute. He looks adorable, all wrapped up, freshly out of the bath, in his hooded towels. They dry well and are soft. He loves them. You should get them for your little one, too!" —Dwms2640

I'm here to tell you that the Diaper Genie has been a part of our babies' lives from their first diaper changes at home to their last. It's not perfect, but it is close. Once that diaper is slam-dunked in there, I only have to change the bag about once a day. Yes, you will get hit with the smell when you open it, but just don't get too close. Otherwise, all odors are contained when the lid is closed. 

Promising review: "I have used these before and love that they keep everything clean and not smelly. I personally have put an additional air freshener on the inner lid to keep it extra fresh. This is also a really good gift for a new mom." —Rebekah 

Promising review: "I bought these for my Diaper Genie. I’m a first-time mom, and I was gifted a Diaper Genie, but I wanted a more affordable refill. Looking to save money anywhere I can. I came across these, and they’re great! They’re really sturdy and do not have a scent to them. At least, I can’t smell anything. This will always be my go-to refills." —Shirley 

Promising review: "Our 10-month-old has decided that being restricted to a chair in the bathtub is for babies (lol), so we've unlocked a new level where he shows off his standing skills and limited understanding of gravity in the bathtub. Toys, water, and the baby himself end up outside of the bathtub. Insert this thing – AWESOME solution! Keeps all the things and little babies inside of the bathtub. It's the perfect size, much bigger than I thought, but still fits in our very small bathroom. This is one of those things we are going to want to buy for everyone who has a baby. We've had no issues with it falling off so far, which surprises me. Definitely recommend this!" —Leigh

Get it from Amazon for $59.95+ (available in two sizes and four colors).

Promising review: "As many have already said, this is an expensive playmat! And, as others have also acknowledged, it is so worth it! I got this when my baby was only a couple of weeks old. She's our first, so I wanted to get a playmat that seemed like it would last from child to child but would also age with my baby. This fits that want perfectly!" — GraceO

Promising review: "Boogie Wipes are an absolute lifesaver, especially during cold and allergy season. They are incredibly gentle on sensitive skin and don’t cause irritation, even with frequent use. The chamomile and vitamin E leave the skin feeling soft and soothed, not dry or red like regular tissues. The fresh, clean scent is light and pleasant, and the wipes are perfectly moist—not too wet or sticky. They work great for babies and kids, but honestly, adults can use them too! Perfect for runny noses, messy faces, or quick cleanups on the go. If you have little ones, these wipes are a must-have. High quality, gentle, and effective—definitely a product I’ll keep buying. Highly recommended!" —KittyBlinky

Get a six-pack of 30 wipes each from Amazon for $28.82 (also available in five other quantities).

Promising review: "These are essential for every newborn household. They can be used as burp cloths, changing pads, towels to wipe up spills, or cloth diapers. I use them every feed, every day. When I change my son, I use them to cover his 'business' to prevent unwanted spray. I use them underneath my kids when changing them to protect whatever surface I’m working on. When my kids get a nasty rash, I use them as cloth diapers to air them out to heal. They are the first thing I reach for when my kids' spit up. Plus, since they are white, you can bleach them out to give them a superior clean." —Rebecca

Promising review: "If you are looking for a great baby shower gift, look no further. This kit has been a lifesaver when it comes to my newborn. As far as the product 'Windi' is concerned, I thought I would never use this. Now I think the fart straw is the handiest product on the market with my colicky, gassy baby. The head-scrubber gently exfoliates. The snot-sucker is way nicer than a bulb syringe. I have used every product in the kit, and my son is still only 6-weeks-old." —SP

The Baby Brezza has been one of my best investments for year one (and beyond) in Babyland. Late-night feeds no longer mean fumbling, spilling, mixing, warming, and then delivering a so-so bottle to a crying child too many minutes later. No, in seconds, a measured and warm concoction is in hand and then in the baby's mouth. Just add water to the tank and formula to the dispenser, then serve bottles ranging from 2 to 10 ounces, warmed to three different temperatures. The time, effort, and stress this wonderful machine has saved me from is emotionally immeasurable and worth the price tag. It even forces you to clean it after every four uses because that formula gets gunky, and you get lazy. 

Promising review: "This was a huge blessing! Streamlined everything for night feeding, especially. We kept it in our room, and it worked out great. We still use it for our toddler's nighttime bottle! Our friend purchased one for us in the newborn stage, and so we gifted it to my sister for her newborn stage; that's how much we love it!" —Stephanie

Promising review: "Incredible results! I used this on four garments that my newborn had pooped on. The stains had set and run through the wash twice already. Well, after soaking them for four hours in this product, they came out, using what I have to imagine is some magical formula. This is a must-have for any parent!" —Metro West Mama

Promising review: "This blanket is just perfect for a little one. It's not too heavy, but it provides lots of comfort, and it's as soft as an angel's kiss. Perfect gift or to bring home for yourself." —Annemieke P.

Get it from Quince for $24.90 (available in four colors). 

This was the third (maybe fourth) white noise machine I bought for my baby/toddler's room, and it's still doing the job after many years. There's a lot of city traffic and a very busy intersection outside our apartment windows, and the Douni masks it all (except for the occasional blaring ambulance siren). The wood grain is a nice change of pace from all the other white, black, metallic gadgets populating our home. Super powerful sound too!

Promising review: "I would recommend this to anyone who wants a sound machine for themselves or their kids. I may make it a baby shower gift in the future. The only bad part is that I may have to buy two more for myself and my new baby on the way. I’m glad I found one I love." —Deb W

Get it from Amazon for $30.87+ (available in two colors).

I can't stress enough how important this piece of furniture will be for new parents. You spend so much time in your child's first few months feeding, rocking, soothing, and even snoozing with them. And you often need to do a lot of that while seated. So shouldn't that chair be totally awesome? Spacious and supportive, this glider is a dream, especially with the adjustable head support feature (no more piling up random pillows). Best of all, the chair controls are on the outside, making them harder for little fingers to find. Yes, it's pricey, but it's easy to clean, so it will last through multiple kids and can be passed along.

Promising review: "I furnished most of my nursery with secondhand things from friends, but decided my one splurge purchase would be a new Nurture& glider. My baby is now one month old, and I'm so grateful for it! I love the wide seat and am glad I got the electric recliner instead of the manual recliner. It's easy on my C-section recovery and easy to use while holding a baby. The charging port is also super clutch for charging our sound machine and other nursery devices. I appreciate the lumbar pillow I got because I can use it for back support or on the sides as an additional breastfeeding prop." —ELIZABETH Z 

Get it from Nurture& for $899 (originally $1,099; available in three colors).

Promising reviews: "An essential for my baby. Every diaper change was an event full of crying and screaming until I bought this. Then it became a bonding time full of coos and smiles. I absolutely love this thing. It is super easy to set up and use, and you can buy the wipes in bulk, which likely saves you money as well. If your baby cries every time you change the diaper, I highly recommend this." —Jorge

"When this was given as a gift, I never thought we’d use it. But now I love it!! Diaper changes are so much easier when you’re not putting cold and wet onto baby’s tushy. Love it and will give it as a gift to new parents!" —Amy L Jimenez

A $250 camera? Yes indeed, and worth every penny! The Nanit is a big-time investment in everyone getting a good night's sleep. The camera mounts above the crib and streams live HD and night vision to iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, or Echo Show devices. That essentially means your phone becomes a monitor (via the app) that you're less apt to lose and won't forget to charge. The night vision allowed us to hang back whenever we heard a noise, so we could make better decisions about whether the baby "got this" or we needed to handle the situation. We get weekly reports on our baby's sleep patterns as well as updates and tips sent directly to the app. Not sure how we lived without this; would recommend it to every parent.

Promising review: "I have bought three of these for gifts, cannot recommend enough! This is such a great monitor. I’ve used mine for 2+ years with my son. The added features of knowing when your child fell asleep/how long they have been asleep for, or how they are breathing (helps on these sick nights), along with the temp/humidity, are all wildly helpful. It helps ease some first-time parent anxiety." —Kelly Powers 

Get it from Amazon for $231.99+ (available in four styles). 

Promising Review: "All bottle brushes are NOT created equal. This one is better than the others. Go ahead and spend the extra because it's totally worth it. Here's why...I spent the first couple of months using a less expensive brush. I figured it would be fine. But I noticed a white haze really starting to buildup at the bottom of the bottle. (Breast milk is notorious for being hard to clean!) The bristles on a regular brush can't touch it (especially the corners), no matter how you work it. Sure, the sides of the bottle were getting clean, but not the bottom. I sucked it up and got this brush, and now, because of the sponge on the end, I can get that pesky residue out of the whole bottle. Nice to know it's actually clean before giving it to my baby." —JessiM

Get it from Amazon for $4.97 (available in three colors). 

Promising review: "I use this almost exclusively on my 5-month-old and have since she was a newborn. I LOVE it. It’s so much easier than using clippers, and it does come with clippers if you ever need them. It’s so gentle that it doesn’t hurt them if you accidentally slip, but it does work to file the nails down! When she was a newborn, I used it when she fell asleep on me after feeding (much easier when she’s asleep), and now that she only sleeps in her crib, I use it while distracting her with Baby Einstein. I definitely recommend this product!" —Kathryn

Promising review: "Love our Boppy! We had a baby in the NICU, and this was a lifesaver for us. Figuring out ways to feed with the bottle and for breastfeeding. Now that our girl is a little older, we are using it to help with our tummy time!" —Becca

Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in 19 colors and patterns). 

Soooo, this is Mr. Whale, at least that's what he's called in our house. My knees and I loved this whale so much. It offers just the right amount of cushiness, so I don't have to make that "old-man-getting-up" noise every time I finish bathing my kids.

Promising review: "It does exactly what it's meant to do. I can be on my knees giving my baby a bath without pain and being on the hard tile. Would recommend this for anyone who is giving their child a bath." —Bradley thomsen

Promising review: "This is a must if you’re bathing a toddler in the big bathtub. I remember I did not have this option with my children, and I always worried about them hitting their heads. This provides very good protection and safety. Highly recommend for anyone bathing a slippery toddler in the bathtub." —Denise

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "I originally purchased the Blooming Bath, but it was difficult to use with a tiny newborn in our sink since it’s so deep. It took two of us to bathe him. I received this Angelcare bath today, and we loved it. I was able to bathe my son by myself. It’s soft but structured, so it kept him in place. I was worried he would slide out, but it held him in a comfortable position very well. I liked that it’s perforated so I could fill the tub a few inches, and it keeps him warm while also allowing the water to go through as I rinse him. Plus, there’s no worry about mold or mildew with this product. Definitely recommend." —darksideoftheluna

Get it from Amazon for $19.98+ (available in three 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.

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.