Parenthood brings many exciting and rewarding experiences. But once you learn the countdown to becoming a parent has started, it’s time to think about baby gear.
You can show your loved ones what you want with a baby registry of the latest baby tech. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed with creating the perfect list, read on for some helpful tips and a few items to help you in the newborn phase and beyond.
A Universal Registry Sources Baby Gear From Different Retailers
Creating a universal baby registry lets you pick and choose your favorite baby accessories from different retailers. There are several universal baby registry options to choose from, but here are a few worth noting:
A great baby registry option is Babylist.com. Not only can you decide what you want from a list of stores, Babylist.com has easy-to-use checklists to make sure you don’t forget a thing. This popular baby registry also lets your family and friends know if a product is available at multiple stores so they can get the best deal. As you near your due date, Babylist gives account holders a one-time purchase discount of 15% that you can use at the Babylist Shop.
Another convenient universal registry is MyRegistry.com. If you still have your MyRegistry.com account from your wedding or birthday bash, you can easily add a baby registry. They also have registry announcement e-cards so your friends and family can start looking at the baby gear you want as soon as you make your list.
Baby Gear To Encourage Safe & Healthy Sleep
Good sleep is a crucial part of a healthy and happy baby. Here is some baby sleep gear you may want to add to your baby registry to make sure everyone is well rested.
Keep Your Newborn Close With a Bassinet
Bassinets are small beds for babies before they move into a crib. New parents like bassinets because they can easily move them from room to room. And choosing the right bassinet for your situation can make nap times and bedtime more convenient.
If you’re in the market for a high-tech bassinet, you may want to consider the Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet. Snoo says their product lets babies get “1 to 2 more hours of sleep a night than babies who sleep elsewhere” because it responds to your baby’s cries and stirring. This sleek, smart bassinet uses white noise and motion to gently lull your baby back to sleep.
With soft, mesh sides, organic cotton sheets, and securing swaddle blanket, the Snoo follows the latest safe sleeping guidelines by keeping your baby on their back while sleeping, when used as instructed. The Snoo also sends your baby’s sleep report directly to the app on your phone so you get sleep data at your fingertips.
Meanwhile, if you want a bassinet that grows with your baby, check out the Graco Pack ‘n Play Day2Dream Travel Bassinet Playard. From the changing table attachment to a portable toddler travel bed and play yard, this pack ’n’ play has it all.
As far as sleep, with the detachable bassinet rocker, parents can bring their newborn right up to the edge of their bed to gently calm their baby and rock them back to sleep. When traveling or when not in use, fold it up and store in it’s bag.
Give Your Arms a Break With a Stroller Rocker
When you’re out and can’t keep the usual nap-time routine, strap a hand-sized stroller rocker to your stroller, crib, or bouncy seat to give your baby rhythmic motion to help soothe them. These USB-rechargeable devices can easily fit in your diaper bag. Then, when your baby needs a little motion, attach the rocker to the stroller, press the button, and pick the appropriate level of soothing movement.
Here are a few stroller rocker suggestions:
The Zazu Robby Baby Rocker fits securely to a number of different places to give your baby the right amount of movement so they stay sleeping. This compact device easily straps to stroller handles, car seat carriers, or baby hammocks and starts with the press of a button. It automatically shuts off after 40 minutes but will restart if your baby cries out thanks to its Smart Cry Sensor.
Meanwhile, the Rockit Rocker attaches to a bracket on the stroller so parents can easily slide it off to recharge. It comes with one or two brackets, depending on what you choose, that stay on your stroller or car seat so it’s ready to go the next time you need it to soothe your baby.
Let a Swing Help Soothe a Fussy Baby
While it’s not recommended for babies to sleep in a swing, some infants need a little motion to calm them down before being put to bed.
You can choose between baby swings with sevral features or simple designs with a small footprint:
Bright Starts Playful Paradise Portable Compact Swing makes the perfect choice for caregivers with a small budget and small space. This swing has six different speeds, two recline positions, and bright, cheerful colors with a safari theme.
For parents who want calming music and motion, lights, a mobile, and a swivel seat, the Ingenuity InLighten Soothing Swing & Rocker takes the baby swing to a whole new level. It has soothing vibrations, white noise, and several music options. Plus, you can rotate this adorable swing 180 degrees and can it can even swing in multiple directions. Parents can also easily transform the swing into a rocker by popping out the comfy seat when needed.
Use a Sound Machine To Drown Out Household Noise
Good sleep means uninterrupted sleep, and this is where a white noise machine comes in. This essential baby gear allows you to move around your home without waking the baby.
The Hatch Rest 2nd Gen Dream Machine hooks up to Wi-Fi and plays music, white noise, and heartbeat sounds while giving caregivers the option of adding a gentle, colorful glow.
A monthly subscription can also give your baby a personalized bedtime routine with a nighttime note from you, along with special music to communicate to your baby that it’s time for sleep. You can even program a gentle music change to let your child know when it’s time to wake up.
Transition From Stroller To Car Seat With a Convertible Car Seat
Car rides can be soothing for your babies and can help them get much-needed rest. But when you arrive at your destination, transitioning relaxed babies from the car seat to the stroller can disrupt their calm mood. Plus, getting the stroller in and out of the car takes some effort. If only the car seat carrier could seamlessly morph into a stroller.
Well, that’s exactly what the Doona Car Seat & Stroller All-in-One Travel System does. Wheel your baby out to the car, easily fold the wheels behind the car seat, snap it into the base installed in your car and you’re ready to roll.
Baby Gear To Keep Them Healthy & Safe
When you have a baby, your world changes, and so does your home. You’ll need to baby proof it all, not just electrical sockets and cabinets. Fortunately, there’s a lot of baby gear tech to create a safe home for your baby.
Easily Check on Your Baby With a Video Monitor
Hearing and seeing your baby in the night without having to go into their room helps give parents peace of mind and ensures they won’t wake the baby.
Video monitors like the Nanit Pro Video Monitor, let you view your sleeping baby. Plus, it sends motion and sound alerts to your phone so you can immediately check to see if your child needs you. Parents can choose between the wall mount and the video stand, depending on their preference.
For a more economical baby gear option, HelloBaby Baby Monitor alerts you with video and audio features and even allows you to pan the video 355 degrees by remote. This monitor doesn’t hook up to Wi-Fi, which some parents prefer because of security concerns.
Monitor Your Baby’s Bath Temperature With a Water Thermometer
Watch your baby enjoy bath time with no fear that the water temperature is too hot thanks to a handy water thermometer.
The Dreambaby Duck Baby Bath Thermometer looks like an adorable floating duck toy. But it’s actually baby gear in disguise because it’s a water thermometer, too. There’s an LCD display screen on the back of the duck that uses flashing colored lights to alert you if the water is too cold (green) or too hot (red).
The Right Baby Gear for Your Baby
Whether you’re a new parent or experienced caregiver, having the right baby tech and accessories can make those first few years manageable. Keep these baby gear must-haves in mind when creating your baby registry or when gifting to new parents to keep babies healthy, safe, and rested.
