18 Tried, Tested & True Items We're Loving for Baby

With lots of new babies in the BCP family this year, and with more recommendations from our friends and families, we’ve gotten up-to-date on the latest and greatest baby gear. Even for experienced moms, new products are always coming out, improving on the previous versions. We’re always looking for recommendations, because so much changes from baby to baby! After trial and error and rave reviews, this is our list of FAVORITE recommendations for you!

There's a different mom speaking in each of these recommendations, but all descriptions and reviews are coming directly from either one of us or family and friends.

MAMGood old fashioned pacifiers in trendy color.We love the look of classic MAMs in current matte colors. Lots of sizes and color options.

Bibs PaciGone are the days when an ugly old paci covers half your gorgeous child's face. These pacifiers come in great colors – and the fact is my baby #6 is my first to take a paci and she loves this one. They’re available on Amazon in 2 packs (Lovely Littles also carries these – sold individually in colors which match the clothing).

Paci ClipsLove these – they are soft if baby spends time on her tummy. They need to be replaced every four months or so, because they do unravel or stretch but they’re cheap enough and cute.

Como Tomo BottlesThey’re soft to touch, easy to clean, and insulated to keep the contents warm. These will be your favorite bottles ever. Bonus: They’re easy for baby to hold. They’re made of safe silicone and the nipples come in three flow sizes. Overall very cool.Pop Yum BottlesThese bottles are great for when you’re on the go (keep one in your diaper bag always) or for the middle of the night when you don't want to go downstairs to make a bottle. The formula and water are stored separately so you can have a fresh bottle whenever you need one. The nipples on these have the same shape as the Como Tomo above – so there's no confusion for baby.Baby Brezza Formula ProAt 2 a.m. or during a fussy period, we’re usually holding a screaming infant as we attempt to make a bottle. This generally meant powder being flung everywhere as our anxiety levels rise. Now, click a button, wait 4-5 seconds and feed infant. Love, love, love!! I wish I had this with my older daughter! You need this is you’re formula feeding your baby!Kindle Breastmilk Storage SystemNo more washing bottles, or transferring from bags to bottles…if you’re a breastfeeding mother who sometimes needs to pump, this is the coolest, smartest set. Working mothers will especially love it.Baby ShusherWhen I first saw this shusher I thought – that is silly, paying that much for a little Shhhhh? Now that I have used it, this is now my go-to baby gift. It truly is magic for my son. If he is crying or having difficulty going to sleep, we turn this on, and he is soothed in less than a minute. I like that it runs for a little bit, then shuts itself off. And, you can adjust the volume to the environment and need.We have dropped it a dozen times and it has taken some abuse, but it still works great. In 10 months, we have replaced the batteries once so far. If you are willing to try it, I don't think you will regret it.Lovely LittlesYou know when you find a new site and you know this will be a favorite? I absolutely love shopping for layette and other baby clothing at Lovely Littles. They carry the softest baby basics in gorgeous colors and fabrics that will make your heart skip a beat.

The site is genius. You can shop by style or color (my favorite way to shop) and pick and choose matching items. I’m in love with the yumminess is my lovely little sets…now I need to order more!! Basic cotton or ribbed? A bonnet, beanie, or headband to match? It's up to you! There's so many practical features on the stretchies too. I love the front snap stretchies for easy changing, the mittens to prevent scratches, the shirring by the foot that keeps it in place (newborn feet always end up out of the legs), and the extra big size of the cozy, yummy blanket. Plus, everything is so well-priced and the site carries basics up to size 4T so you can match your babies and toddlers. We found code WELCOME for 10% off your first order!The SnooThis thing is expensive, but it works. After going 48+ hours with no sleep from birth to recovery at the hospital, it was amazing to come home and have the baby be quickly soothed by the Snoo. It took me hours to calm his wailing at the hospital recovery ward. The Snoo soothes him in about 30 seconds or less. After some sleep deprivation, I would’ve paid twice as much for the results this thing achieves! If you can afford it, you must buy this!Adds more sleep:Boosts sleep 1-2+ hours by soothing babies with the constant rumbly sound and gentle rocking they loved in the womb.Automatically responds to cries:"Hears" fussing and responds with gradually stronger white noise + motion to find the best level to calm fussing. Like your own personal helper, 24/7!Prevents risky rolling:The only sleep solution that keeps your baby safely on the back, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.Easy to customize:Our app logs your baby's sleep and lets you adjust motion, sound and cry sensitivity. It also includes a preemie mode and weaning option to ease transition to the crib.

The Baby JoyWant a great affordable bassinet option?I’ve used portacribs for all of my previous babies (before they transition to the full-sized cribs), and after the last one was constantly breaking (and not to mention, it was heavy to move, bulky to store between babies, and not really portable), I wanted to go with a soft bassinet this time. And I love the Baby Joy. I keep my infant next to my bed, and it's easy to reach over and grab when she wakes up, and I don't have to bend down to put her back. The mattress is comfy, the size of the bassinet is great (it's roomy but not bulky), and it's easy to fold up to take along or store (there's a great storage bag included). Overall a great, well-priced pick.Dock a TotThis makes a great gift. I’m not sure if it's one of the must-have baby items, but with three floors in my home and a newborn baby, I use this all day every day. It's wonderful to be able to set the baby on the couch next to me or bring her down to the basement while I work so I can have my baby near me. I use it to change her diapers and let her nap in it through the day. The original is quite pricey but there are lots of cheaper versions on Amazon like this one.

Pehr Muslin SwaddlesLove the prints and designs of these!Mustella Gift SetLoved getting this as a gift. It has everything you need for your new baby and the smell is just delicious. I love that it's made with natural ingredients.DoonaLifechanging. As if you don't already know that. But if you’re wary about the price, one of us is already using a Doona for a third child, and it's still as good as it was when new so you can rely on being able to use it for longer than a standard car seat (Doona now sells replacement seat covers and wheels so you can refresh it if necessary – but it's really easy to remove the seat cover to wash).YoYoBig, bulky strollers are out. Light, easy to fold, portable, and practical strollers are in (why would you need anything else after your baby outgrows the Doona?). And the YoYo is the ultimate in that category. If you’re looking for a less expensive alternative, we also like the GB Pockit Plus. It's not as flashy, but also very light, easy to travel with, and easy to fold up.

Water WipesNo chemicals in these wipes…these wipes use pure water to clean your baby.

7am Diaper BagIt's large, it's organized, it has 4 straps to easily attach to different types of carriages.Carriage HookThe adjustable straps on are designed to give an ideal fit on any sized-handle. Whether you clip them on your baby walker, shopping cart, or stroller, you are guaranteed a perfect fit! It is especially helpful for diaper bags or strollers with no storage basket.

Stroller Cup Holder with Phone Holder

Filed Under: Baby & Toddler Tagged With: baby, essentials, Products We Love, shopping