Whether you're expecting your first child or your fourth, parenting is one of the most challenging and important jobs out there. So, we can use all the help we can get! Luckily, more and more innovative products have hit the market to help make parents' lives just a little bit easier. Many new, groundbreaking options are available, from self-pushing strollers to smart changing tables.
But if you've been baby shopping or putting together your registry, you know how overwhelming it can be to figure out what you really need. To help, we've put together this list of the most innovative baby products out there, focusing on essential gear like car seats and strollers.
Some are splurges, but ones that moms say are worth the investment. Read ahead for our top baby gear picks that can save you extra time and foster your child's development.
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Convenient Car Seats
Leave those clunky car seats in the past; these latest ones are not only easy to secure but lightweight and full of extra features. This year, we're seeing a lot of rotating versions that easily convert into forward-facing toddler seats as your baby grows. Plus, it makes getting your baby in and out of the car seat a breeze.
The Cybex Sirona S SensorSafe Convertible Car Seat is top of our list and includes 360-degree functionality with a smart sensor. Its harness clip alerts you if your baby is overheated, unbuckles, or has been in the car seat for too long.
Evenflo Gold's Revolve360 Rotational All-In-One Convertible Car Seat is another excellent car seat choice. Also, a 360-degree design, it is water-resistant, machine-washable, and made to last for up to 10 years. You've probably seen the Nuna Pipa Flame Retardant Free Car Seat & Base in photos of celebrity moms like Beyonce or Jessica Alba. This lightweight car seat of choice is flame retardant, ergonomic, and can even be installed safely without a seat base for use on airplanes too.
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Multifunctional Strollers
Going out with kids can be chaotic, but a good stroller helps ease tensions and make your life easier. New models offer everything from convertible seat positions to canopies and even electric motors that help push up-hill.
Consider the Cybex ePraim Stroller, the Ferrari of strollers built with a revolutionary electric motor and lithium battery; it's one of the most high-tech strollers available. This stroller will literally give you an extra push up-hill or on rugged terrain. It even has an all-wheel suspension! Plus, its frame supports multiple seat positions and can be swapped out as your child grows.
Another popular option you've likely seen is the Uppababy Vista V2 Stroller. Its best known for being lightweight and easy to maneuver around. It's machine-washable and conveniently folds up in one step. This model has won countless awards and is the perfect stroller for expanding families with support for up to 3 children. For moms who prefer a multi-use product, The Doona Car Seat & Stroller doesn't disappoint. With just the press of a button, its car seat conveniently transforms into a stroller and gets you where you have to go with ease.
Wearable Breast Pumps
If you love the idea of convenient pumping without tangled wires and bulky pumps, these newer wearable breast pumps might be just what you need. Slip the discrete pumps inside your bra, and the suction will do the rest for you to collect milk on the go.
Elvie's Double Electric Wearable Smart Breast Pump comes in different sizes and is quiet enough to let you pump in public without drawing attention. Milk is pumped into built-in 5 oz containers on each side. Another popular choice is the Willow 3.0 Wearable Breast Pump which even lets you pump while lying down. It collects up to 4 oz in spill-proof, reusable bags on each side. Both come with intuitive apps that allow you to remotely control the pump and monitor milk flow without any surprise leaks.
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Baby Feeding Helpers
Formula dispensing machines are a major help when waking up in the middle of the night to feed your baby. With the new Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced WiFi machine, you won't have to worry about incorrect mixing, warming, or spills at an ungodly hour.
This latest version lets you mix and warm a consistent formula bottle with the press of a button from your phone. It can be heated to three different temperatures and works with any bottle brand. The dispenser even alerts you when you are low on formula or forgot to add a bottle.
The Beaba BabyCook NEO is another excellent product to help feed your baby once they start on solid foods. This homemade baby food maker can steam, blend, defrost, and reheat fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Food is ready in 20 minutes or less, and everything is dishwasher safe and BPA free. It also comes in a bunch of pretty colors and will fit right in with your kitchen décor.
High-Tech Baby Monitors
You might be wondering what a baby monitor can do beyond allowing you to see video of your baby. The answer is plenty, from tracking sleep patterns to monitoring growth, breathing, movement, sounds, and room temperature. The award-winning Nanit tops our list as one of the most innovative baby monitors. Its app offers insightful real-time data while breathing wear, and smart sheets provide a sensor-free way to help your baby's development.
The Owlet Cam Smart HD Video Baby Monitor is another popular choice that offers a 130-degree view, two-way audio, and sleep-tracking for an affordable price. Its HD night-vision, humidity, and temperature monitoring via its app bring parents peace of mind.
If you're looking for extra baby monitoring, give the new BabySensor a try. Place it on your baby's arm to track your little one's temperature, heart rate, and oxygen levels. The app also lets you control white noise and night lights in the baby's nursery.
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Better Bassinets
Nothing says "good night's sleep" like the perfect bassinet, and there are plenty of innovative options for mom to choose from. If you're always on the move and portability is key, check out the lightweight Halo BassiNest Flex. It features a carrying bag for quick transport, has an adjustable height, and can even fit under your bed.
The popular 4Moms MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet mimics parents’ natural movements to soothe your baby to sleep. It helps establish a bedtime routine and pairs perfectly with their award-winning baby swing listed below. Ready to splurge? Try the Snoo Smart Sleeper, the brainchild of pediatrician and sleep training expert Dr. Harvey Karp. The Snoo's rocking motion and white noise adjusts to meet your baby's nighttime needs while keeping your baby safely swaddled to prevent rolling.
Smart Baby Swings
Want to rest your tired arms and have somewhere safe to put your baby down while you reply to an email? Check out the Munchkin Bluetooth Enabled Baby Swing, which sways side-to-side and offers remote-controlled speed along with ambient sounds and classical music. The swing weighs only 10 pounds and easily disassembles for quick storage or travel.
While it has been around for a few years, we still think 4Moms’ latest MamaRoo 4 is one of the greatest baby swings on the market. It offers Bluetooth connectivity with 25 different motions and speed combinations to soothe your baby, allowing them to recline back or sit up. Its breathable fabric surface keeps your baby comfortable and is easily machine washable.
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Innovative Changing Pads
Changing your little one has never been easier and more sanitary. You might not think changing pads can be innovated, but we’re surprised how helpful new high-tech or cover-free options can be. The Skip Hop Changing Pad solves the problem of a fussy baby by distracting them with a cute overhanging mobile while you clean them up. Plus, the contoured, cushioned pad eliminates the need for covers and is easy to scrub down.
Want something even more intuitive? The Hatch Baby Grow Smart Changing Pad and Scale is a great 2-in-1 product that lets you monitor your baby's weight while you change their diaper. The built-in wireless scale connects with an app that provides insights on weight, feedings, and diaper changes. It even includes the ability to share data with other caregivers and compare stats to World Health Organization data.
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Germ-Blasting Gadgets
Now more than ever, it is important to make sure your baby gear is clean, whether it's the pacifier that dropped on the kitchen floor or the bottles your baby already polished off. The Bombol Blast UV Disinfector is up to 100,000 times more effective than traditional cleaning products, kills 99.99% of viruses and bacteria, and can be stored away and folded into a wallet size.
Looking for something to help you keep up with cleaning all those baby bottles? Check out Baby Brezza's Bottle Sterilizer-Dryer Advanced. Its HEPA filter ensures your bottles, breast pump parts, and other accessories are steam cleaned using the purest air possible. Best of all, it can hold up to 8 bottles, and two complete pump sets simultaneously. The time saved from not having to wash those bottles manually means more time to relax, recharge, and snuggle with your baby!
While we don’t expect you to need everything on this list, we hope it helps you narrow down your selections. It’s amazing how much innovation has happened in baby products over the years, from smart technology to creative solutions. We can’t wait to see what they come up with next.