See which items I'd recommend and which ones I'd skip.
Building your baby registry as a first-time parent can feel overwhelming. I spent hours researching baby items, convinced there was a "right answer" for everything. Turns out, there's not. Now that my baby is a year and a half old, I can confidently say which baby products were worth it and which ones I'd skip.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.
Chicco Corso Travel System - 10/10
Pros:
- Car seat and stroller travel system
- Stroller can be used with or without the car seat
- Large weight range
- Sleek design
- Front and rear-facing options
- Cup holder
- Multiple installation options
- Fits in most cars
Cons:
- Doesn't fold when the stroller is rear-facing
Would recommend
I can't say enough great things about this travel system! We've gotten so many compliments on the stroller and it's still being put to good use at 18 months.
HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0 - 9/10
Pros:
- Detachable bassinet
- Lowering wall (and lock)
- Adjustable height
- 360-degree rotation
- Simple
- Good value
Cons:
- Large footprint / possible tripping hazard
Would recommend
Overall, we loved this bassinet. Being able to quickly detach the top piece so baby could sleep anywhere was a must for us. The only downside was our bed is fairly low to the ground, and the bassinet legs did not fit underneath. It was a bit of a tripping hazard, but we adjusted.
Munchkin Step Diaper Pail - 8/10
Pros:
- Odor control
- Baking soda puck
- Foot pedal
- Reputable brand
Cons:
- Replacement bags and baking soda pucks are an added cost
- Like any diaper pail, it never feels like it holds enough diapers
Would recommend
After extensive research, I found people choose this diaper pail for its odor control. The other diaper pail I saw frequently recommended was the Ubbi, because you can use regular trash bags. When it came down to smell versus cost, we chose smell. I haven't found the refills to be too expensive, so overall I'd say it's worth it.
Ingenuity InLighten Soothing Swing - 6/10
Pros:
- Remote controlled
- Large weight range
- Light-up mobile
Cons:
- Hardly used
- Large footprint
- Unnecessary features
What I'd get instead
There's nothing objectively wrong with this baby swing. But was it an essential? Not at all. If you want a baby swing, I'd opt for something simpler. A few songs and settings should do the trick. This alternative is smaller, portable, and half the price.
If you want the bells and whistles: Shop here.
Baby Delight Bouncer - 9/10
Pros:
- Stylish look
- Adjustable recline
- Washable cover
- Travel bag
- Good value
Cons:
- Cover shrank in the dryer over time
Would recommend
This was arguably our most-used baby item. A bouncer truly is an essential for ages 2-6 months and this one worked great. Next time, I'd probably skip the dryer, though.
Chicco Polly Foldable High Chair - 8/10
Pros:
- Wipeable seat pad
- Wheels
- Foldable
- Removable top tray with cup holder
- Adjustable footrest
- Recline settings
Cons:
- Several crevices where crumbs get stuck
- Harness runs large
Would recommend
I like this high chair! I can remove the seat pad and wash it in the sink with soap and water; no washing machine necessary. It has a sleek look and fits well in our kitchen. My only real complaint is how many places crumbs can get trapped. While I haven't tried it personally, I do wonder if a simpler model like this would be better for loose food.
Skip Hop MOBY Bathtub - 5/10
Pros:
- Works as a standalone tub if you don't have one
- Adjustable baby sling
Cons:
- Hard to clean
- Doesn't have a non-slip bottom (inside or outside the tub)
- Didn't get used in "stage 3"
What I'd get instead
If you have a bathtub, I'd skip this one and opt for a simple bath seat. Once your baby can sit up independently, you'll probably just use the regular tub anyway. So, the sling and plug are just extra parts to keep clean.
If you want the bells and whistles: Shop here.
Baby Brezza - 9/10
Pros:
- Mixes formula
- Multiple heat settings
- Dispenses 2-10 ounces
Cons:
- Hard to keep clean
- Several parts to wash by hand
Would recommend
If you don't know what a Baby Brezza is, it's basically a Keurig for baby formula. If you're formula feeding, having a machine like this one handy is well worth it. It automatically measures, mixes, heats, and dispenses the formula for you. The downside is that you'll have to clean it often, and several parts are hand-wash only. Make sure to get extra funnels, and thank me later.
VTech RM7764-2HD Baby Monitor - 9/10
Pros:
- Includes two cameras
- Travels well
- Can be used with or without Wi-Fi
- Built-in nightlight and sound machine
- Clear video quality
- Long battery life
- Temperature alerts
- Sound and motion detection alerts
Cons:
- Parent unit stand isn't stable on all surfaces
Would recommend
This baby monitor has been everything we've needed and more. We use it in non-Wi-Fi mode and can easily control the night light, sounds, zoom, and other settings directly from the parent unit. The battery life and video quality are both great. One minor downside is that the kickstand on the back of the parent unit isn't centered, so it can tip over on soft or uneven surfaces. We've also struggled with the volume on the two-way talk feature but haven't done too much troubleshooting as it's not an essential feature for us.
Jool Baby Soft Changing Pad - 3/10
Pros:
- Safety straps
- Washable cover
- Comfortable for baby
Cons:
- Zippers break or get stuck
- Only really compatible with Jool Baby covers
- Limited colors and designs
What I'd get instead
One thing I learned this year is that most changing pads have the safety straps built into the pad itself, which means you can use almost any changing pad cover you find online. The Jool Baby Soft Changing Pad is different because the safety straps are attached to the zip-on covers instead of the pad. Because of that, you're essentially limited to buying Jool Baby brand covers if you want to use the safety straps. The covers are relatively expensive, come in only a few colors, and use zippers instead of elastic. We've had the zippers break on every cover we've owned, so I definitely wouldn't recommend! Instead, I'd opt for a wipeable changing pad that doesn't need a cover like this one.
Check out more of our baby product picks here.