Middle-of-the-night diaper changes and cleaning spills may be your new normal, but that doesn’t mean it all ever becomes easier to handle. To help you through some of parenting’s toughest—and dirtiest—situations, we found eight products that are total game-changers. Read on for our picks.
Buckle Me Baby Coats: Jackets You Can Wear in the Car Seat
Buckle Me Baby Coats
When cold weather hits, you bundle kiddo up. But, did you know that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends taking your child out of bulky coats and outerwear before placing them in the car seat? Avoid the on/off jacket game with Buckle Me Baby Coats, winter coats you don’t have to remove before hopping in the car seat. The coat’s smart design allows you to snap portions of the coat around your car seat’s buckles (watch the video tutorial here). Designed by a mom, these warm and safe coats have been crash-tested, evaluated by first responders and approved by Child Passenger Safety Technicians. You’ll love the collection’s fun, bold colors and its affordability—coats start at $79.99. Sizes start at 6-9 month and go to 6T.
Lark Adventurewear: Baby Activewear That’s Moisture-Wicking and UPF 50+
Lark Adventurewear
Baby’s skin is oh-so-soft, and you won’t settle for clothes that are anything less than silky smooth. Turn to Lark Adventurewear for breathable and soft fabric that will actually last (no pilling here). Their custom cotton-bamboo fabric is called Softek™, which isn’t used in any other clothing brand. It wicks moisture and is made without chemicals or synthetic fabrics. Choose from rompers, bodysuits, dresses, footies and more. The footies (pictured here) feature reverse zippers, extra grippy feet and tagless labels. Bonus: Each piece of clothing is made with UPF 50+.
You have enough to keep track of when you’re a new mom and finding lost socks shouldn’t be on your list of daily tasks. Squid Socks’ unique design features silicone dots on the inside cuff of the sock, which prevent the socks from slipping off (truth—we tested them!). Combine that with a snug fit and a blend of polyester, nylon and spandex, and you’ve got socks that finally will stay on those little feet.
You may not be able to prevent the inevitable spills, but you can put a stop to the sheer amount of stains thanks to Dry Baby. The collection, which includes bodysuits, rompers, pants and bibs, are water, stain and odor repellent. Developed by a former NASA scientist, this smart garment will repel liquid—it literally rolls right off the fabric (we tested this one, too). Dry Baby is made with no harsh chemicals and boasts a variety of fun designs in soft and breathable fabric. Prices start at $9.99.
Gunamuna Zippered Pajama: A PJ That Makes Diaper Changes a Breeze
Gunamuna
With a squirmy baby or during a 3 a.m. blowout, onesie snaps are a parent’s worst enemy. Gunamuna’s newest product, the GunaPAJAMA, boasts a zipper at the inseam for easy diaper changes. Simply unzip, change and zip onesie back up. The footie-less pajama’s supersoft bamboo rayon material is stretchy and the neck opening generous, which makes getting it over baby’s head easy-peasy.
SwaddleDesigns Transitional Swaddle Sack: Ease the Transition from Swaddle to Sleepsack
SwaddleDesigns Transitional Swaddle Sack
Your babe is finally sleeping longer stretches on her own, and now you’re tasked with transitioning from swaddle to sleepsack (cue the cold sweat). To ease this transition and help promote self-soothing, SwaddleDesigns has released the new Transitional Swaddle Sack. It’s arms-up with a fold-over mitten cuff design, which your baby can wear open or closed. The hip-healthy design allows baby to sleep with enough room for her knees and hips to flex, and its two-way zipper makes diaper changes a cinch. Plus, you can’t beat the $22 price tag.
So many baby products claim to make diaper changes easier, but few live up to the hype. ZippyJamz is the real thing. The onesie features two zippers: one that runs from neck to right foot and the other on the inseam. Made of 100% organic cotton, each onesie does indeed make diaper changes easier thanks to the premium zipper along the inseam. Instead of the common neck snap, you’ll find a small cuff that covers the zipper so as not to irritate your baby’s skin.
Whether you prescribe to Dr. Harvey Karp's 5 S’s, have pacifiers in every corner of your house, or live in your rocking chair (or, perhaps, all of the above), soothing a baby is hard work. One mom is hoping to make it a bit easier with her new invention: The Ready Rocker, a portable rocker that allows you to rock baby anywhere. Whether you’re short on space or are always on the go, the Ready Rocker turns any surface (think bed, chair, wall) into a rocking chair. It’s lightweight at 7 pounds and is slim enough to fit easily into your car, in the closet or on a shelf. Available in three different material options and various colors.
If the above list wasn’t proof enough, it’s clear that the baby and kids space is constantly reinventing itself, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with next. While we love new products, we also continually go back to tried-and-true brands we can’t get enough of. Read on for some of our favorite picks from the 2017 ABC Kids & Baby Expo.
Convenience Because Your Life Is Complicated Enough
Beyond more sleep, what any savvy parent craves is more convenience as they go about their daily lives. Brands are listening and they’re releasing products and gear that are not only convenient but also multi-functional. Here are four new products that caught our eye:
If you're looking for functional play mats with a bit more style, turn to Skip Hop's latest reversible play mats. They're designed to double the choices for stylish, baby-safe floor coverings. On one side, you'll find a bright and colorful pattern perfect for playtime. Flip it over for a more modern look that doesn't scream "baby." All play mats are totally PVC-free and roll up for convenient transport and storage.
You probably are most familiar with Beaba's amazing baby-food cookers. And now you have one more reason to love this brand: their maternity and nursing pillow. The pillow is non-toxic with odorless micro-pearls, made of 100% French cotton fabrics and it’s machine-washable. The best part? It doubles as a maternity pillow that will provide multi-position comfort during pregnancy and a nursing pillow once baby arrives. Why invest in two products when you can invest in one great one?
What to really expect when you're expecting: baby gear whose instruction manuals are as complicated as your senior year AP calculus class. Good news: Noninoni Kids is changing this head-scratching rite of passage for new parents. Their baby crib, which debuted in October 2017, can be assembled in one minute and requires zero tools (no joke!). Don’t believe us? Watch this video our editor took!
If you want a diaper bag that uh, doesn’t look like a traditional diaper bag, then perusing Petunia Pickle Bottom’s line of functional and stylish bags is a must (and we don’t use that word lightly). Earlier this year, the company launched its modular Intermix line and after it immediately sold out, they followed up with the new Axis Intermix backpack and this sweet Disney print. With an insulated cooler at the bottom, a removable, machine-washable and water-resistant changing pad, interior pockets and more, this backpack will take you from playdate to playground seamlessly. To say it’s convenient is an understatement.
You’re one loyal customer to your favorite brands. And who can blame you? Your fave products and gear took you from maternity to the newborn stage and beyond. So when tried-and-true brands start releasing new lines of different products, you can’t help but feel little a kid in a candy shop. Here are four worth shouting about from the rooftops:
aden + anais Pajamas
aden + anais swaddles have a special place in our heart, so when the company announced it would be debuting kids’ pajamas, we immediately did a happy dance. The 100% cotton pajamas start from size 12M and go to 4T. Expect great quality, supersoft fabric and signature prints—basically, everything you’ve come to know and love about this beloved brand.
From diaper bags to teething tools to snack bags, Itzy Ritzy just gets moms. Now, thanks to the Milk Boss Feeding Support pillow, we feel like they understand us even more. The pillow is part infant feeding support, part burping pillow and part arm cushion. Slip the pillow easily on and off your arm when bottle- or breast-feeding baby. Its design positions baby at the perfect angle to reduce the chance of reflux or gas. And, when you’re done feeding, position baby over the pillow to rest on their tummy while getting burped.
We could spend hours perusing Project Nursery and even more time swooning over their Instagram feed. But, did you know that Project Nursery also is a leader in the baby monitor space? Their 5” HD Dual Connect Wi-Fi Baby Monitor System will ensure you never miss a moment with your babe. If you’re within Wi-Fi range, use the dedicated parent unit (it has an 8-hour battery life), and if you’re away, rely on the Project Nursery app to check in. Other perks include: two-way communication, the ability to record videos and snap photos and infrared night vision.
You may know Lorena Canals for their washable rugs. And they recently launched a home decor collection featuring some pretty fab items, including the basket tassels (pictured) perfect for storage of toys, blankets, magazines and more. You'll also love their wall hangings, pom pom garlands and cushions that'll really bring any room—not just a nursery or kids' room—to life. Their high-quality new line of decor is just as well-made and charming as their rugs, and we love that the colors and design are versatile enough for any room in your home.
Busy parents deserve products and gear that can keep up with their active lifestyle. If you’re a family in motion, check out these new products to make your life easier:
Maira.Tie Carrier from Cybex
Safety, function and impeccable style are just a few reasons we can’t get enough of Cybex. And their carrier, the Maira.Tie, epitomizes everything we love about Cybex. The carrier offers an ergonomic seating panel and a multi-functional head and neck rest for newborns to toddlers. With padded shoulder straps for crossed and parallel wearing, this carrier can be tied for front, side and back carrying.
There’s a new entry in UPPAbaby’s collection of stylish and highly functional strollers. The Minu is 14.5 pounds and folds into a supertiny package. You’ll be amazed at how easily it folds and unfolds with just one hand so you have the other free for holding baby. Pop the folded stroller into your car trunk, or use the carry strap and sling it over your shoulder.
If you’re looking for a wrap but are a bit intimidated by the long sheaths of fabric (now, how am I supposed to safely get baby in and out of this thing? asked every new parent ever), then you’ll want to check out the Moby Fit. This wrap goes over your head like a t-shirt and then (with just a few knots and adjustments) it’s ready to hold baby as you go about your day. Bonus: Not sure if you placed baby in correctly? Moby has a free service that allows its customers to video video chat with one of their experts to ensure you and baby are getting the most out of your Moby.
