13 Safe Baby Products That Are Budget-Friendly
This gear meets high safety standards while still fitting your budget, so you can have peace of mind without breaking the bank.
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Safe baby gear doesn’t have to come with a premium price tag. Every parent wants safe products for their baby, and it can be easy to assume that “safe” means higher cost. But the truth is, all baby products sold in the US must meet strict federal safety standards (or risk being recalled)—whether they cost $20 or $2,000.
In the same vein, some parents might worry that “budget-friendly” means cutting corners on safety. Being safety-conscious can mean considering features like more secure installation methods in car seats, reduced chemical emissions in furniture or BPA-free plastic or plastic alternatives in bottles, but it can be a challenge to find those features at a lower cost.
That’s why we’ve done the research for you. In this guide, we’re highlighting affordable baby products that deliver on safety features, so you can have peace of mind without breaking the bank.
Infant Car Seats
Even at lower price points, car seats must meet or exceed federal safety standards in order to legally be sold in the US. Translation: Any car seat you buy (and use correctly according to the user manual) will be safe for your baby. The picks below go beyond those standards, offering premium-level safety features like rigid LATCH, flame-retardant-free fabrics and anti-rebound bars or panels, and for less than $275.
One thing to note: Even if you choose a car seat that has a flexible LATCH installation or a seatbelt installation, those are still perfectly safe options. Rigid LATCH just gives that extra bit of doesn’t-move-an-inch security in the event of an accident.
Graco GoMax Baseless Infant Car Seat ft. Insta-Install Rigid LATCH - Ace
From $215.99According to car seat safety experts, rigid LATCH provides the most secure and error-proof installation compared to other options, but there’s no need to spend $500 or more just to get this safety feature. The Graco GoMax has the option of a rigid LATCH install (which connects in seconds, by the way), plus the flame-retardant-free fabrics are a bonus for chemical-conscious parents.
Chicco KeyFit Max ClearTex Infant Car Seat - Lupine
From $239.99For parents keeping chemical exposure top-of-mind, Chicco’s ClearTex line features fabrics that are totally free of flame retardants. And the base has an anti-rebound panel, which provides extra protection in the event of a crash (and is usually a feature of higher-end car seats).
Strollers
Just like with car seats, all strollers are required to meet certain safety standards, and even affordable strollers can still provide extra safety features like lay-flat positioning—the safest way for newborns to ride. Many stroller seats don’t recline flat enough for baby to use safely before they’ve gained proper head and neck control, so having a lay-flat option allows them to use their stroller from birth.
Babies under six months can also ride in a stroller with a compatible infant car seat attached up until they outgrow their car seat, but if you’re hoping your baby will take a nap in their stroller, a lay-flat position is the only safe option for sleep.
Graco Modes Pramette Stroller - Pierce
From $223.99With just a couple minor adjustments, this stroller goes from a regular stroller seat to newborn bassinet mode in seconds, meaning even the smallest babies can ride safely and securely. It’s also compatible with any Graco SnugRide infant car seat for another newborn-safe option.
Sleep
Safe sleep is a major topic for new parents, and thankfully you don’t need to overspend to find products that meet strict federal safety standards for safe sleep. Whether it’s a bassinet or a crib, your baby’s sleep space should have a firm, flat surface free from added extras like pillows, blankets or bumpers. The products below don’t just meet those federal standards, they go a step further with extra safety measures by being certified for low chemical emissions.
Bassinets
Chicco LullaGo Anywhere Portable Bassinet - Sandstone
From $99.99This bassinet is lightweight and foldable for travel, with breathable mesh sides and a sturdy frame. And while bassinets in general are perfectly safe sleep spaces for babies under four to six months old, the LullaGo is GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which means it meets the strictest safety standards for chemical and VOC emissions.
Cribs
A forever favorite of parents and Babylist editors alike, this crib has all the hallmarks of IKEA’s best: a minimalist, solid wood design for an affordable price. It’s even third-party tested for chemical emissions, and was found to have fewer emissions than GREENGUARD Gold requirements, making it easily one of the safest budget-friendly choices on the market.
Crib Mattresses
Graco Premium Foam Crib and Toddler Mattress - White
From $99.97Ideally, crib mattresses are breathable and feature a removable, washable cover, but this one from Graco goes several steps further. The foam core is made from CertiPUR-US Certified foam, so it’s free of harmful flame retardants, heavy metals, formaldehyde and phthalates. It’s also GREENGUARD Gold Certified and Baby Safety Alliance Verified, so you can rest assured knowing that it’s been independently tested by multiple labs for safe materials and durability.
Baby Monitors
Some parents prefer to avoid Wi-Fi baby monitors due to security and hacking concerns. If you’re looking for a baby monitor that only connects locally (no remote monitoring and no app control), we love these affordable options for both audio-only and video.
This reliable audio monitor from VTech has been a go-to for families for over a decade—and for good reason. It picks up even the quietest sounds without the constant white noise that some monitors have, and the two-way intercom comes in handy for soothing a fussy baby from all the way across the house (the 1,000-foot range is pretty impressive for such a petite, affordable monitor).
If you’re looking for a baby monitor with both audio and video feed, this one has all the features of a higher-end option, but at less than half the price. A five-inch screen, night vision, two-way audio and room temperature monitoring make it a solid budget-friendly choice, and it doesn’t lack in sound quality or range.
Feeding
Some parents may still be wondering about the safety of plastic and heat exposure, but researchers know for sure that the safest options for food containers (including baby bottles) are BPA-free materials. Glass, silicone, BPA-free plastic, stainless steel and even biodegradable, biorenewable materials like bamboo are totally safe for your baby to drink out of and eat off of as long as you follow the manufacturer's guidelines.
Bottles
You might assume that glass bottles are more expensive, but they’re often the same price (or very close to the same price) as plastic bottles. And if plastic bottles are more your thing, they can still be a safe feeding option; just do your best to avoid sterilizing and running through the dishwasher, which may cause the plastic to degrade—more on that below.
Whether you prefer glass, plastic or silicone bottles, we have three reasonably-priced options below.
These glass bottles are durable, easy to sanitize and naturally more heat-resistant than plastic or silicone. Glass bottles (minus any collars, nipples and vents—usually made from plastic) are totally safe to go into bottle sterilizers, boiling water, dishwashers and bottle warmers without any risk of chemicals leaching out or the material breaking down. On the other hand, keep in mind that glass bottles can break or chip if dropped.
Boon NURSH Silicone Pouch Bottles - Pink, 4 Oz
From $19.99With a collapsible silicone pouch that reduces air bubbles, these bottles help minimize gas and colic without extra parts to clean (as opposed to bottles with anti-colic vents). Silicone is safe to clean and sanitize at high temperatures without the same chemical and material breakdown risks as rigid plastic, so these bottles are easy to clean in the dishwasher or sterilizer or to warm up with a bottle warmer. And while silicone bottles do tend to cost a little more than the cheaper plastic or glass options, these ones are a solid mid-price option that still feels budget-conscious.
Dr. Brown's Anti-colic Options+ Narrow Baby Bottle Starter Gift Set - Clear/Blue
From $29.99Well-loved for its anti-colic vent system that helps reduce spit-up and fussiness, this starter set includes multiple sizes to grow with your baby. This is one of the most popular bottle options among new parents thanks to the versatility (the vent pieces are removable if your baby doesn’t need them), but since these bottles are made entirely of plastic, it’s best not to expose them to high temperatures. Plastic bottles can break down faster in the dishwasher, boiling water and sterilizers, so to use them safely, it’s recommended to hand-wash them and avoid sterilizing.
Toddler Dishware Sets
If you’re looking to reduce your plastic use once baby starts solid foods, silicone and bamboo dishware sets make great options. Silicone’s durability means it’s much better suited for the dishwasher than regular plastic, and bamboo is a sustainable material.
Made from food-grade silicone, this set is durable and dishwasher-safe. And since it comes with a full set—a plate, a bowl, a cup and utensils, all designed for little hands—it’s a practical way to bundle your kiddo’s dinnerware setup when they start solid foods.
Lightweight, break-resistant and made from renewable bamboo, this set offers an eco-conscious option at a price point that we can’t argue with (gentle on the Earth and your budget). Just keep in mind that none of these pieces are dishwasher safe, so it’s hand-wash only for this set.
