5 Everyday Baby Routines Made Simpler & Safer

Sleep, feeding, diaper changes, getting out the door, bath time—these are the moments that make up most of your day with a baby. They’re also where a few small safety checks can become second nature. Building simple, repeatable habits into routines you already have can help you feel a little more confident as you move through the day. Here are five to try, plus a few Walmart finds worth checking out while they’re on sale for the Baby Event.

1. Sleep: Start with a firm, flat surface, then let a monitor back you up

Every naptime and bedtime, take a moment to check the crib or bassinet before you set your baby down. Make sure the mattress is firm and flat, remove any pillows or loose blankets, and clear away anything propped in the corners. That one habit does more for safe sleep than almost anything else. 

If you’re still researching mattress choices, we like the Kolcraft Love & Comfort Sustainble Fiber Crib & Toddler Mattress. It's 100% waterproof, lightweight at seven pounds and GREENGUARD GOLD Air Quality certified, which means it's been established to meet strict indoor air quality standards. It's just $34.98, which is $10 off its usual price of $44.98. Need a mini crib mattress? The Dream on Me Sunset Mini Crib Mattress is another good pick, on sale now for $28.92, usually $33.97.

From there, think of a good monitor as an extra set of eyes. The Owlet Dream Sock is marked down to $239.99 right now, and it tracks your baby's heart rate and oxygen level while they sleep. Instead of hovering or guessing, you get information that helps you feel more confident, especially during those more nervewracking moments like baby’s first cold. If you’re more of a “less is more” parent when it comes to tech, people like this non-wifi Vtech video monitor, that has a crystal clear 5” parent unit and remote tilt, pan and zoom for keeping eyes on your little one when you’re in another room. It’s also just $49.97 through 9/30. 

Kolcraft Love & Comfort Sustainable Fiber Crib & Toddler Foam Mattress

$34.98

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Dream On Me Dream On Me, Mini Crib Mattress, Sunset 3" Extra Firm Waterproof Vinyl

$28.92

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28.92

Owlet Dream Sock

$239.99

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239.99

VTech VM5267 Video Baby Monitor with 5" Display and Remote Pan & Tilt Camera

$49.97

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2. Bath time: Check the water temperature, stay at arms reach

Always check the water temperature first. We know it can be a fine line between warm and too hot, which is why we love the White Hot Ducky, a less-than-$3 bath toy that also works as a temperature gauge. You can also look for a baby tub with a built in thermometer, like this one from stusgo. 

Keep the water shallow, no more than a few inches, and stay within arm's reach for the entire bath, even the quick ones. (It’s helpful if you gather everything you’ll need for after bath before you get baby in; like a towel and fresh diaper.) If baby seems chilly, you can drape them with a muslin swaddle in the bath. The fabric will hold onto the warm water and help keep them comfortable in the tub. 

Munchkin White Hot Safety Bath Ducky Toy

$2.97

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stusgo Collapsible Baby Bath Tub, Folding Baby Bathtub with Cushion

$32.58

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3. Diaper changes: One hand on baby, always

Elevated changing surfaces are convenient, but they're only safe until the moment a baby rolls, pushes up, or squirms toward the edge, which can happen faster than you'd expect. Keep one hand on your baby from the moment you set them down until the moment you pick them back up. Pro tip: If your baby is a certified wiggle worm, keep a special toy at the changing station that they can only hold while you change them. It might distract them long enough to make it easier to change their diaper.  

The Jool Baby Wipeable Changing Pad is also a good addition. It turns almost any surface into a changing station with a slanted design that helps direct messes away from your baby. It's also waterproof, so it wipes clean in seconds. Raised sides and a safety strap help keep your baby secure, and a non-slip base adds extra stability so the pad stays put while you're mid-change.

Jool Baby Waterproof Changing Mat & Large Foam Cushion

$84.99

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4. Feeding: Check the temperature & secure them in their seat

Whether you're warming a bottle or serving a bowl of first foods, always check the temperature before it reaches your baby. A drop on the inside of your wrist works well for bottles, and a small taste is enough to check solids. Skip the microwave when warming bottles of milk or formula, since it can create hot spots you can't feel but that could burn your baby's mouth. A dedicated bottle warmer, like the Momcozy 6-in-1 Bottle Warmer ($39.99), heats more evenly and takes the guesswork out of this step. Bonus: it heats up milk bags, glass baby food jars and sterilizes bottles and small parts, too.

If your baby is sitting in a high chair, buckle them in, every time. Once they start sitting and crawling, the harness and straps are a solid insurance for keeping your baby securely in one place. 

Momcozy Baby Bottle Warmer, 6-in-1 with Smart Temp Control

$39.99

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5. Getting out and about: Buckle up every time

Car seats only do their job when they're used correctly on every single ride, no matter how short the trip. If you're researching car seats, you can choose one that helps you feel confident with the install itself, like the Graco TrioGrow SnugLock 3-in-1 Car Seat. It installs in less than a minute using the vehicle seat belt or LATCH anchors and it also grows with your child from infant all the way to booster. It's currently on sale for $169.99, down from $199.99, which means one less seat to purchase and swap out later.

If built-in safety checks matter to you, the Chicco Fit360 ClearTex Rotating Convertible Car Seat is another option to consider. It rotates a full 360 degrees for easier rear-facing and forward-facing installs, and visual red (not ready) and green (ready) indicators confirm the seat is installed securely. 

And remember, children should ride in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat, or exceed any other requirements set by the car seat manufacturer. Here’s 14 tips to help you make sure you’re using your car seat safely. 

Graco TrioGrow SnugLock 3-in-1 Car Seat

$169.99

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Chicco Fit360 ClearTex Rotating Convertible Car Seat for Infants and Toddlers

$439.99

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439.99

A few more safety finds on sale this month

These five habits cover the big moments, but a few more finds make the small ones easier too. If you're stocking up this month, these are worth a look:

Safety 1st 
Safety 1st Home-Safeguarding Set

Packed with 80 babyproofing essentials like cabinet door locks, latches and plug protectors

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i5.walmartimages.com$19.99

Nanit  
Better Sleep Baby Monitor Bundle

A hands-free way to mount your monitor, keep an eye on baby, and track breathing motion (down from $309.99)

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walmart.com$259.00

Ingenuity 
The Stairway 42W Series Safety Pet and Baby Gate

Fits openings from 28" to 42" wide

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walmart.com$31.49

Graco 
Graco Modes Trio Travel System, Hemlock, Black

Stroller and car seat in one (down from $299.99)

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walmart.com$269.96

This article is sponsored by Walmart. Babylist’s free site, apps and emails are made possible by our sponsors. We limit our sponsored content to relevant partners that offer products and services we believe in and use ourselves.