Crushing on High-End Baby Gear? These Alternatives Are Just as Good

The Snoo is known for its tech-enabled features that can help get fussy babies to sleep (and parents much-needed rest). That and the bassinet’s clean aesthetic has reached cult status among sleep-deprived new parents. Those helpful features and modern look come with a pretty steep price tag—just under $1700. While there are rental options available, it can be hit or miss whether it actually helps your baby sleep longer stretches.

The Graco SmartSense offers similar responsive tech features—like motion that adjusts based on baby’s fussiness, gentle sounds (including your own music) and a modern aesthetic—without the luxury-level cost. One parent said in their review, ”Compared to other smart bassinets, I personally feel this one was worth the purchase. The Bluetooth feature is a huge plus—I love being able to play my own music for my baby. The gentle rocking helps soothe her to sleep, and the built-in vibration and white noise options are really effective.” It’s a great option for parents looking for smart sleep support with a modern design at a more accessible price point.

The Zeitgeist is known for turning heads; it’s a fave among celeb parents and non-famous parents alike. The carrier's price starts around $370 and goes all the way up to $3800 for their Peruvian vicuña material (a super rare wool). Needless to say, the Zeitgeist is definitely a splurge.

The WildBird’s Aerial Carrier also delivers a similarly chic style with aesthetic prints and colors, plus a comfortable, ergonomic design. It's an eye-catching and supportive carrier at a lower price than the Zeitgeist. “The Aerial is beautiful in person… the linen seems high quality and I imagine it only gets softer when it’s worn. Also out of all the carriers I own, this [is] the easiest to breastfeed in. Truly worth the money to me!” one Babylist parent raved.

It’s hard not to fall for the Vista V3. With its streamlined design, multiple configurations and smooth-as-butter ride, it’s the stroller that does it all and looks amazing doing it. The premium materials—like leather detailing on the handlebar—a roomy basket, and grow-with-baby features make it a go-to for parents who want top-tier yet stylish functionality, but it comes with a high price tag.

Mockingbird has quickly become a parent-fave brand for its aesthetic yet practical features at a much more accessible price point. Like the Vista V3, this stroller features a sleek design, leatherette details and a spacious basket to hold all of your necessities. The Single-to-Double is also convertible and can grow with your baby and your family if you have more kids in the future. 

The Tripp Trapp is a style icon (and favorite high chair among Babylist parents and editors). It’s got a sleek ergonomic design made from solid wood, comes in a ton of aesthetic colors and is ultra-functional. You can use it from birth (with the newborn attachment) and beyond— it converts from a high chair to a regular chair you can pull right up to your dining table. It’s a pricier high chair pick though, costing around $300.

The Evenflo RightSeat nails the minimalist high chair look of the Tripp Trapp at a much lower price point. It features a modern design that blends beautifully into adult spaces and will last from the baby years to childhood. It offers a similar ergonomic position and is easily adjustable to three different positions: infant mode, toddler mode and youth mode (with a max weight limit of 100 lbs). The RightSeat’s max weight limit is much less than the Tripp Trapp, which can hold up to 300 lbs, though for just under $150, you really can’t beat the price.

There’s a reason the Nuna PIPA + SWIV system is a great choice for design-minded parents—it’s effortlessly chic, featherlight and built for seamless city strolls. The PIPA urbn + SWIV duo features luxe fabric, a lightweight infant seat and a one-handed fold that makes it a parent favorite. But that sleek design costs over $1000 for the travel system. 

If you're after that polished, modern travel system look (without the splurge), the Zelia 2 Luxe is a standout swap. It offers a stylish frame, modular design with a reversible seat and cozy fabrics—all while bundling in a lightweight infant car seat. The stroller folds easily, glides smoothly, and looks way more expensive than it is. In short: it’s a whole vibe for a fraction of the cost. (Unlike the Nuna PIPA urbn, the Mico Luxe Infant Car Seat does require the use of a base in the car).

The BabyBjorn Bouncer is a fan favorite for its super functional sleek form. It comes in a bunch of colors that look good in your space and also conveniently folds flat if you want to store it away or take it on the go. While it can grow with your baby (meaning you can get a lot of use out of it), at over $200 it’s quite pricey. 

The Baby Delight Alpine Deluxe offers a similarly streamlined design and natural rocking motion at a much more accessible price (under $70). And like the BabyBjorn Bouncer, the Alpine folds flat for storage or travel convenience. “[It’s] easy to assemble, [and] baby seems comfortable while able to entertain themselves in a safe place,” one Babylist parent said in their review. The biggest difference is that unlike the BabyBjorn, this bouncer can only be used up to six months or when baby starts figuring out how to sit up on their own. 

Baby sleep can be nervewracking for new parents. The Owlet smart sock has put anxious parents’ minds at ease for years, allowing them to monitor their baby’s breathing and sleep trends right from their phone. But at around $300, it’s not financially feasible for every family. 

The eufy Security S320 Smart Sock tracks heart rate, sleep, and movement just like the Owlet, at about half the price. You also don’t need a subscription to access all of the helpful features and tracking capabilities.

This travel crib slash playard is a popular pick among parents looking for a lightweight, portable place for baby to safely hang out and even nap (as long as nothing else is in there). It has a minimalist design, weighs just 13 lbs and folds and sets up in one smooth motion. 

The Chicco Alfa Lite Travel Playard offers the same minimalist Scandinavian look (like clean lines) and lightweight convenience as the BabyBjörn Travel Crib, but at a more affordable price. 

Whether it’s the sleek design or easy-to-clean material, the KeeKaroo Peanut has been a go-to pick in the change pad world for quite some time. But some parents may not want to allocate $150 of their registry budget to something that’ll inevitably get poop on it. 

And that’s where this Jool Baby change pad comes in. It offers a similar vibe—with soft yet sturdy material and an easy-clean surface—as the Peanut at a much more affordable price, under $100.

The Hatch is a parent-loved sound machine (it’s a consistent winner in our annual best baby products survey) but it’s not exactly budget friendly and you need a subscription to use all of the cool features.

This Momcozy sound machine offers a similar minimalist, modern design for sleep support at a more affordable price. It includes 34 relaxing sounds that you can control from an app on your phone and you don’t need to worry about a subscription to access all of the features. 

When it comes to diaper bags, there’s certainly no shortage of options. But if you’re someone with a soft spot for luxury accessories—or just want something that blends in with your personal style—finding a diaper bag that doesn’t look like one can be a challenge. The Caraa Baby Bag blends a sleek, sporty-luxe aesthetic with convenient diaper bag features, but it also comes with a designer-level price tag.

If you’re looking for a luxe-looking diaper bag without the higher price tag, the Forma delivers a similarly polished, not-too-baby-ish look. It features lightweight nylon, a streamlined silhouette and smart storage—essentially covering all of your typical diaper bag bases. It’s roomy, comfy to carry and holds its own in both form and function, all for under $100.