The Most Innovative Baby Gear for New Parents

Car seats are constantly evolving, but baseless infant seats are one of the biggest (and best) innovations the market has seen in quite a while. The Joie Mint Latch installs securely with just your vehicle’s seat belt or LATCH system—no base needed. It’s ideal for city dwellers and rideshare users, but also for anyone looking for a more portable, minimalist setup. And the compact design will save you space in your back seat.

Part car seat, part stroller, this hybrid transforms from one to the other—and back again—in seconds. It’s an all-in-one solution for travel, quick trips and errands, eliminating the need to carry multiple pieces of gear.

Like baseless infant seats, rotating seats have been another huge leap forward in the car seat space—and they’ve never been more popular than they are now. Rotating seats swivel, making it easier to load and unload your baby or toddler from their car seat. The Fit360 is one of our favorites. It’s easy to install, free of flame retardants and was designed with thoughtful ease of use features for both parents and babies.

Gone are the days of flimsy travel strollers that saved on space but were short on features. The Zoe Traveler is a full-size stroller in an ultra-light package. It folds compactly, stands on its own and weighs under 14 pounds. Despite its small footprint, it’s packed with features like a large canopy and roomy storage, making it a good pick for everyday or travel use.

Pumping no longer means being tied to an outlet—or even a bulky, heavy pump. Wearable breast pumps sit right in your bra and allow you to pump milk discreetly without cords or tubes. While most pumpers can’t use a wearable as their primary pump (even the strongest ones don’t yield the same output for most folks), the Eufy is one of the more powerful wearables. It’s also lightweight and quiet and can be controlled via an app to track sessions and adjust settings.

Fancy electronics aren’t required for innovation. The Trove is a soft silicone container that sits in your bra and uses suction to catch letdowns. It's an easy, affordable way to build up a milk stash without extra effort. And unlike some breast milk collectors, this one stays put.

Another brilliant problem solver, the Ceres Chill takes the place of ice packs and bulky coolers, keeping breast milk cold for up to 20 hours in a sleek, stainless steel container. It’s designed to hold multiple pump sessions in one place, and you can even pump directly into it. It’s great for travel, work or anywhere you need to keep milk fresh on the go.

Confession: When I first heard about bottle washers, I thought to myself, "Really?" But now I realize the genius behind this time-saving innovation. Parents agree; bottle washers are quickly becoming one of the most-registered-for items on Babylist registries. The Momcozy bottle washer automates the washing, sterilizing and drying of baby bottles—all in one compact device. It saves time and ensures a deep clean, a huge help when you’re dealing with multiple feedings a day.

Half of the parents we polled in our annual favorite products survey said they prefer glass bottles over plastic. These new bottles from Munchkin blend function and thoughtful design. The hybrid construction features a durable glass interior with a soft silicone outer layer, giving you the safety of glass with a gentler feel. (Milk never touches plastic.) And the anti-colic valve helps control flow, reducing gas.

Quark bottles are another innovative favorite, made from a material called Tritan that has the clarity and safety of glass but the weight and strength of plastic. (I’ve been using mine for almost two years and it’s still as crystal clear as it was on day one.) This bundle combines a two-pack of bottles with the brand’s on-the-go milk warmer.

A formula maker is a huge time-saver. The Formula Pro mixes and warms formula to the perfect consistency and temperature in seconds. It’s a lifesaver for middle-of-the-night feedings or parents who want one less thing to think about.

The Nanit changed the way millions of parents monitored their babies. This smart monitor is more than just a way to view your little one from anywhere (it uses your phone instead of a traditional parent video console); it also tracks and analyzes sleep, breathing and growth. This bundle includes the Nanit Pro camera, wall mount, breathing bands, smart sheet, flex stand and a travel case.

If you’re more vitals-focused, the Dream Sock is a soft, wearable baby monitor that tracks heart rate, oxygen level and sleep trends. It fits around your baby’s foot and sends real-time info to your phone. Many parents find it to be a reassuring option, especially during the early months.

Smart bassinets bring innovation to baby sleep. The Snoo is a high-tech bassinet that automatically soothes your baby with gentle motion and sound. Created by a pediatrician, it responds to fussing and helps babies sleep longer and more soundly. And if you don’t want to commit, there’s also a rental option.

This smart bassinet takes things up a notch: it’s an auto-response bassinet, crib and baby monitor all rolled into one. It’s expensive, but designed to grow with your baby from newborn through toddlerhood so you’ll get years of use out of it.

Anxiety is a common part of new parenthood, especially during the first year. The Newton features a breathable, washable core that allows air to flow freely. It’s also 100% washable from cover to core, making cleanup simple.

Diaper changes are easier with a wipeable changing pad. This one is sleek, sturdy and wipes clean in seconds—no fabric cover required. It’s a more modern and hygienic alternative to traditional changing pads and has a non-slip bottom so it stays put.

Another multipurpose product, the Hatch Rest combines a sound machine, nightlight and time-to-rise clock all in one. It’s app-controlled, so you can adjust settings remotely, and it grows with your child from babyhood to the preschool years.

All humidifiers do the same thing—add moisture back into the air, a huge help when your little one is sick—but the Canopy takes things up a notch. It’s specially designed to fight dryness without promoting mold (a common issue with traditional humidifiers). It uses a paper filter and mist-free technology to emit clean, hydrated air. And it’s dishwasher-safe 🙌.