12 Baby Products That Give New Parents Lasting Peace of Mind
Caring for babies is stressful enough, but according to real parents, these products wash away some of that worry.
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New parenthood is filled with some pretty incredible feelings and emotions, and if we’re keeping it real—it’s often filled with some stress and anxiety too. It’s totally normal to worry about keeping your new baby healthy and happy, especially during those first few months when everything feels new and a little overwhelming.
The good news? There’s baby gear designed specifically to relieve these common new-parent anxieties. And when we surveyed Babylist parents for our annual Most Loved Baby Products survey, many of them shared the products that gave them peace of mind and helped soothe their anxiety, especially in the earlier days of new parenthood.
These innovative products address many of the concerns of new parents, from their baby’s safety during sleep to a secure place to put them down. They won’t magically disappear your anxiety—only time and a little bit of parenting experience can do that—but they will help you feel a little more relaxed as you navigate life with a new baby.
A Breathable Mattress
Newton Baby Breathable 2-Stage Crib Mattress - White
From $299.99Made of 90 percent free air and 10 percent food-grade polymer, dozens of Babylist parents said that the Newton mattress gave them “a little more peace of mind”, especially when their baby started sleeping in their own space, because of its breathability. One parent specifically said, “Our baby sleeps on her face at night when she began to roll on her stomach and this gave us such peace of mind.” The Newton mattress has been shown to reduce the risk of suffocation and CO2 rebreathing and doesn’t contain any foam, adhesives, springs or glue.
An Organic Crib Mattress
Free of toxins, allergens and foam filling, the Naturepedic crib mattress also calms safe-sleep worries. It’s made of organic cotton on both the outside and the inner fill. “It is the cleanest, most non-toxic option and really gives me peace of mind when my baby is sleeping on it,” one Babylist parent shared.
A Bedside Bassinet
Delta Children babyGap Whisper Bedside Bassinet - Grey Stripes
From $149.99A bedside bassinet like this one from Delta slides close up to the edge of your mattress, keeping your baby at arm's reach but still within the safe sleep guidelines (in their own sleep space, on a firm surface and without blankets or pillows). One surveyed parent said her bedside bassinet “made middle-of-the-night feedings easier and kept baby close at night when they were itty bitty, which gave me so much peace of mind.” We love this affordable option, but if you want a bigger sleeping space, our gear editor rated the Newton Bassinet as the best overall pick in our best bedside sleeper guide.
A Smart Bassinet
Happiest Baby Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet
From $1,186.50This smart bassinet is designed to rock, soothe and sway your baby back to sleep when they start to fuss. With the addition of gentle white noise, many Babylist parents swear by it. “The SNOO has been awesome for rocking my baby back to sleep in the middle of the night and giving peace of mind with the app,” one parent said. With the app, you’re able to control the bassinet functions and read up on your baby’s daily sleep report (which is helpful when calculating wake windows and timing their next nap).
A Crib Alternative
Whether you have travel plans or just want a lightweight, safe sleep alternative to a crib, one Babylist parent said a Graco playard is the perfect choice. “We opted to use this as a crib full-time because we travel a lot and wanted our baby to be comfortable and familiar with her sleeping arrangements wherever we went. It's so safe and gives us as parents peace of mind!” This one comes with a portable bassinet, a full-size bassinet and a changing table.
A Crystal Clear Camera
Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor and Wall Mount
From $199.00The Nanit Complete combines innovative, user-friendly tech to solve the common new parent anxiety of making sure your baby is sleeping and breathing, helping everyone sleep a little bit easier. “I’m able to monitor my son’s breathing, it sends me notifications on sound and motion detection, and I can check in on my son sleeping while I’m working. Gives me peace of mind!” one parent said in our survey. This bundle is a traditional monitor and a breathing motion detector—all rolled into one (it also does lots of other cool stuff like track sleep metrics).
An All-Night Health Monitor
Owlet Dream Sock Smart Wearable Baby Monitor - Mint
From $273.99This little sleep sock wraps around your baby’s foot and tracks their pulse rate, oxygen levels and sleep quality. A parent who purchased the Owlet sock said that when her baby caught aspiration pneumonia at 9 days old, the Owlet “gave us such peace of mind when he was struggling with his oxygen levels.” If the sock slips off or out of position while baby is snoozing, the base sets off a loud chime (and sends an alert to your phone).
A One-Step Sterilizer
Baby Brezza One Step Sterilizer Dryer - White On Black
From $87.99You can skip boiling water on the stove to sterilize your bottles and pump parts (and anything else your baby will put in their mouth, like pacifiers) and opt for this easy-to-use sterilizer from Baby Brezza. A Babylist parent who is still using it one year later said it “does half the job and I have peace of mind that all is clean and neat.” And if you’re worried that it’ll sound like a lawn mower on your kitchen counter, another parent described it as “easy, quiet, and so convenient.”
A Baby Lounger for Wake Time
Snuggle Me Organic Infant Lounger Curve - Birch
From $119.99During your newborn’s wake windows, having a safe place for them to hang out is essential. The Snuggle Me Curve is a supportive cushion designed to be used for everything from tummy time to playing and bonding. One Babylist parent said, “My infant was so comfy in this and it gave me peace of mind in the early days when I was exhausted that she was safe.” The super lightweight lounger has a machine-washable cover, so if your baby happens to have a blowout, you can easily toss it in the wash.
A Supportive Bouncer
Soft and flexible, the Baby Björn bouncer is supportive for babies up to 29 pounds (so it can be used into toddlerhood). When you need to hop into the shower or whip up dinner, the bouncer is a safe place to put your baby, which is exactly what some Babylist parents use it for. “We used it every day for the first year of my daughter’s life. It allowed me to take a shower, cook and clean with peace of mind. I recommend it for all new moms.”
A Comfortable Carrier
Toting around your baby is a great way to bond, but it also allows you to be hands-free so you can get things done while keeping your baby close. The Ergo Baby Embrace carrier keeps your baby’s hips in a healthy position without wrecking your back. One parent said it makes “long walks, errands, or soothing sessions so much easier. I love how adjustable and breathable it is, and how it grows with your child. It’s not just a product — it’s peace of mind, hands-free.”
A Car Seat That’ll Last (Almost) Forever
From the day you leave the hospital to the first day of Pre-K, this convertible car seat will be a safe place for your baby to ride. The longevity of the car seat means a one-time investment, which is what one Babylist parent said they loved, saying it's “super comfortable, easy to install, and the straps adjust without rethreading. It gave me peace of mind knowing I wouldn’t have to keep buying new seats every couple of years.”
