Baby things to buy: Our most used baby and toddler items

by Anya Dunham, PhD

Wondering what baby things to buy? As I leave early parenting years behind, I thought I'd share our 'master list': baby and toddler things we used the longest and/or the most with our three kids.

If you are expecting your first baby, there is a good chance you've already spent hours researching the best baby things to buy, like the best stroller and diaper bag. And if you're expecting your second, have you been staring at the pile of baby things you saved, wondering what to keep and what to donate and replace?

You might find the list below helpful.

Some baby and toddler items are more worthy of researching, and investing into, than others

As I leave early parenting years behind , I thought I’d share a list of baby and toddler items we used the longest and/or most. In my experience, items on this list are truly worth researching, spending time to find quality items that work well for you as you prepare for your baby's arrival.

(No affiliate links here - just sharing what we found most helpful! if you want to know the specific brands we used or why a certain item was particularly useful, send me a message - I always respond personally.)

And you'll see that diaper bag and stroller didn't actually make the list!

Baby and toddler things we used the longest and/or the most

• Baby carriers are invaluable, especially once you find one(s) that work best for you and your baby. Look for a baby carrier Lending Library near you where for a small fee (or sometimes even for free) you can test out different types of carriers and receive tips on how to use them. For me, a stretchy wrap worked best in the first few months; I then used a structured baby carrier from about 6 months till 3 years.
• Merino wool sleep sacks are fantastic: they keep your baby warm when it's cold and cool when it's warm. They also hold up really well. We found them great for safe, comfortable, and stress-free sleep, and only needed to purchase 2 sizes to get our 3 kids through the baby and toddler years.
• Books you and your baby both enjoy. Here are some of our favorites we still return to after the years.
• A comfortable rocking chair to feed in, snuggle, and read is worth the investment, as you'll use it daily for years. 
• Good quality crib, mattress, and sheets. Our crib converts to a toddler bed, and so we've now used it continuously for many years for our 3 kids.
• A changing pad (not table) - one that can be placed on the floor and moved around. I started changing my babies on the floor in the early days, as soon as I could comfortably get down and up, as found it to be the safest and most versatile option.
• Hooded apron-style baby towels. I loved having a large enough towel that you can wear like an apron so much that I designed my own free pattern for it.
• Baby gates to place at the top and bottom of the stairs (if you have them) and to create a safe play space. Our play space (aka 'yes-space') has evolved over the years, and all versions of it have been great for encouraging self-directed exploration and learning.
• Bath thermometer. Our little trusted bath duck has been telling us if the water temperature is just right for many years now, and it doubles as a bath toy.
• Nose Freeda and electronic thermometer. Invaluable, especially once the daycare colds begin.
• Adjustable high chair. It doesn't need to be expensive to be comfortable - see our high chair set up that lasted us years. 
• Small silicone cups for introducing drinking water from an open cup when your baby starts solids. We still use ours as snack cups.
• Silicone freezer molds for freezing homemade baby food in small portions. I now use hours for freezing sauces, herbs, and garlic in small portions to use in family meals.

Of course, these don't always need to be bought: thrifted, hand-me-down, or handmade items can be great. 

What would you add to this list?

Using hundreds of scientific studies, Baby Ecology connects the dots to help you create the best environment for sleep, feeding, care, and play for your baby.

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Warmly,

Anya

Hi! My name is Dr. Anya Dunham. I'm a scientist with a PhD in Biology, an award-winning author, and a mom to three young kids. Here and in my book, Baby Ecology, I analyze the research on baby's first year to find the optimal nurturing environment — the (usually wide) range of good options — to help you choose what works best for your baby and your family. Let's find the answers to  your new parent questions that are too complex to google. 

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