Things I Bought for My Baby That I’d Buy Again

There are SO many baby products out there, and somehow they all seem like something you absolutely need when you’re getting ready for a baby.

Then you actually have the baby.

Some of those “must-haves” barely get touched, while completely random things end up being products you use all the time.

Now that we’ve gone through the baby stage more than once, I have a much better idea of what I would actually spend my money on again. Some of these are bigger purchases, some are inexpensive little things that just make life easier, and a few aren’t perfect—but I would still buy them again knowing their downsides.

These are the baby products that have actually been worth it for our family.

Owlet Sock

The Owlet Sock is probably one of the baby purchases that has given me the most comfort.

There is just something about having a new baby that can make it really hard to completely relax, especially when they’re sleeping. Being able to check the Owlet gave me an extra layer of reassurance when I needed it.

For me, it wasn’t about staring at the app all night or using it in place of safe-sleep practices. It was simply having that additional information available when my mom brain needed some reassurance.

It’s definitely one of the more expensive products on this list, but because of the comfort it gave me, I would absolutely buy it again.

A&D Ointment

If there’s one inexpensive baby product we would buy a thousand times over, it’s A&D ointment.

Some of the best baby advice we were ever given was to put a generous layer on a clean, completely dry bum after a diaper change. The dry part is important.

This was especially helpful during the newborn stage when it felt like there was another dirty diaper every five minutes. Having that protective layer there also made cleaning up the next diaper so much easier for us.

It’s simple, inexpensive, and something we always keep around.

⭐ Mom Hack: Dry First, Then Apply

Make sure baby’s skin is completely dry before applying the ointment, then add a good protective layer. This was some of the best diaper-changing advice we were given, especially for those nonstop newborn diapers.

A Screw-On Diaper Ointment Applicator

While we’re talking about A&D, this little thing deserves its own spot.

We have a silicone applicator that screws directly onto the tube of ointment. Instead of putting ointment on my fingers and then trying to finish a diaper change with greasy hands, I can apply it straight from the tube.

Is it a major piece of baby gear? Absolutely not.

Would I buy another one? Immediately.

These are the random little baby products I wish someone had told me about before having kids.

A Baby Shopping Cart Hammock

I love our shopping cart hammock.

Putting an infant car seat into the basket of a shopping cart takes up SO much of the space you’re supposed to be using for groceries. The hammock gives baby a place to hang out while we shop without sacrificing the entire cart.

It’s one of those products that solves a very specific problem, but if you regularly grocery shop with a baby, it makes the whole process easier.

Just make sure the hammock you choose is compatible with the shopping cart you’re using and that baby meets the manufacturer’s requirements for using it.

Pacifier and Toy Clips

Pacifier clips are one of those inexpensive things I would buy again and again—and we don’t only use them for pacifiers.

We use them with compatible lightweight baby toys too. Being able to attach something to the stroller or other baby gear means I’m not constantly picking it up off the ground or realizing halfway through an outing that we lost a favorite toy somewhere.

They take up basically no room and solve a surprisingly annoying problem.

⭐ Mom Hack: They’re Not Just for Pacifiers

We use our clips for lightweight baby toys too. Anything that means I’m picking something up off the floor fewer times is a win.

Our Sit-Up Baby Bathtub

This is one of those products that isn’t perfect, and I would still buy it again.

Once our baby was ready for it, we got a sit-up baby tub that goes inside our regular bathtub. One of my favorite things about it is that he can sit, splash, and play in the tub with his older sibling instead of us having to do completely separate bath times.

There is one downside I would absolutely want another parent to know.

It’s supposed to suction to the bathtub, but our tub isn’t completely smooth, so the suction cups don’t actually stick.

Because of that, we have to keep a hand on it because the seat can tip. It definitely does NOT make bath time hands-free, and we’re always right there with him anyway.

Knowing all of that, I would still buy it again.

For us, the trade-off is worth it because he gets to sit up, play in the water, and enjoy bath time with his sibling instead of us having to physically hold him upright the whole time.

A Baby Carrier — Especially a Hip-Seat Style

I definitely think a baby carrier is worth having, although I have to admit I’ve tried quite a few and still haven’t found one traditional carrier that I absolutely love.

What I do really like are the hip-seat styles.

Once baby gets bigger and wants to be held constantly—but also wants to look around—that little seat makes such a difference. Instead of supporting all of baby’s weight with my hip and arm, they actually have somewhere to sit while I hold them.

It’s especially nice during the stage when they want to be picked up, put down, picked up again…and repeat.

I still think a traditional hands-free carrier has its place, especially when they’re tiny or when I really need both hands. But for everyday carrying with an older baby, I really like having the hip seat.

If I were buying another carrier now, that’s one of the first features I’d look for.

A Cushioned Foldable Play Mat

We have hard tile floors, so having somewhere soft for the baby to play is really important to me.

We actually have a really nice play mat that is super comfortable. I love it for the baby, but the downside is that it doesn’t store easily.

More recently, we bought a foldable play mat that we can put out in the living room while the baby is playing and then fold up and move out of the way when we need the space.

Honestly, I like both for different reasons.

If you have a dedicated play area where the mat can stay out, I’d prioritize something really comfortable and cushioned. If you’re putting it in your living room or another shared space, I would definitely think about how easily it stores before buying one.

⭐ Mom Hack: Think About Storage Before You Buy

Before buying a big play mat, figure out where you’re going to put it when you’re not using it. I didn’t really think about that with our first one, and I’ve learned that being able to quickly fold a mat away can be almost as important as how comfortable it is.

A Baby Jumper

Our baby absolutely LOVES to jump.

This is probably the best proof that this belongs on the list: we bought a jumper for our house and then ended up getting another one for the grandparents’ house.

He loves it enough that having another one there was easier than constantly moving ours back and forth.

Obviously, this is something we use according to the manufacturer’s developmental and usage guidelines, but purely from an entertainment standpoint, ours has been a huge hit.

If ours broke tomorrow, we’d be getting another one.

Our Wooden Climbing Set

Our wooden climbing set has been one of those purchases that keeps finding new uses as the kids grow.

Our older child uses it for climbing and playing, and now the baby is starting to use it too. As he’s learning to stand, he can hold onto the structure, pull himself up, and slowly work his way around it.

I love finding things that can be used for more than one stage, especially when both kids can use them in completely different ways.

We obviously stay close and supervise, especially while baby is using it for those very wobbly new standing skills.

The Peek-a-Boo Koala

This one is just adorable.

We have a little koala that plays peek-a-boo, and our baby LOVES it. It’s one of those toys that can actually keep him entertained instead of getting tossed aside after thirty seconds.

There isn’t really a complicated parenting hack behind this one.

He loves it. It entertains him. It’s cute.

If it broke, I would buy another one.

Sometimes that’s all the review a baby toy needs.

Silicone Teething Straws

Silicone teething straws are another random little find I would buy again.

They’re simple, easy for little hands to hold, and give baby something made for chewing during the stage when absolutely everything seems to end up in their mouth.

They’re also small enough to throw in the diaper bag without bringing another bulky toy along.

Teething Crackers

Speaking of teething, our baby LOVES teething crackers.

Once baby is developmentally ready for them, they’re an easy snack to keep around and ours genuinely enjoys them.

I especially like having them when we’re out and need something simple to offer him. As with any food, we supervise him while he’s eating.

Reusable Swim Diapers

If your family spends a lot of time around water, I definitely think reusable swim diapers are worth having.

We use ours enough that I would buy them again rather than relying completely on disposable swim diapers.

I like being able to keep them with our swim things so they're ready whenever we’re heading to the pool or doing another water activity.

One thing to know if you’re new to swim diapers: they aren’t meant to absorb pee like a regular diaper. Their job is different, so don’t make the mistake of putting one on way before you actually get to the water.

A Car Monitor Camera

A car monitor camera is absolutely something I would buy again.

Being able to glance at a screen and see what’s going on with a rear-facing baby is so convenient. I can quickly see whether he’s sleeping, awake, dropped something, or is just back there making noise.

I know plenty of people use a regular car mirror, but I really like having the camera and screen.

It’s one of those products that I probably could live without, but now that I’m used to having it, I wouldn’t want to.

A Nursing Cover With a Structured Neckline

For nursing moms, one thing I learned is that not all nursing covers are the same.

The feature I really liked was a cover with a structured, almost U-shaped opening around the neck.

That little bit of structure holds the fabric away from you instead of having the entire cover lying flat against your chest. It gives you some airflow and, even more importantly for me, makes it easier to look down and actually see baby while you’re nursing.

If I were buying another nursing cover, I wouldn’t really care about finding the fanciest one. I’d specifically look for that structured neckline again.

A Portable Sound Machine

A portable sound machine is another little product that comes in handy in so many situations.

If baby is used to sleeping with white noise, having a portable version makes it much easier to keep some consistency when you’re away from home.

It can come in the car, stroller, diaper bag, or suitcase without taking up much room.

I especially like products like this that aren't limited to one specific situation. We can just grab it whenever we think sleep might happen somewhere other than home.

A Clip-On Stroller Fan

A good clip-on fan is basically a must for us because we live somewhere that gets HOT.

We can attach ours securely to compatible baby gear when we’re outside and want some extra airflow. And unlike a lot of baby products, it isn’t something they immediately outgrow. We can keep using it for outings and hot days as the kids get older.

I just make sure ours is positioned so little fingers, hair, and clothing can't reach the fan.

A Sit-Up Chair That Can Double as a Feeding Seat

I really appreciate baby products that can do more than one thing, and our little sit-up chair has been surprisingly useful.

It gives baby a supported place to sit and play, but ours can also work as a little feeding seat.

We’ve even brought it to someone else’s house and ended up using it when the kids needed somewhere to sit and eat.

Instead of trying to figure out a makeshift high-chair situation, we already had a contained little seat with us.

Anything that can earn its space in our house AND be useful when we leave gets extra points from me.

One Popular Baby Product I Wouldn’t Buy Again

I also don’t want this to turn into one of those lists where somehow every baby product we’ve ever purchased is AMAZING.

They're not.

One thing I personally wouldn’t buy again is an electric baby nail buffer.

I know a lot of parents love them, and I completely understand why. Those tiny newborn nails are intimidating.

It just wasn’t for me.

I find regular baby nail clippers quicker and easier, and I don’t really need another gadget for something I can do with the basic version.

That’s one of the biggest things I’ve learned with baby products in general: something can be incredibly popular and still not be the best option for your family.

And that's okay.

What I’d Actually Buy Again for Another Baby

Looking at this list, I realized that a lot of my favorite baby products aren't necessarily the things that would make the typical “baby must-haves” list.

They're the things that solved an actual problem for us.

The Owlet gave me comfort. The shopping cart hammock made grocery trips easier. A tiny screw-on applicator keeps ointment off my hands. Our foldable mat gives the baby somewhere soft to play without permanently taking over the living room. The bath seat doesn't even suction properly to our bathtub, and I would STILL buy it again because it lets both kids enjoy bath time together.

And apparently our baby loves jumping enough that we needed a jumper at two different houses.

I also don't think you need to buy something in every baby category just because it exists. Baby shoes are a perfect example. I barely buy them. He doesn't really need them yet, so why am I going to spend money on a bunch of tiny shoes he's going to outgrow?

After doing the baby stage more than once, my standard has gotten pretty simple:

Did this make our life with a baby noticeably easier, more comfortable, or more enjoyable? Would I spend my own money on it again?

For everything on this list, the answer is yes.

If you’re still building your registry, I also put together the products I wish I’d put on my baby registry after actually having two kids.