Baby Registry: Best Feeding, Breastfeeding, and Bathing Supplies

Feeding: Supplies for Breastfeeding

The following content contains affiliate links. However, if you can, prioritize hand-me-downs, re-purposed or consigned baby items.

Nursing or feeding pillow

This C-shaped pillow is designed to support baby while nursing, bottle-feeding, or learning to sit up. It frequently tops parenting lists as a “most used” baby product.

Brand recommendations:

Boppy® Feeding and Infant Support Pillow

Price: $30-40

Pros: Consistently ranked a #1 baby item, this pillow is a top registry item for moms nationwide. The original Boppy® has a versatile design used for nursing, bottle feeding, propping, tummy time and learning to sit.

Cons: These pillows flatten with time, so a hand-me-down Boppy® pillow may be a product that was used so much that you have to hunch over to nurse.

Boppy® Two-Sided Nursing Pillow

Price: $45

Pros: Developed with a lactation consultant, this pillow is specifically for nursing with features such as a removable belt, wide-arm design, and reversible surfaces (one side firm for feeding and one side soft for cuddling).

Cons: Some mothers complain about the two-sided design. Though wider out front, it doesn’t wrap around the body as the original Boppy® pillow does. It also does not have a removable slipcover, so the entire pillow must be machine washed and dried.

My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow

Price: $30-40

Pros: Some parents prefer this product to other pillows, due to its wrap-around design with back support and higher positioning. It also has interchangeable covers.

Cons: The wraparound design can be awkward for some seating arrangements.

Breast pump

This can be a simple hand pump, or an electric, double-pumping model. Both work-outside-the-home and stay-at-home moms need a way to express milk—to provide milk while mom is away and to prevent clogged milk ducts. If you are unsure about how long you might breastfeed, consider renting a hospital pump for the first month.

Why can’t breast pumps be shared?

Also, you may be wondering why hospital pumps are able to be shared, while pumps purchased from a baby store have warnings that say, “Single user only.” The FDA and La Leche League International point out that milk particles do not reach the inner motor on hospital-grade, closed system pumps, which is why they can be reused with multiple users. Most commercially produced breast pumps have an open system, which cannot provide protection from infectious diseases from other users. Viruses, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and HIV (AIDS) can be transmitted through breast milk, which is why the FDA and LLLI continue to support a single-use policy for commercial breast pumps.

Brand recommendation:

I recommend the Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump ($180-250), due to its history of positive reviews and years of my own personal use. However, if I became pregnant today, I might also consider a Hygeia EnJoye LBI Breast Pump, a closed-system pump designed for multiple users with personal accessory sets.

The Medela Harmony, Manual Breast Pump ($25) is also a very popular, low-cost option for pumping milk with a hand-squeezing mechanism.

Eco Tip

Reusable Breast Pumps

Hygeia’s “No Pumps in Dumps” motto makes sense to me, as the single use, open system design of breast pumps today is wasteful and outdated. Some moms may only pump for a few short weeks or months with a pump and accessories that cost $300-$500, so why not recycle using a closed system? Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, you may qualify for a hospital-grade breast pump. See if you qualify here.

Pumping accessories (small bottles, caps, funnels, bags, small cooler, bra)

Small bottles, caps, funnels, tubing, storage bags, and a small cooler are needed for pumping. If you can commit to pumping for at least a few months, I would recommend a hands free pumping bra, an elastic strap that holds the catching bottles to your body. Otherwise, you have to hold the bottles every time you pump. If you are on a budget, you can cut holes in an old sports bra for the same purpose.

Brand recommendation:

Medela has the market cornered for breast pumps and accessories, and Lansinoh storage bags are a favorite. However, if you purchase another brand pump, such as Hygeia or Philips AVENT, you will use that brand’s matching tubing and catching accessories.  

Lanolin/nipple cream

Lanolin is a yellow, waxy substance secreted from the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals, and it is used to soothe and protect sore, cracked nipples. Lanolin is listed in the Skin Deep database as a low hazard. If you plan to nurse, you need this cream.

Brand recommendations:

Lansinoh HPA Lanolin ($8-10) in the purple tube is a favorite because it is thick and soothing, not runny like Medela cream. For vegans or others desiring lanolin-free brands, choose Motherlove Nipple Cream ($9-10) or Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter ($9-13).

Soothing gel pads

These pads provide instant pain and cooling relief for sore nipples after your first feedings. Most are made with a vegetable glycerin, and they are reusable. Cold cabbage leaves can also serve the same purpose.

Brand recommendations:

Lansinoh Soothies Gel Breast Pads ($11) provide a cool reprieve to sore nipples upon contact. Aah! Bring on the relief.

Nipple shields

These thin, silicone shields may be worn over mom’s sore nipples during the first weeks of feedings, especially if your nipples are so cracked or sore that you cannot feed without them. Some lactation purists will discourage use, saying that baby may get less milk if the shield is used incorrectly. However, these shields (sometimes labeled for inverted nipples) were a lifesaver for me with my firstborn. Be sure to note the different sizes of shields.

Brand recommendation:

Medela Contact Nipple Shields ($11) choose your size, don’t overlook the size on the package

Nursing tanks

You’ll want two to four, depending on how long you nurse. A good nursing tank can make any outfit a nursing outfit.

Brand recommendations:

I recommend Glamourmom, Target nursing tanks, or Gap brand nursing tanks; the Undercover Mama Nursing Mom Tank acts as a long undershirt that attaches to most nursing bras.

Nursing bras, day and night

Do not skimp on this purchase. You will wear and clip and unclip these things every single day, several times per day. You’ll want two to four day bras, depending on how long you nurse. Wait until your milk supply stabilizes around six weeks before you make a big investment in bras, and avoid too-tight bras, which can cause clogged ducts. You will need a soft nighttime nursing bra to hold nursing pads and prevent leaks onto your mattress, as well.

Brand recommendations:

Day bra: I recommend the Bravado Body Silk Seamless ($40-56) bra for comfort and a smooth style, due to removable thin inserts, or the LA Leche League Hana Lace Underwire Nursing Bra ($33-34) bra for underwire support. Hofish 3-pack Full Bust Seamless Nursing Maternity Bras are also inexpensive and popular on Amazon (over 7200 reviews). A smooth silhouette is a big deal while nursing. If a bra’s material is too thin, inserting circular nursing pads with a thin T-shirt can make you look like a Fembot with robo-boobs from an old Austin Powers movie. Not good.

Nighttime bra: The Medela Sleep Bra ($17-20) is inexpensive and comfortable. If you are in between sizes, get a size larger. Don’t bother with eco-marketed nursing bras. Your breast pads will be covering baby’s eating surface in any bra, anyway, and questionably toxic chemicals are required to make bamboo into a wearable fiber.

Eco Tip

Don’t Be Bamboozled by Bamboo Rayon

The Federal Trade Commission has filed several lawsuits in recent years claiming that textiles made of bamboo are essentially rayon. Rayon is a man-made fiber created from plant cellulose and processed with a chemical that releases hazardous air pollutants. Any plant or tree, including bamboo, can be used as a source for the fiber, but the chemically-processed textile is still rayon. Patagonia won’t use bamboo fiber for this reason, making the “green” marketing of bamboo nursing pads and bras to new and expecting moms sketchy at best.

Nursing pads

These small, round “must-have” absorbent pads go inside of a nursing bra to prevent leaks. Some women like disposable nursing pads; however, I think they itch like crazy with dried milk on them. I recommend washable ones.

Brand recommendations:

For washable pads, try Medela ($8/4-pack) or Philips AVENT pads ($7/6-pack). For disposables, try Lansinoh pads($8-11/60-count).

Nursing cover

A nursing cover is a convenient around-the-neck cover that looks kind of like a loose apron for nursing discretely in public. A rigid yet slightly contoured neckline allows ventilation for baby and a line of sight for mom.

Brand recommendations:

My favorite is the Bebe au lait Nursing Cover ($25-36), which comes in many different colors and styles. The Kids N’ Such Nursing Cover is also popular ($20-25).

Nursing friendly shirts

Button-downs, V-necks, and layers with a nursing tank all work well as nursing shirts. However, you may want one or two special nursing shirts that you can count on for maximum flexibility and coverage, especially as baby gets older and starts tugging at your nursing cover.

Brand recommendations:

For any occasion when you might be nursing frequently in public, such as during a long flight with baby or while traveling, try a Momzelle or Motherhood nursing shirt. H&M also carries nursing clothing.

Feeding: Supplies for bottle-feeding (breast milk and formula)

Safety Alert!

Hand-Me-Down Bottles and Sippy Cups (pre-2012)

If you are using older, used bottles from family or friends, make sure they are BPA-free. The FDA banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and children’s cups in 2012. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic, carbon-based compound used to make plastics and epoxy resins. BPA exhibits hormone-like traits, which have been identified as a hazard to fetuses, infants, and young children in high doses.

Bottles

You’ll want six to eight bottles, depending on frequency of use. Be prepared to try various types of bottles and nipples to see what your baby prefers, and don’t turn down a free bottle as part of any pregnancy grab bag. Overall, you want to select a bottle that is easy to hold and easy to clean, and make sure that your bottles fit in your bottle warmer.

Be aware that nipples come in different sizes representing different volumes of flow: Preemies/Newborns = size 1, age 1mo+ = size 2, age 3mos+ = size 3, age 6mos+ = size 4 fast flow. Assess how hard baby must work to get milk to determine when to upgrade to a higher flow nipple.

Brand recommendations:

Best Value: Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottle

Price: $6-8

Pros: These affordable, wide-mouth bottles with soft nipples get solid reviews for ease of use and functionality, especially for babies going back and forth from breast to bottle.

Cons: Because they are so wide, they often need an extra tip to get the last bit of milk out. Some parents complain that the nipple collapses too much.

Best for Gas/Colic: Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow

Price: $9-11

Pros: A vent system keeps air from getting into the milk, reducing gas, spit-up messes, and colic. Bottles come in plastic and glass.

Cons: The little tube inside the bottle is used for gas reduction and requires a separate pipe cleaner to clean.

Best for Breastfeeding Babies: Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle

Price: $10-13

Pros: Comotomo bottles were made to mimic the breast, with a soft silicone nipple. You can also squeeze the bottle for a “let-down” effect, and parents love the eye-catching, modern design with a no-leak, venting system.

Cons: The curved bottles tip over easily, and the measurements are hard to read.

Best for Travel and Day Care: Playtex Drop–In Nurser BPA free

Price: $10/3-Pack

Pros: These bottles come with a disposable plastic liner that you fill with formula or milk and then toss, making clean-up a breeze. Drop-ins can be helpful for moms and dads on the go.

Cons: The disposable, drop-in liners create additional waste and can be costly over time.

Best Glass Bottle: Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottle with Silicone Sleeve

Price: $13

Pros: Due to concerns over leaching chemicals in plastic baby bottles, this glass bottle comes with a colorful, 100% non-toxic silicone sleeve to protect from breakage. The sleeve and bottle can be boiled or put in the dishwasher together.

Cons: These are slightly heavier and more expensive than your average plastic bottle, and there is no separate venting system.

Best Stainless Steel: Pura Kiki Stainless Infant Bottle

Price: $18/5 oz

Pros: This award-winning 100% plastic-free bottle has a lid that is compatible with several popular wide mouth nipples. The Pura Kiki also grows with your child and converts to a sippy cup.

Cons: This bottle is expensive, and some parents think the formula or breastmilk is difficult to get out of the nipple. The sleeve is also difficult to remove.

Bottle brushes

You will need a big brush for bottles and little brushes for bottle parts.   

Brand recommendations:

Bottle-drying rack

Provides a handy place to air-dry pump and bottle parts after hand washing or pulling them out wet from the dishwasher. 

Brand recommendations:

Burp cloths

You’ll want many of these (thick, simple, and soft) to throw in the wash for spit-up and to protect your newborn’s face from wool sweaters, clothing appliques, and jacket zippers. Don’t waste your money on too many fancy ones. If you are cloth diapering, use prefolds as newborn burp cloths, then transition them to extra layers for diapering as baby gets older. Baby will use more burp cloths in the first few months as her digestive system is developing and less after she learns to sit up.

Brand recommendations:

Infant Formula

Choosing the right formula for baby can be overwhelming. Formula makers intentionally produce many different versions of their formulas, such as hypoallergenic, sensitive, for fussiness and gas, for colic, with prebiotics and probiotics, etc. so that you never quite have an accurate price point for your formula. 

Money Saving Tips

Infant Formula

  • Do not stock up too early on formula. Formulas have a “use by” date, and you never know which brand your baby may, or may not, tolerate in the first few months.
  • Strongly consider generic and store brand formulas. All formulas sold in the U.S. must meet basic nutrient requirements, including store brands from Walmart, CVS, Target, Sam’s Club, Costco, BJ’s, and Walgreens. Differences in formulas lie in the fillers. Store brand formulas, such as Walmart’s Parent’s Choice, can be up to 50% cheaper than leading name brands, such as Enfamil, LIPIL, and Similac, saving parents $600-700 per year.
  • Buy formula at warehouse stores and through mass merchandisers. A leading consumer magazine revealed that prices for one ounce of a popular name brand formula varied by almost 25%, with the lowest prices found at Costco and Walmart and the highest prices at retail drugstores like Walgreens and CVS. Target and major supermarkets were in between.
  • Collect formula coupons and carry them in your wallet.
  • Save money on formula with an online subscribe and save program, such as Amazon Family. 

Now that we know how to save money on formula, let’s take a deeper look at the different types. Formula comes in three forms:

  • Ready-made. This form is convenient, although it’s also 20% more expensive than powdered formula.
  • Liquid concentrate. This form requires mixing equal parts formula and water. It is more expensive than powdered formula, because it makes less of a mess, and it is less expensive than ready-made because it requires mixing.
  • Powdered formula. This is the most economical and environmentally friendly option. Powdered formula has a one-month shelf life after opening and must be mixed exactly as the manufacturer recommends. Moms with older children may warn you about BPA and formula cans; however, in July 2013, the FDA banned the use of BPA-based epoxy resins in the use of formula packaging.

Types of formula

Most infant formulas contain cow’s milk whey and casein as a protein source, a blend of vegetable oils as the fat source, lactose or sugar from milk as a carbohydrate source, a vitamin and mineral mixture, and other filler ingredients, depending on the manufacturer.

  • Cow’s milk based. Most formula is made from cow’s milk, although the milk protein is significantly altered for digestion. Most babies do well with this type of formula, which strives to mix the right amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Your baby will not be able to digest regular cow’s milk until he is one year old.
  • Lactose-free. This formula may be used if baby cannot digest the sugar naturally found in milk, which is rare.
  • Soy-based. If you are a vegan, or your baby cannot digest cow’s milk, you may try soy-based formula. About half of babies with milk allergies also have soy allergies.
  • With added probiotics or prebiotics. A probiotic supplement is a food product that has enough tiny, active organisms to alter baby’s microflora, while prebiotics are non-digestible ingredients that stimulate growth of indigenous probiotic bacteria. Breast milk has lots of prebiotics. You may consider formulas with these additives if your baby was born via C-section, or if baby has a high risk for asthma or eczema based on your family history.85
  • Extensively hydrolyzed. In this formula, protein is broken down even further for digestion and may be used for babies with multiple allergies or preemies having difficulties absorbing nutrients.
  • Other specialty formulas. These formulas are for babies requiring specialized nutrition, due to premature birth, diseases, or digestive disorders. Talk to your doctor before buying expensive “specialized” formulas.

Organic formula

I strongly recommend using organic formula, if you can afford it. The question of whether to feed baby organic formula versus regular formula isn’t about nutrients; it’s about the chemicals and processes used to alter the ingredients. 

Pros: Formula is derived from cow’s milk. The USDA organic label for livestock verifies that producers met animal health and welfare standards, did not use antibiotics or growth hormones, fed the cows 100% organic feed, and provided animals with access to the outdoors. Also, the formula sweeteners and fatty oils are not Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

Cons: The extra price tag for organic formula can add up ($5-10 more per 23 oz. can). Use coupons and buy in bulk to offset higher costs. 

Organic Formula Ingredients

Read organic formula labels. Not all brands are the same. Similac Organic, the market-leader in organic formula, sweetens its more expensive organic formula with cane sugar, or sucrose, which is significantly sweeter than lactose sugar (sugar extracted from milk). Babies need added sugars to help digest the protein in cow’s milk. However, pediatricians warn that sucrose can harm tooth enamel faster than other sugars, and might lead to baby refusing less sweet formulas and foods in the future. Sucrose is banned in infant formula in the EU and Canada, except when ordered by a doctor. Similac Organic also contains other synthetic nutrients, such as lycopene and lutein, touted for health benefits in the U.S. Those two substances are banned in EU formulas, too.

Similac is not the only brand looking to lure customers with sweeter, cheaper ingredients. PBM Nutritionals (owned by private label health conglomerate Perrigo), makers of Earth’s Best, 365/Whole Foods, Bright Beginnings, Parent’s Choice, and Vermont Organics brand formulas are also transitioning to less or no lactose sugar, which mimics mother’s milk best. To cut costs, PBM is replacing lactose with cheaper, plant-based sweeteners, such as “organic glucose syrup solids” (another name for “corn syrup solids”) and “maltodextrins” (starch molecules derived from cheaper potatoes, rice, and corn). As an exampl of this transition, in 2007, Earth’s Best formula contained only organic lactose, but by 2011, it contained both organic lactose and organic glucose syrup solids. Today organic lactose still remains in Earth’s Best and Vermont’s Organics formula but has disappeared altogether in Parent’s Choice, Bright Beginnings, and Whole Foods’ 365 organic formula brands.

Bottom line: Ingredients in organic formulas must meet USDA standards for no hormones, no antibiotics, and no GMOs, but that doesn’t mean that organic formula makers aren’t trying to sneak in cheaper ingredients.

Sensitive formula

Talk to your doctor before switching to an expensive sensitive formula. Feeding sensitivities may be helped by something as simple as burping baby more often, switching bottle nipples, or holding baby upright for 30 minutes after feedings. Some parents switch formulas and then tout miraculous changes in their baby. However, keep in mind that colic often improves between four and six months, regardless of formula type. Also, more expensive, sensitive formulas are typically sweeter than basic formulas, and these companies are well aware that babies have more sweet taste buds than adults and are predisposed to having a “sweet tooth.” This may explain why the first two ingredients of Similac Sensitive, labeled the #1 formula for sensitive tummies, are corn syrup and sugar (sucrose). No wonder baby likes his sensitive formula!

Did You Know?

Soy Formula

Did you know that over 90% of soy crops in the U.S. contain genetically modified (GMO) soy? And soy protein isolate is derived from a hexane extracting process? Hexane is a toxic solvent derived from gasoline. Talk to your doctor before using or switching to a soy-based formula. The AAP cites that there are few circumstances in which soy formula should be chosen instead of cow milk–based formula in term infants.

DHA-ARA in Infant Formula Debate: A Sticky Topic

So how do oils extracted from fermented micro algae and lab-produced soil fungus mimic human fatty acids in breast milk? I have no idea. However, several studies support small but positive effects on visual and neural development with added DHA-ARA to infant formulas, and that is enough for health care providers and lawmakers to pay attention.86

However, the DHA-ARA debate is not clear-cut. Other studies show no benefit at all, and policy makers and non-profits who advocate for moderate and low-income families are questioning whether companies wanting to add DHA-ARA, prebiotics, probiotics, lutein, and other additives are just trying to drive up costs. The USDA’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program buys over half the infant formula sold in the U.S. with a set budget amount each year. Formula with DHA-ARA costs 15% more. Wouldn’t we rather provide more infant formula to more families?  What are the clinical benefits of these additives? This is the debate.

Organic certification experts are also scratching their heads about infant formula additives since DHA-ARA oils are extracted using a synthetic technique. Dried, lab-made algae is blended with hexane in a continuous extraction process, which is typically an immediate disqualification for the USDA organic label (DHA-ARA is in organic formulas). After this process, synthetic preservatives, such as ascorbyl palmitate and beta-carotene, must be added to keep the algal oils from turning rancid. 

The AAP has stayed conspicuously silent on DHA-ARA in infant formula, and the FDA approved its use because the additives are believed to be safe. Why not add DHA-ARA if it helps? The verdict is still out for determining whether the long term eye and brain benefits are worth the extra cost. If your baby has gastrointestinal upset, avoid DHA-ARA additives.

Formula: What to Buy

Look for infant formulas with the first two ingredients: lactose and nonfat milk, or organic lactose and organic nonfat milk. If there is any doubt about infant formula ingredients, zoom in on the infant formula labels on Amazon, or check ingredient labels in the store.

Brand recommendations (for all formulas):

  • Conventional formula: If buying organic formula is not an option, leading consumer organizations and other pediatric groups recommend private label store brand formulas for cost savings, and I think their argument makes sense. If differences only lie in filler ingredients, established name brand formulas, such as Similac and Enfamil, have no incentive to use high quality fillers.
  • Organic formula: I recommend Earth’s Best Organic Formula ($28 per 23.2 oz.) because they use organic lactose as the formula sweetener. Vermont Organics ($28-35 per 23.2 oz.) used lactose years ago when I first wrote my books, however the ingredient now shows glucose solids and maltodextrin.
    • GMO purists who do not desire synthetic DHA-ARA, can try hexane-free Nature’s One Baby’s Only Dairy Organic ($1.07 per oz.). Labeled as a toddler formula to promote breastfeeding, Baby’s Only advertises superiority to other organic brands, using no organic corn syrup or glucose syrup, no organic palm oils, and no hexane-produced DHA (an organic-compliant process extracts DHA-ARA from eggs). There were lingering questions about arsenic levels in Baby’s Only, but the company has been using a process since 2012 to remove all heavy metals, including arsenic.
    • Parents completely skeptical of U.S. organic brands may opt to import brands from Europe, such as Germany’s Holle Organic Infant Formula ($30 per 400 g), although expect to pay hefty shipping costs.

Look for infant formulas with the first two ingredients: lactose and nonfat milk, or organic lactose and organic nonfat milk.

Organic Infant Formula: Ingredient Label Comparison

Similac Organic (source: Amazon 2019)
Earth’s Best Organic (source: Amazon 2019)
Vermont Organics (source: Amazon 2019)
Baby’s Only (source: Amazon 2019)
Honest Company (source: Amazon 2019)

Breastfeeding and Bottle-feeding: Other convenient items

Dishwasher basket

This basket allows you to put small bottle parts in the dishwasher rather than hand-washing them. Some newer dishwashers already have a small rack on the top level for this purpose.

Brand recommendations:

  • OXO Tot ($10) or Munchkin ($6-8) for bottles, bottle parts, pacifiers, pumping parts, etc.

Bottle warmer

A microwave not only causes uneven heating for mixed formula, but it also changes the chemical composition of breast milk.You can use a bowl full of warm water to heat bottles of breast milk or formula; however, a bottle warmer is much more convenient. Many parents would consider this a must-have item.

Brand recommendation:

  • Affordable: Dr. Brown’s Bottle Warmer ($35) warms formula and breast milk at home with a narrow, space-saving design. Philips Avent Fast Baby Bottle Warmer ($27) gets good reviews, too.
  • Safest heat: Kiinde Kozii ($42) is simple, safe, and easy to program. It receives high marks for a slower, safer, healthier heat than its competitors.
  • Best for travel: Tommee Tippee Travel Bottle ($13-19) is essentially a thermos, making fresh formula bottles without having to access warm water.
  • Best splurge: Baby Brezza Formula Pro ($65) looks like a sleek cappuccino machine on your kitchen counter as it makes a perfectly warm bottle of formula with one click of a button.

Microwave sterilization bags

These bags are convenient to steam-clean breastfeeding pump accessories and bottle parts, especially during the newborn feeding phase.

Brand recommendations:

Bottle Sterilizer (microwave or electric)

You can sterilize bottles either in a steaming dome that goes in the microwave, or with an electric sterilizer that sits on your countertop, killing 99.9% of harmful germs. This product could be especially useful for cleaning bottles for multiples. For just one child, you could skip this product altogether, using microwave bags, the dishwasher, and/or boiling water for sterilization.  

Formula dispenser

This provides a convenient way to take pre-measured powder samples with you while on the go. Can be used as a snack cup, too.

Brand recommendations:

Munchkin ($7) or Phillip’s AVENT ($5)

Feeding Supplies

Highchair

Baby needs a secure place to eat. Wait for sales since you do not need a highchair right away, and test in the store. Make sure that your high chair is stable and sturdy, fits your space, and is easy to clean. A convertible chair that comes with a separate booster seat and an adjustable base can be convenient to use through several ages and with multiple children. Certification by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) may provide a layer of assurance for your high chair’s safety.

Brand recommendations:

  • Best Overall: Graco Blossom 6-in-1 Convertible Chair ($170-190) this chair wins the overall award because it comes with a high chair and separate booster chair for an older and younger sibling as your family grows. The Blossom can be configured in multiple ways: 1) a full infant high chair, 2) a high chair that can be removed from the base and strapped to a regular chair, like a Fisher-Price Space Saver, 3) a seat with a height-adjustable base to push baby up to the family table with the tray removed, and 4) a separate toddler booster seat, for travel or an older sibling. The 6-in-1 also comes with a large tray and plastic cover for the tray, and a seat insert for smaller babies.
  • Best Space Saver: Fisher-Price SpaceSaverHigh Chair ($40-50) Amazon Best Seller, can be strapped to dining chairs, minimizing its space required while still providing a large, wide tray and padded seat. The SpaceSaver is also quite affordable; however, it must be secured to a sturdy chair for safety.
  • Best Modern Design: Boon Flair Pedestal High Chair ($220-280) is easy to clean, glides on wheels, and has a pneumatic lift so it can be adjusted to any table height. This chair also fits modern décor, and you can change colors with a $30 removable seat and tray. However, the overall package can be pricey.
  • Note: The Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair ($229) fits the modern design bill, too (doesn’t look like baby gear), and beckons to the yuppie crowd (pronounced STOH-keh). However, I don’t get it. Sure it’s a sleek, space-saver, but it’s also hard and uncomfortable (Scandinavian comfort.) Amazon is filled with reviews of shoddy straps and tipping over, too.

Bibs

Waterproof, quick-drying bibs are best with a pocket to catch crumbs and liquid spills. You’ll want two to four, depending on how much you travel.

Brand recommendations:

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Milk Feeding Bibs

Price: $8/2-pack

Pros: this bib has a thick neck ring to keep milk and spit up out of baby’s neck folds

Cons: circumference may be too small around the neck for bigger babies

Bumkins Waterproof SuperBib

Price: $12-17/3-pack

Pros: highly rated bibs, great designs, a must-have product, folds easily for travel

Cons: easy for baby to rip off the Velcro around the neck

Baby Bjorn Soft Bib

Price: $18-21/2-pack

Pros: baby cannot rip this bib off, has a deep pocket to catch spills and crumbs

Cons: plastic can be rigid and uncomfortable around the neck for some babies

YooFoss Baby Bandanas

Price: $15-17/8-pack

Pros: Parents love these affordable, stylish drool bibs made of super soft 100% organic cotton.

Cons: The design can be tough to keep front and center on baby for maximum absorption.

Sippy cups

You’ll want three to five. Buy ones with two handles for beginners. Label them with dishwasher safe labels, such as Mabel’s Labels, for day care (Mabel’s Labels will last through grade school). You will lose more sippy cups than you can imagine, so eco-friendly stainless steel cups may be out of your budget.

Brand recommendations:

  • Best overall: Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup ($11-12/2-pack) BPA free 2 pack toddler training cup with dentist-recommended, spoutless design
  • Best Bottle to Cup Transition: NUK Learner Sippy Cup ($8-10) Spill-proof, soft spout is designed to be gentle on gums while teaching baby to drink from a spout.
  • Inexpensive: The First Years Take and Toss ($4-5/4-pack)cupsare cheaper cups for travel that you won’t mind losing.

Baby spoons

You’ll want five or six soft, small gummy spoons for the first feedings.

Brand recommendations:

  • Best Overall: Gerber Graduates Spoons BPA-free($6-7/6-pack)
  • Best Value: Munchkin 6-Piece Lift Infant ($6/6-pack) spoons can work for first feedings, and they are perhaps better for older babies because they have a deeper contour for holding more food than Gerber spoons.  
  • Best for older babies/toddlers: Register now for Gerber Graduates Kiddy Spoons ($4-6/3-pack) graduates utensils with stainless steel tips and easy to grip handles. These are great inexpensive baby registry gifts that you will use years later.

Teethers

A baby teething toy should be colorful and easy for tiny fingers to hold. Look for teethers made with 100% natural rubber and food paint, which means no lead paints. Ensure that the product is free of phthalates and BPA. 

Brand recommendations:

  • Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether ($20-25):This pricey little giraffe, made from 100% natural rubber, does get mocked by parents as a status teether, but the skeptics and the haters can’t argue with her sales numbers. Truthfully, Sophie does have a certain je ne sais quoi about her—her vintage blushed cheeks, her soft supple legs, and her thin spotted neck are the perfect size for tiny fingers to grasp. Created in France in 1961, Sophie is almost a rite of passage for French babies, perhaps adding to her allure (though she costs half the price in France. Silly Americans).
  • Baby Banana Infant Training Toothbrush and Teether ($8) Hold the peels! Soft silicone bristles gently massage sore teething gums.
  • Manhattan Toy Winkel ($12-14): This toy with soft, mesmerizing loops looks like a classic 3D model of an atom with orbiting electrons. Toy Winkel is BPA-free and great for hooking to your stroller or car seat for chewable entertainment.
  • ZoLi Gummy Stick Baby Gum Massagers ($12/2-pack): These small teething sticks look like mini toothbrushes. Note: Here’s a look into your future. Small children + toothbrushes = obsession.
  • Dr. Bloom’s Chewable Jewels ($18): Fashionable for mom and safe for baby, chewable jewels were invented by a dentist and provide a more discrete way for baby to chew. Because they are small and less conspicuous than teething toys, chewable jewels have also become popular with autistic and special needs children. Dr. Bloom’s jewels are made of medical grade silicone and are phthalate-free, lead-free, and BPA-, PVC-, and latex-free.

Pacifiers

You may have to try several different brands and nipple shapes at first, and again, never turn down a free trial pacifier. Use silicone pacifiers, as baby may develop an allergy or sensitivity to latex. Consider giving baby a pacifier at bedtime or naptime, when SIDS risk is greatest. However, after age two, pacifiers can cause protruding front teeth and an improper bite. The AAP recommends waiting until your breast-fed baby is one month old before introducing a pacifier to avoid nipple confusion, although some doulas and lactation consultants disagree. Some babies may not adopt pacifiers at all, especially if they are breastfed.

Brand recommendations:

  • Philips AVENT Soothie ($3-7/2-pack): [Image: 197-12_Philips AVENT Soothie] Soothies are made of hospital grade silicone that can be sterilized. They are latex-free and do not have an angled nipple like other pacifiers (similar to the breast). Some lactation consultants say they are the best pacifiers for breastfeeding babies.
  • Playtex Binky Pacifier ($6/2-pack): Many parents prefer this more fitted design to the Soothie. The Binky is lightweight and well reviewed for preemies and smaller babies.
  • MAM Pacifiers ($10/3-pack):These pacifiers have become very popular because they are inexpensive and come in cool designs. The orthodontic nipple is also made of a soft, taste- and odor-free silicone. Parents like the glow in the dark option for finding lost binkies at night.
  • Natursutten BPA Free Natural Rubber Pacifier ($12): This natural, organic pacifier is manufactured in Italy and made straight from the natural rubber of the Hevea brasiliensis tree. The natural rubber is softer than silicone, so it will not leave marks on baby’s face. Natursutten conforms to the highest safety standards in the EU, but be aware that these imported pacifiers are pricey, and they may be rejected.

Feeding: Other convenient items

Splat mat

This waterproof mat goes under your baby’s highchair and protects rugs and flooring from spills and squished peas.

Brand recommendations:

  • Simple: Bumkins ($15-17) and Prince Lionheart ($13-15) make simple, inexpensive mats.
  • Best design: Sugarbooger ($35) makes floor mats in more sophisticated designs, such as Numbers (farm animals to help teach number recognition) and Cupcake (a little girl wearing a beret with a French poodle and the Eiffel Tower).

Roll-up or fold-up travel placemat

If you travel or eat out often, this is a must-have item.

Brand recommendations:

Baby food maker

You can use your blender or other kitchen appliances; however, some parents prefer an all-in-one baby steamer, cooker, and blender.

Brand recommendations:

  • Inexpensive: If you just want a food processor, the Baby Bullet by Magic Bullet ($60-70) gets the job done.
  • Classic: The Beaba Babycook Baby Food Maker ($150) is a French-made blender, steamer, and re-heater all in one. Look for a used one on Craigslist, if possible, since they have been popular for several years but are only needed for a short time.
  • Best value: The Cuisinart Baby Food Maker and Bottle Warmer ($90-100) steams and purees food in the same bowl with a built-in bottle warmer. Two products you need in one.

Baby food ice trays

Pour homemade baby food into trays and freeze. Empty the frozen cubes into freezer tight bags or containers.

Brand recommendations:

Electric swivel sweeper, or cordless vacuum

You will be sweeping up cheerios, green peas, and food bits for years to come, especially with multiple children.  

Brand recommendations:

Bathing Supplies

Baby Bathtub

If you buy a tub, look for a small, inexpensive one that fits in your kitchen sink. If you live in a small space, do not spend $45-70 on a collapsible tub. Simply buy a thick pad or fold up a clean towel and wash baby in the sink or tub. You will be holding him with your hands anyway, and infant tubs are used for a very short time.

Brand recommendations:

Bath Sponge Cushion

For $8-10 you can bypass an infant tub. Simply use a large bath sponge to support baby in the sink, tub, or on a countertop to prevent slipping. Use towels around the sponge, if desired, and just throw them in the wash.

Brand recommendations:

Inflatable Safety Tub

This small tub fills in the gap between an infant tub and the big tub. It can also be used for travel, or for playroom fun when it’s dry.

Brand recommendation:

Hooded bath towels

You will want two to three of these towels, though expect to receive more as shower and baby gifts. I am also not a big fan of personalizing everything for baby, so that items can be reused for siblings, friends, or as donation items.

Brand recommendations:

Washcloths

You’ll want 10 to 12. Why so many? You will use them for bathing and for washing dirty faces and hands after eating for years to come. Get soft cloths without decorative appliques.

Brand recommendations:

Bath toys

Go ahead and register for bath toys. Newborn items will come and go; however, bath toys live on for years. Make sure that you scoop out toys after each bath to dry and minimize mildew. Look for bath toys that are BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free. Note: The “rubber” in most rubber ducks is actually polyvinyl chloride or PVC, a product that has minted money in the chemical industry for decades siding homes, making plastic credit cards, etc. Phthalates are a class of chemicals used to soften or “plasticize” otherwise hard PVC.

Brand recommendations:

  • Munchkin Rinse Shampoo Rinser ($5). This bendable rinsing container with a handle is indispensable for washing your child’s hair.
  • Skip Hop Moby Bath Spout Cover Universal Fit, Blue ($11-13). This protects little heads from bumps on the tub’s metal spout, especially for baths with multiples or siblings. However, it doesn’t fit some spouts in older homes.
  • Boon Water Bugs ($8). These three little bugs and a net encourage hand-eye coordination.They are BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free.
  • Boon Odd Ducks ($11-13). You can pay $12 for a BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free duck, or $.50 for a phthalate-PVC-containing duck. Since bath time is essentially splash and chew time for babies, I’m going to support cutting the toy budget elsewhere. Go green with your bath toys.
  • Green Toys Ferry Boat with Mini Cars Bathtub Toy ($18-24) is a bestseller for toddlers, and the small cars are great for baby to hold. The Green Toys ferry boat, submarine, tugboat, and sea plane are all BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free.
  • Green Sprouts Stacking Cups ($9) are great for pouring and stacking. BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free.

Eco Tip

Rubber Ducks

Phthalates make rubber ducks soft and squeaky, so be mindful when your pediatrician’s office hands you a new, straight-from-the-discount-store duck after each visit. Environmentalists Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie have written a book about this very subject Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things.

A bath toy container or basket

I have tried several types, and I like the scoop and store containers best for drying and storing bath toys.  

Brand recommendations:

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Kim Arrington Johnson:
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