How To Know If You’re Buying The Best Baby Gear

Written by: Janel Duffy
Posted: August 12, 2024

TL/DR: There is no “best” anything. But there are ways to figure out what might be the best fit for your family.
 

If you’re like most parents, you probably want the best of the best for your baby. Families in the United States spend upwards of 40 hours researching and planning their baby registries. The big bummer about the word “best” is that it’s pretty subjective and doesn’t really consider the needs or goals of specific families. “Best” sometimes just means “most expensive”, “best” sometimes just means “our company has enough marketing dollars to outrank every other product”, and sometimes “best” means “bigger learning curve”.
 

So we’re going to shed some light about a few different products and the marketing term “best”

 

Bottles

While the shape of a bottle’s nipple matters, the actual name brand does not. There are bottles on the market that cost $30-$40 for ONE bottle. Lexi, (our expert on all things baby gear) has found that the bottle that is the most versatile, cost effective, sturdy, eco-friendly, with the optimal nipple shape costs $4 per glass bottle. The most optimal nipple shape is a gradual slope, not a nipple shape that is marketed as “breast-like”.
 

Considerations that might make some bottles better than others for you and your baby:

  • How many babies are you feeding with bottles?
  • How frequently will you bottle feed?
  • Do you have a dishwasher? How easy are the bottles to clean?
 
Instead of focusing your money and resources on the “best” bottles, it might be worthwhile to look into these services to help you find the feeding products that will work for your family. Additionally, professional lactation and feeding support specialists can help you understand baby eating and nursing habits and help you get the support you need if you want to pump or breastfeed.

 

Breast pump

When it comes to breastpumps, the most popular brand doesn’t always mean better. When I talked to Lexi about this she said: “Many clients have popular pumps that don’t fit well that were partially covered by insurance, and [they] end up paying more out of pocket for those pumps, rather than investing in a pump that is better quality and fit”. Just because a pump is considered “hospital grade” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best for you.
 

Considerations in finding the best breast pump for you:

  • How often will you be using your pump, and for how long?
  • How frequently will you be away from your babies, and for how long?
  • Do you have insurance? Do they cover any breast pumps?
  • How much time do you have to dedicate to cleaning pump parts?
 
Even after insurance, the cost of a breast pump can be over a hundred dollars. Before you shell out money to buy the most popular pump, invest in a lactation specialist who can help you pick the ideal pump for you, help you get correctly fitting flanges, and show you how to use your breast pump the right way.

 

Bassinet and crib

There is a huge range of baby sleeping spaces on the market today, from the very basic pack-and-play to a thousand dollar “smart” crib. Of course they’re marketed to parents as the solution to sleepless nights, and when you’re getting ready for your newborn of course you don’t want sleepless nights. But it’s important before you go crib shopping that you really understand what’s biologically normal for infant sleep (ahem, it’s SO NORMAL if an infant wakes multiple times per night). More than finding the fanciest crib, you should consider finding the overnight and daytime postpartum support for you to help you meet your baby’s biological needs wherever they’re at. When it comes to cribs, like most baby items, price does not equal quality. And truly, in the long run, the fancy features don’t really help create healthy sleep habits for infants or parents (trust me, the number of parents in Facebook groups asking for advice about sleeping away without their smart crib is astounding).
 

Considerations in shopping for a bassinet, crib, or other sleeping space for your baby:

  • Nobody’s home layout and logistics are exactly the same. Be weary of products that promise to fit into your life perfectly no matter what
  • Consider your space and how a crib might or might not fit
  • Are there allergies or materials you and your family want to avoid?
  • New parent needs: are there any health conditions that might make one crib more practical and accessible than another? Depending on how birth goes, a new parent might need to make adjustments to allow proper healing
  • Are you having multiple babies?  
  • Is co-sleeping something you’re comfortable with?
  • Budget will almost always be a determining factor. Consider getting a crib pre-loved!
 
An alternative to spending an arm and a leg on a luxury crib or a smart bassinet is hiring (and putting onto your BeHerVillage registry) an overnight doula, a night nurse, and even a gentle sleep coach when the time is right.
 

Diapers

Simply, the best diaper is the one that keeps your baby dry and comfortable. However there are dozens of brands of diapers– disposable and cloth– so it might take some research (and trial & error) before you know for sure which diapers are the best for your baby. The more expensive diapers tend to mean more considerations (which doesn’t necessarily mean “best” diapers). The more expensive diapers are often made with more expensive materials, are sometimes ecologically-friendly, and are sometimes more absorbent. When it comes to cloth diapers, the more expensive the cloth diaper is, the shorter the learning curve is to use them, which also may come with less versatility.
 

Some things to consider when comparing diaper brands

  • How many littles will you have in diapers?

  • Do you have in-home or easily accessible laundry for cloth diapering?
  • Is convenience more important?
  • Do you have preferences about different materials?
 
It might be worthwhile to try out a few different types of diapers with your baby rather than stocking up on one brand that you might think is the best initially, and then come to find out they’re actually not a good fit for your baby. Putting a “diaper fund” section on your BeHerVillage registry means you’ll have the funds readily available to purchase the diapers you want and need when you need them. 

 

Car seat:

Here’s a fun fact: every single car seat that is LEGALLY sold on the market in the United States has the SAME LEVEL OF SAFETY, no matter if the car seat is $40 or $400. More expensive sometimes means more comfort, more versatility, more ease of use, more convenience, different materials, etc. (This is one of the items on Lexi’s list that she urges people to buy new unless you know exactly where you’re getting the car seat from and how it’s been used). The singular consideration first and foremost when it comes to car seats should be “will this keep my child safe?”
 

Some considerations when shopping for your car seat:

  • How many car seats do you need to fit in your vehicle?
  • Do you need a carseat for multiple vehicles?
  • Are there materials that you prefer or want to avoid?
  • Does color or style matter to you?
  • Are you looking for different features or more versatility?
 
Finding the perfect car seat for you, your baby, and your vehicle might take some work and research. One of my favorite IG accounts to follow for great info is The Car Mom– she does car tours with different car seat types to see which fit safely and comfortably. This is a great time to consult with a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) to make sure the car seat you buy or put onto your baby registry is going to work for you– and they can also ensure whichever you choose is installed properly and that your baby is sitting safely.

 

Stroller

This is another product that has quite the span as far as pricing goes, where you can get a $20 umbrella stroller or the Rolls Royce of strollers costing thousands of dollars. While the most expensive strollers are certainly fancy, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best stroller on the market, or the ideal fit for your family. Certain strollers are equipped to handle the varying ages and stages, from a bassinet attachment to a little skateboard style piece for the bigger kiddos to hop on and off of. Some strollers are more compact and some are less compact but have storage and movement space. 
 

When you’re looking for the ideal stroller for your family think about the following:

  • How often will you be using your stroller?
  • What will you typically use your stroller for? (ie: a quick trip around the grocery store, using it as your main form of transporting your baby around town, or using it as a running stroller)
  • What’s the terrain in the area you’ll be using the stroller?
  • Do you or any caregivers have any physical limitations that might require a lighter stroller, or something that folds up easier?
  • What’s your storage space situation?
 
While you might need a stroller that ends up being kind of expensive, it might be worthwhile to see if you can get one pre-loved for a fraction of the cost (or even for free). When you really consider your needs and goals for your stroller, you can make a decision that fits best for your family, rather than what’s most popular amongst your friend group or circulating on TikTok. When you find the right stroller and if you’re able to save some cash in that area, you can redirect those funds to help you pay for services that will support you in postpartum, a play class, or something that makes you feel good (like some postpartum bodywork).
 

Baby carrier

Baby carriers are another baby item that can really span the range of cost. With not too much difficulty, you can find a free one in a buy-nothing group, you can buy certain brands from any retail store with a baby section, and then there are the extremely expensive, “luxury” brands of baby carriers. And this is a product that really depends on your needs, preferences, and budget to determine what’s best for you. In the baby carrier world, sometimes more expensive actually is better in terms of versatility and longevity. On the flip side, sometimes a cheaper carrier is more limiting.
 

When you’re looking for a baby carrier here are a few things to think about:

  • Your capacity and patience for learning the ins and outs and nuances of a complex carrier
  • How long are you planning to baby wear? For the first few months? Through toddlerhood?
  • Do you have any physical limitations or considerations?
  • Your preference of materials
 
Like many baby items we talk about, a baby carrier is another one that might be an easy place for you to save yourself money by buying it used (or getting it for free). And honestly, a carrier that has already been broken in by another mom and baby is actually more comfortable for everyone. There are also lots of resources that offer programs to rent and try out different baby carriers, so you don’t have to commit to anything you’re not sure about. An additional resource to include on your BeHerVillage registry is to work with a babywearing professional– and it’s just as it sounds: a professional who can help you find the best fit and most comfortable ways to wear your baby while focusing on safety. These folks are typically well versed in all things babywearing, so you’ll be sure you’re getting the most up to date information with a personal touch.
 
When it comes to baby gear, the best products are going to be the ones that work for you, help you, and fit well into your lifestyle
The standard baby registry checklists aren’t always right– not every product on there is one that you need. Just the same, not every influencer or marketing ploy is actually offering the “best”, even if they claim to be. When it comes to buying the best baby gear for you, it’s really a personal journey that may take a bit more than reading reviews and talking to your best friend’s older sister. Working with a BeHerVillage certified gift registry expert will help you make the best decisions on all things baby gear and support services.


BeHerVillage is helping parents like you get the funds they need for the support they deserve! Are you having a baby and are looking for support? Create a registry for support today and get gifted funds directly into your bank account to pay for your support team. You deserve this.

Are you a birthworker who supports new moms? Use BeHerVillage to help your clients pay for your support. Create your free profile here and you can be the best baby shower gift a mom will ever get!
Category: Getting Ready For Your Baby , Postpartum Planning
Tags: baby shower , baby registry

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