Best baby gear
Essentials that deliver
Our winners span the following categories:
For our sixth year evaluating the best baby products on the market, we did our homework—and then some. We spent hours testing products in real life (everything from taking strollers on international trips to making all the mess in the kitchen), teamed up with caregivers across the country, combed through hundreds of reviews and tapped our in-house parenting editors along with industry experts. The goal? To find the baby gear that’s worth your money and will actually make your life easier. Because you’ve got enough on your plate…and probably your T-shirt.
How Our Winners Were Chosen
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
Even the most laid-back parents can feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of baby gear out there. (Genies? Boppies? What does it all mean!?) And whether you’re prepping for baby number one or juggling your fourth, chances are you don’t have hours to spare comparing swaddles and stroller traction. That’s where we come in. We’ve done the research, testing hundreds upon hundreds of products to bring you the very best for baby (and parents alike)—handpicked by our team of staffers and volunteer testers. These are the things we use in our own homes because they just work, as well as the year’s greatest innovations that make life as a new parent easier, calmer or simply more beautiful. (Yes, a changing pad can qualify as beautiful!)
awards
Happy KID
Béis
Stroller Caddy
This catch-all for diapers and wipes seamlessly converts into a portable bag you can carry around the playground. Convertible straps make it easy to attach to the stroller handle and a magnetic flap keeps valuables safe. There’s also a wipeable lining and interior dividers that allow you to customize the layout and separate your cell phone from snacks.
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Bugaboo
Butterfly 2
Best-in-class when it comes to taking parenting on the road, the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 has a five-point harness for safety, ample under-carriage storage, a deep recline for stroller naps on the go and it fits in an overhead luggage compartment. Still, it’s the fact that you can fold it (and unfold it) with one hand that truly sets it apart.
BUY IT
UPPAbaby
Vista® V3
After updating their beloved stroller configuration last year, it felt like UPPAbaby read our minds when it came to the details that matter most. This time around, they’ve added a five-point magnetic harness for added safety and ease, a breathable all-weather seat for hot days and improved suspension for navigating bumps without waking the baby. Every upgrade is smart and full of utility. This guy is also still designed to accommodate up to three children.
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Best Stroller Accessory
Best Travel Stroller
Best Stroller
Best baby
gear
Best for
Play
Best for Bedtime
Best for the Nursery
Best for Feeding
Best for Bathtime
best for baby 2026
Best For
Mom
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A good carrier that supports baby and your lower back is hard to find. This one comes with four different positions (inward-facing, outward-facing, back carry and hip carry) and is designed to ergonomically hold baby from birth to 48 months. The breathable comfort and easy-to-adjust back straps are what our parent testers raved about. It also comes with a pocket to hold on-the-go essentials…by which we mean your phone.
Best Baby Carrier
Ergo Baby Omni Deluxe
All-in-One Baby Carrier
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For parents boarding planes, trains and automobiles, the Maxi-Cosi Romi is a portable no-brainer. Weighing just over 9 pounds, it’s one of the lightest convertible car seats available and boasts easy installation and airplane certification (meaning it’s FAA-approved). Per our parent testers, it’s narrow enough to fit on most airlines’ seats without cramping other passengers.
Best Travel Car Seat
Maxi-Cosi Romi 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
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Ergonomically designed and built to accommodate babies up to 29 pounds, this self-rocking design keeps baby happily entertained and takes up practically no room. Once your infant is sitting up and walking unaided, simply turn the fabric seat around and use it as a comfy children’s chair.
Best Bouncer Seat
Baby Björn
Bouncer Bliss
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This freestanding, sustainably made gate can be converted into multiple configurations to suit your space. It’s also portable and easy to take apart and reassemble should you want to move it from the playroom to Grandma’s house. But it was the child-safe (yet parent-friendly) “door” latch that stood out to our testers: simple to open and no fingers pinched.
Best Baby Gate
Harppa Grovi
Playpen
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Our editor and parent testers continually come back to Nanit, not just for its screen clarity, but also for the sleep insights–everything from the number of wake-ups to coughing fits gets tracked. Separate accessories—such as the stand-alone monitor—expand the ways you can use it.
Best Baby Monitor
Nanit Smart Baby
Monitor System
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The latest generation of this editor favorite comes with all the bells and whistles—a five-point harness you can do and undo with one hand, an all-steel frame and impact-absorbing foam side protection, the flexibility to use it both backwards and forward-facing from birth through 65 pounds. But it’s the quality and comfort that make it a stand-out for our testers; it just feels like something you’d want to sit in for long periods of time.
Best Car Seat
Nuna Rava Next
Convertible Car Seat
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The breathable mesh walls, the built-in vibrations and calming sounds, the amber nightlight—these are only a few of the details that make this bassinet (which works from birth up to 20 lbs) such a star. Our testers especially loved the adjustable height in combination with the swivel effect, which accommodates bed frames up to 30 inches and allows mom to safely sleep close by.
Best Bassinet
HALO BassiNest Soothing Swivel Sleeper
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Stylish and modern, this crib is designed to last from the newborn stages all the way through age five. Our parent testers especially loved how the low-profile design made it easy to set down their infants. Additionally, they loved the versatility of a crib that offers 8(!) configurations—bassinet, midi crib, midi toddler bed, midi daybed, standard crib, toddler bed, daybed and junior bed.
Best Crib
Babyletto
8-in-1 Crib
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It may feel like all crib mattresses are the same, but Newton has a leg up on its competitors as it’s the only mattress we’ve heard of that’s fully washable, meaning you can wash the entire core, not just the cover, which can be sudsed up and hosed off in the shower, then quickly air dried to pop back on the bed. Midnight poop explosions have nothing on you!
Best Crib Mattress
Newton
Crib Mattress
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These ultra-soft crib sheets are made from a highly breathable viscose from bamboo. They’re also temperature regulating, so you don’t have to swap them out, based on the season. The cute patterns are what won them our vote.
Best Crib Sheets
Keababies Isla Fitted
Crib Sheets
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These ribbed footie PJs are more than just soft and cozy, they’re designed to grow with baby, up to age nine months (though they somehow feel roomy enough to extend the wear beyond that). Made from a combination of bamboo, organic cotton and elastane, they’re designed with thoughtful details like a two-way zip, fold-over scratch mitts and a zipper safety tab, as well as a charming color palette.
Best Footie PJs
Mori Baby
Ribbed Pajamas
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This repeat winner puts a priority on quality and longevity. With a universal size that fits babies from 2 months to 2 years, the Woolino Sleep Bag is an investment worth making. And since it’s made from merino wool, which is soft and ultra-breathable, it allows you to stress less about temperature regulation and use the same sleep sack year-round.
Best Sleep Sack
Woolino 4-Season
Sleep Bag
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This charming series riffs on Goodnight Moon with a minimal tableau of familiar objects and a gentle rhythm where the reader says goodnight to each item as the sun goes down. In signature Jon Klassen style, there’s plenty of peculiarity and whimsy to spur laughs and tap into baby’s imagination.
Best Bedtime Book
'Your Places' Box Set
by Jon Klassen
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This damage-free design blocks 100 percent of light as it streams in, and the adaptable fit means the curtains accommodate a range of window sizes and are just as easy to hang up as they are to take down (no tools required). Plus, they’re lightweight and packable, so you can take them on the road to keep sleep routines consistent.
Best Blackout Curtains
Otterspace Total Blackout Curtain
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A good night’s sleep is the ultimate mission, and our testers appreciated the Velcro closure on this guy which is silent and designed for minimal disturbances while baby slumbers. They also like how easy it is to take on and off: Zip the bottom, fasten the top—no fancy wrap techniques required.
Best Swaddle
MomCozy Easy
Swaddle Wrap
Rest Easy with These Parent Faves
Best for bedtime
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Our testers—especially the taller ones—raved about the electronic headrest on this glider which adjusts if you need to move up or down. They also loved its silent glide, easy-to-clean material, power adjustment and built-in USB port. But back to that headrest, which gives mom the ability to, even in a reclined position, feel more upright while feeding.
Best Glider
Nurture&
The Glider Recliner
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Available in sleek and gender-neutral colors, this wipeable, non-absorbent changing pad is as chic as it is easy to clean. Aesthetics might feel like a weird thing to call out when it comes to diaper changes, but the ability to skip the covers altogether simplifies things, not to mention leaves mom and dad with fewer things to wash.
Best Changing Pad
Lalo Wipeable
Changing Pad
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Not only is this air purifier pretty, it comes with powerful, medical-grade HEPA purification, capturing 99.97 percent of harmful particles (allergens, smoke and pet dander) down to 0.3 microns while also reducing odors and VOCs. Our testers especially liked the app for its realtime alerts and ability to make adjustments (think boost mode) for healthier air.
Best Air Purifier
Windmill
Air Purifier
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Humidifiers are an essential, but they’re also impossible to clean. This one comes with a stainless steel, anti-mold tank that’s actually–we promise–super easy to wipe down. It also features a mood light that doubles as a nightlight for parents tiptoeing in to check on baby. Other details to love: a built-in timer, trio of mist settings and a dishwasher-safe design.
Best Humidifier
Carepod
One Plus
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Whether baby dozes in the crib, the stroller or even the car, this portable noise machine offers six different sound options and a super long battery life. It clips straight onto your diaper bag or car seat handle and is rechargeable via a USB-C port. Our testers loved the dimmable night light and backlit buttons. (No fumbling in the night to adjust the sound.)
Best Noise Machine
YogaSleep
Hush 2
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ChappyWrap is well-known for their luxe, ultra-soft blankets, and their mini blankets are an editor favorite. These 30-inch by 40-inch blankets are tailor-made for strollers, car seats and other places where you don’t need a full size covering. They’re also machine-washable and can be personalized for gifting.
Best Baby Blanket
ChappyWrap
Mini Blanket
Sweet Picks for Baby’s First Room
Best for nursery
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This lazy Susan-like design quickly became a favorite for our parent testers. Featuring four compartments, plus an interior cup for dips or an additional snack, everything has its place and you simply pull a side lever to rotate the options. All in all, It keeps snacktime mess-free (for the most part) and makes it easy for mom to maximize the choices.
Best Portable Food Storage
Munchkin
Snack Wheel
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There’s a lot of things the internet raves about that turn out to be a fail. In this case, the Catchy is a unicorn and something we wish we’d known about sooner. Designed to accommodate a range of high chair brands (everything from Stokke to Graco to IKEA), it latches onto the frame and catches almost every crumb before wiping clean with a paper towel.
Best for Mealtime Cleanup
The Catchy
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This trendy sippy cup is not only spill-proof, it features the essentials for helping baby transition off the bottle—a rotating handle, a soft and cross-cut straw to protect gums and reduce leaks and two different sipping options (with straw and without). It’s dishwasher-safe and and comes in multiple fun colors.
Best Sippy Cup
Grosmimi
Sippy Cup
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This portable high chair sets up in under a minute thanks to its slide-to-fit technology and secure clamp. One of our editors tested it while traveling and noted the ease of use as well as how safe and secure it seemed (a 3-way buckle keeps even a wiggly baby in place). It wipes clean, too, and includes a pouch for snacks and essentials.
Best Portable High Chair
Colugo
Clip-On High Chair
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Made with organic whole milk and real fruit—and designed for children 12+ months—the ingredient list is as simple as it gets. We love this snack as a natural way for baby to explore new textures and tastes, practice motor skills and the tiny, mess-free nature means you can stash a pack in your purse and slip ‘em to your toddler on the go.
Best Bite-Size Snack
Once Upon a Farm
Organic Smoothie Melts
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From infant chair to just another seat at the table, this ergonomic high chair is an investment for the long haul. We know several moms whose 5- and 6-year-olds still use them in their final, seat-to-step-ladder configuration. Durable and adjustable, this is a tester favorite.
Best High Chair
Stokke
Tripp Trapp
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You packed the snacks for the park, but not the bib—shoot. A disposable set of bibs you can tuck straight into the diaper bag is as essential as Water Wipes. And these really work, thanks to the leak-resistant waterproof-backing and fold-out crumb catcher.
Best for Meals Away from Home
Parasol
Disposable Bibs
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Designed for long-term use well beyond the baby stage, this plate comes with a divider that keeps foods separate—the golden rule for dinner, as dispensed by our kids. Still, as baby grows, that very same divider can be easily removed, leaving behind a sleek and modern plate that works well for all manner of meals. The curved sides also make it easy to scoop foods as baby practices with utensils.
Best Dishware
Omie Easy
Scoop Plate
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The genius of this design is that no water is needed. Instead, it uses air to safely warm breastmilk and formula, which takes less time and effort than traditional warmers. To deliver even heat, the device constantly rocks the bottle back and forth; it also works with all types of bottles (glass, silicone, plastic).
Best Bottle Warmer
Baby Brezza Air Swirl Waterless Bottle Warmer
Mealtime Must-Haves
Best for Feeding
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This collection of nine different water-friendly toys is in a league of its own thanks to its thoughtful, mold-free designs. We love the peek-a-boo boat that creates a surprise and delight moment when you add the ball as well as the rainbow spinner and rubber ducky that keep little hands busy. Every item is fun and engaging and—best of all—easy to clean.
Best Toys
Lovevery
Bath Set
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The diaper brand’s first foray into baby-safe skincare checks all the boxes: derm-approved, good-for-baby ingredients (like coco-glucoside and marshmallow root extract) and sulfate-, paraben- and fragrance-free credentials. The truly gentle and tear-free formula is also built to last: One of our testers has relied on the 16-ounce bottle for eight months of baths and counting.
Best Baby-Safe Shampoo
Coterie
First Wash
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Newborns are especially slippery post-bath, which is why this handy, hooded towel is a huge help. Crafted from 100 percent organic Turkish cotton, it allows mom or dad to stay hands-free as they scoop baby from the tub, thanks to a neck loop and hip ties that secure the towel to your frame.
Best Towel
Up in Arms Baby Butterfly Winged Baby Towel
Soak, Scrub, Repeat
Best for bathtime
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This farm-themed play mat is designed to grow with baby from birth through the toddler years. What starts out as a plush mat, equipped with two musical vehicle toys to engage during tummy time, evolves into a full-blown road map where toddlers can push the included tractor and pick-up truck toys on a country drive. Bonus: It’s machine-washable and takes up a minimal footprint.
Best for the Newborn Days
Baby Einstein Grow-with-Me Activity Gym
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This innovative modular activity tablet is designed to engage fine motor skills, sensory learning and bring loads of laughs and fun. The wooden board fits six tiles that baby and parent can customize and that stay magnetically in place on the go. Our testers tried it at home, but loved it for long car drives and stroller rides, too.
Best for When They're Sitting Up
Fat Brain Modular
Activity Board
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The brand’s latest baby-friendly entry is soft, squeezable and durable while still maximizing the opportunity for screen-free, independent play. Sold individually or as sets of three, the characters press to play simple stories and real-world sounds. They’re also easy for little hands to grip and hold onto, operating the Tonie Box all on their own. And from one parent to another: the songs are not annoying!
Best for Parallel Play
My First Tonies
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Swollen, achy feet are par for the pregnancy course—which is why the Kuru Flex sneaker is such a game-changer. Designed to cushion and support your heels, they offer just the right amount of structure without sacrificing comfort. While not explicitly designed for pregnancy, one expecting tester raved about wearing them daily for dog walks, even with her bowling ball belly in tow. Consider these your go-to kicks for the long haul.
Best Shoes for Pregnancy
Kuru FLEX Via
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Sleeping while pregnant is tough enough as it is—your pajamas shouldn’t add to your troubles. Lakeland’s sets are soft, breathable and designed with pregnancy and postpartum in mind, including room for a growing bump and an elastic waistband, plus a hidden snap placket for nursing or pumping. We especially love that they come in a range of cute, feel-good prints that’ll have you looking forward to bedtime (even if it’s interrupted).
Best Pregnancy Pajamas
Lake Maternity PJs
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Pregnancy is beautiful—but also kind of weird (hello, itchy belly). This all-natural belly duo soothes and hydrates with a blend of oils and butters that are highly effective, smell amazing (subtle and not overpowering) and leave your bump feeling soft, not greasy.
Best for Itchy Bumps
Earth Mama Belly Butter and Belly Oil
Designed for Wiggles, First Giggles and Growth
Best for PLay
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Mom isn’t getting much sleep these days, but a PJ set like this will help her maximize slumber during the hours she does get to log. Made from 100 percent Pima Cotton, the material is breathable and lightweight. It’s also ideal for anyone who runs warm (hello, postpartum hormones) and the button front is nursing-friendly.
Best for a Better Night's Sleep
Petite Plume Lightweight Pima Pajama Set
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The Take a Sec Cleanser, the Look Alive Exfoliator, the Everything-is-Fine Balm—these are just a few products in the lineup from this dermatologist-founded brand. Providing evidence-backed skincare that targets every chapter of motherhood (pregnancy, IVF, postpartum, nursing and more), the entire line—all formulated for sensitive skin—quickly became a staple and delivered fast results.
Best Postpartum Pick-Me-Up
More Than Nine
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Paging all moms with 8,000 photos of her kid on her phone! This layflat album features ultra-thick, seamless page spreads for a panoramic impact and is easy to create with just a few taps. Our testers loved the premium quality and linen fabric cover, making it great for mom as well as a good gift for Grandma.
Best for Treasuring Special Moments
Artifact Uprising
Layflat Album
Because no one Deserves it more
Best for Mom
Submissions for the 2027
Happy Kid Awards:
Best For Baby
To submit a product for next year’s awards, email happykidawards@purewow.com and include the following information:
Name & short description of the product (2-4 sentences)
Link (if available)
Photos
Pricing/availability
Launch date (While we focus on products launched after Aug.1 2026, we accept submissions of brands' tried-and-true bestsellers as well.)
Our submission period runs from February 1, 2027 to April 20, 2027. There is no cost to enter a product for awards consideration, though we may ask to receive up to three samples to have families test and provide feedback on. If you have any questions about the process, please feel free to email our team.
credits
Writer: Rachel Bowie
Editors: Jillian Quint, Candace Davison
Managing Editor: Catrina Yohay
Designer: Paula Boudes
Check out our previous award winners and our awards guidelines here.
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Given that the nursery is an ever-evolving space, we love that peel-and-stick wallpaper allows us to continually freshen it up. Still, Chasing Paper is in a league of its own, made from high quality, self-adhesive poly-woven fabric. Our testers remarked that it’s near-impossible to tell the difference from traditional wallpaper and that it’s truly easy to put up and take down.
Best Wallpaper
Chasing Paper
Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper
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When it comes to machine-washable rugs, the options from Nestig always seem to maintain their fluff. One tester was amazed that her rug, made from soft and durable organic cotton, appeared brand-new again after a single wash. Yogurt, marker, even a bit of strawberry juice all came out and the rug maintained its shape.
Best Washable Rug
Nestig
Washable Rug
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Corraling the kids’ toys at the end of the night feels like an impossible task. These catch-all bins—made from 100 percent cotton canvas—are pretty, polished and maintain their upright structure, no matter which size you get. One editor shared that her baby loves gripping the handles to flip and empty them “all by himself.” We love that the pom poms add a touch of whimsy.
Best Storage
Pehr Pom-Pom
Basket Bins
