The Ultimate Guide to the Best Newborn & Baby Essentials of 2025

Cute, soft prints. Comes in lots of sizes, from bassinet, to portacrib, to your full-sized cribs.

This is the most popular must-have for the winter. It’s the easiest 7AM to use and the most practical too. It negates the need of having to get your baby in and out of a coat, and is the safest to use too as the baby’s back is secure in the car seat. Read more about our 7AM picks here.

“We did a lot of research and decided this was the best bottle. The nipple is similar to breastfeeding, the parts separate for easy cleaning, and the babies are happy.”

“These are the best for breastfeeding mothers. These, along with the Pigeon, are most 

recommended by lactation consultants. It’s most similar to the breast and just as easy to clean. It comes with the added benefit of colored numbers at the side of the bottle. These clear ones are impossible to see in the middle of the night!”

“A lactation consultant recommended the pigeon bottle and I love it! It features an actual slow flow nipple.”

These help avoid irritation, cuts, soreness, or cracks that are caused by breastfeeding without creams/ lotions or chemicals. Best to start using these right after birth or even a few days before.

We found these mini bottles to be super practical to keep handy. We also featured these in this post on healing dry and cracked lips, but it’s a great product for its intended use as well!

“I had by 6th 6 months ago and had never before used a pillow. My back and arms were always aching and I just thought it was the aches and pains of post-birth. Someone bought me this pillow I was like, “Naaahhh, it’s my 6th, I never used one, how helpful could it actually be?” I discovered it’s a complete game changer! I didn’t need it by the time he was 3 months old but my kids have found many other uses for it.

This is a favorite of BCP readers.

Spectra is generally recommended for those who like efficiency as they’re the most powerful. Many also like the Medela one for its portability and user-friendly convenient for on-the-go pumping.

The all time favorite. The most comfortable manual hand pump.

Hands-free convenience.

Another wearable pump that’s also hands-free.

Unlike the cloth diapers you’ve used in the past, these are waterproof and actually pretty.

Lovely Little gowns are amazing for newborns. There’s no need to get their legs in and out of tight footies. An 8 lb baby can fit into a size 3 months and it will last the longest.

Printed and solid – pair it with a hat or bonnet, a blanket (we love the size of these, nice and large) and bibs.

Shop all newborn.

Their rompers come in over 40 colors and prints .

We also love their 3 pack onesies.

in short sleeve and sleeveless

These have stood the test of time as a mom favorite. We still use and recommend them. There’s less pricey options on the market now, though!

“I used to love Water Wipes, but the Amazon brand features the same ingredients but are sturdier and pull better and have a plastic closure so they don’t dry out as fast when your toddler hides them in a random spot and you find them weeks later.”

Kirkland Wipes consistently has lots of fans, and you don’t need to be a Costco member to stock up.

“I’ve tried a bunch, and these Pampers wipes are still the best. Pampers Pure Aqua is the same thing with a MUCH easier tab to open and close! They are water-based, come out of the package much easier, and wipe down better.”

“Diaper cream spray! It’s the best. So much easier than rubbing and effective.”

After learning about the consequences of using those large, trendy pacifiers in Big Pacifiers, Big Problems, BCP provided a list of pacifiers recommended by speech therapists, including those that are labeled “symmetrical,” “orthodontic,” and “anatomical.”

“When I first saw this shusher, I thought, ;That is silly, paying that much for a little Shhhhh? Now that I have used it, this is now my go-to baby gift. It truly is magic for my son. If he is crying or having difficulty going to sleep, we turn this on, and he is soothed in less than a minute. I like that it runs for a little bit, then shuts itself off. And, you can adjust the volume to the environment and need.”

These don’t last long, as they pimple and get dirty. However, they are the softest paci clips and the colors are great. They come with plenty in a package, so just replace as needed.

The feel, the pretty prints, the vintage look, and the thin material allows for a tight swaddle–all these are reasons why the muslin is always popular.

“Ely’s and Co cotton knit jersey swaddle blankets! They’re the only swaddle stretchy enough to do a ‘hospital swaddle’!”

The best swaddle set there is right now. Washes beautifully, super soft, amazing swaddle, great fit on the beanie–it’s a splurge you won’t regret.

“I’m convinced that it’s this that has trained my baby to sleep through the night. It’s pricey but washes beautifully and I’m using it for baby #2 now.”

“My baby refused a paci but when he has his Swaddlebee, he relaxes and knows it’s time for sleep. I like the Loviebee size because I’m more comfortable with him sleeping with that instead of the bigger size and also it’s easier to keep in a Doona bag or stroller basket.

“This is my 6th child and so far, this has been my favorite bath to use for bathing baby! It’s the easiest to use, dries quickly, stays clean, and provides the most support for baby.”

“This is amazing, amazing for newborn. It made bathing a tiny baby in the sink a breeze. Not a lot of water is needed and the baby is very secure in it. The only downside is it doesn’t last long–the baby outgrows it after maybe 2-3 months. But until then it’s so safe, easy to use, and folds flat and hangs on a hook in the back of door. I really, really liked it.”

One mom went through different tub solutions to find the one that worked for her baby’s ages and stages. Read about her experiences in this post.

I loved getting this as a gift. It has everything you need for your new baby and the smell is just delicious. I love that it’s made with natural ingredients.

“They’re the softest and gentlest for baby, clean well, and wash well after use. It doesn’t hurt that they’re pretty too.”

A great basic.

“These cut well, but they’re safer for little fingers vs. traditional clippers. I have a pair and it’s great.”

“It gets things out easily and it’s tiny, so it’s easy to carry around in the diaper bag. It’s something you didn’t realize you needed, but comes in super handy.”

“The easiest and quickest way to get rid of cradle cap.”

We have a post on the best baby monitors to suit your needs!

“It’s brilliant! I always hated the idea of leaving my baby in a stroller at the end of the aisle or maneuvering a stroller and wagon at the same time. The hammock clips and buckles on to the wagon and baby gets strapped inside.”

“I think every person who brings their baby to simchas should have these in their diaper bags. I know the music is too loud for me. Now imagine a baby’s tiny precious ear drums–it can really hurt them! These take up so little space and come in all different colors. They work until the baby is 3 years old. It’s worth every penny!”

“My absolute favorite baby carrier! It’s so comfortable and easy to put on by yourself. It’s also on the cheaper end of the spectrum and works well with babies and toddlers. I used it up until my baby was 14 months and was too heavy. It’s folds small, so it takes up minimal space when traveling too.”

“Frida Baby makes the gas passer which my pediatrician recommended and was amazing for us that first month when her digestive system was sorting itself out.”

“The Dr. Nozebot is really is a must have for babies who suffer from congestion. It brings so much relief and works until they learn how to blow their nose on their own. Ask your doctor about it.”

Deena Friedman shares the best baby gate solution in this post.

“They’re great quality. And no, they’re not so pretty and trendy like the neutral-colored ones mobiles currently being touted but babies love them. They actually watch it and are entertained . And babies love the music box part with the light up to even through to their toddler stage.”