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

There are always new baby products on the market. How do you know what’s actually worthwhile? This is your guide to the top must-have baby picks in every category, from bassinets to bottles, to nursing essentials, and more handy stuff!

With some new babies in the BCP family and with more recommendations from our friends, families, and you, our readers, we’ve gotten up-to-date on the latest and greatest baby gear.

Best Baby Pacifiers

See our specific roundups for the top picks on the big baby categories, then scroll down for the favorites of everything else you’ll love using for baby.

Overwhelmed by all the “stuff” baby needs? You may enjoy this post: Yes, You Can Be a Minimalist with a New Baby.

For a handy checklist on what you actually may need for your baby’s layette, see this post.

 

Favorite Baby Linens

Elys & Co Bassinet Sheets

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

Best Way to Keep Baby Warm

7AM Cocoon Car Seat Cover

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.

Bottles & Nursing

NanoBebe Silicone Bottles

“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.”

Bottles & Nursing

Lansinoh Bottles

“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!”

Bottles & Nursing

The Pigeon Bottle

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

Bottles & Nursing

Silver Nursing Cups

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.

Bottles & Nursing

Lanolin Nipple Cream

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!

Bottles & Nursing

Boppy Nursing Pillow

“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.

Bottles & Nursing

Brest Friend Nursing Pillow

This is a favorite of BCP readers.

Bottles & Nursing

Spectra Electric Breastmilk Pump

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.

Bottles & Nursing

Medela Pump

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

Bottles & Nursing

Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump

Hands-free convenience.

Bottles & Nursing

Boon Trove Manual Breast Pump

Another wearable pump that’s also hands-free.

Bottles & Nursing

Elys & Co Burp Cloths

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

Clothing

lovely littles gowns

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.

Clothing

lovely littles rompers

Their rompers come in over 40 colors and prints .

Clothing

lovely littles onesies

We also love their 3 pack onesies.

Clothing

dott child baby girl onesie sets

in short sleeve and sleeveless

Changing Baby

Water Wipes

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!

Changing Baby

Amazon Elements Wipes

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.”

Changing Baby

Kirkland Wipes

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

Changing Baby

Pampers Pure Acqua & Pampers Sensitive

“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.”

Changing Baby

Boogie Diaper Rash Spray

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

Soothing & Pacifiers

Top BCP Recommended Pacifiers

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.”

Soothing & Pacifiers

The Baby Shusher

“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.”

Soothing & Pacifiers

Braided Pacifier Clips

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.

Swaddles

Elys & Co Muslin Swaddles

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.

Swaddles

Ely’s & Co. Jersey Swaddle Sets

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

Swaddles

Jacqueline & Jac Beanie & Blanket Sets

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.

Swaddles

The Ollie Swaddle

“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.”

Swaddles

Swaddlebee Loviebee

“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.

Bathing & Grooming

The Angelcare Baby Bathseat

“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.”

Bathing & Grooming

The Puj Tub

“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.”

Bathing & Grooming

More Bathtub Solutions

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.

Bathing & Grooming

Mustella Gift Set

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.

Bathing & Grooming

Muslin Washcloths

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

Bathing & Grooming

Baby Wooden Hairbrush

A great basic.

Bathing & Grooming

Piyo Piyo Baby Nail Scissors

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

Bathing & Grooming

Frida Baby Ears, Nose, and Finger Picker

“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.”

Other Helpful Items

Frida Baby Cradle Cap Set

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

Other Helpful Items

Best Baby Monitors

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

Other Helpful Items

Baby Shopping Cart Hammock

“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.”

Other Helpful Items

Baby Headphones

“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!”

Other Helpful Items

Baby Carrier

“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.”

Other Helpful Items

Frida Baby Gas Passer

“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.”

Other Helpful Items

The Dr. Noze Nozebot Nasal Aspirator

“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.”

Other Helpful Items

Best Baby Gate

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

TOYS

Tiny Love Mobiles

“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.”

Between Carpools

Between Carpools is a collaboration between five talented friends who like to get a lot of stuff done “between carpools.” Since 2016, we’ve been sharing home and organizing tips, parenting insights, activities, how-to’s and DIYs, and of course, entertaining ideas, recipes, and inspiring reads both on the site and app.

8 responses to “The Ultimate Guide to the Best Newborn & Baby Essentials of 2025”

  1. Leah Avatar
    Leah

    An electric nail filer is so much easier and less scary than a nail scissor. Baby Frida makes one but it doesn’t work so well. The good ones are random no-name brands for like $20 on Amazon.

  2. G Avatar
    G

    @between carpools- can you open a discussion re infant and childhood eczema? So many kids and their moms suffering. TIA.

    1. R Avatar
      R

      i second that! im having such a hard time with my eczema baby with no relief

      1. Esti Avatar
        Esti

        Pure (raw) shea butter worked wonders by us (and many others). I specifically used shea butter with raspberry oil. It’s not expensive and definitely worth the try.

    2. Hadassa Avatar
      Hadassa

      There is a post on BCP talking about probiotics being an anecdotal cure for eczema in children (probably could be adapted for babies). Worth a read and worth a try. Good luck !

    3. A Avatar
      A

      Our allergist prescribed a cream to get us through the worst of it and now we use vanicream twice a day to maintain. It’s really common in kids with allergies so it might be worth checking if the eczema is just from dry skin or if it’s an allergic/autoimmune reaction. I also just saw that Vaseline and aquaphor make a spray version that got great reviews for eczema users and we’re thinking of trying that too!

  3. PY Avatar
    PY

    for those in EY and I imagine there is same/equivalant in the USA, bathing baby in emol oil only and not in soap at all, works wonders. You can shampoo their head but as a quick last step when their body is in your hands and out of the bath already: https://www.dr-fischer.com/product/%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%9C-%D7%A7%D7%9C%D7%90%D7%A1%D7%99/

  4. Shevy Avatar
    Shevy

    Would love baby swing recommendations!

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