After seeing a ton of new products set to launch in 2018 at the ABC Kids Expo [1] last October, we've been excited to share our favourite picks for the best baby gear to invest in this year. From brand new products that were just released to a few that have been around for a minute but just can't be beat, we've selected the gear that will help make your parenting life just that much easier.
Whether you are looking for a specific type of product, are registering for baby gifts — or buying them for someone else — or simply want to check out what's shiny and new in the baby-gear world, these products will wow you [2], and most of them will make you think, "Why the hell didn't I think of this?"
(The year is young — don't forget to bookmark this page so you can check back to see what other fun baby-gear items 2018 has to offer.)
LugBug Ergonomic Car Seat Handle
If you feel like your body is breaking every single time you lift your baby in their car seat, you're not alone, and the LugBug Ergonomic Car Seat Handle [3] ($40) is here to help. The comfortable attachment works with most brands of car seats to ease the tension of carrying around a heavy car seat on your wrist, forearm, and shoulder.
4Moms MamaRoo 4
The MamaRoo is nothing new, but the newest version, the 4Moms MamaRoo 4 [4] ($220-$250), has a few additional features, including 25 different motion patterns and speed combinations (which you can control via Bluetooth on your phone!). The seat now fully reclines; you can hook up music or sounds through a phone or iPod with an AUX cable; and the plush fabric is easy to remove and machine washable.
Ergobaby 180 Reversible Stroller
Featuring a handlebar that flips easily around the seat to change the way baby faces while you're on the go, a one-handed fold, a giant under-seat storage compartment, and full recline, the Ergobaby 180 Reversible Stroller [5] ($400) is everything you need to get on the move with your kiddo — all in one chic package. It comes in four colours — grey, blue, teal, and black — and can be used with an infant "Comfort Cushion" [6] ($40), which supports baby's hips, or with a carrier adapter.
Support Swaddle by Kepi
The Support Swaddle by Kepi [7] ($82) makes carrying baby around easy, safe, and stress-free — especially when younger siblings are involved and want to hold their little sibling — by supporting your newborn's head, neck, and spine.
4moms Breeze Plus Playard
Think of the 4moms Breeze Plus Playard [8] ($300) as your baby's second crib. Featuring an easy-to-clean, removable bassinet and changing table component, this playard will grow with your infant through toddlerhood (and look chic and clean doing it). Even if you don't have space for it in your own home, it's the perfect item to keep at grandma's house.
Lulaclips Seat Harness Clip
Tired of tangled car seat straps that get caught underneath your child's bum when they sit? Us, too, which is why we were so amped to discover the Lulaclips Seat Harness Clip [9] ($13), which is a small magnet that attaches to the side of your child's car seat to hold the buckles up and out of the way until you're ready to secure your child.
Bink Dots Outlet Safety Plugs
If you're big on home decor but have to baby-proof, the Bink Dots Outlet Safety Plugs [10] ($13) are the perfect solution. They plug up outlet holes to block tiny fingers and objects from entering, but they look adorable and clean while doing so.
Boon Tripod Formula Container
The Boon Tripod Formula Container [11] ($6) makes preparing bottles easier and less messy, whether at home or on the go. Simply fill each of the three compartments with the amount of formula you need per bottle and seal the top; then, pop off a lid on one of the three legs, place the bottle over it, and tip the formula in.
Nuna DEMI Grow Double Stroller
If you're looking to accommodate both a baby and their sibling on an afternoon out, the Nuna DEMI Grow [12] ($800), a double stroller with 23 configurations, may be just what you're looking for. The stroller has an easy fold, a roomy storage basket, foam-filled tires and dual suspension that allows for strolls on rough terrain or smooth surfaces, and a one-touch central braking system.
Itzy Ritzy Milk Boss Infant Feeding Support Pillow
Itzy Ritzy's Milk Boss Infant Feeding Support Pillow [13] ($25) is here to save you from being stuck with your arm pinned under baby while feeding. Its egg-like design features a hole in the top for your arm to pass through so that your hand is semifree (for holding baby or, you know, scrolling through Facebook). Not only does the hole help to prevent strained and tired arms during feeding, but it also allows the user to easily position baby on the pillow at a more upright angle, which can make the feeding process more comfortable for everyone while potentially reducing the chance of reflux or gas.
Bink Up & Away Magnetic Blind-Cord Protector
To prevent your child from ever getting tangled up in or harmed by a loose blind cord, Bink Up & Away Magnetic Blind-Cord Protectors [14] ($14) are an efficient way to clip cords up and away, out of your little one's reach.
SitAlong Toddler Luggage Seat
Built for children 8 months and older (with a 50-pound max weight), the SitAlong Toddler Luggage Seat [15] (essentially a stroller that attaches to your wheelie suitcase), coming March 2018, is the genius gift that'll keep on giving on family vacations.
UppaBaby Minu Stroller
The lightweight UppaBaby Minu Stroller [16] ($400-$430, available Spring 2018) has an easy one-handed fold, which transforms it into a compact little package that fits in small spaces and is easy to carry around using its convenient strap.
Marcus & Marcus Rocket Silicone Baby Dispensing Feeding Spoon
If your little one is into feeding themselves or you have a baby starting on solids who gets more of their food all over their face than in their mouth, the Marcus & Marcus Rocket Silicone Baby Dispensing Feeding Spoon [17] ($11) is here to help. The microwave-, oven-, dishwasher-, and freezer-safe food-grade silicone spoon can hold your homemade purées and smoothies inside and has a small hole in the tip to make it easy to get the food from the spoon into baby's mouth.
Nanit Smart Baby Monitor
The Nanit Smart Baby Monitor [18] ($249) does it all: takes HD video and photos (with zoom); tracks sleep and provides personalized sleep tips based on your child's sleep [19]; has temperature and humidity sensors, night vision, and a nightlight; and, best of all, is Amazon Alexa integrated. With Alexa, you can ask how your baby slept last night and what time they woke up, or inquire as to how many times you stumbled in and took them out of the crib to soothe them — all so you can figure out how to get baby to sleep better so, in turn, the whole family sleeps better.
Kid'z Katch Universal Highchair Drop Catch
The Kid'z Katch Universal Highchair Drop Catch [20] ($37) fits on most highchairs to prevent food, utensils, cups, toys, pacifiers, and more from dropping on the floor.
Halo Double Bassinest Twin Sleeper
Many aspects of having twins can be tricky, but thanks to the Halo Double Bassinest Twin Sleeper [21] ($450), getting your twins to fall asleep in those first few months hopefully doesn't have to be. With a mesh insert separating the babies but giving them that closeness they crave and the bassinet's 360-degree rotation, which allows you to swivel whichever baby needs you right next to them, the Halo is a unique sleep solution aimed at making your life with multiples a little easier.
Graco Uno2Duo Double Stroller
The Graco Uno2Duo Double Stroller [22] ($410, available for preorder now) starts out as a single stroller and expands into a Double Stroller to grow with your family with its 11 different seat combinations. It has an easy one-hand fold and an extralarge storage compartment, and the main seat can recline flat to become an infant bassinet.
DockATot Deluxe+
The DockATot Deluxe+ [23] ($195) is great for creating a womb-like environment for your newborn and is suitable for babies up to 8 months old. Plus, with beautiful covers like this one in Carrara Marble, it becomes a baby item that you don't mind having out all the time!
Kip & Co Sprinkles Sleep Sack
This gorgeous and playful Kip & Co Sprinkles Sleep Sack [24] ($45-$55) actually serves a purpose other than being aesthetically pleasing. It has a two-way zip for quick access and easy diaper changes and underarm snaps for flexible sizing as baby grows, and it comes in a lightweight or heavyweight material so that you can use it to help your baby sleep through all seasons.
Project Nursery Portable Sound Soother
Whether on the go or in the comfort of your own home, help baby calm down, fall asleep, and (hopefully) stay asleep with Project Nursery's Portable Sound Soother [25] ($13), which can conveniently clip onto stroller handles, car seats, bags, and more.
Ju-Ju-Be Be Equipped Bag Set
The Ju-Ju-Be Be Equipped Bag Set [26] ($50) features a small wet bag, a mini bottle cooler, and an organiser bag so you can have all of your nursing essentials with you wherever you go.
Bob Rambler Jogging Stroller
For active parents who want to take baby along for the ride, the Bob Rambler Jogging Stroller [27] ($300, originally $360) is more affordable than the other Bob strollers you know and love, and it has all of the same performance features, just fewer of the bells and whistles.