In mid 2023, top baby gear brands are a mixed bag of emerging/small and established trusted companies. This website is all about finding you the perfect baby gear for your baby without compromising on safety and comfort. We test and rely on hundreds of volunteer moms who provide us with first-hand user experiences of various products we review.
Based on the most recent 2023 market segmentation, some baby gear categories are dominated by a few established and top-rated brands while others have a good number of new companies bringing innovations to that incorporate artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge tech.
We are among the first reputable blogs by simple/regular (but experienced) moms that have written about smart home integration with baby nurseries.
There are some great benefits to the advancement of baby gear technology and we are embracing it!
List of 22 Best Baby Product Brands
Below is a list of top manufacturers of baby products in the US and in Europe. You can click on any logo below to take you down the page with info on the brand and a link to the brand's catalog on Amazon.    |     |      |     |      |
Our answer to “What is the best baby brand in the market today?“
There are many different types of baby gear on the market, and new brands seem to be popping up every day. With so many choices, it can be difficult to know which brands are the best. When I had my first baby, I remember reaching out to several friends asking which is the best brand for baby ‘x’ with x being a range of baby gear items from baby monitors, car seats, strollers, diapers, feeding bottles, crib beddings, loungers, and more.
7 years later and with a team of 4 experienced moms that have used over 200 baby products combined, I now find the answer to this question simple. If I can summarize the best brand of baby product to get, I’ll sum it up like this.
Your perfect baby gear brand should have zero recalls and its quality should be backed by parents like you. The products should also grow with your baby, have a modern design, and be easy to use. The company should also offer excellent customer service here in the US.
Top brands should be making baby products from toxic-free substances and avoiding known dangerous materials such as flame retardants that contain Polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs). Brands we recommend use safe, innovative materials in their products that are easy to clean. I have also not included any products that can easily break or be a choking hazard for small children. For formula and food brands, your best brand shouldn’t have ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) which is linked to obesity, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.
Our lists, therefore, do not have any brands that have been recalled by the CPSC or have any harmful ingredients. The brands we have included are all ones that have either been recommended to us by other parents or ones we have used for our own children.
To help you save time, we’ve compiled a list of the top baby gear brands that meet the criteria mentioned above
While I and the team here remain open to new innovations, including smart diaper brands, we remain extra cautious not to introduce any hazard to baby nurseries. We only recommend products that have received wide acceptance and have some certification that they are safe.
So, which are the best baby gear brands that I should get?
22 Top Babies’ Brands/Manufacturers of Top-rated Baby Gear in 2023
Graco
Graco is one of the world’s most recognized and trusted baby gear brands. For over 80 years, Graco has been providing parents with high-quality products to help make life with a baby easier.
From infant car seats and strollers to bassinets and playards, Graco has everything you need to keep your baby comfortable and safe. And thanks to their innovative designs, Graco products are easy to use and built to last.
If you choose to pick a bassinet by Graco, make sure it is one of the JPMA-certified models that meet and exceed set safety standards. Graco has had several recalls and you won’t want to endanger your kid with unsafe products.
Chicco
I don’t always rush to recommend foreign-made baby products but the Chicco brand deserves an honorable mention as one of the best baby gear brands. Chicco is an Italian company that has been around since 1958, and it now operates in over 100 countries. In the US, Chicco operates as a separate entity and has a separate website, https://chiccousa.com.
The company’s extensive product line covers everything from car seats and strollers to high chairs and bouncers. Chicco is also known for its award-winning products, such as the Chicco Keyfit 30 Zip Infant Car Seat and the Chicco Bravo Stroller.
Britax
Britax is another US-based baby gear brand that I wholesomely recommend as it has proven itself with its advanced safety and security features that make them the safest baby gear brand as per NHTSA ratings on its top baby product models.
Britax specializes in car seats, strollers and travel systems. Founded in 1939 out of the British Accessories Trading Company, it has been in the baby business for over 80 years. For over half a century, Britax has been at the forefront of child safety technology.
It burst onto the American scene in 1996 and has since become one of the most trusted brands by families across the country
Infant Optics
Infant Optics is the most trusted company that is backed by over 50,000 positive ratings, as per their metrics on Amazon. This company recently released an improved model of a very reliable model of non-wifi monitor called Infant Optics DXR 8. With over 1 million sales and with 96% positive approval of the latest DXR 8 Pro model, I can confidently say that this brand has figured out what parents need in baby monitors. Read more about them here
It has carved itself a niche as a leader in developing and designing high-quality video baby monitors that are secure, hackproof, and do not rely on a Wifi connection. Using some of the latest cutting-edge encryption technology that utilizes the Frequency-Hopping Spread-Spectrum (FHSS) transmission, the baby monitor is virtually impossible to hack into. Infant Optic’s latest brand called the Infant Optics DXR 8 is our overall best non-wifi baby monitor in our updated 2023 list.
Baby Jogger
Baby Jogger has been in the game for a while, having first been established all the way back in 1984. In those 35 years, they’ve managed to make quite a name for themselves as one of the top producers of strollers, joggers, and other baby travel gear.
Babysense
Babysense was founded in 1991, two decades before Infant Optics. They were the first company to design a monitor that would detect respiratory cessation. In the 80s and 90s, there had been breakthrough research on the relationship between Apnea and SIDS. Babysense’s innovation was welcomed as it can save babies’ lives if apnea is detected and treated within thirty seconds.
Babysense has been traditionally designing and rolling out baby monitors for visual monitoring(video) and breath monitoring and its 2 brands are now regarded as some of the leading SIDs monitors in the market.
Nanit
Nanit is the leading baby monitor company, focused on giving parents insights to help them better understand their baby’s sleep. The company was founded in 2014 by parents who struggled with a lack of sleep and found that there were no good solutions to help track and improve their baby’s sleep.
Together with iBaby and Lollipop, Nanit’s latest brand is among our top wifi monitors using 2.4 and 5GHz frequency bands.
The Nanit Insights app uses the camera to track your baby’s sleep, breathing, and body position. It then gives you personalized recommendations to help your baby sleep better. Nanit also offers a premium subscription that gives you access to expert sleep consultants who can help you with any sleep issues you may be having.
Cubo Ai
Cubo is one of the latest brands of baby monitors that use advanced Ai to detect crying by babies and can track sleep metrics while relaying HD video.
The company is approaching its 4th year and has the latest technology that goes a step further than Nanit. Read our comparison of Nanit and Cubo here
Cubo’s monitoring system comes with no subscription fees and all data is encrypted to prevent hacking. See this list of brands with cry detection.
Owlet
Owlet pioneered hospital-grade monitoring devices designed for home use with the vision of giving parents peace of mind about their sleeping baby. It has won numerous awards and parents have credited Owlet for saving lives.
Your wear your baby a, lightweight Smart Sock sensor on their ankle while they sleep. The base station uses clinically-proven pulse oximetry to track your baby’s oxygen levels and heart rate and notifies you if these vitals go outside of set parameters. Similar to Babysense, Owlet is also rated very highly for its accurate sensor and tops our list of oxygen and breathing monitors.
Owlet also has a line of cameras that use HD video and night vision to give you a clear view of your baby’s sleep environment. You can read our review of the Owlet Smart Sock 3 and Cam here.
VTech
VTech is a global leader in age-appropriate and developmental stage-based electronic learning products for children. As a pioneer in the learning toy category, VTech develops high-quality, innovative educational products that enrich children’s development and make learning fun.
VTech manufactures a wide range of inexpensive top-rated audio monitors and 2-camera video monitors including the VTech VM819-2 Video Baby Monitor.
With over 40 years of experience, the company designs and manufactures age-appropriate and developmental stage-based electronic products such as learning toys, portable electronics, and gear for children from infancy to toddlerhood and beyond. VTech’s award-winning product line includes developmental toys such as the Starlight Sounds Puppy, KidiBuzz G2, Step & Learn Scout, and Smartwatch DX2.
Philips Avent
Looking for a toxic-free baby gear brand to feed your little one? I recommend Philips Avent. Often styled as AVENT, this childcare brand manufactures baby bottles, breast pumps, and other feeding and health accessories for babies. Similar to Chicco, Philips Avent products retail in the US market but the company itself is actually based in Glemsford, Suffolk, England.
I suppose I should amend my advisory to include European-made gear not exclusively recommend baby products made in the US. European standards for safety and quality are usually higher than in the US. And, with regard to chemicals, in particular, there have been a number of scares over the years about things like bisphenol A (BPA) found in hard plastics used for baby bottles.
Philips Avent brand, Philips AVENT BPA Free Natural Slow Flow Nipples came second in our list of bottle brands with the slowest flow.
Fisher-Price
Fisher-Price is an American company that produces toys for infants and children, headquartered in East Aurora, New York. Fisher-Price has been a subsidiary of Mattel since 1993 but was founded in 1930. Some of the company’s best-known brands include Power Wheels, Little People, Laugh & Learn, Imaginext, Rescue Heroes, and Thomas & Friends. Some of their top brands include the Snuggababy swing brand for colicky babies.
Pampers
Pampers is the world’s largest diaper manufacturer and has been around for over 50 years.
Pampers offers a wide range of products designed to meet the needs of every stage of your baby’s development, from newborn to toddler.
The company’s flagship product, Pampers Swaddlers, are designed to provide a comfortable fit and protect your baby’s delicate skin. Pampers also offers a line of wipes, training pants, and swim diapers.
Honest Company
Founded in 2012 by Jessica Alba, The Honest Company is a leading provider of safe, eco-friendly, and sustainable baby products. The company’s mission is to provide parents with products that are safe for their babies and good for the planet. Honest offers a wide range of products, including diapers, wipes, and household cleaning products.
Its best-selling wipe brand is the Honest Company Clean Conscious Wipes which are 100% Plant-Based, 99% Water, Baby Wipes, and Hypoallergenic. It has been given a high average rating of 4.8/5 by over 10,000 customers on Amazon.
Huggies
Huggies is a leading brand of nappies, wipes, and baby care products. Founded in 1978, Huggies has been helping parents raise healthy and happy babies for over 40 years.
Huggies offers a wide range of products designed to meet the needs of every stage of your baby’s development, from newborn to toddler.
The company’s flagship product, Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers, are designed to provide a comfortable fit and protect your baby’s delicate skin. Huggies also offers a line of wipes, training pants, and swim diapers.
johnson and johnson
johnson and johnson is a household name and has been around for over 130 years. The company started with just three products: a revolutionary new surgical dressing, an innovative new soap, and talc powder.
Today, Johnson and Johnson offers hundreds of products for babies, including baby lotion, shampoo, diaper cream, and wipes. One of the company’s most popular products is Johnson’s Bedtime Bath, which contains natural ingredients that help relax babies and help them sleep through the night.
Gerber
Gerber is a trusted name in baby food and has been around for over 80 years.
The company was founded in 1927 by Dorothy Gerber, who started making homemade strained peas for her 7-month-old daughter Ann.
Today, Gerber offers over 200 different products ranging from baby food and formula to clothing and gear and has 61% of the US baby food market.
Ergobaby
My favorite baby carrier brand that has been acknowledged by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute as a “hip-healthy” product is Ergobaby. Founded in 2002, Ergobaby is a US-based company that designs and manufactures baby carriers, strollers, and related products.
Their mission is to provide parents with ergonomic solutions that enable them to comfortably and safely carry their babies from birth through the toddler years.
Skywalker
If you want your children to get active, Skywalker is a great trampoline brand to look into.
Based in the USA, they not only make top-rated mini-trampolines for kids but have also expanded their product range over time to include sports and fitness gear, as well as playground equipment, under their brands Skywalker Sports, SkyFitness, and ActivPlay. Read more about this brand on its website here.
4moms
4moms is a company that designs and manufactures high-tech baby gear that utilizes robotic technologies to provide a top-notch experience for both babies and parents.
Based in the USA, this company has shown commitment to supporting other families that may not otherwise afford their baby swings, rockers, bassinets and play yards and as of the posting on its website on October 2022, it has funded over $1.6 million worth of products through donations with partner hospitals and supporting a total of over 10k parents.
Baby Einstein
Baby Einstein is one of the most popular and trusted baby brands when it comes to giving your child a head start in their intellectual development. Baby Einstein is one of the brands by Kid2.
The company produces a wide range of award-winning educational toys, videos, music CDs, books, and activity gyms & playmats that are designed to stimulate your baby’s senses and help them learn about the world around them.
As of October 2022, Baby Einteins top-performing brand of soothers and toys is the Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother Musical Crib Toy which doubles as a sound machine too. It is 4th best-seller on Amazon too. This brand tops our list of best crib soother brands in 2022.
Founded in 1997, Baby Einstein was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2001 and has since become a subsidiary of the global entertainment giant. However, the company’s products are still designed by a team of early childhood development experts and all products undergo rigorous safety testing before they hit store shelves.
Medela
Medela is a leading manufacturer of breast pumps and supplies. The company was founded in 1961 by Olle Larsson and is headquartered in Switzerland. Medela offers a wide range of products designed to meet the needs of every stage of your baby’s development, from newborn to toddler. The company’s flagship product, the Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump, is designed to provide a comfortable fit and protect your baby’s delicate skin. Medela also offers a line of wipes, training pants, and swim diapers.
Munchkin
Steven B. Dunn founded the Munchkin company in 1991, which now specializes in a line of safety gates that uphold various safety standards. In addition to safety gates, they also have bath toys, cleaning and drying racks for nursery feeding accessories, sippy cups and other feeding products, travel accessories, etc. You can purchase their items at CVS, Rite Aid or any store where juvenile products are sold. Munchkin is among the products with JPMA certification seal.
Munchkin also has a few brands of swings. A swing is a type of toy that is suspended from an anchor point, like a tree branch or ceiling beam. A swing can also be freestanding. Swings are a great way to get your child moving and improve their gross motor skills.
Evenflo
Evenflo has been a trusted source for baby products since 85 years ago. We have everything you need for your child, from car seats to strollers and high chairs. Its brand of gates, the Evenflo Versatile Play Space, is a popular pick for parents because it’s an enclosed play area that can be used both indoors and outdoors.
The gate is made of weather-resistant plastic and has a hinged door that allows adults to walk through while still keeping children safely inside. Evenflo makes some top-rated free-standing gates such as this 6-panel freestanding gate that I actually own and have used with three of my kids. An equivalent to this by Regalo is around $100, about $30 more than Evenflo’s.
If you’re just starting out your search for a baby gate, read our guide on how to pick the best gate to babyproof your, nursery, fireplace, TV and outdoor spaces – such as the pool among others.
Regalo
If you want a reliable babyproofing brand with a safety track record, then I recommend Regalo. This Minnesota-based company manufactures bed rails, safety gates, portable toddler beds, and booster seats and chairs at midlevel prices. This brand has been around for over 30 years and makes a wide range of babyproofing products including gates, play yards, bed rails, and booster seats. Its brands feature in lists such as best gates for uneven walls – among other lists.
Go for established top-rated baby gear brands(4.5/5+) over smaller brands:
My advice on why I recommend bigger and more established baby gear brands have been quoted around the net but my reasons aren’t that unique.
I have always chosen old baby gear brands with 30+ years of manufacturing experience with the particular product I am looking to get for my baby. The extended period in the market enables the company and the baby product to get the necessary improvement making it safer than the proceeding models.
In addition, bigger brands have the reputation to keep and are less likely to have supply chain disruptions. You, therefore, don’t run the risk of missing replacement part(s) for your product because the brand accessories are not available.
I also prefer larger brands because they are more likely to have established US-based customer support that you can even call. My experience with baby monitors gives me a strong conviction to keep relying on US companies with US-based support that are reachable and provide generous warranty support. Talking of warranty, please avoid any company that provides a 3-month warranty or that requires you to provide an original receipt or packaging in order to claim a warranty.
I have shared more details on that on specific advisories/lists.
But, as an expectant mom myself, I am now faced with the reality of having to choose from a condensed list of trusted popular brands that parents have an established safety reputation. As I do when selecting products for my baby, I read reviews and only pick products that have at least 80% reviews giving the product a 5-star rating. Don’t settle for a 3.5 or 4 as when fake reviews are factored in, the 3.5/5 review rating would be as low as 2/5 which is on an unacceptable bar.
Why get your baby product from a trusted & established brand?
Most newborn and infant brands are constantly facing supply shortages, which means their products may not be available for purchase when you want them. For this reason, you’ll want to choose a brand that has a good reputation for reliability and customer service.
Their support may also be outsourced to 3rd parties, so getting help may be more difficult. Some of them do not have US-based support. I would not want to risk it, considering how often I will need to use customer support when dealing with a baby.
The other thing to consider with small brands is their overall sustainability. Can they withstand a big recession or global pandemic? Do they have the financial backing to stay afloat during tough times? Many small businesses don’t, which is why it’s important to choose a brand that is backed by a larger company or has been around for many years.
Large, global companies have the advantage of financial stability and staying power. They are also more likely to have better customer service since they can afford to staff a larger team. However, they may not be as innovative as the smaller brands and may not offer as many unique products.
What’s important to me is finding a brand that I can trust to be there for me when I need them. Whether that’s because their product is high quality and lasts a long time, or because their customer service is responsive and helpful, I want to know that I can count on them.
What else to Consider when picking the top brand of baby product?
At the end of the day, you want to pick a product that will work for your baby’s specific needs.
- Baby’s Allergies/special situations: If your child has sensitive skin, you’ll want to choose a hypoallergenic brand. If they have reflux, you’ll want to look for a brand that makes products specifically for infants with reflux.
- Where you’ll use the product: The same goes for products like strollers and car seats. If you live in a city, you’ll want to choose a stroller that is easy to maneuver on sidewalks and public transportation. If you live in the suburbs, you might want a stroller with all-terrain wheels for walking on trails.
- Baby’s age: If you have a preemie, you’ll want to look for brands that specialize in products for premature babies. And if you have a baby with special needs, there are a number of brands that specialize in products for children with disabilities.
Even with my background as a product testing specialist, I have often relied on videos from real moms on social media networks – mostly mommy Facebook groups, Pinterest, and Instagram. That said, please don’t share pics of your baby on social media when doing product reviews. Read the dangers of exposing your baby’s pics here.
I have also relied on those boring unboxing videos with a crying baby in the background to give me a good understanding of product setup and what it comes with. A good basis to form an idea of what to expect in a product.
Resources you can rely on to get correct info on reliable tested baby products
Consumer Report(CR):
Consumer Reports is a product testing and consumer advocacy nonprofit organization based in the United States. Prior to 2016, Consumer Reports(CR) used to cover several categories which it doesn’t anymore but you’ll find products such as strollers to be covered adequately by Consumer Reports. Read through CR buying guides for specific products and familiarize yourself with their product testing methods.
It will cost you only $39 annually which, if you consider the number of products you’ll be buying for your baby, is a small amount to pay for the confidence that comes with knowing you’re making the best choices possible.
I just checked and Consumer Reports is currently running a membership drive and can save 50% if you register before the end of October 2022 here. If you take this opportunity, you’ll pay $20 instead of the usual $39. As a longtime member of CR, I can confidently say that even the $20 is like one of those enticing freebies – considering the value you’ll get. Below is a snapshot from an email I got from CR’s campaign;
Just to clarify, CR stopped testing and reporting on baby monitors in 2016 but they test products over 50 baby products such as strollers, car seats, travel systems, bathtubs, high chairs, cribs, bassinets, diapers, play yards, baby gates, formula and carriers, among others.
National Safety Council:
The National Safety Council(NSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nongovernmental public service organization promoting health and safety in the United States of America. Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, NSC is a member organization, founded in 1913 and granted a congressional charter in 1953.
While CR focuses more on product reliability and quality, the NSC’s mission is “to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads through leadership, research, education, and advocacy”. You’ll find their website covers topics such as childproofing your home and car safety for kids which are important for new parents to be aware of. Read about the startling stats on Trampoline injuries here.
Consumer Products Safety Commission(CPSC):
If you want to check for product recalls, this is the site to visit. They also provide periodic advisories on critical baby gear legislation that touches on the safety of the baby. For example, they were instrumental in the passage of the Safe Sleep Act for Babies 2021 which was signed by President Biden into law this past Summer. The new law resulted in inclined sleepers being banned. Here are some examples of their guides on safe sleep with regulations on crib sizing, safe sleeping positions, among others.
Whattoexpect:
As a website, What to Expect has been around for over two decades and is a trusted resource for parents-to-be and new parents. They have an extensive product directory with over 7500 products from 300+ brands which are all rated by their editors. Brands are given an overall score out of 5 as well as individual scores in different categories such as quality, ease of use, value, and more.
BabyGearLab:
Founded in 2006, BabyGearLab is a website that provides “in-depth, hands-on reviews of the best baby products”. Their team of experts put products through extensive testing in order to provide parents with the information they need to make the best choices for their babies.
They have an extensive product directory which is searchable by category, brand, and even specific product features. You can also find helpful guides on topics such as car seat safety and the best double strollers.
JPMA Certification:
Many car seats, strollers, and cribs are now certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association(JPMA). This is something you should look for when making your purchase, ASTM is another independent testing body that provides certification for products meeting specific safety standards. Go for products that have met or exceeded JPMA and ASTM safety standards. Here is a list of all JPMA-certified bassinets and cribs
NHTSA:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers car seat safety. If you have questions about car seat safety, this is a great resource. They have annual crash test ratings which you can check to find which brands are the safest. From their latest tests, Britax’s brands faired better than all other brands.
Federal Aviation Authority(FAA):
If you’re looking for a travel-friendly car seat, the FAA has a list of seats that are certified for air travel. You can check to see if a car seat is on the FAA’s approved list here. Remember some items are not travel-friendly such as inclined sleepers or bulky travel systems.
American Academy of Pediatrics(AAP):
The AAP is a trusted resource for information on children’s health. They have a section on their website dedicated to car seat safety with tips on proper installation when to upgrade your child’s seat and more. As they led the SIDs campaign in the 90s leading to a reduction in deaths, AAP is still championing various efforts to ensure safe sleep for babies.
Shopping for a newborn? Keep these safety tips in mind:
Kids and especially newborns are more susceptible to toxic materials which could be fabric used in the manufacture of different baby products. It could also be the plastic used or chemicals used in the product.
When you are looking for gifts for a baby shower or for your own child, it is important to be aware of these dangers and choose brands that create products with toxic-free materials. Here are some tips for choosing the best and safest gear for your newborn:
- Look for brands that use certified organic cotton.
- Choose brands that use natural dyes and avoid those that use synthetic dyes.
- Select products that are made without the use of flame retardants or other toxic chemicals.
- Choose gear that is easy to clean and is made with durable materials.
- Avoid products with small parts that could pose a choking hazard.
- Select gear that is made in the USA or Europe where safety standards are typically higher.
- To ensure that you’re getting a product with minimal chemical emissions, look for products that have GREENGUARD Gold Certification.
Some common toxins you should watch out for include;
- Flame retardants: These are used in a variety of products, but are most commonly found in car seats, strollers, and crib mattresses. They have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and other health problems. We have a list of car seats made from flame-retardants free materials here.
- BPA and phthalates: These are found in plastics and can be disruptive to hormones.PVC: This is found in some raincoats, shower curtains, and toys. It can release toxins into the air and has been linked to cancer.
- Formaldehyde: This is found in some pressed wood products such as cribs and bassinets and can cause respiratory problems.Lead: This is found in some paint and toys. It can cause learning and behavior problems.
- PVC: This is found in some raincoats, shower curtains, changing pads, and toys. It can release toxins into the air and has been linked to cancer.
- phthalates: These are found in some plastics and can be disruptive to hormones.
- Baby powder: This is made from Talc, which can contain asbestos and cause cancer.
Some renowned brands that make products using toxic-free materials include Chicco, Graco, Nuna, UPPAbaby, Bugaboo, and BOB. Most of their brands have the GreenGuard Gold certification and use certified organic cotton in their products. Read about Chicco’s Sustainable Parenting Initiative and how it is leading the way with innovative fabrics tech (ClearTex) with zero chemicals. Another reason to love Chicco!
When it comes to food, some brands that use healthy ingredients include; Beech-Nut, Earth’s Best, Gerber, and Plum Organics. These brands avoid using HFCS, artificial flavors, and other harmful ingredients in their baby food products.
How about special needs kids?
Kids with special needs such as autism, ADHD, or sensory processing disorder can often benefit from certain types of baby gear. For example, products that offer deep pressure input such as weighted blankets or vests can help calm kids with autism or sensory processing disorder.
A safety harness is key when it comes to kids with special needs as they are often more prone to wandering off. A good quality harness should be comfortable, adjustable, and made from durable materials.
Top Brands are embracing Innovation but you should be cautious:
Two years ago, we witnessed the unveiling of a smart diaper brand(CNN link) and now we are on the cusp of seeing robots in the home specifically designed to help with childcare. It was only a matter of time before the two industries would collide and we are starting to see some interesting products that embrace both technology and parenting.
The innovations could range from Ai-driven systems that use advanced sensors in some smart baby cameras. Nanit, Cubo Ai, and Miku are leading the pack with innovative monitoring systems that also sense crying, movement, and face-covering (a hazard), among others. These non-contact tech has taken monitoring your baby to a whole new level.
Other top innovations we’ve seen over the past 2 years have resulted in products such as The Otto Baby Food Dispenser which can prepare fresh, healthy meals for your baby with the push of a button. Another is The Lumi by Pampers Smart Diaper which has a sensor that tracks your baby’s urine output and sends the data to an app on your phone.
Some brands are coming up with creative solutions to the challenges parents face. For example, The SwaddleMe By Your Bed Sleeper was perfect for new parents who want to be close to their baby but need to get some sleep. This product could allow you to sleep next to your baby without worrying about them rolling out of bed. Unfortunately, this Bed Sleeper was recalled by CPSC following cases of infant fatalities. And this is the big risk with new innovations.
Smart home ecosystems have also become more popular and we are seeing brands such as Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, and Nest branch out into the nursery with products such as lightbulbs, thermostats, and cameras that can be controlled from your phone.
We have reviewed here top baby monitors that are now compatible with Google Home, Alexa, and Apple Homekit.
When you read reviews of some of these breakthrough techs with nascent features, you will realize that not all of them are quite perfect yet but the trend is very encouraging. The market for smart tech in nurseries is still nascent but it is growing very fast. This year we expect even more amazing products that will make our lives as parents easier.
New technology can be great, but it’s also important to remember that these gadgets can sometimes be very expensive. I would caution against purchasing any new, high-end gear for your children without thorough user feedback and a solid track record. Many products take years to perfect, so parents you should always wait for feedback from others who have tried the product before making a decision–especially expert reviews from Board-certified Pediatricians. We are lucky here at Motherhood HQ as we have an in-house consulting Pediatrician who is part of the team and we usually try to get the word out as soon as we can about these new innovations.
If you’re one of the first to test new baby gear, make sure to leave feedback for other parents–whether it be positive or negative. When we first started out this blog, we relied heavily on moms in our network to get first-hand reviews of products we didn’t have the time or resources to test ourselves. We still have our sign-up form up in case anyone is interested to share a review for other parents to benefit from.
My final tip is to not go overboard if you’re on a tight budget–some of these items are by no means essential, and babies have managed without them for generations. Plus the utility of a $1200 luxury stroller may not be significantly better than what you will get with a $400 stroller.
Keep an ear out for recalls – Even Big Trusted Brands are not Immune:
Some of the biggest baby product recalls reported include the recall of 2.1 million drop-side cribs by Stork Craft for infant fatalities caused by entrapment.
And just two months ago in August 2022, CPSC announced that it was recalling 4moms’ 2 million MamaRoo swings and 220,000 RockaRoo rockers because of the risk of entrapment, and strangulation hazard. 4moms is an award-winning brand and like other big brands such as Graco, Britax, and others, they have had to do recalls in the past.
Stork Craft is a renowned manufacturer of high-quality comfy gliders and rockers while 4moms has designed some of the most technologically-advanced and innovative baby swings with soothing natural swinging motions. We even featured Stork Crafts’ brand in 4 different lists including gliders for tall parents, gliders for small spaces, gliders for twins, and top gliders and rocker brands. 4moms too made it top of our list of Bluetooth swings, Swings for small spaces, travel cribs and swings for colicky/fussy babies. Despite their thousands of approving positive reviews, these two companies still had their brands recalled. This goes to tell you that no brand or manufacturer is immune to these recalls. And thank Heavens there is minimal corruption here in the US. I can definitely not say the same for other countries where companies often get away with a lot of things.
The important thing for parents to remember is that even big, trusted, and established brands with millions of valuations in goodwill are not immune to recalls. So, always be sure to check the CPSC website for any updates on safety issues with products you have in your home.
So, while buying from big brands can give you some peace of mind, it is always good practice to stay up to date with product recalls by following the CPSC website or signing up for their email alerts.
When a product is recalled, you usually get a refund or store credit, but the process can be a hassle. If you have a recalled product, make sure to act fast and contact the company to initiate a return.
To check if a product has a recall, navigate to the CPSC’s recall webpage and on the search bar, type ‘baby’ or if you know the brand, enter the name of the brand in the search bar shown in the snapshot below;
You can also subscribe to receive CPSC’s alerts on recalls here
If you purchase a product and you consider it unsafe after using it with your baby, the US Government through CPSC has set up a way to report the complaints on SaferProducts.gov. Please help save a life if you can.
Cover Image Credit: Daniel Reche