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Babies and children come with a lot of expenses. When I got pregnant with my oldest, I noticed more and more how many advertisements there were for parents. I found list after list of all of the important things my baby would just have to have. Every item was promised to change my life. It was overwhelming.
If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on a bunch of items that will clutter up your house if you don’t need them. Here are a few baby and toddler products that I have used and compared. What will work best for you might not work best for someone else, and it’s good to know what you are getting.
Diaper Bags
Tote
Pros
- You can fit a lot in it and can even leave things sticking out.
- You can reach into it easier while you are carrying it.
Cons
- It can be hard to juggle the baby, car seat, groceries, etc. and the bag.
- The bag tends to slip off your shoulder, especially if you have to lean over to pick something up.
Backpack
Pros
- You can go hands free! That is awesome for multiple kids.
- Everything zips closed so nothing could fall out.
Cons
- It can be hard to get what you need when you are wearing the backpack.
- If you are wearing a thicker coat, it can be difficult to get the backpack on.
Babywearing Carriers
There are so many kinds of baby carriers to choose from. It can be overwhelming. I tried a wrap with my first and wasn’t sold on it. When I had my second I was all about being hands free and was SO glad I could babywear. I wore my baby to the store, to church, on walks, and around the house. He slept in it all the time, and it made having a two-year-old and a baby so much more manageable.
Wraps
Pros
- Price. You can find pretty good wraps for really good prices. These are good to try if you aren’t sure how much you’ll like or use it.
- Comfort. Wraps are easy to leave on and still comfortable when you need to take the baby out and put him back in.
Cons
- Wraps can be difficult to tie. You get the hang of it, but they take time and the ends tend to drag on the ground while you are putting them on.
- They can be difficult to re-tighten after you’ve taken the child out and put him back in.
Carriers with Buckles
Pros
- Easy to put on, especially when away from home.
- Lots of support. These carriers tend to have padded straps, which help with comfort and support.
- Long-term use. Depending on the carrier you pick and the child’s weight, you may be able to wear him from birth to two or three years old.
Cons
- Price. These types of carriers can be more expensive.
- While my son has always seemed comfortable in our Tula Free-to-Grow, I have noticed red marks on the backs of his knees after wearing him.
Highchairs
Traditional High Chair
Pros
- Personal tray for baby. He can only reach what is on his high chair tray.
- Can be moved around the kitchen.
- Some can be folded up when not in use so they take up less space.
- Cute options. There are a lot more styles and designs for this type of high chair.
Cons
- Space. Traditional high chairs can take up a lot of space, especially in small kitchens.
- More things to clean. Food can get all over from the tray to the seat and straps to the legs.
Table High Chair
Pros
- Baby can be closer to the family.
- You don’t have to clean a tray as well as the table.
- Less cleaning in general because the seat itself is small.
- It is portable. You can take it to family dinners, restaurants, or camping.
Cons
- There are fewer options available.
- You can’t move the chair closer to keep baby occupied and near you while you are cooking dinner.
- Your table may get more scratched up as baby/toddler learns to use utensils.
Sound Machines
Sound Only
Pros
- Several different sound options.
- Smaller, sleeker design.
- More portable. The one linked can be battery powered, which is great for travel and camping.
Cons
- Since it only has sound, there aren’t any other options for comforting the baby.
Sound and Projector
Pros
- Multiple sound options.
- Built-in night light.
- Projector that can be tilted to shoe the images on any part of the ceiling or wall.
- Several options for projector images.
Cons
- Less portable and must be plugged in.
Baby Monitors
Audio Only
Pros
- Price. Audio monitors are typically pretty cheap.
- You can talk to your baby through the parent unit like a walkie talkie.
- Lights on the parent unit show a visual of how loud it is in baby’s room.
- The clip on the parent unit allows you to easily carry the monitor with you.
- The top turns into a night light.
- You can purchase multiple baby units for separate rooms.
Cons
- You cannot see the baby.
Audio and Video
Pros
- You can see the baby/toddler. This is especially useful when the baby starts rolling and standing or when your toddler gets a toddler bed.
- You can purchase multiple cameras for multiple rooms.
- There are several options for viewing multiple cameras (such as patrol mode or split cam).
- Lights on the parent unit show the level of noise in baby’s room.
- You can talk to your child with the parent unit like it is a walkie talkie.
- The camera has music you can play in your child’s room.
Cons
- More expensive.
- You have to install the camera and find an angle where you can see everything you want to see.
Car Seats
Infant Car Seat
Pros
- You can carry your baby in the seat so you don’t have to wake baby or carry him everywhere in public when he is tiny.
- They often click into strollers.
- The sunshade keeps the sun off of the baby.
Cons
- You have to buy a second car seat when the baby outgrows the infant seat.
- It can be a pain to lug around, especially when the baby gets bigger.
Convertible Car Seat
Pros
- You only have to buy one and it will last several years.
- You can save money.
Cons
- You will have to carry your baby to and from the car everywhere you go.
There are SO many amazing products to choose from! I hope this post helps you decide on a few things. There are also a lot of things that you can’t compare that are just awesome and useful. The following links are for things I have found useful over the years:
- Car mirror–with the latest information on extended rear facing, a car mirror helps you have peace of mind because you can see your child.
- Portable sound machine–because you can never have enough things that will calm and soothe your baby.
- Sanitizing wipes–these are great for the diaper bag. At home you can easily clean the binki when it falls on the floor. As a mom worried about germs, these wipes have been perfect for when binkis and toys have fallen in public places.
- Prefold diapers–perfect for burp cloths. They may not be the cutest, but they are super functional and absorbent.
- Breastfeeding therapy pads–these can be warmed or cooled and inserted in your bra. They are great for clogged ducts and for releasing more milk when pumping.
- Wet bags–while these are often used for cloth diapers, they are great for so many things. For example, clothes after a blowout, swimsuits, and really messy diapers. (I have even used one for crescent rolls that popped out of the can when my toddler dropped it in the store!)
