Chances are if you’re a new parent or about to be one, you’ve got a lot of your baby basics out of the way: the softest diapers, organic non-irritating creams, hand-crafted wooden toys (also organic), and a plethora of finely spun, cotton onesies sourced from a single location somewhere in the Italian Alps.
But once your baby is home and reality sets in, you will probably find that even the most diligent research doesn’t always hold up in practice. There are some items you might not like, some your baby might not like, and others you might have forgotten about entirely (see item number nine on this list for me).
What’s more, during your first year of parenthood, your baby will also go through a ton of changes—what works during week three probably won’t even be necessary by the time your baby turns one. With that in mind, it’s important to have products that aren’t too expensive, but that are still durable enough to withstand lots of use over a short period of time.
READ RELATED: Here’s Why Black People Are Disproportionately Impacted by Heart Failure
The good news? All of the products on this list fit that requirement. Below, I’ve rounded up some of the best baby items that I used again and again throughout my first year as a parent. These are products that finally gave me my eureka moment—many times after trying other brands that weren’t as great. And while some of these are genuinely only for the first year, several of them can graduate with your baby and get more use well into toddlerhood (see numbers 6, 11, 12, and 13). Plus, all of these products are available on Amazon. Keep reading for the items that made that life-changing first year just a little bit easier.
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Source: SELF
