Sanity-Saving Products Every New Parent Should Add to Their List

Let’s be real: Life as a first-time parent can be a bit nerve-wracking. From the moment baby arrives, you’ve got a lot on your mind—Will they sleep tonight? When was the last time they ate? Will you ever get to shower? To help lighten the mental load, we’re sharing our picks for some products you might not have thought of to give you peace of mind during those anxiety-inducing early months (and beyond). Hopefully the low-key heroes on this list will help you worry a little less, and enjoy life with baby a little more.

1. A Germ-Killing Air Purifier

Sure, you protect baby from outside germs and pollutants, but don’t forget to do the same at home. Research indicates that indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air, and babies may be especially susceptible to the effects. Using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier is one simple way to improve indoor air quality, so consider adding these to every room of your home—not just the nursery. Blueair HealthProtect™ is a top-of-the-line purifier that uses HEPASilent Ultra™ technology to remove viruses and bacteria,¹ dust, pollen, dander and mold² from the air, and eliminate VOCs and odors. It then kills³ germs caught in the filter, even when in standby mode⁴. Another plus? You can control it from the Blueair app or any Alexa- or Google Home-enabled device, so you never have to worry about possibly waking baby to turn it on. The app even alerts you when it’s time to change the filter.

Blueair HealthProtect air purifier, starting at $599, Blueair.com

2. A Sound Machine That Does So Much More

If you have a white noise machine yourself, you know what a game changer it can be for getting a good night’s rest. The same goes for baby, and we love that this machine has lots of options to choose from, including lullabies, white noise and nature sounds. It’s also a dimmable night-light and projector, so you can pick the perfect combo of lights and sounds to lull baby to sleep. Not to mention, all these features come in one adorable owl package that’ll look cute as can be in the nursery.

Skip Hop Moonlight & Melodies owl night-light soother, $38, Target.com

3. A Glider That’s Also a Recliner

Believe us, you’re going to spend a lot of time feeding baby, so finding a comfortable place to nurse or bottle-feed is key. Gliders and rockers are a dime a dozen, but one that also swivels and reclines? 💯 It’s also comfy enough that you (or your partner) might find yourself napping in the chair sans baby. Bonus: It has a built-in charger so you never have to worry about your devices running out of juice in the middle of a feeding session.

Babyletto Kiwi swivel glider recliner, $700, BuyBuyBaby.com

4. A Changing Pad With a Built-in Scale

In the early days, you’re bound to worry about whether baby is eating enough, and the only way to tell is by weighing them. This changing pad doubles as a scale that syncs with an app to log vital info like weight, length, diaper changes, feedings and more—data you can easily share with your pediatrician, partner or caregiver. The foam pad is also comfortable and liquid-proof, so it’s easy to wipe clean.

Hatch Baby Grow smart changing pad and scale, $150, Amazon.com

5. A Bassinet That Soothes Baby

The transition from womb to the outside world is a bit of a shock to baby’s system in a number of ways. For one, they’re used to being rocked, jiggled and bounced in the belly constantly. This smart bassinet was designed by pediatrician Harvey Karp (creator of the “5 S’s” soothing method) to replicate the sensations of the womb and in turn help baby get more zzz’s. A repeat Best of Baby winner, it automatically detects baby’s cries, and promptly responds with soothing sounds and motion to help send them back to dreamland. In fact, user data shows the SNOO adds about one to two hours to baby’s sleep—something any new parent will appreciate.

Happiest Baby SNOO smart sleeper bassinet, $129 per month to rent (or $1,395 to buy), HappiestBaby.com

6. An Activity-Tracking Baby Monitor

There are a lot of high-tech monitors on the market that offer 24/7 surveillance, but this one comes with a wireless sensor pad to track baby’s movement and breathing. The paper-thin activity tracker goes underneath baby’s mattress and will alert you if no movement is detected after 20 seconds. Another cool feature? The camera has a built-in room temperature indicator.

Angelcare 3-in-1 AC527 baby monitor, $150, Amazon.com

Disclaimer: Blueair purifiers have not been tested against Coronavirus, and Blueair does not claim to capture, remove, or kill SARS-CoV-2.

¹ Based on third-party testing, using GB/T18801-2015 test standards on airborne viruses and bacteria (H1N1, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli).

² Based on third-party testing of removal rate of fine particles according to GB/T18801-2015 standard and pollen removal rate according to AHAM AC/1-2019 standard.

³ Deactivation of germs on natural flora (excluding viruses)

⁴ Deactivation of bacteria (Staphylococcus albus) and virus (MS2 bacteriophage).