33 super clever baby products we love

I used this with my second daughter but wish I had it for my first as well. I loved being able to have my hands free while she slept on me. It’s much lighter than a baby carrier for cuddling purposes, and the velcro made it super easy to take off and transfer baby to her bassinet once she was out. — Claire Sibonney, senior editor, Today’s Parent

$65, babyonthehip.com

I had a winter baby and was terrified that she would get a cold and not be able to breath at night. Using the Nose Frida was kind of gross but gave me peace of mind that her nasal passages were clear. — Simone Olivero, social media editor, Today’s Parent

$23, well.ca

I LOVED my Bebsi. Theo wasn’t a huge pacifier guy but when he used one I kept it close and within reach thanks to his cute personalized teether and clip. Once he was teething I swapped the paci for a Sophie teether, but he was also obsessed with biting the gummy star. — Jessica Pollack, managing editor, digital at Hello! Canada

$40 USD, shopbebsi.com

When your hands are busy rocking a fussy baby, it is AMAZING to be able to say “Hey Google” and then ask it to play that magical song that always calms your baby down…or at least that song that worked last week. On to finding the next cure-all… — Suzanne Gardner, social media editor, Today’s Parent

$180, bestbuy.ca

The basket is so insanely large that if I wanted to spend a whole day with Theo in the bassinet walking off the sleep deprivation and engaging in retail therapy I could fit anything. I’d even take my nursing pillow to the mall and slip it into the basket with my diaper bag and everything else I could ever possibly need maybe once or never. — Jessica Pollack, managing editor of digital at Hello! Canada

$1280, amazon.ca

This was soooo much better than the mesh ones we used with my older kid. These are a great way to get your kid munching on solids in a safe way and it keeps baby busy for a while. — Kim Shiffman, deputy editor, Today’s Parent

$8 each, bedbathandbeyond.ca

Making small batches of homemade baby food and purees was so much easier with this thing. I gave up batch cooking with pots and my Vitamix early on. Sometimes I just wanted to make a fresh portion of something small and this takes up no space, letting you steam and puree in the same appliance. I used it right up to the toddler and preschool years for stuff as simple as applesauce for dessert. — Claire Sibonney, senior editor, Today’s Parent

$200, bedbathandbeyond.ca

It’s just a necessity. Unless you are made of money, you are going to be scrubbing A LOT of baby poop stains out of cute baby clothes, so set this by your laundry sink with an old toothbrush and just accept it as an almost daily occurrence. — Ariel Brewster, senior editor, Today’s Parent

$6, walmart.ca

In the days when Theo hated having onesies pulled over his head, the Uniqlo and H&M kimono ones were amazing. They really look adorable too. — Jessica Pollack, managing editor of digital at Hello! Canada

3-pack Wrapover Bodysuits: $20, hm.com

A mom friend bought me a basket of her go-to baby essentials and among them was the Zoli battery-operated nail file. The device gently and painlessly buffs baby’s long nails and sharp edges in seconds. My husband—a gadget lover—was eager to give the Zoli a spin on the night we received it and has been giving baby weekly manicures every since. — Stefania Di Verdi, executive editor of branded content at Rogers Media 

$45, westcoastkids.ca

Theo barely had any tushy rash and I used this all the time in lieu of chemical-laden products or intense barrier creams. — Jessica Pollack, managing editor of digital at Hello! Canada

$17, well.ca via todaysparent.com

Two days into learning how to breastfeed my baby and I was ready to throw my traditional breastfeeding pillow across the room. My Brest Friend saved my back, my arms, and my sanity. I love that it has back support and that it can be secured around your waist at any height. — Suzanne Gardner, social media editor, Today’s Parent

$65, thebay.com

I loved that instead of one central stroller hook you get one for each side. It kept things balanced and out of the way when I was walking, plus the carabiners kept bags securely in place. Theo’s grandmothers are spoiled for shopping now, they got VERY used to hanging all their bags on the stroller. — Jessica Pollack, managing editor of digital at Hello! Canada

$20, westcoastkids.ca

I discovered these disposable saline wipes during my mat leave and our daughter loved them so much that she was the only kid in daycare who was willing to have her nose cleaned. Not only are they a life-saver during cold and flu season, but they are alcohol/paraben/phthalate-free and the “great grape” scent smells like Bubblicious. — Philina Chan, art director, Flare

Unscented, $5, well.ca

This was great for travelling! All you need is wifi and a secondary device (I had an old iPhone laying around the house) and you’ve got a two-way monitor. — Simone Olivero, social media editor, Today’s Parent

cloudbabymonitor.com

I must’ve gone through 10 boxes of disposables before I realized I was throwing my money away. — Nicole Duplantis, digital colour specialist, Today’s Parent

Philips Avent Washable Breast Pads, $12, well.ca

It seems so damn simple, but if you do a daily bath as part of bedtime routine, you sometimes have to do it by yourself. And nobody tells you beforehand just how slippery and squirmy a kid who loves the water can be. This thing lets you still have two hands to use for washing or wrangling or flailing about for a towel or washcloth. — Jordan Heath-Rawlings, director of editorial planning, Rogers Media

$36, toysrus.ca

The patterns are gorgeous, so I’m not embarrassed to have it out all the time, and it’s easy to wipe clean. Plus, when I’m heading up north or on a weekend trip I roll it up and toss it in the trunk. — Jessica Pollack, managing editor of digital at Hello! Canada

$169, snugglebugz.ca

Until you get to the point where you’ll let them eat straight out of the pouch (trust, it will happen) these are so clever for one-handed feeding in the early days of starting solids. — Claire Sibonney, senior editor, Today’s Parent

$6, toysrus.ca

I used these exclusively to sterilize bottles and pump parts. Just seemed really easy to toss them in a bag and pop it in the microwave. Plus it saved counter space! — Jessica Pollack, managing editor of digital at Hello! Canada

$14, well.ca

It was the only thing that fixed my bleeding left nipple. (Note: This is a prescription nipple ointment.)— Kim Shiffman, deputy editor, Today’s Parent 

ibconline.ca

We tried a few swaddle-style sleep sacks, but ultimately swear by this one. Hands are “swaddled” in a little pocket above the head, allowing him to still move his arms but avoided startling himself awake. He sleeps longer and goes to sleep quicker with this particular sack. Now that he’s a bit older we use it for all his naps too. — Vanessa Taylor, fashion and beauty director, Flare/Chatelaine/Hello!/Today’s Parent

$37, walmart.ca

I found a cute drool cover for my Baby Bjorn on Etsy. When Theo just wanted to suck on the Bjorn I could pull off the drool cover, wash it and not feel guilty about the fact that I was never going to wash the entire baby carrier (sorry not sorry). — Jessica Pollack, managing editor of digital at Hello! Canada

BABY BJORN miracle carrier bib/cover and strap covers by MrCraftHandmade, $7+, etsy.com/ca

Sure you could just use the peri bottle you get for free at the hospital post-birth, but seriously, this fancy version is worth the money. It’s cleverly designed to work perfectly upside down and it really does make postpartum bathroom visits easier. — Suzanne Gardner, social media editor, Today’s Parent

$20, bedbathandbeyond.ca

It’s one of my go-to baby shower gifts. The clutch can be popped into and out of any bag, or just throw it in the bottom of your stroller. And it fits in seat-back pockets of airplanes (when you really can’t fit an entire diaper bag in the airplane bathroom anyhow). They have enough pockets for wipes, diapers and a spare onesie and yet fold out into a change pad. — Ariel Brewster, senior editor, Today’s Parent

$40, indigo.ca

It saved my life. We thought we’d try baby #2 with no swaddle but tried the Miracle Blanket one night in desperation and he slept for 5 hours straight. — Kim Shiffman, deputy editor, Today’s Parent

$30, snugglebugz.ca

I hated how sticky most bum creams were. This one by Rocky Mountain Soap Company  is sulfate, paraben and phthalate-free and has calendula and chamomile, which is amazing for getting rid of redness and irritation. I never had to deal with diaper rash and I also used this to clear up cradle cap and other skin irritations. — Simone Olivero, social media editor, Today’s Parent

$13, rockymountainsoap.com

I hate doing laundry so having a change pad that doesn’t require a cover is huge, especially in the newborn days. The peanut’s shape keeps baby put and it’s aesthetically pleasing (the vanilla colour is a great neutral shade!). — Jessica Pollack, managing editor of digital at Hello! Canada

$180, go-greenbaby.ca

This is great for people living in condos! Fit in my tiny IKEA vanity and worked great for those first few baths. — Simone Olivero, social media editor, Today’s Parent

$60, walmart.ca

When we started sleep training our baby the biggest challenge was shifting her from daddy’s cradling arms to her crib. My husband had the smart idea of warming up her mattress with a small heating pad and taking it off right before he placed her into the crib to help with the transition. Ridiculous? Yes. Effective? Absolutely. — Philina Chan, art director, Flare

BooBoo Saks, $22, amazon.ca

A friend recommended this product to me when I was pregnant and I’ve since bought it for two more pregnant friends. It’s seriously so soothing. — Suzanne Gardner, social media editor, Today’s Parent

$13, amazon.ca

This is such a cool product. You never really have more than one hand free at a time when you’re taking care of a baby and packing up purees in this feeder for outings and picnics made life so much easier and less messy. People would always marvel at how neat it was. — Claire Sibonney, senior editor, Today’s Parent

$10, bedbathandbeyond.ca

Because WHO CAN SWADDLE?! So impressed when people can. Apparently I have two left hands. — Jessica Pollack, managing editor of digital at Hello! Canada

$17, toysrus.ca

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