Newborn care

40 genius baby products that will save the day

We asked experienced parents for their super smart, game-changing items for baby's first year and beyond.

By Claire Sibonney

40 genius baby products that will save the day

Genius baby products that save the day

Milkies Milk Saver

“I was too exhausted to pump but didn’t need to because the “milk savers” caught all the milk I leaked while nursing and I was able to save up enough for so, so many bottles…lifesaver!” (If you want to catch that extra liquid gold while breastfeeding—and you’re looking for some suction and stimulation—also check out the Haakaa and NatureBond silicone breast pumps and milk savers.) – Naureen M.A.

$35, mymilkies.com

40 genius baby products that will save the day

Blowout Blocker

These things have saved my baby’s outfits SO many times! No stains and no need to change his outfit! They’re easy to clean and rarely stain.” – Sara C.S.

$13 USD each, babyblowoutblocker.com

babies wearing the blowout blocker above their diapers in multiple colours

Keekaroo Peanut Changer

“Wipes clean no matter how much puke or poop—Keekaroo Peanut Changer> never stains!” (Also check out the lower-cost Bumbo version.) – Fran W.

$180, amazon.ca

Peanut baby changer

Doddle and Co. The Pop Pacifier

“It’s the only pacifier that my baby will take! She LOVES it and it has been a lifesaver living with a dog. (It “pops” back into its protective bubble when it drops.)” – Talia W.

$15, westcoastkids.ca

genius baby products - Doddle and Co. The Pop Pacifier in pink

Zincofax Quick & Easy Spray-on Ointment

“It’s not as strong as a thick cream but for day to day, it’s great. (And no mess!)” – Vanessa M.

$12, walmart.ca

Zincofax quick and easy spray on ointment

Nasal Aspirator

“The Hydrasense snot sucker! I’m sure the babies thought their brains were getting sucked out but boy did it help clear their little noses.” (This is meant to be used with saline nasal drops. Also check out the Nose Frida.) – Candice W.

$21, well.ca

40 genius baby products that will save the day

Puj Infant Tub

“Especially useful with my first when I was in a small condo. Puj turns any sink into a bathtub, and cradles the baby as if she was being held. It’s mildew resistant and so easy to clean. Plus stores completely flat and takes up almost no space. When not in use we kept it against our shower wall with suction hooks. There’s a reason Ellen featured it on her show!” – Linda S.

$60, westcoastkids.ca

40 genius baby products that will save the day

The Owlet Smart Sock 2 Baby Monitor

This product has given me so much peace of mind! I don’t need to get up multiple times to see if my little one is still breathing I can just check my phone!” – Chantale M.

$400, owletcare.ca

40 genius baby products that will save the day

Kiinde Breastfeeding Starter Kit

“The [Kiinde] bags screw right on to almost all breast pumps. You can pump directly into the bag, put a cap on, store in fridge/freezer, pop the lid off and stick a nipple on top and feed directly from the bag! It eliminates washing extra parts and transferring from a bottle to storage bag, limiting chances of spilling precious milk.” – Karen P.

$45, toysrus.ca

Kiinde breastfeeding starter kit

Boogie Wipes

Saves little runny noses from getting raw and cracked.” – Karen P.

$5, well.ca

Boogie Wipes

Zoli Buzz B Nail Trimmer

“A lifesaver with a very active newborn who would wake up if you so much as looked in his direction. (Clipping while sleeping was not possible.)” – Soni A.

$45, well.ca

Zoli BuzzB nail trimmer for baby

Peapod Mats

I was given a Peapod Mat when I was pregnant and it was the most useful gift I never knew I needed. So great for the messy days immediately postpartum (I slept on a rotation of two for weeks), protecting your sheets when baby’s in bed with you, naked baby time anywhere in the house, protecting furniture if you don’t want to buy a change table (we have one permanently on a futon in the baby’s room), and it will be great for potty-training. So worth the investment.” – Yvonne H.

$50, wonderwear.ca

Peapod Mats in every colour

My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow

My Brest Friend is the best nursing pillow, hands down. Especially for larger women, or women with larger breasts. I work in labour and delivery and I am always recommending this. The strap around the back keeps it from popping off like the half-ring ones do. It’s FLAT and goes out far enough for a large-chested woman to feed comfortably with the baby ON the pillow.” – Julia L.

$60, bedbathandbeyond.ca

Grey My Brest Friend nursing pillow

Sock ons

OMG they’re like little saddles for baby’s socks. Keeps socks on all day! I buy them for everyone as gifts now. A total lifesaver.” – Melanie T

$7, bedbathandbeyond.ca

sock ons for baby in blue

Fever Bugz

How about those forehead stickers that tell you if your kid has a fever? So you can check them without waking them up. So easy!” – Tanya S.

$15, fever-bugz.ca

Fever Bugz stick on fever indicators

WubbaNub

“We loved the WubbaNub! But it wasn’t useful till about 6 months. Then, it was the best product ever!” – Nicole Y.

$25, well.ca 

Wubbanub purple monster pacifier holder

Healthy Planet Solutions Reusable Food Pouches (or similar brands)

“I really love these reusable pouches for pureed snacks. Easy to clean and so much more environmentally friendly!” – Julia F.

$9 each, amazon.ca

Healthy Planet reusable food pouches

OXO Tot Bib (or similar brands)

I love my silicone tray bib. It wipes clean with a baby wipe, it’s waterproof and it stays in the stroller so it’s always with us.” –Katie L.

$20, snugglebugz.ca

Oxo yellow bib

Oogiebear Infant Nose and Ear Cleaner

I have all of the snot suckers which are great, but when there’s a crusty boogie beyond your reach in a tiny nostril… This has like a tiny lasso to grab and pull it out, and a little scoop to catch wax out of their ear canal. It has a bear shaped ball on each end to keep you from cramming either end too far into baby’s ear or nose.” – Amy V.

$18, bedbathandbeyond.ca

oogiebear nose and ear cleaner for baby

NumNum GOOtensils

Even wee babes can feed themselves! Especially handy when it’s not baby #1!” – Michele C.

$17, snugglebugz.ca

Numnum GooTensils in orange and blue

Mixie Bottle

Make the formula bottle now but mix it later. Keeps powder and water separate until you ‘explode’ the bottle as my partner says.” – Joanne E

$20, westcoastkids.ca

Mixie formula mixing baby bottle

MilkSnob Cover

It’s a scarf-style nursing cover that doubles as a carseat/stroller cover. Ideal to shelter baby from wind/dust and noise: instant cocoon. I loved it!” – Sonja R.

$50, westcoastkids.ca 

40 genius baby products that will save the day

Medela Quick Clean Bags

“You just pop these sterilizing bags in the microwave—a huge lifesaver for cleaning bottles and pump parts!” –Laura R.

$14, bedbathandbeyond.ca 

Medela quick clean bags

Mally bibs

“A leather bib! It’s amazing—wipes clean and immediately dry, magnets snap it shut for putting it on and taking it off easily AND it hangs on the fridge! ONE bib forever! And they have the cutest and customizable designs! ” – Jen L. 

$50, mallydesigns.com

Orange and blue Mally Bib for baby

GroVia Magic Stick Diaper Balm

“With this diaper stick you don’t have to touch baby’s bum to apply cream.” – Jodi S.S.

$20, grovia.ca

Grovia magic stick simply magical diaper balm

Kiddo Feedo Silicone Baby Food Trays (or similar brands)

“I really liked the silicone baby food trays for freezer storage while introducing baby food. It makes it easy to just pop out one section at a time.” – Rebecca C.N.

$20, amazon.ca

kiddo feedo baby food tray in purple

Indestructibles Books

After someone gifted me one, I now give one to every new mom. Babies love them and they are lightweight and easy to carry as a toy on the go. Plus it gets babies into books at such an early age. Love them!” – Janis P.G.

$9, indigo.ca

indestructible Baby Faces book for babies

Hatch Baby Rest

I am a sleep consultant and while I can argue that I’m a life changing product (haha!), I’m in LOVE with the Hatch Baby Rest. It’s seriously amazing—it’s an “OK to wake” product but so much more!” (Also check out the Gro clock.) – Amanda J.

$80, bedbathandbeyond.ca

Hatchbaby Rest sleeping aid

Ezpz Mats (or similar brands)

“I like the mini ones. They’re AMAZING.” (Especially for all throw-all-the-bowls-on-the-ground phase. Also check out Summer Infant TinyDiner.) – Emily W. 

$30, amazon.ca

EzPz blue food mat for baby

Zoli Chubby Gummy massaging teethers

“These are the best for when baby is cutting molars.” – Teri S.J.

$16, well.ca

Zoli teether sticks

ChooMe Sip’n

“It’s a (smooth, chewy) top that goes on food pouches so that baby has to bite to get food out. Prevents spills and lets them eat on their own.” – Tanya S.

$9, amazon.ca

ChooMee sip'n caps for food pouches

Buncha Farmers Stain Remover

I like to call it the poopy stick. Takes out EVERY stain. I’ve even used it for non-baby stains and it works better than other stain removers. Oh and it’s all natural and affordable!” –Allison J.B. 

$4, well.ca

BunchaFarmers stain remover

Bellyfit Jacket Extender

“So necessary for getting out with the little ones on cold winter days.” – Kristina M.

$70, clement.ca

40 genius baby products that will save the day

Baby Brezza (or similar brands)

Single mom + twins. ‘Nuff said.” – Beth F.

$179, walmart.ca

baby brezza formula maker

Baby Shusher (or similar brands)

“Helps to lull baby to sleep with nice gentle background noise, mimicking the noise in utero. And it’s very portable.” – Jennifer M

$55, indigo.ca

Babyshusher

Ibepro Baby Bath Caps (or similar brands)

“Washing my daughter’s hair used to be horrible. We now love bath time. It’s the easiest thing. You put it on and it goes over their head so you can still access their hair. Then you pour the water over their head and it looks like it’s raining. No water ever gets in my daughter’s eyes.” – Richelle S.

$10, amazon.ca

Pink, yellow and blue shower caps for babies

BabyBum Brush

“I HAVE TO rave about the BabyBum brush. It’s a silicone brush made specifically for putting on diaper cream. The cream goes on so smoothly, it has a suction-cup bottom so that when it’s dirty it doesn’t fall over and make a mess everywhere and it can be cleaned with a baby wipe and sterilized in the dishwasher. This product was a lifesaver for me. I have five—one for every place that I change diapers. I have long nails and there is nothing worse than getting pasty diaper cream under my nails! Only downside is this product is very difficult to find in Canada…had to get it from the U.S. when I was on vacation.” – Adina E.

$30, amazon.ca

Baby bum diaper brush in lime green

Clevamama Splash and Wrap Baby Bath Towel (or similar brands)

“Many brands make them now. It’s so easy to remove baby from the tub, place on my chest and lift the bottom to cover. I never got wet, and later it helped with splashes. (Also check out the original Baby Wrappers)” – Nicole Y.

$25, amazon.ca

40 genius baby products that will save the day

AM Enfant Pookie Poncho

“It’s like a winter coat that goes on over the carrier but can also be used on a car seat or stroller. I haven’t used my stroller once all winter. I put it over the Ergo (baby carrier) and go.” – Jenna M.W.

$155, well.ca

7 AM Pookie Poncho in burgundy

AM Enfant Warmmuffs

Game changer. No more messing around with gloves when you need to manage baby’s needs in the stroller. They stay warm and toasty even in minus 30!” – Sue H.

$50, bedbathandbeyond.ca

7 am enfant mitts for winter stroller walks

Read more: 60 best baby products for your registry 33 super clever baby products we love 14 awesome baby products under $10

This article was originally published on Mar 14, 2018
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