The Peg Perego Tatamia High Chair
Sometimes a baby swing is the only way to get a fussy baby to calm down — Liz used to claim her babies were motion junkies — but they take up so much room. Same problem with my high chair: I need it, but it’s bulky to have sitting around the kitchen when its not in use. Well believe it or not, we’ve found one product that serves both functions. The Peg Perego Tatamia high chair can work as an infant swing and reclining seat for nap time, but it also adjusts to be a high chair at the dinner table, later evolving to be a big kid chair for kids well out of infancy. And it folds down small enough to tuck in a corner or closet when you’re not using it as either. This is so smart!
2. The Stokke Home Cradle
Spoiler alert: babies keep you up at night, a lot. I’m a believer in keeping them in my bedroom for those first few weeks or months, because walking down up and down the stairs at 2:00 a.m. to feed the baby is a pain. But who wants to drop a few hundred dollars on something they’ll only use a few months at best? That’s why we’re huge fans of the Stokke Home cradle. This beautiful bassinet converts to a baby changing table and then a child’s desk as your child grows up. Leave it to the Scandinavians to marry brilliant functionality with gorgeous, minimalist design.
3. Bubula Diaper Pail
By my third baby, I’d ditched a diaper pail all together. I just didn’t have space for an extra trash can specifically dedicated to diapers when my kitchen trash worked just fine. Plus, it got my older kids in the habit of taking the trash out for me very regularly. That said, the Bubula Diaper Pail is changing my mind for the next baby. This stainless steel trash can is airtight, so you can’t smell the dirty diapers inside. And once your baby starts potty training, you just ditch the diaper insert and it converts to a regular trash can. Which makes perfect sense, considering it’s beautiful, comes in 7 different colors to suit decor in any room, and doesn’t have little dancing teddy bears or ducks on it.
4. Doona Convertible Infant Car Seat and Stroller
I’m a suburban live-in-my car mom, and the Doona infant car seat would make running errands with a baby so much easier — just pop the bassinet out of its base and release the wheels. Voila! You’ve got a stroller. But I’m pretty sure big city moms will love this too, because taking the time on a busy street to stash your stroller in the trunk of a taxi is a pain. Now you can just fold up and buckle in. This is so brilliant.
5. Oribel PortaPlay Activity Center
I’m pretty sure the only reason I was able to get anything done around the house when my kids were babies is because of their activity center. But again, the pain of spending money on something they’ll only use for a few months. Once they’re ready to start walking around, they’re done with it. The OribelPortaPlay activity center is perfect as far as innovative baby products go. When your child is done with the doodads and infant toys, you pop them off and convert the entire thing into a play table — perfect for sitting and coloring or having a snack. Big kid stuff.
6. Orbit Baby Helix Plus Double Stroller with Upgrade Kit
My BTDT recommendation when it comes to strollers is to get the best single stroller you can afford, but really consider whether you’re planning to have more kids before you make your purchase. My favorite stroller (and I’ve had lots) is definitely the Orbit system. It’s great on its own, but later, you can get the Helix Plus Double Stroller Upgrade Kit which attaches to the back, converting it to a double stroller really easily. This innovatives baby gear system allows you to skip the expense of a double, and save yourself the hassle of having to use a double stroller even when you only have one kid with you.