This year in particular, I’ve seen some real game-changing baby products that I want to share with you all! These are all items that you can add to your nursery design checklist or your baby registry, and they are seriously helpful. Being a new parent is exhausting and overwhelming, so check out these essential baby items to give yourself a break. Make sure to grab all the discount codes below too!
When you’re an expecting parent, it seems like there are thousands of baby products you see in stores, on social media and online. It’s hard to know which ones are worth buying, which ones are even safe, and which ones are game changers. I’ve spent the last 18 years designing nurseries for clients all across the country. In addition to staying on top of new and trending baby products, I also go to the trade shows, research regularly and test a lot of products myself to make sure that what I’m recommending to my nursery design clients stands up.
The Sereniby Air Purifier: We always suggest nursery air purifiers, and clients generally end up buying them on their own or adding to their baby registry. But after I tested the Sereniby, I started actively suggesting it to clients almost obsessively. Most air purifiers are not made for the nursery, and if they are, they still don’t quite have the features that they should. The Sereniby changed all that. It’s stylish, it has top-tier filtration and sensing, and it can replace other nursery items like the noise machine and night light because it has those functions too.
My favorite part? You can control it from an app on your phone. Even if your baby or child is sleeping, you can open the app and check the room temperature, air quality, filtration level and change all those things without even entering the room. You can even set it on a schedule. There is a ton of science on why air purifiers in general are great for nurseries, but now this is the only air purifier I recommend.
DISCOUNT: Sereniby is offering 20% off air purifiers for Little Crown Interiors readers. Use code LITTLECROWN20.
The Gilded Bird Wipeable Contour Change Pads: Whenever I have a new nursery design client, we always talk about the two types of changing pads. There’s the foam contour pads that require a fabric cover, or the silicone wipeable changing pads. There are pros and cons to both, but The Gilded Bird figured out how to take the pros from both and put them into a singe product.
Contour changing pads fit flush into a changing tray and have more options for fun designs and patterns. Silicone wipeable changing pads are easier to clean. The Gilded Bird Change Pads have the shape and softness of a regular foam pad, but the design is printed on non-toxic PVC instead of fabric. That means you get the flush fit, cute designs and a wipeable surface!
DISCOUNT: Gilded Bird is offering 20% off for Little Crown Interiors readers. Use code LITTLECROWN20.
Babyletto Pogo 8-in-1 Convertible Crib: The all-stages crib phenomenon is new. It came out of the Covid era when everyone needed highly functional furniture and flexible design. Now, there are lots of options for all stages cribs in a variety of styles and colors. The Pogo is great because it starts at the bassinet size and has wheels. I cannot stress to you how big of a deal the wheels are! Having a bassinet on wheels means that you don’t have to lift anything heavy, you can move the baby into a different room while they are sleeping, and you don’t have to get a separate bassinet for your primary bedroom.
Once baby is ready to sleep in one place, you can convert it to the midi size, or just skip right to the full size. From there, it converts to a toddler bed and daybed. Most parents won’t need every single option, but it’s great to have the flexibility.
The Babba Bottle Warmer & Cooler: Yes, that’s right. A warmer and cooler for your baby bottles! There are plenty of baby bottle warmers out there, but when I came across this one on Instagram, I messaged them immediately for more info. They’re a small company based in San Diego, CA, and have designed an incredible product (I’ve tested it personally).
The biggest selling point of the Babba for me is that it has both warming and cooling functions. This makes it great for travel, but also for those feedings in the middle of the night. You can prep the bottle hours before and keep it cool, then just hit the warm button when you’re ready to feed without getting out of bed! It’s also great for pumping at work. You can store milk directly and keep it cool without having to use the work fridge (if there even is one). Put this on your baby registry right now!
DISCOUNT: Babba is offering $30 off their bottle warmer and cooler for Little Crown Interiors readers. Use code BABBA30.
Newton Breathable Waterproof Crib Mattress: I’ve used hundreds of crib mattresses in my years as a nursery designer, and the Newton has become my favorite for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it’s a two-stage mattress so it will last from infancy through toddlerhood. It’s firm yet incredibly comfy for baby. But more importantly, the Newton crib mattress is fully breathable and washable.
Breathability has become somewhat of a buzz-word for baby products, but for the crib mattress, it’s actually relevant. If your little one, rolls onto their belly, they can breathe right through it—that peace of mind is everything. The Newton is also GREENGUARD Gold certified, so you can rest assured that the materials are non-toxic.
The Newton crib mattress is also fully washable. And I do mean fully. You can take the cover off and put the entire thing in the shower to wash it off if you have any larger-than-life spills or accidents (let’s be real, it’s going to happen).
DISCOUNT: Newton is offering $40 off site wide on purchases over $200 for Little Crown Interiors readers. Use code LCID40. Hurry, expires soon!
Otterspace Blackout Curtains: Getting a full blackout seal in the nursery is tricky. You can get blackout curtains, but there will still be light leak on the top, sides and middle. You can get blackout roman shades or roller shades, but those have the same issue and can often also include dangerous cords. What’s the parent of a baby who only sleeps in complete and total darkness to do?
I tested the Otterspace Blackout Curtains and they have a leg up for one main reason: they have an inner blackout layer that tucks fully into your window frame to block all light. They use magnetic clips that can be easily adjusted. Plus, they still allow you to have the pretty outer curtains so you don’t have to sacrifice the design of the nursery. That’s a win-win in my book!
DISCOUNT: Otterspace is offering 10% off for Little Crown Interiors readers. Use code LITTLECROWN.
Revival Rugs Washable Collection: We’ve looked high and low for washable nursery rugs that accomplish everything we need. They have to be washable (of course), they have to be soft and comfortable, and they have to be large enough for most of our nursery projects. Oh, and they have to be affordable. Most washable rugs will get some of those right, but rarely all of them.
I was so excited when I came across Revival Rugs because they have a washable collection made from recycled polyester that hits every mark. We’ve used them in lots of nursery designs! You can see their Shell rug in our Neutral Nursery for Twins and in Liv Lo & Henry Golding’s Nursery, and their Stripe rug in this Neutral & Blue Nursery. They’re soft and cozy, come in larger sizes and super affordable.
Babynetic Magnetic Bib: So this isn’t a nursery product, but it was so cool that I had to include it. I met the founders of Babynetic at a recent trade show, and their product is not only a hassle-saver, but it’s adorable as well. They’ve created the first magnetic bib! The magnetic closure on the back is super strong so a child can’t pull it off, but easy for parents to snap on and off. It’s made of food-grade platinum silicone which is both safe and high quality. And my favorite part—you can store the bibs right on the fridge! Any busy parent will know that having something super accessible that you use multiple times a day is a big deal.
As a designer, I also have to comment on all the adorable colors available. In a world of neutrals, Babynetic bibs are bright and fun so kids will be excited to wear them. I was a little too excited to see that they have a bright lavender color—I’ve been saying how underrated lavender is for years!
DISCOUNT: Babynetic is offering 20% off site wide for Little Crown Interiors readers. Use code LITTLECROWN20.
Outlet Extender for Behind Furniture: Sometimes it’s a simple product from Amazon that saves the day. Here’s the issue: Let’s say you just bought a gorgeous big dresser/changing table. You put it up against the wall and place your changing pad. Then you realize you need to plug in a lamp, or a noise machine, or a baby monitor. More often than not, the closest outlet is directly behind the dresser, and now you can’t reach it. This outlet extender is perfect for this problem! If you plug it in before you place the dresser, it will extend up so even when the dresser is in place, you can access it. It even rotates out to the side, and has both a USB-A and USB-C port as well.
This a big deal because as a parent, you’re constantly using new items, moving things around and using new devices. And that darned outlet is behind the dresser! The only catch is that an accessible outlet is great for you, but not safe for your baby. So make sure it’s secure and has outlet plugs in the unused sockets at all times. If you notice that your baby is taking an interest in it, you may want to play it safe and remove it completely. But for those first months when baby isn’t moving and you’re trying to figure out your rhythm, it’s fantastic!
The Ubbi Diaper Pail: I still remember when this diaper pail hit the market way back in 2011. It was such a sleek design for the time, and there really weren’t very many options then. Of course, I was attracted to the simple and classic style, but the features really sold me. Here’s the thing—when you buy a diaper pail, oftentimes it will have coordinating refill bags. You have to buy those refill bags to fit the diaper pail which can get costly and be a huge headache if you run out (which will of course be in the middle of the night).
The Ubbi does have refills available, but you don’t have to use them. Any garbage bag will work. This is huge, especially when you’re in a pinch! It’s such a great design that it practically disappears in the nursery, and it doesn’t have a lot of plastic since it’s stainless steel. I’ve even known clients to keep them long after potty training to use in the garage for their dogs!
Your Perfect Nursery Book: I would be remiss is I didn’t mention my own book, the book I poured every ounce of my knowledge into in hopes of making the nursery design process easier for new parents. When I was a few years into Little Crown Interiors, I noticed there wasn’t any resource for new parents on how to design a nursery. There were endless books, websites, podcasts and articles, but nothing that definitively and comprehensively discussed the nursery and all its challenges.
So off I went writing, and before I knew it, I had a book deal (still one of the most exciting accomplishments of my career). All in all, it took about 2 years to write and produce the book and I’m here to tell you that I didn’t hold back. But every day I find new products and learn new things, and that’s what this blog post is for. I sincerely hope you’ll follow along and keep reading!
DISCOUNT: I’m offering $200 off Virtual Design services for readers of this post. Use code GENIUS200 when you book.
XO
Naomi
*This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry, we only link items that we love! You can view our Disclaimer here.
