Written By: Giannina Milady Gibelli
Becoming a parent requires a lot of gear—especially in the first 12 months. The right tools can make all the difference in keeping you and your mini comfortable, entertained, and safe.
As a mom who’s been through it before, I’ve rounded up 20 of my favorite products for babies under 12 months. From feeding and travel essentials to toys and home gear, these have all been tried, tested, and approved by this very selective mama (and baby).
1. INFANS 2-in-1 Baby Changing Table with Bathtub Unit
This versatile changing table has a built-in bathtub, waterproof pad, and shelf for storage. It has wheels and folds up for easy storage and mobility. Our baby has bunked in our bedroom for eight months and we have a two-floor home—the ability to wheel this around has been a game-changer. You never know when (or where) you’re going to need to change a dirty diaper!
Why I love it:
✔️ Multifunctional design
✔️ Compact and foldable
✔️ Storage for baby essentials
2. Toddler Baby Head Protection Cushion Backpack Wear
This adorable backpack is designed to protect baby’s head as they start to crawl and walk. It’s lightweight, adjustable, and comfortable. I’m much more comfortable letting Heath explore the world around him with a little extra protection, and he loves having as much free rein as possible.
Why I love it:
✔️ Soft padding for head protection
✔️ Breathable, lightweight fabric
✔️ Adjustable straps for a secure fit
3. Skip Hop Baby Activity Center
This activity center offers three stages of play as your baby grows. It promotes motor skills and sensory development and provides ample entertainment. It’s easily one of the top three toys we’ve ever had. The best part is seeing your little one interact with the toys in different ways as they grow!
Why I love it:
✔️ 360-degree rotating seat
✔️ Interactive toys for sensory play
✔️ Supports developmental milestones
4. Yookidoo Baby Bath Shower Head
This cute, elephant-shaped shower head lets you control the water flow, making bath time easier and more enjoyable. Gone are the days of keeping a cup in the tub—this shower head soothes babies during bathtime and has become our little one’s favorite part.
Why I love it:
✔️ Elephant-shaped spout for fun
✔️ Easy-to-use water control knobs
✔️ Safe and fun for babies
5. Amma The Cocoon™
This cozy and discreet cover lets me breastfeed anywhere comfortably and privately. It’s chic, lightweight, discreet, and soft—the perfect on-the-go breastfeeding solution. The perforated material keeps us both cool, while the breezy shape makes it look like it’s part of my outfit.
Why I love it:
✔️ Light and breathable fabric
✔️ Easy to use and wear
✔️ Stylish and discreet
6. Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Baby Car Seat
This convertible car seat grows with your child, offering extra legroom and side-impact protection. The 360-degree rotation feature is a lifesaver for fussy babies who don’t like the feeling of being placed into a car seat!
Why I love it:
✔️ Adjustable extension panel for extra legroom
✔️ Rear- and forward-facing modes
✔️ Side-impact protection for safety
7. Tushbaby Hip Carrier
The Tushbaby hip carrier is an ergonomic way to carry your baby and has storage for diapers and wipes, making it perfect for quick trips and errands. It’s another one of my absolute must-haves. It saves my back and keeps my little one close—probably the best invention ever (alongside the Harbor Monitor!).
Why I love it:
✔️ Comfortable ergonomic design
✔️ Convenient storage for essentials
✔️ Hands-free convenience
8. Momcozy Baby Food Maker
I love that this lets you prepare fresh purées and store them in reusable, portable bags. We freeze any extra purées from the day to save for later.
Why I love it:
✔️ Easy to use and clean
✔️ No splashing, mess-free food prep
✔️ Comes with reusable food storage bags
9. RaZbaby RaZberry Silicone Baby Teether Toy
This teether helps soothe your little one’s sore gums while providing sensory stimulation from its easy-to-grip fruit shape. This is the only teether that calms our little one!
Why parents love it:
✔️ BPA-free and safe for babies
✔️ Hands-free design for easy use
✔️ Fun and soothing for teething pain
10. Luna Bean Baby Keepsake Hand Casting Kit
This DIY plaster casting kit is the perfect first birthday or holiday gift, allowing parents to capture tiny baby hands and feet. We loved creating one for ourselves. The best part is that it will last forever, so we’ll always be able to hold their tiny hand!
Why I love it:
✔️ Easy-to-follow instructions
✔️ High-quality plaster for lasting impressions
✔️ Ideal gift for new parents
11. JISULIFE Stroller Fan
This portable, bladeless fan can be clipped onto strollers or cribs for extra air on hot days. The best part is that when baby starts to get curious and more mobile, there aren’t any blades for them to shove their fingers into.
Why I love it:
✔️ Bladeless, safe for babies
✔️ Adjustable speeds and cooling settings
✔️ Lightweight and rechargeable
12. Dearlomum Baby Play Mat with Piano
This activity mat features a piano, hanging toys, and music, stimulating baby’s senses while encouraging tummy time. I love that the piano piece can be used when lying or sitting to grow with your little one.
Why I love it:
✔️ Interactive toys and music
✔️ Encourages motor skills and tummy time
✔️ Bright colors and engaging design
13. RainGlow Buddy Hedgehog Toy
Our little one loved this glowing hedgehog’s soft lights and soothing sounds. It clips onto any hanging surface and despite hearing the same song a million times over, even I found its music calming!
Why I love it:
✔️ Soft glowing lights and sounds
✔️ Sensory development through music
✔️ BPA-free and baby-safe
14. FPVERA Infant Car Seat Toys
This mobile activity arch offers hanging toys, music, and sensory play, making it the perfect car seat companion. It’s often the little things that keep kiddos entertained, and this does just the trick.
Why I love it:
✔️ Music and interactive toys
✔️ Fits easily onto car seats or strollers
✔️ Engages your baby’s senses during trips
15. Cordless Portable Milk Warmer
This milk warmer heats breast milk, formula, and water quickly—perfect for on-the-go moms. There are so many options out there and we found this one to be the least clunky and easiest to use!
Why I love it:
✔️ Heats milk quickly and efficiently
✔️ Rechargeable, portable design
✔️ Great for travel
16. Forever French Baby Plush Blanket
This microfiber blanket keeps baby warm during naps, stroller rides, and car trips. We have eight (8!!!) of them. (Enough said.)
Why I love it:
✔️ Super soft and cozy
✔️ Perfect for stroller or crib use
✔️ Great for sensitive skin
17. Moby Wrap Baby Carrier
This wrap-style carrier is ergonomic and provides a snug, secure fit for you and baby. When they’re infants, this is the only place they’ll fit. I loved bopping around with my little one.
Why I love it:
✔️ Supports both parent and baby’s comfort
✔️ Hands-free convenience
✔️ Soft, breathable fabric
18. b&h Duck Baby Bath Thermometer
This floating thermometer makes sure the bath is at a safe temperature with clear readings. It’s helped us take the guesswork out of bath time.
Why I love it:
✔️ Fun duck design
✔️ Easy-to-read temperature display
✔️ Safe, floating design
19. Baby Wet Wipe Warmer and Dispenser
This wipe warmer saved our middle-of-the-night diaper changes. Some people say that it dries the wipes out, but it never did for us. It was the only thing that kept our little one from crying during 3 AM diaper changes!
Why I love it:
✔️ Dual heat settings for comfort
✔️ Ample LED lighting for nighttime use
✔️ Keeps wipes fresh and moist
20. Harbor Baby Monitor
Last but certainly not least, if you’re looking for a reliable and secure way to keep an eye on baby, the Harbor Baby Monitor is a must-have. With HD video, two-way audio, motion detection, and night vision, this monitor ensures you’re always connected to your baby—day or night. Bonus, it’s designed to be easy to use and syncs directly with your phone for ultimate convenience. It’s been described as the Tesla of baby monitors, keeping you secure even if the WiFi goes down and offering crystal-clear imaging that doesn’t compare to anything else on the market. (Trust me—I’ve tried them all!)
Why I love it:
✔️ 1080p HD video quality
✔️ Infrared night vision for dark rooms
✔️ Two-way audio to comfort your baby
Stay connected
Follow @harborsleep and @gianninagibelli on social channels for tips, updates, and exclusive deals. We’d love to hear how the Harbor Monitor is helping you and your family thrive!
