Best and worst baby products according to parents

In June 2022, we asked 1,030 parents to rate baby products and equipment spanning categories including bathing and changing, feeding, travel and sleeping.

To help you decide on the best baby products to buy – be it a pushchair, a high chair or a stair gate – we’ve rounded up the most and least useful items based on our survey results.

But if you've already got your shopping list ready, head straight to our independent and rigorous reviews to find out which models are worth investing in.

Ways to keep your family living costs down, and kids of all ages happy: Get our Family newsletter – it's free monthly

10 most popular baby item essentials

We asked parents which baby products they own to reveal the essentials you might want to consider when shopping for your new arrival. 

The most popular products from our survey include baby transport such as car seats and pushchairs, as well as bedroom furniture like cot mattresses and cribs. 

1. Pushchair. There are several different types to choose from and prices range from as little as £50 for a basic stroller to more than £1,000 for ones with fancy features from high-end brands. For help deciding which type suits you best and the models we recommend, see all our best pushchairs.
2. Child car seats are an essential safety product that will help to protect your baby in the event of a collision. There are lots of factors to consider when buying a car seat, such as the age and height of your child, as well as compatibility with the make and model of your car. Our car seat buying guide explains everything you need to know. 
3. Baby changing bags are a convenient way to carry nappies, wipes and anything else your baby may need when you’re out and about. They usually have pockets and compartments to help keep everything organised, and some also come with a foldaway changing mat. You will see prices ranging from around £20 to more than £250 for designer bags.
4. High chair. You can find lightweight foldable models for as little as £30. Our high chair reviews will tell you how safe, stable, comfortable and easy to use each model is. Take a look at the best high chairs to see our top picks.
5. Baby bath/baby seat or support for the bath. You don't need to spend much on a baby bath – a clean washing-up bowl in the sink or the bath will do just fine. Not everyone in our survey who owned a baby bath also used a baby seat or support, but they can make bathing easier and provide extra peace of mind.
6. Stair gate. This was the most popular safety product parents owned. They range significantly in price, from around £15 to more than £100. But it’s worth choosing carefully, as we’ve uncovered several stair gates that fail safety tests. See all our best stair gates for our recommendations and buying advice. 
7. Cot mattress. A proper cot mattress is vital to ensure your baby can sleep safely. Choose a firm, flat cot mattress protected by a waterproof cover. It's important that the mattress is the right size for the cot, with no gaps larger than 4cm down the side. Our testing has uncovered cot mattresses that pose serious safety issues, including suffocation and choking risks. Head to our cot mattress reviews to find out which ones you should steer clear of.
8. Bedside crib/cot/cot bed/Moses basket. Moses baskets are compact, portable and cosy but will only be suitable for the first few months. Bedside cribs, cots and cot beds are pricier than baskets but can be used for much longer. Take a look at the best bedside cribs in our tests and find out the features to look for in our cot bed buying guide.
9. Baby sleeping bags can create the perfect environment for your baby to dose off in. However, previous safety tests uncovered dangerous baby sleeping bags by well-known brands and online marketplaces. Ensure you only buy the baby sleeping bags we recommend so you can trust that your little one is safe while they sleep.
10. Digital ear thermometers take a reading after a second or two, using infrared to measure the heat generated inside the ear and to check whether your little one is running a temperature. Read our digital thermometer reviews to find out which models we rate.

Most useful baby items

Once you've invested in the essential items, there will still be plenty of baby products to buy. But which ones are really worth spending your money on? 

We asked parents in our survey to rate non-essential baby products and equipment to reveal which items are genuinely useful, as well as the products you can probably remove from your shopping basket. 

Baby monitor

• Video baby monitors have two parts, but the baby unit includes a camera that sends pictures back to the parent unit, so you can see your baby as well as hear them. Some are quite basic, but more expensive models have cameras that pan around the room, or even zoom in. 97% of the parents in our survey said they found theirs useful. 
• Audio baby monitors also consist of two parts – one that stays in the nursery (baby or nursery unit) and one you keep on you, either somewhere propped up in the room you're in or clipped to your belt as you get on with other bits while your baby sleeps. 94% of parents said they found theirs useful.
• Smart baby monitors usually need a smartphone or tablet with a compatible app to be able to monitor your baby. But this means, unlike audio and video monitors, it isn't constrained by signal range and can work wherever you are as long as you have decent wi-fi signal. 94% of parents found theirs useful.

See all our baby monitor reviews to compare the 69 that have been through our tough tests.

Electric steam steriliser kit

Babies' digestive systems are very sensitive, so you will do a lot of sterilising to ensure your baby equipment for feeding is completely clean and germ-free.

There are a range of sterilisers out there, including electric steam sterilisers, cold water sterilisers, microwave steam sterilisers and UV sterilisers. Read our guide on how to buy the best steriliser for more information on the differences between them.

In terms of usefulness, electric steam sterilisers came out on top with 95% of parents finding them useful. 93% of parents said they found cold water steriliser kits useful. 91% found microwave steam steriliser kits useful and UV steriliser kits were found useful by 89% of parents. 

Bedside crib

These attach to your bed and have a side that comes down so you can easily reach your baby for night feeding. In our survey, 94% of parents felt they were useful to have.

Take a look at our bedside cribs reviews to compare or jump straight to the best bedside cribs in our tests.

Fabric sling/standard baby carrier

There are many types of slings and carriers to choose from, including wrap slings, soft structured baby carriers, pouch slings, ring slings, baby backpacks and hip seat carriers. 

89% of parents found their carrier useful. But baby carrying is quite a personal thing, and how comfortable it is will depend on the wearer and getting the right type of carrier for you and your baby. Use our expert baby sling and carrier buying guide for more advice.

We also now highlight Great Value baby carriers and slings: these carriers must have scored at least 70% in our testing, but are also at least 20% cheaper than the average price for baby carriers and slings we've tested.

Reusable baby food pouches

An easy and convenient way to store and transport your baby's food, reusable baby food pouches were thought to be useful by 88% of parents. As they're reusable, they're also more environmentally friendly than throwing away jars.

Least useful baby items

Baby food blenders, nappy disposal bins and Bumbo seats all feature among the least useful products rated by parents. While these products may benefit some people, it’s worth carefully considering whether or not these non-essentials are right for you before you buy.

Nappy disposal bin

A nappy bin allows you to store soiled nappies in a separate unit that you can dispose of when full. Some bins automatically seal the nappies in a plastic sleeve to stop smells too. 

However, nappies can just be disposed of in the outside bin with the rest of your household rubbish, so it's definitely not a necessity.

See our selection of the best disposable nappies to find the best nappies for your child.

Manual breast pump

A breast pump allows you to express and store breast milk so you, a partner, friend or relative can feed your baby later on. However, not everyone will find them useful if they prefer to do straight breastfeeding, opt for formula bottle feeding or prefer to use an electric breast pump instead.  

A manual breast pump works by mimicking the sucking action of a breastfeeding baby. A cup, or breast shield, is placed over your nipple and then you pump the handle to create a vacuum over your breast, which stimulates milk flow. Manual breast pumps are generally cheap, quick and simple to use with a lot fewer settings than electric versions, but you'll have to do all the hard work when expressing milk to feed your baby.

They range from around £10 to more than £80, depending on the accessories it comes with. 

Read our best breast pump brands and expert buying advice to help you decide on the right product for you. 

Bottle warmer

If you're making up formula to feed your baby, you shouldn't need a bottle warmer, as the government advice is to make fresh formula for every feed.

If you are using ready-to-use formula cartons or expressed milk – which, according to the NHS, can be stored in the fridge for up to eight days at 4°C or lower in a sterilised container or breast-milk storage bag – you might want to warm up the milk before feeding your baby, which is where a bottle warmer could come in handy. 

However, if you'd rather avoid the extra expense or you don't have enough room in your kitchen, you can just use a jug of hot water to raise the milk temperature. 

See our how to buy the best bottle warmer guide for more information. 

Bumbo seat

Bumbo seats are designed for babies that can’t yet sit up on their own. They usually cost between £30 and £40.

A safety alert for Bumbo seats was issued in the US in 2012, following reports of babies being injured. If you decide to buy a Bumbo seat for your child, avoid placing it on raised or uneven surfaces, always use the restraint belt and make sure you stay with your baby at all times. 

Baby food blender

When it's time to wean your little one on to solids, a baby food blender could prove convenient for making purées and mashed foods when your hands are full. However, many parents will already have the tools for the job to save forking out on a new product. 

Existing food blenders, food processors or even using a fork to mash up soft fruit or veg should be more than fine. 

See our round-up of the best blenders. 

Other baby products worth considering

• Teething toys and jewellery can help soothe teething pain. But watch out what teething toy you buy as we uncovered some safety issues when we tested them.
• Baby play mats or baby gyms can provide hours of entertainment. Just make sure you supervise your baby at all times while they're playing.
• Baby walkers are ideal for infants who can't yet walk unaided. They have a base made of hard plastic sitting on top of wheels and a suspended fabric seat with two leg holes. 
• Dummies are great for soothing babies between feeds. 
• Travel cots are used for babies or toddlers and can collapse or fold into a bag for easy carriage. They're typically much lighter than a standard cot, with soft sides for your little one's comfort. See our travel cot buying guide. 

Where to buy baby products

Popular online retailers that sell baby products include:

• Argos sells a variety of baby and nursery products ranging from baby sleep aids to feeding and weaning products. It stocks a large selection of brands such as Joie, Bugaboo and Silver Cross. Click and collect is available depending on stock availability – and also same-day delivery if you need your product quickly.
• John Lewis stocks nursery furniture, feeding products, buggies, toys and travel bits. There's also a good selection of brands available, including Tommee Tippee, V-Tech and Babyzen, as well as its own-label products. There's the option to book a free in-store or virtual appointment with one of their nursery advisors to help you get prepared. There's plenty of delivery options too, including standard, click and collect and morning delivery – depending on the product you're buying.
• Smyths Toys sells more than just toys. Here you will find baby monitors, pushchairs, playmats and more. Stocked brands include Fisher-Price, Graco and Joie. Same-day delivery is available in London and Birmingham if you order by 4pm; if you order by 8pm, you can get next-day delivery. There's also a free click and collect service, if the product you're after is in stock.
• Boots offers a wide selection of travel, bathing, changing and feeding products. You can join the free Boots Parenting Club to gain points on your baby shop. There's free click and collect on orders over £15 and free home delivery when you spend £25.
• Mamas and Papas sells products split across pushchairs, nursery, bathing and changing plus plenty more. It has a best-price guarantee, where it checks its prices daily and will match it if you find it cheaper elsewhere. You can also make use of its free personal shopper appointments in-store or online to get some extra help and advice.