What You Actually Need for a Baby

Summary

The Wirecutter Show: What You Actually Need for a Baby
Release Date: May 7, 2025

In this insightful episode of The Wirecutter Show, hosts Christine Cyr Clisset and Kyra Blackwell, alongside producer Rosie Guerin, delve into the overwhelming world of baby gear. Titled "What You Actually Need for a Baby," the episode provides new and expectant parents with expert advice on distinguishing essential items from non-essentials, navigating gift-giving, and making informed decisions on big-ticket purchases. Special guest Kayleigh Thompson, Senior Editor overseeing Wirecutter's Baby & Kid coverage, joins the conversation to share her extensive knowledge and personal experiences.

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Understanding the Target Audience

The episode opens with the hosts acknowledging that the content is tailored specifically for individuals in the unique life stage of pregnancy, adoption, or those closely connected to expectant parents. Christine notes, "This episode isn't for everyone, but it's definitely hardcore for some people" (01:05).

Guest Introduction: Kayleigh Thompson

Kayleigh Thompson is introduced as a seasoned expert with over eight years of experience in baby gear testing and reviews. She brings a wealth of knowledge from both her professional role and her personal life as a parent of a teen and a tween, making her insights particularly valuable for listeners navigating the complexities of baby product selections.

Navigating Baby Gear: Essentials vs. Non-Essentials

Kayleigh outlines the bare minimum items needed to bring a baby home, emphasizing practicality and safety:

• Car Seat: "You need a safe, secure place for the baby to sleep. That could be a crib, a bassinet, a pack and play..." (07:16)

• Sleeping Arrangements: Options range from traditional cribs to more portable solutions like bassinets or even makeshift setups like cardboard boxes for the very early days.

• Movement Essentials: Strollers and cloth carriers are highlighted as essential for transporting the baby, complemented by basic necessities like diapers and feeding supplies.

Kayleigh also touches on specialized items such as comfortable nursing bras and breast pumps, which, while not mandatory, can significantly enhance the parenting experience.

Gift-Giving for New Parents: Do's and Don'ts

The conversation transitions to the often-daunting task of selecting appropriate gifts for new parents. Kayleigh advises:

• Registry-Based Gifts: "Buying off the registry is like you would for a wedding..." (09:36). This ensures that gifts are both desired and needed.

• Meaningful Contributions: Group gifting for higher-priced items like strollers or cribs allows for significant, impactful presents without overburdening a single giver.

• Personal Touches: Thoughtful gifts such as books or personalized items resonate deeply with parents. Christine shares, "We used it as a couch pillow for years afterward..." (15:30).

Avoiding Common Pitfalls:

Kayleigh warns against:

• Electronic Toys: Often overly marketed and sometimes more annoying than beneficial. "Lots of marketing around these so-called educational electronic toys, and a lot of grandparents can be susceptible to that." (19:28)

• Plastic Products: Growing concerns about plastics pose potential risks, making non-plastic alternatives preferable.

Big-Ticket Items: Car Seats, Strollers, and Sleepwear

Car Seats

Kayleigh emphasizes the importance of car seats for safety:

• "All the car seats sold in the US are basically safe... the biggest factor is really that you have the correct car seat for the size of your child and that you have it installed correctly." (24:21)

• Recommended Picks:

  • Greco Snug Ride Snug Fit 35 DLX
  • Chicco Key Fit 35 and Keyfit 30
  • Uppababy Ariya (upgraded option at ~$350)

She advises against purchasing used car seats due to safety concerns, likening them to helmets that lose efficacy after an impact.

Strollers

Choosing the right stroller depends on various factors such as lifestyle, geography, and personal needs:

• "Think through your own needs. Where do you live? How are you going to be using this stroller?" (28:05)

• Testing Strollers: Wirecutter sets up obstacle courses to evaluate maneuverability, ease of folding, and overall practicality.

• Price Range: High-end models can exceed $700, but quality options are available under $1,000.

• Adaptability: Be prepared to switch strollers as your child grows or as your circumstances change.

Christine reflects on her own experience, suggesting investment in a high-quality, compact stroller for urban living: "In retrospect, I would have spent more on a stroller that was a little smoother..." (29:29).

Sleeping Arrangements

Ensuring a safe sleep environment is paramount:

• Cribs vs. Bassinets: Bassinets are ideal for the initial months and can be conveniently placed next to the bed, while cribs serve as long-term sleeping solutions.

• The Snoo Smart Bassinet: A premium option at around $1,700, designed to automatically rock and soothe the baby. While some parents love it, others find it unnecessary and expensive. Kayleigh notes, "It's almost 50-50. It's mixed, you know, and it's very expensive." (34:10)

Buying New vs. Used Baby Gear

Kayleigh advocates for buying new for most items, with the exception of car seats. She recommends checking for recalls via the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) before purchasing used gear. This approach balances cost savings with safety considerations.

Final Tips and Takeaways

As the episode concludes, the hosts and Kayleigh share their final advice:

• Invest Wisely: Prioritize spending on items that will be used frequently and ensure safety.

• Group Gifting: Collaborate with others to afford higher-priced items without financial strain.

• Practical Help: Beyond physical gifts, offering services like meal trains or cleaning assistance can be invaluable for exhausted new parents.

Christine summarizes her key takeaway, emphasizing the value of investing in quality gear for heavy-use items: "I would have advised myself to just spend more on a stroller, get something new, get something nice because we will be using it all the time." (37:17)

Kyra adds, "Trust the registry because they've probably done the research... organizing a meal train or offer to help clean something for the parents because the parents are going to be exhausted." (38:28)

Notable Quotes

• Kayleigh Thompson: "Babies need much less than you might think." (07:16)

• Rosie Guerin: "Cutting through the noise of all the marketing..." (01:40)

• Christine Cyr Clisset: "The baby is in a swaddle that is actually attached to the mattress surface inside the bassinet." (34:11)

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Conclusion

This episode of The Wirecutter Show serves as an essential guide for new and expectant parents, demystifying the array of baby products and helping listeners make informed, practical decisions. With expert insights from Kayleigh Thompson and relatable anecdotes from the hosts, the episode empowers parents to prioritize what truly matters, ensuring both safety and convenience without succumbing to marketing pressures.

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Timestamps

1. Introduction to Baby Gear Testing: [00:32]
2. Essentials for Bringing Baby Home: [07:16]
3. Gift-Giving Advice: [09:36]
4. Meaningful Gifts Shared by Christine: [15:30]
5. Avoiding Loud Electronic Toys: [19:28]
6. Car Seat Safety and Recommendations: [24:21]
7. Stroller Selection Tips: [28:05]
8. Christine’s Stroller Experience: [29:29]
9. The Snoo Smart Bassinet Review: [34:10]
10. Final Takeaway on Strollers: [37:17]
11. Kyra’s Final Advice on Gift-Giving: [38:28]

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For more detailed reviews and guides on baby gear, visit Wirecutter's Baby & Kid section.

Transcript

[Advertiser]

Support for this podcast comes from Estee Lauder. They really duped beauty sleep. Estee Lauder's advanced night repair serum helps your skin look like it got eight hours of beauty sleep. Even if you didn't in just one sleep. See immediate radiance and a reduction in fine lines. It really is beauty sleep in a bottle. Get ready to glow with advanced night repair [e-mail] friends don't let friends miss a good beauty sleep dupe.

[Host]

When we do stroller testing at Wirecutter, we set up a little obstacle course. We put bags of sand in the seat. We don't have babies that were swerving, swerving around the office all day long.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

I'm Christine Cyrclassette.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I'm Kyra Blackwell.

[Rosie Guerin]

I'm Rosie Guerin and you're listening to the Wirecutter show.

[Kyra Blackwell]

This episode is called what you actually need for a baby.

[Rosie Guerin]

Hey, friends.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Hey there.

[Rosie Guerin]

So today's topic is all about gear, gifts, stuff people need and maybe don't need for babies and young kids. We've talked about this episode for a long time. We've gone back and forth on whether we should do it at all.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Yeah, yeah. It's a very specific life stage. It's either you're in that life stage, you're pregnant or you're adopting or you're gonna have a bab, or you are trying to figure out what to give someone in your life who's, who's having a baby.

[Rosie Guerin]

That's right.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

And yeah, so it's not. This is. This episode isn't for everyone, but it's definitely hardcore for some people.

[Rosie Guerin]

Totally. I mean, my feeling about this is that, yeah, not all the folks listening are gonna be first time expecting parents, but I would guess that most aren't further than a degree of separation from someone who is. Maybe you have a sibling who's expecting a child, grandchild, a cousin, a friend, and you're trying to cut through the noise of all the marketing. There's so much out suggesting you need about a hundred thousand different products to raise a baby or toddler. The quote right way stressful.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Yeah. But you know, there are some really big ticket items, you know, strollers, car seat, cribs, some of these things that you feel like you gotta get it right. You don't wanna get the wrong thing. Some of this stuff has safety implications and so you really want to make the right choice.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I don't have kids. Y'all know this. But like y'all said earlier, I will have to start thinking about people in my life having bab what I need to bring to show up for them, it's going to come up more and.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

More today, as always, we have someone on the show who can really help sort of cut through the noise in this category. Kaylee Thompson is our senior editor overseeing all of our baby and kid coverage. And she has a ton of experience testing gear, using gear in her own life and overseeing a big team of people who have kids and they're constantly sort of like sharing information. They're looking at what is new, they're testing it out. And she's also a parent. She has a teen and a tween at this point, so she's a little farther out, kind of like me. But she also is very in touch with what is new and what is fresh in this category. She edits all of our baby gear reviews and she's been doing that for about eight years. So she's, she's just really a wealth of knowledge.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Yeah. Well, talk to Kayleigh about all that noise around marketing and capitalism and social media when you're trying to figure out what you actually need to buy, plus the stuff you really don't need and what you can get safely used. We'll be right back.

[Advertiser]

Support for this podcast comes from Estee Lauder. They really duped beauty sleep. Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Serum helps your skin look like it got eight hours of beauty sleep even if you didn't in just one sleep. See immediate radiance and a reduction in fine lines. It really is beauty sleep in a bottle. Get ready to glow with Advanced Night Repair serum@estee Lauder.com friends. Don't let friends miss a good beauty sleep dupe.

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[Host]

Welcome back.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Our guest today is Kayleigh Thompson, senior editor of the team responsible for Wirecutter's coverage of health, fitness and of course baby and kid.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Kaeli, welcome to the show.

[Host]

I'm so happy to be here.

[Rosie Guerin]

So, Kailey, in the spirit of vulnerability and connection, let's start at the top here. I want to know to what extent did you feel pressured into buying a bunch of gear and stuff prior to welcoming your first kid?

[Host]

I would say that I was really resistant to the idea that I would need a lot of stuff. Really? Yes. I personally am somewhat of a minimalist and, you know, this was also a while back, so there was no Instagram. I think there was less exposure to the sort of constant barrage of kind of influencer stuff that new parents are probably more subject to now. So, yeah, I think I went into it feeling like I didn't want to get a lot more than I really needed. I did not do a registry.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Oh, wow.

[Host]

Which in retrospect, I wouldn't necessarily recommend that. I think it was a little bit extreme, but.

[Kyra Blackwell]

So what did people get you then?

[Host]

So my baby shower was all books.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Hmm. I find it kind of refreshing that you didn't have a registry, honestly. Rosie and I were chatting recently about how the new trend is for children to have registries for their birthday parties.

[Host]

Oh, my goodness.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

So I feel like there has to be a limit.

[Host]

I mean, actually the bookshower was lovely and we are still reading some of those books and it's so sweet to see the inscriptions and remember who gave us which books.

[Rosie Guerin]

That's really sweet. Well, I remember Googling. What do you need to buy before you have a baby? Like straight up. When my wife was pregnant and we were about to become first time parents, we were gonna have twins, it felt like there was very, very little I could control, admittedly, anxiety. Not the best starting point when you're about to begin shopping for anything, but especially for things that are really expensive. And, you know, because of the way capitalism, marketing, social media, peer pressure, all of this works. I felt like there was this huge responsibility to buy the quote unquote right things. And if we didn't, somehow we would be starting off on the wrong foot as parents. I remember a lot of this pressure. My question for you, Kaylie, is this. What is the bare minimum you need to take a baby home? Bare minimum?

[Host]

It's actually pretty limited. I mean, I think babies need much less than you might think. But certainly the number one thing is a car seat, an infant car seat. And if you have your baby in a hospital, which most people do, you are required to have that seat properly installed before you can bring the baby home. So that is really right at the top, I think, of everyone's list. You need a safe, secure place for the baby to sleep. That could be a crib, a bassinet, a pack and play. Could be a cardboard box. I mean, there's a lot. There's a wide variety of options.

[Rosie Guerin]

My niece slept in a little cardboard box.

[Host]

Really?

[Rosie Guerin]

Yeah. When she was A real newborn. And that worked.

[Host]

I had a time when I was traveling with my older son when he was an infant, and we literally did the thing where we pulled a drawer out of a dresser, emptied it out and put it in.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

It was so. Like a depression era of you.

[Host]

It was. It was. I think I took a picture of it. It was. Yeah, it was memorable. But beyond that, pretty much everyone is going to want the items that you need to move a baby around, whether that's a stroller, a cloth carrier. I think for most people, you're going to want both of those things. Diapers, some basic feeding supplies, bottles. If you're planning to nurse, I think it's really wise to be prepared with a comfortable bra or two. You might want a simple breast pump to start. And formula on hand, possibly as well.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Kayleigh. All of those items really resonate with me. I remember I've had two kids and I. I think those really are kind of the most important, most essential things to have at home for your baby. Some of those things like the car seat, something to sleep in, like a crib or a bassinet, and then maybe a stroller, are pretty big ticket items. And we are gonna talk about those a little bit later. They tend to be the sort of most expensive things on a lot of people's registries.

[Host]

Mm.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

But before we get into that, I wanna back up a little bit and talk about sort of the things that other people in your life might wanna give a new parent. Let's say you're a grandparent or an uncle or an aunt or a friend, and you wanna give something really meaningful and cool and nice to the new parents. I'm wondering if you have any guidance on how people should and can approach giving gifts for a new baby, Things that the parents will actually appreciate.

[Host]

I think a lot of people will create a registry, especially for a first baby, and especially if, you know, finances are a concern. And honestly, I think they are for the vast majority of people. I do think it's really helpful to buy off the registry, just like you would for a wedding. Of course, include a gift receipt, but I think that's a good place to start. Not everyone has a registry. And of course, it's fun to buy things off the registry, especially grandparents and relatives who maybe are thinking of buying a larger ticket item. You can often get a lot of pleasure out of giving a gift that they'll see a child use over time. You could offer to buy the new family a stroller or a crib of their choice. I think Something like that. It's a very generous gift and it in theory could be something that's fun to shop for together. So that's one idea. Beyond that, I think, you know, kids just really need caring adults in their lives. And I think a gift that shares with the new family, with the new baby, something that you love, is really nice. So books, I think, fall into that category. I remember we had a friend that we knew from hiking who got our first son a sweet little hiking mug. I think those kinds of things can just be very heartfelt and memorable in the long term.

[Rosie Guerin]

Two things I think about a lot. I have friends who are having first and second kids, and we will often go in on these big ticket items as a friend group. And so, you know, if they're 2, 3, 4, or 500 plus dollars, breaking that up amongst a group of people can be really helpful. The other thing that I loved receiving and love, giving, giving a book, gifting a book that meant something to me as a kid, and writing an inscription the way you would in a card, I felt is really meaningful to receive and hopefully to give as well.

[Host]

Yeah, that's so sweet.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Kayleigh. I think that when people are thinking about the other things that they might want to have for a new baby, if you go into any big store that sells baby gear, you're seeing like hundreds of items. You know, some of these things you might need, you might like. Maybe some of them you don't really need. So I'm going to run through a list of things that I think people commonly think that they're supposed to have. And if you could shortly tell us why you might want this thing and why you might not.

[Host]

All right, sure. All right.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

A baby monitor with video.

[Host]

I do think that that is something that the majority of new parents will want. And we have a guide to all the options there, which are quite a few. But if you're saying to yourself, I don't think I really need a baby monitor with video, you probably don't. And you can also get an audio monitor, which is both cheaper and easier. So that's an option.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Diaper pail.

[Host]

This is a controversial one. We have spent a ridiculous amount of time at Wirecutter discussing whether stink is the number one criteria. Stink control is the number one criteria for a diaper pail or not. I don't think it's necessary. A lot of people don't think it's necessary. You can use a regular closing garbage can, but if you really don't want any stinkiness, a diaper Pail can be pretty helpful.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

A changing table.

[Host]

I would really recommend just getting these inexpensive foam pads that you can attach to the top of a regular dresser. You can get a dedicated changing table, its own piece of furniture, but it's not really necessary. Started to do that.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Baby Bouncer.

[Host]

Definitely optional, but a lot of people find that their baby loves a Baby Bouncer. And the Baby Bjorn bouncer in particular is just one of our all time favorite top picks.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Yeah, I found the Baby Bouncer essential for getting my kid to go to sleep. So it was, for me, it was essential. Bottle sterilizers.

[Host]

No, you don't need a bottle sterilizer.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

But why might someone want one?

[Host]

I guess if your doctor is telling you if you have a particular concern and your doctor is telling you maybe you want that. But I mean, I guess it could make cleaning easier, but it seems like overkill.

[Rosie Guerin]

We did have one and it was again two babies. And it made a huge difference in terms of washing, the volume of bottles that we needed to wash. Was it absolutely necessary? No. Did it help? Yeah, kind of. Kind of did.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

All right. Wipe warmer.

[Host]

I would be a hard no on that. I think there's just a lot of things that I wouldn't necessarily get it preemptively. But if you later find that your baby is screaming bloody murder every time a cold wipe touches their butt, that could be your solution.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Yeah. Sometimes you gotta just try what you gotta try when you're desperate. Special laundry detergent. Baby laundry detergent.

[Host]

I do not think that that is necessary. But again, it might be something to go to if you discover that you are having a problem. You know, you want to keep it pretty simple with babies.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Yeah. I also think that the Tide Liquid detergent that we recommend is quite good for babies. I've talked to our laundry expert, Andrea about this. That is a good one. If you have any concern around skin sensitivity.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

All right, last one. Bottle warmer.

[Host]

We do have a guide to bottle warmer, so we have some recommendations. But overall conclusion at Wirecutter has long been you really don't need a bottle warmer. You can warm your baby's milk in basically a glass of warm water.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I don't have kids. My brothers don't have kids, and none of my friends have kids yet. But I do sense that it's happening soon. Might be happening soon. So do you remember any specific gifts you received that made the most impact?

[Host]

Yes, I rem. Some of our closest friends gave me this. Very nice. It seemed very fancy at the time, nursing pillow that they had bought at a local boutique. And it was just so soft and comfy. And we posed both of our babies on it for newborn photos. And we used it as a couch pillow for years afterward. And that was just so sweet because I don't that I wouldn't have found that myself. Another really close friend of mine gave me a hiking path, like the sort of rigid baby carrier that you use to bring a baby hiking on your back. And that friend, we'd done a lot of traveling together before we had kids. And it just felt like a really thoughtful gift and sort of like a vote of confidence that I'd still be doing the things I liked to do as a single person after I became a parent.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Yeah.

[Host]

So as well as just very generous. Those things are pretty expensive, so those really stood out. And then there were just so many really adorable clothes and cute outfits. And there were definitely things that I probably got at the time that seemed a little over the top. But now when I look back at the old baby photos, I really do remember where the clothes came from and you know, sort of the special things that people gave me. Yeah, they're just so cute. And your baby's only gonna be little for that short time, so it can be really cute to just have some adorable outfits.

[Rosie Guerin]

Yes, I do think when giving clothes it's helpful to give a larger size maybe. What do you think about that, Kayleigh? I tend to sort of try to go a year or 18 months.

[Host]

That is exactly what I would recommend. And so many people, I think, get a lot of newborn clothes and then the baby never even wears them before they outgrow them. I think I always would buy it in the one year old size. They can grow into that. Something to grow into.

[Rosie Guerin]

So, Kaylee, let's say you're keen to get a gift but aren't necessarily inspired to get something for the baby. What's your advice for folks who want to get a gift for Christine? I know is always talking about like, forget the baby.

[Host]

Yeah. I mean, the most wonderful thing is if you have a friend who can organize the meal train for you and there are online services, you know, websites that help you do that. But I think that that's just the most kind, helpful thing. We actually have a great guide to the best gifts for new moms. And it includes both some very practical and whimsical ideas. From frozen food that you can order from afar to really nice bathrobes, nursing coverups. There are some really sweet jewelry, gifts and thoughtful like books for the mom in that list. Also just the self care kind of stuff, like a really great face mask, maybe some dry shampoo. A lot of things that you know, in those first few weeks especially, you're really gonna be at home and looking for ways to comfort your body and your mind as you adjust.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I've seen a lot of videos of people on social media like giving new mothers like sushi boats after they give birth because you can't have fish during the pregnancy.

[Host]

I think that's very thoughtfully sort of true.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

I actually just remembering back to having babies and I, I think that like in the weeks after having a baby it can actually be pretty stressful if you don't have enough help. Like if you don't have a family member who's like there to help you all the time. And I just think like somebody popping in and like offering to clean your bathroom or you know, just doing little things for the parents where they're just so exhausted that can be really quite meaningful. So I think those gifts can continue after the baby shower or whatever. Like that's actually the period of time that I think the parents may need a little bit more help.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Kayleigh, I'm curious if you have any absolute don'ts in terms of things to gift at a baby shower, like things you should maybe try to avoid.

[Host]

I think that's tough because people are so different. So I think you kind of, obviously you have to know the person. But some common things that we found over the years, I think a lot of parents end up being annoyed by loud toys, things that are playing really annoying songs in a very screechy tone. So that might be something to keep in mind.

[Kyra Blackwell]

So like don't get somebody else's kid hooked on paw patrol and then leave.

[Host]

Yes, exactly. I think electronic toys generally there's a lot of marketing around these so called like educational electronic toys. And I think not to stereotype, but I think a lot of grandparents can be susceptible to that. You end up getting these gifts that you know, might not be what the parents are hoping that their kids will entertain themselves with. And the other thing is just more recently obviously there's a lot of growing concern about plastics. So I think there's going to be a lot of new parents out there that are just nervous about anything plastic that the baby is going to be putting in their mouth.

[Rosie Guerin]

So to recap, I think the biggest advice is buy from the registries to whatever extent possible. Understand that parents have oftentimes done the work and the research to figure out the things that they actually want. And then I think also I love your advice on books, Kayleigh. I think that can be really meaningful if you want to supplement some thing from the registry with something that maybe reflects a hobby, you know, the parent likes or something that you want to do with the child or with the parent. I think that's really beautiful.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Okay, we're going to take a quick break and when we come back, we'll talk with Kayleigh about the essentials, the big ticket items, the car seat, the stroller, something to sleep in, and what to consider before you purchase those big ticket items. We'll be right back.

[Advertiser]

Support for this podcast comes from Estee Lauder. They really duped beauty sleep. Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Serum helps your skin look like it got eight hours of beauty sleep even if you didn't in just one sleep. See immediate radiance and a reduction in fine lines. It really is beauty sleep in a bottle. Get ready to glow with Advanced Night Repair serum@estee lauder.com friends don't let friends miss a good beauty sleep dupe.

[Amazon Healthcare Representative]

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[Rosie Guerin]

Hey, before we jump back into the show, we have a quick favor to ask. We're running a survey to learn more about you, our listeners. We want to know what you like about the show, what you don't like about the show, and what things you might want to hear. It's super quick and filling it out will help us make the Wirecutter show even better for you. So go to the show notes for this episode. Click on the link that says the Wirecutter show audience survey. We really, really appreciate it. Okay, back to the show.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Welcome back. Today we're talking with Kayleigh Thompson, Senior Editor of Wirecutter's Baby & Kid Team. And we're talking all about baby gear, the essential things need, and the nice to haves.

[Rosie Guerin]

Earlier, you walked us through the essential gear folks should have to bring home a newborn. I want to zoom in and focus on three of the big ones. Car seat, stroller, and something to sleep in like a crib or bassinet. Car seat First, Kaylee, what do folks need to know when considering buying a car seat? It's a big one.

[Host]

So if you're going to be driving Anywhere with your baby, you obviously need to have a car seat and you need to have it installed correctly. And what we've found over years of research, talking to dozens of experts about car seats, all the car seats sold in the US Are basically safe. I'm not gonna say they're all the same, but the biggest factor is really that you have a car seat that is the correct car seat for the size of your child and that you have it installed correctly in your car. And that installation, as pretty much any parent knows, can really be a pain. So when we've been reviewing car seats, that is really a very top level thing that we're always looking at is how difficult is it to get a good install with this car seat.

[Kyra Blackwell]

And Kayleigh, when you say that all car seats in the US Are safe, is that because of the regulatory system, like for them to even show up in the store, they have to have been processed thoroughly and made sure that they are safe.

[Host]

It's a pretty regulated category. And the car seats that we recommend also do have, for the most part, additional safety features. But in our guide to infant car seats, we have three picks. The Greco Snug Ride Snug Fit 35 DLX is our top pick. These car seats also, just some of them have ridiculous names like a lot of baby products do. So it can be very confusing to sort of sort through the different options, which is where hopefully Wirecutter's guides can really come in handy because a lot of times you'll see slight variations. It might be $50 less expensive. And we're always trying in our guide to give parents guidance of what's really the difference between these different seats that have very similar and often very confusing names. Another car seat that we really love is the Chicco Key Fit 35. The Chicco Keyfit 30 is also a great seat. Those are fantastic options that we've been recommending for a very long time. And then as an upgrade pick, we're now recommending the Uppababy Ariya, which is a more expensive car seat. It costs about $350. Other picks are more around the $200, $250 range.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Wow, that's kind of expensive. Is it ever okay to just get a used one from a friend or buy one used?

[Host]

It's not a good idea to buy a used car seat. I mean, the expert advice is do not buy a used car seat. And that is because if a car seat has been in a crash, it is no longer safe and you don't want to be using a car seat that's maybe been in a crash that you don't know about.

[Kyra Blackwell]

So it's like a helmet in that way?

[Host]

It is like a helmet, yeah.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Okay.

[Host]

You're right, Kyra, that it is a pretty expensive item. And I think that if you have someone that you really trust is telling you this car seat has never been in any sort of a crash, I'm handing it down to you. That's obviously a personal judgment call. Another factor is that car seats do expire. So it's generally a pretty long. But there is an expiration date, which is really just about materials degrading over time.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

And Kayleigh, if a new parent is just a little insecure about whether they've installed their car seat correctly, what is your recommendation? Is there a place people can go to get checked out?

[Host]

Yes, and that's a great idea. And I think a lot of new parents do do that before. Even before their baby is born. That's really the best time. And a lot of hospitals offer that service for free fire stations. So there's different places where, where you can do that. But that's a great idea.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Let's turn to strollers. Now this, I remember, was such a journey for me when I had little kids. I was first shocked by how expensive strollers can be, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I remember not really knowing. There's just so many options. You can get strollers that will fit your actual infant car seat. Like, they're kind of a system. And maybe you want to go with the same, you know, little Caddy that pairs with your car seat. There's like the full size strollers, there's umbrella strollers, there are jogging strollers. There's just so many. And, you know, I think it also kind of might depend on where you live. I, you know, had babies in New York City, so having a stroller was like my car. But, you know, my sister, who has kids in a small town and drives a lot, the stroller was a completely different thing for her. So how do you think a parent should really think about this purchase before they've had the baby? They don't maybe know what everything is gonna look like once the kid is a little bit older. But for that first infant stage, what do you think they should be thinking through?

[Host]

I think right at the beginning, you just have to really think through your own needs. And just like you said, where do you live? How are you gonna be using this stroller? Are you keeping it in your chunk Are you walking it up and down a flight of stairs every day or maybe four flights of stairs? All of those things really impact what kind of stroller you might want. When my kids were babies, I lived in Los Angeles. I was walking everywhere. The sunshade was a super important feature. You might want a really good sized basket if you're also using your stroller to lug groceries. So there's just a lot of different factors to think of. I think a good place to start is just look around you at the people in your neighborhood. What kind of strollers did they have? You could always start conversations with other parents about, you know, what they like and don't like about their stroller. We also, in our guides at Wirecarter, we really have a lot of guidance trying to direct people to what kind of stroller might be best for them. And a lot of it comes down to size and features. Obviously a bigger, more full featured stroller is gonna do more. It's gonna be more versatile. It's also gonna be more expensive, generally larger. And I think a lot of people end up realizing that they really wish they had a smaller stroller, especially people that are having to carry the stroller. Once you have the kid in it, there's a lot of factors. What kind of stroller did you end up getting? Christine?

[Christine Cyrclassette]

We had a McLaren and it was fine. But I think in retrospect, living in New York City using a stroller so much, I would ha. I would advise my past self to spend more on the stroller, to have gotten a stroller that was a little smoother, a little nicer ride. Kyra is looking at me and laughing because she knows that I always go for like the really inexpensive transportation. But again, I didn't have stroller storage. I lived in a three story walk up and I had to keep my stroller inside my apartment. So I wouldn't have been able to kind of like lug uppababy up, up my stairs, you know.

[Host]

But maybe you would have liked like the Uppababy minu, which is up the uppababy's travel stroller, which is much smaller and easier to carry.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

I think that's probably right. It would have been worth spending more on a small, luxe stroller.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Whenever I'm like in a nice neighborhood in New York, like the Upper west side or Williamsburg now I see these parents pushing their babies around and what genuinely reminds me of spaceships. And I always wonder how much people are paying these things.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Oh, so much.

[Kyra Blackwell]

So, like, what is the range how much should regular people spend on.

[Host]

There are some that are just really, really over the top. The most expensive strollers that we recommend are the. The larger uppababy strollers. That's about $700. So that's the most. Other than, like, some of the double strollers, that's, I think, the most expensive of our picks. But there are definitely many strollers that are well over $1,000. Those are great strollers, but you do not have to spend $700 to get. To get a good stroller.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

You know, when you go drive a car, like you're going to buy a car, you go and do a test drive. Right. You can also do this for strollers. What's your advice? When somebody's going to kind of test drive a stroller like you're in a store? How are you supposed to tell if something is nice or not? And kind of to really envision what it will be like when you actually have this baby?

[Host]

When we do stroller testing at Wirecutter, we set up a little sort of obstacle course. We weigh the strollers. Like, we put bags of sand in the seat. We don't have, you know, babies that were swerving, swerving around the office all day long. Unfortunately, we're trying to evaluate how easy are they to turn around tight corners. Is it going to be difficult, you know, to navigate a grocery store with one of these strollers? Another thing is really how easy they are to fold and unfold, especially when you have probably a squirmy baby in the other arm. Are you able to manage this stroller at the same time you're managing your baby when you're by yourself?

[Rosie Guerin]

A stroller, I think, is one of those things where it's like, don't be aspirational. Really think about what your life is like.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Absolutely. I also think, like, that can change like it does.

[Rosie Guerin]

And that's why I have four strollers now.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Yeah, I had three. When you're pregnant, sometimes you think you're gonna buy one thing and it will be the thing that you use. But in my experience, it was like, buy the Caddy that works for the infant car seat and then figure it out later. And my needs changed. We moved. We. I had a second kid. I needed a different stroller. Like, life changes, and you might have to get something different.

[Host]

Yeah. And that's a time when. Look at Facebook Marketplace before you for selling, too.

[Rosie Guerin]

Yes. You know, when you're trying to offload these things that you paid a lot of money for. You know, the next parent Might have the same criteria that you have.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Rosie Guerin]

Okay, so the next category is something for this kid to sleep in or these kids. What should people keep in mind when deciding on a crib or a bassinet?

[Host]

The most important thing in the big picture is that babies are always sleeping on a firm, flat surface. There shouldn't be any blankets or bumpers or other items in the crib with them. That's all about really having a safe sleep environment for the baby. A lot of it just comes down to how your life is set up. And the nice thing about a bassinet and a number of the bassinets that we recommend is that they're really designed to be pulled up right next to the adult bed. There's also just simpler bassinets that you can just keep right there by the side of your bed. I just used a regular Pack n Play when my kids were little. Again, like, knowing what I know now, I might have gotten something that was a little bit more convenient, but that works fine. And then when you. When you're getting a crib, I mean, there's so many options, but a lot of it is really about, you know, it's a piece of furniture. What kind of style crib are you looking for?

[Rosie Guerin]

Talk about the Snoo.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

And for people who don't know what the snoo is like, this is like the sort of prestige bassinet, if you. If you will.

[Rosie Guerin]

Right.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

It's like almost $2,000.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Oh, my God.

[Host]

Yeah, it's about $1,700 if you buy it new. So the Snoo is a so called smart bassinet. And it was really the first of its kind. And what it does that's different than any other regular bassinet is that it automatically rocks and sews the baby back to sleep. And the baby is in a swaddle that is actually attached to the mattress surface inside the bassinet. We first reviewed the snoo when it was brand new back in. I think it was 2017. And we ended up passing around the same snoo for many years after that. It actually just kind of died last year, I think we had 10 different babies sleep in the same snoo. Some people absolutely love it, and some people don't like it at all. And it's really a mixed bag. And we've been sort of tracking this, trying to track it for quite a few years now. And I would say it's almost 50, 50. It's really mixed, you know, and it's very expensive. So we do recommend it. We've since then tested out a number of other smart bassinets that have been introduced and we do think that it's definitely the best of its kind. It's a really well made product. You can now rent them. You can definitely buy them secondhand. There's a lot to consider with it. And we do have a whole standalone guide about the SNU if you want to find out more about it. We've tried our best to sort of get a big picture assessment of what people really think of it.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Kayleigh, I know that you're a fan of used gear. Of all of these essentials, what do you think are things that people can buy used?

[Host]

Except for car seats, Most things you can at least consider buying used. And you can just Google CPSC recall, Consumer Product Safety Commission and find out if there's been a recall on that product.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Before we wrap, we usually ask all of our guests one final question. What's the last thing you bought that you really loved?

[Host]

I recently got a new travel mug, the Sojirushi. Is that how you say it?

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Sojojirushi?

[Host]

Yes. I had one of these mugs years ago. I feel like it was the. The first wire cutter gift that I ever got maybe, and I loved it. I lost it. It's been many years and I just got a new one. It's just the perfect size. It's so light. I can put it in my bag. It's not going to leak. Yeah. I'm so happy to have it back.

[Rosie Guerin]

Kailey, thank you so much for your insights on how to think about this. It's a really vulnerable time for a lot of people. A lot of great insights. Really, really appreciate having you.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Thanks, Kayleigh.

[Host]

Thank you.

[Rosie Guerin]

So, Kayleigh, fantastic. So much experience, both anecdotal and through her work here at Wirecutter. What did you all take away from this episode?

[Christine Cyrclassette]

So I'm. I am no longer in the baby gear buying phase, but speaking as a parent who's, you know, like 10, 12 years out from stage, I'm just going to double down Kayleigh's advice that it is so worth getting used gear when you can. For some of this infant stuff, it's like you're only going to have it in your life for a certain period of time. A lot of it is lightly used. I think it's a great way to go. That said, I will part ways on used strollers. I did buy two used strollers when my kids were little and they were kind of both a little janky, a little Busted. And for my life in Brooklyn with kind of uneven sidewalks and using the stroller all the time, I would have advised myself to just like spend more on a stroller, get something new, get something nice because will be using it all the time. So that's my takeaway and that's my advice.

[Kyra Blackwell]

It's a good one.

[Rosie Guerin]

There are definitely cases for buying new and I think group gifting is a really important thing to think about. A lot of these items are really expensive, but I think again, baby monitor, diaper pill, baby bouncers, a lot of these things you can buy for very little used or gift from other people who've aged out of them.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Yeah. My takeaway is that I am far from being able to afford a baby. But for people in my life who will start doing that for themselves and building their families, I am going to stick to the registry because they've probably done the research. I'm going to trust that they know what they need and I'm just going to get it for them. But if I want to deviate and maybe do something a little extra special, it never hurts to maybe organize a food train or offer to help clean something for the parents because the parents are going to be exhausted.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

I love that.

[Rosie Guerin]

Couldn't agree more. If you want to find out more about Wirecutter's coverage, if you want to check out any of the products that Kayleigh recommended, any of her reporting, any of the guides in the baby kids section, check out the website. We'll link a few in the show notes today. That's it for us, Kyra, Christine, bye.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

See you later.

[Rosie Guerin]

Peace.

[Kyra Blackwell]

The Wirecutter show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel. Engineering support from Maddie Mazziello and Nick Pittman. Today's episode was mixed by Katherine Anderson, original music by Dan Powell, Marian Lozano, Alicia Ba? Itupe and Diane Wong. Wirecutter's deputy publisher is Cliff Levy. Ben Fruman is Wirecutter's editor in chief. I'm Kyra Blackwell.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

I'm Christine Cyrclassette.

[Rosie Guerin]

And I'm Rosie Guerin.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Thanks for listening.

[Christine Cyrclassette]

Part of parenthood is about keeping your children's expectations low about what you provide them.

[Rosie Guerin]

Set the bar solo.