When it comes to having a baby, it seems like there is now a seemingly endless stream of “must have” products pitching at the modern parent. From devices that promise to make new parenting a doddle to those that claim they will smooth the path to well-rounded toddler-hood, there is a product for almost anything you can think of, and quite a few that never crossed your mind.
Some will live up to their promises; others will become a dust-gathering cautionary tale about falling for marketing promises. If you are lucky, you’ll manage to flog the unwanted items on Adverts or DoneDeal, rehoming it to someone who might get more use out of it. What works for one parent is another’s white elephant, and vice versa.
All have one thing in common though: they will cost you money.
And it’s not getting any easier. The baby tech market is growing all the time, from high-tech sterilisers to sensors that will alert you to a developing nappy situation, the tech industry has been busy creating new products you never imagined you might need.
So which are worth investing in, and which should you swerve?
Five baby products worth the investment
White noise machines: White noise, brown noise, gentle rainfall, lapping ocean waves – whatever your personal favourite is, it can drown out the background noise of everyday life. Not only is it relaxing for adults, it is especially useful for babies.
While you can use all manner of white noise apps on your phone, there is something to be said for having a device that won’t be interrupted by a phone call or a notification.
A favourite around these parts was the Tommee Tippee OllieOwl (€40). Originally created by the Gro company, which Tommee Tippee owner Mayborn Group bought in 2018, Ollie is more than just a soft toy. The owl is also an effective soother for a fussy baby, sending them to sleep with a night light and the choice of three lullabies – a soothing heartbeat, rainfall and calming white noise.
Ollie also has what its creator describes as CrySensor technology, which will kick in if the baby starts to cry, playing comforting sounds for 20 minutes to try to soothe your baby back to sleep. It only reacts to sudden noise, which means you creeping in to check on the baby won’t activate it.
The second generation of the device is USB chargeable, and lasts up to 25 hours of use on a full charge. It is also machine washable, which as parents eventually come to realise, is worth its weight in gold, time-saving, mind-easing gold.
Video baby monitor: Some people swear by smart socks and monitors that count your baby’s breaths, but a high quality video monitor is more than enough for most people to keep an eye on their baby while they sleep.
But which one to choose? There are monitors that rely solely on an app for the video feed, instead of a dedicated parent unit. On one hand, you can check on your child from anywhere in the world; on the other, you need to have a smart device on hand all the time – and one to leave for potential babysitters.
Sometimes the less complicated option is the right one. The LeapFrog LF2936FHD (€261) comes with its own parent unit, but also allows you to log on via its Baby Care+ app, so you can do a quick check on your baby.
The parent unit has a decent-sized touchscreen, with a battery life of around 10 hours. It also has good range, so you can be anywhere in the house and still be able to use it. The camera itself is flexible, panning 360 degrees and able to tilt up and down 110 degrees.
There are potential security implications of using an internet connected camera, with plenty of tales of parents finding strangers talking to their child over their baby monitor. While the LeapFrog device allows wifi connections, it also encourages you to put in place a strong unique password, which should help make things more difficult for unauthorised people to access the video feed.
Smart lights: Not strictly a baby gadget, but very useful for the days when you are trapped under a sleeping baby and can’t get up to turn off lights.
They can be linked to your smart speakers – if you have them – or controlled via your smartphone’s digital assistant so you don’t need to do the sleeping baby shuffle. All you need is the aforementioned smartphone, and a bit of time to set them up.
Tapo offers a range of connected LED bulbs that won’t break the bank or require a separate hub, linking directly into your home wifi hub. Get the right bulbs and you can dim them with a (whispered) voice command.
Baby swings: Baby swings can be a sanity saver if you have a baby whose preferred method of sleep is “in motion”. The swings can rock your baby when you need a toilet or shower break, or just need to get feeling back into your arms. And while stretchy wraps and baby carriers are useful here too, they aren’t always an option.
You don’t need anything too fancy – see below – but one that has a couple of swing speeds, comfortable padding and, most importantly, can fit through the door without being dismantled will fit the bill. Joie offers a couple of swings for under €200, but there are plenty of options out there that don’t require sacrificing part of your mortgage payment.
Thermometer: At some point, you will find yourself obsessively feeling your child’s forehead, trying to decide if they have a fever or are just a little warm from the pyjamas/sleepsack combo. This is where the trusty thermometer will come in handy.
Don’t be tempted by the high-tech, non-contact, bluetooth connected one with all the bells and whistles. That can come later. Right now, you need accuracy and trust. Braun’s Thermoscan 7 (€80) can be used from newborn, is age adjustable and will let you know when you’ve got a stable position to make sure you get the most accurate reading.
And if you can’t live without an app and bluetooth, you can pay a few euro more and upgrade to the Thermoscan 7+ Connect, which connects to Braun’s app so you can keep track of the whole family’s fevers.
Five gadgets to skip
Wipe warmers: We can see where these devices come from. Who wants to disturb a baby any more than necessary at nappy change time, particularly in the middle of the night, with a cold wipe? But there are issues.
It is another thing you’ll have to remember to clean regularly, or risk it becoming a source of bacteria and going mouldy. Also, these warmers need to be plugged in, which means you won’t be carrying it around.
At some point, your child will be getting a room temperature wipe, which may come as a shock and generate a bit of protest. Best to get it over with from the start.
Battery-powered baby nail files: Whoever invented devices designed for clipping a baby’s nails clearly never had an actual baby. That goes for traditional nail clippers where you feel like brain surgery might be less fraught, and the newer instrument of torture, the battery powered nail file. It takes longer, and while new parents are understandably nervous of sharp things and baby fingers, there are more effective ways to use your time than wrestling your baby for a lengthy manicure. Just get them while they are asleep.
Voice controlled, bluetooth-connected baby swings: A baby swing is a useful gadget, but the MamaRoo MultiMotion Baby Swing teeters on the brink of “too much tech”. Aside from actually rocking the baby, what does it do that the far cheaper baby swing won’t?
Well there are five different motions that you can also mix with five speeds, so you can figure out what one works for your baby. Then you get to the smart home features, with the MamaRoo swing including both bluetooth and Alexa/Google Home support.
Does your baby really need a voice-controlled swing with bluetooth audio to be soothed when crying? The idea of a “hands-free soothing solution” seems a little out of step with today’s parenting vibe too, even if you don’t subscribe to it.
AI strollers: Speaking of hands-free, a smart baby buggy seems like another step too far. The Gluxkind AI stroller has already made inroads, building up a waiting list of parents. It rocks the baby for you, has push assist to help with hills, and will even brake should you have a runaway baby situation. It can soothe your baby to sleep with white noise and soothing sounds.
Do you really need a buggy with automatic parking though? The price tag – a cool $2,469 (€2,130) might be enough to put even the most ardent tech fan off.
Smart bath thermometers: When it comes to baby baths, digital thermometers are probably overkill. While it might be nice to know that the water is exactly 19 degrees, what you really need to know is if it is too hot for your newborn’s skin. Dipping an elbow or wrist in the water seemed to work for generations of mothers, and it had the benefit of being free.
If you really need reassurance, the Munchkin White Hot Safety Bath Duck (€6) will alert you if the temperature is too hot via the disc on the bottom. Put it in the bath, pick it up and if it says “hot”, you’ll know the temperature isn’t suitable for your newborn. Plus it is water tight so it won’t go mouldy, and it doubles as a bath toy. Win-win for parents who will be drowning under a mountain of toys for at least the next decade.
