Guide
Baby must-haves
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Must-haves are the few pieces that have to fit the baby, the car, and the doorway, not every extra that looks sweet in a photo. A seat, a gate, bottles, a bassinet, a thermometer, and a changing pad cover the first months if you measure before you order. A sock monitor and a camera can wait, and they are not on this page, because they do not replace safe sleep or a seat that is installed correctly. Read the weight limit on the label.
Slim convertible car seat
The slim convertible seat is the one to try when the car is tight. Install it with the manual in your hand. A seat that does not fit the car is not a must-have, it is a return.
Pressure-mounted gate, 30 to 46 inches
The pressure gate is for a doorway or the bottom of the stairs, inside about 30 to 46 inches. It is not the gate for the top of the stairs.
Baby bottles, four-pack
A four-pack of bottles is enough to learn whether this nipple shape works. If the baby already rejects it, another pack will not help.
Bedside bassinet on wheels
The wheeled bassinet is for night feeds in the first months. It is not a crib, and the age on the label is the end of the job.
Fast thermometer for adults and kids
One thermometer the household will actually use belongs in the drawer before a pile of gadgets. Technique matters more than a claim of speed.
Contoured changing pad
The changing pad needs a stable dresser or table under it. It is not a freestanding changer, so skip it if you do not have that surface.