What You Actually Need for a Baby

Baby gear editor Kalee Thompson shares her tried-and-true tips for what new parents really need for a newborn (and what to skip), the most helpful gifts for expecting parents, and the gear you can safely buy used.

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Products we recommend:

Great baby bouncer: BabyBjörn Bouncer Balance SoftGood laundry detergent for baby clothes: Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry DetergentCar seats we recommend: Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX; Chicco KeyFit 35; Uppababy Aria.A good lightweight stroller: Uppababy Minu V2A polarizing bassinet: Snoo Smart SleeperKalee loves: Zojirushi Stainless Steel MugUse this site to check for recalls on products you may be buying used: CPSC.gov

Additional reading:

Gifts For New MomsIs the $1,700 Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet Worth It? What to Know Before You Buy.The 4 Best Infant Car Seats of 2025The 6 Best Bassinets and Bedside Sleepers of 2025The 5 Best Full-Size Strollers of 2025The 2 Best Travel Strollers of 2025The Best Baby CarriersThe 5 Best Baby Monitors of 2025The 2 Best Diaper Pails of 2025

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Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

 

The Wirecutter Show is a podcast offering expert advice on everyday products that will make your life better. Each week, co-hosts Christine Cyr Clisset and Caira Blackwell, alongside producer Rosie Guerin, speak with Wirecutter’s best-in-class journalists and other expert guests for actionable advice, surprising life hacks, and delightful product discoveries. From which stand-mixer will last you a lifetime, to the best way to travel with pets, to figuring out if your smart lock is spying on you, The Wirecutter Show gives you straightforward solutions based on years of rigorous and independent product testing by more than 140 Wirecutter journalists.

• No. of episodes: 50
• Latest episode: 2025-05-14
• Education Society & Culture How To

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