Car Seats
Best infant car seats 2024
Safety ratings, ease of use, and which ones actually fit common cars.
Read review →For mom & pregnancy
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Dad Gear
The baby industry is enormous and full of stuff you don’t need. Here’s what’s genuinely worth buying, what’s overhyped, and how to spend your money wisely.
The Buying Framework
Most baby gear is designed to be bought, not used
The baby market is one of the most effective fear-and-aspiration markets in existence. New parents, anxious and overwhelmed, are the perfect target. The result is a lot of expensive products that solve problems you don’t have, or solve real problems worse than a cheaper alternative.
The useful filter: does this solve a specific, real problem in your life? Will you use it more than 10 times? Could a cheaper version do the same job? Apply these before anything goes in the basket.
See the essentials list →
Essentials
What you actually need
The list of genuinely non-negotiable baby gear is shorter than most people expect. Everything else is a nice-to-have that depends on your lifestyle, living situation, and preferences.
Definitely need
- Car seat - essential if you have a car; infant carrier or i-Size from birth
- Moses basket or crib - safe sleep space for the first 3-6 months
- Pram or pushchair - depends heavily on where you live and lifestyle
- Nappies, wipes, changing mat - obvious but often underbought
- Muslins × 10+ - they get used constantly; buy more than you think
- Vests and sleepsuits × 8+ - babies go through several a day in the early weeks
- Baby monitor - audio at minimum; video is reassuring but not essential
- Breast pump (if breastfeeding) - enables you to give bottles
- Bottles and steriliser - even if breastfeeding, useful for expressed milk
Budget tip: buy second-hand
Second-time parents buy much less, borrow more, and shop second-hand without guilt. Almost everything except the car seat and mattress can be bought used - the idea that everything must be new is a marketing construct, not a safety requirement.
Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, and NCT Nearly New Sales are your friends. A barely-used Bugaboo at 20% of retail is the same pushchair.
What not to buy second-hand
- Car seats - you can’t verify accident history
- Cot mattresses - linked to SIDS risk if not new
- Breast pumps - closed system only if second-hand
Baby Carriers
Carriers: the most underrated dad purchase
A good baby carrier is one of the most useful things you can own. It frees your hands, settles a fussy baby instantly, lets you get things done, and is one of the most direct forms of bonding available to dads - skin-to-skin carrying triggers the same oxytocin release as breastfeeding.
Types of carrier
Stretchy wraps (0-6m): Soft, comfortable, and brilliant for newborns. Takes a few attempts to learn to tie. The Moby Wrap and Boba Wrap are popular options. Doesn’t work as well once baby gets heavier.
Structured carriers (3m+): Buckle systems that are quick to put on and suitable for longer carries. Ergobaby and Babybjorn are the mainstream picks - the Ergobaby 360 is particularly good for dads as it can face inward or outward.
Ring slings: Minimal, quick, one-shouldered. Good for around the house and short trips. Moderate learning curve.
Safe carrying (TICKS)
- Tight - carrier should be snug, not saggy
- In view - baby’s face always visible
- Close enough to kiss - baby’s head near your chin
- Keep chin off chest - airway must be clear
- Supported back - baby’s back in a natural curve
Try before you buy - most babywearing groups offer free hire sessions so you can find what works for your body.
Buggies & Prams
Pushchair buying without losing your mind
The pushchair market is where the most money gets spent and the most buyer’s remorse happens. The right choice depends entirely on how you actually live - not on which one looks best or which influencer pushed it.
City / public transport
Compact fold, lightweight, easy to carry up stairs. The Babyzen YOYO and Joolz Aer are popular. Probably don’t need a huge travel system - you’ll hate carrying it.
Suburban / lots of driving
Bigger boot allows for larger, more comfortable prams. Travel systems make sense here - car seat snaps onto the frame. Bugaboo, iCandy, and Silver Cross are the main names.
Active / outdoors
If you run or do a lot of off-road walking, a dedicated jogging stroller is worth it from about 6 months. The Bob Revolution and Thule Urban Glide are the benchmark options.
The pushchair mistake most people make
Buying based on appearance or brand rather than testing the actual fold mechanism, checking the boot size with it folded, and confirming it fits through your front door. Go to a shop and try it. The fold you can do one-handed while holding a baby, in the rain, next to a car, is the one you want.
Sleep Gear
Sleep equipment worth knowing about
What actually helps with sleep
- White noise machine - one of the most effective sleep aids there is. The Lectrofan or a cheap fan works as well as expensive dedicated machines.
- Sleepyhead/Snuggle Me - popular but not a safe sleep product (remove when baby is asleep). Good for supervised lounging.
- Baby sleeping bags - safer and more convenient than blankets. Grobag is the brand most parents use. Buy by tog.
- Blackout blinds - genuinely worth it for naps and early morning wake-ups. Gro Anywhere Blind for travel is brilliant.
- Dummy - reduces SIDS risk, helps with self-settling. Mam and Tommee Tippee are the ones most babies accept.
Skip these
- Breathing monitors under the mattress - cause more anxiety than they solve and aren’t recommended for healthy babies
- Expensive smart bassinets (Snoo, etc.) - genuinely helpful for some families but hard to justify at £1,000+ when cheaper alternatives exist
- Baby sleep apps in the first 3 months - newborn sleep is unpredictable and tracking it tends to increase anxiety
Save Your Money
What’s overhyped or unnecessary
Wipe warmers
A warm wipe is mildly nicer than a cold one. It will not meaningfully change your baby’s experience of nappy changes. Save £30.
Nappy bins
They use special expensive refill cartridges and only partially contain smell. A regular bin with a lid and nappy sacks does the same job.
Steriliser + bottle warmer combo
A £15 microwave steriliser and a jug of warm water do both jobs. The countertop combos take up huge space and cost 10× more.
Baby shoes (under 12m)
Babies can’t walk. Shoes serve no practical purpose and can inhibit natural foot development. Cute? Yes. Necessary? No.
Baby food makers
A blender you already own purées fruit and vegetables perfectly well. A dedicated baby food maker is a single-use appliance you won’t use after 6 months of weaning.
Dedicated changing table
A changing mat on the floor or on a dresser you already own is safer (less fall risk) and free. A dedicated changing table is a large piece of furniture with a very short useful life.
Gear Reviews
Detailed reviews
Carriers
Best baby carriers for dads
Structured carriers and wraps reviewed specifically for dads.
Read review →
Buggies
Pushchair buying guide 2024
The questions to ask before you buy, and the models worth trying.
Read →
Monitors
Best baby monitors 2024
Audio vs video vs breathing monitors - what’s worth paying for.
Read review →
Birth
What to pack in your hospital bag
The partner’s kit - what you’ll actually use vs what you’ll carry in and back out.
Read →Back to the Hub
Everything For Dads
All guides, resources, and gear reviews for dads - from pregnancy through toddler years.
Go to For Dads Hub →Medical disclaimer: The content on this website is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor, midwife, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website.