Baby and toddler essentials come down to a few jobs: feeding, mealtime, bath, sleep and travel, and the toddler stage of play and potty training. My Baby and Mom Must Haves list on Amazon has 52 items, and my Moms Must Haves list on Benable has toddler picks with my own notes. The picks below are grouped by job, so you can skip to the one you need.
Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links, including my Benable links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Which baby and toddler essentials are worth having?
The ones that solve a daily job, not the ones that fill a shelf. I am a mom of seven in Wichita, Kansas, so the lists lean toward gear that gets used over and over. The full Baby and Mom Must Haves list is on my Amazon storefront. I have not written what each item did in my house, so treat everything below as items on my lists, and where a Benable note exists, I say what it says.
What feeding and bottle gear is on my list?
Bottle care is the biggest group. My Amazon links include the Momcozy bottle warmer, the Momcozy KleanPal Pro bottle washer, sterilizer, and dryer with Momcozy detergent tablets for bottle washers, 120 count, and the Dr. Brown's formula mixing pitcher. For bottle feeding, it has the Evenflo silicone medium flow nipples. For pumping, there is the Lansinoh breastmilk storage bags, 100 count, the Dapple breast pump and accessory cleaner, and the Spectra duckbill valve and backflow protector replacement. My Moms Must Haves list on Benable also has two wearable pumps, the S12 Pro from Momcozy and the eufy S1, and my note on the eufy just says, "Love this pump". Ask your doctor or a lactation consultant what suits you.
What helps at mealtime?
Start with a seat and something to eat from. Check the listing for how the Tinybow hook-on high chair attaches and which tables suit it. The PandaEar silicone divided suction plates, 3 pack are divided plates with suction, and the Hooku silicone teethers, 2 pack are for the teething stretch. For the teeth that come after, there are FOREVIVE baby and toddler soft toothbrushes. My Benable list also links a category page for high chairs, so compare the listings yourself. Check each listing for age range and how to clean it.
What bath gear is on my list?
Two pieces. The Frida Baby bath rinse cup handles rinsing, and the Ingenuity foldaway baby bath seat folds away when the bath is over. Never leave a baby alone in a bath seat, and check the listing for the weight and age limits.
What do you need for sleep and travel?
Sheets, a bag, and a place to sleep. The Moonsea pack and play fitted sheets and the GRSSDER jersey pack n play sheets, 2 pack are both on my list, so check which size your playard needs. For carrying everything, there is the Moclever 5-piece diaper bag tote set. My Benable list also links category pages for cribs and playards, so compare the listings yourself.
Which diaper, gate, and car seat items are on my list?
Three items that do not fit the groups above. For cloth diapering, there are the ALVABABY cloth diaper inserts, 12 count. Check the listing for the opening width the YooxArmor retractable baby and dog gate covers. For the car, my Benable list links a category page for toddler car seats, so compare the listings yourself, and my Amazon list has the Graco TurboBooster backless booster. Check the height and weight limits before you buy any car seat.
What about toddler play and potty training?
Quiet play and a plan for the potty. My Benable note on the LMC Wooden Lacing Beads, 125 pieces, says the chunky wooden pieces are easy for little hands and the storage tub keeps everything contained. The 85 piece Sensory Bin Filler Kit with tools is, in my note, great for quiet-time fine motor practice, with tweezers and scissors included. The Smart Steps Trend 5.0 activity walker is on my Amazon list too. For potty training, the Forbena potty seat with step stool is on Amazon, and the Dinosaur Potty Training Chart on Benable is a sticker chart plus a printable certificate for celebrating the milestones. Small parts and scissors need supervision, so check the age range on each.
The bottom line on baby and toddler essentials
Buy for the job that costs you the most time each day. If it is bottles, start with the warmer and washer. If it is mealtime, start with the plates and the hook-on chair. I also run Marie Gems and Marie Glow Studio while raising seven kids, so I keep lists that save time. How the days actually work shows why. Prices on Amazon and Benable move around, so check each listing before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
How many items are on my Baby and Mom Must Haves list?
My Baby and Mom Must Haves list on Amazon has 52 items. It includes bottle gear, mealtime items like silicone suction plates and a hook-on high chair, bath items, pack and play sheets, a diaper bag tote set, a toddler potty seat, and more.
What toddler activities are on my Benable list?
My Moms Must Haves list on Benable has LMC Wooden Lacing Beads, 125 pieces, with a storage tub, and an 85 piece Sensory Bin Filler Kit with tools, plus a Dinosaur Potty Training Chart with stickers and a printable certificate.