Buying Guides

Research-based guides to baby gear, built on maker specs and US safety rules.

Car Seats

young boy sitting in a gray high-back car seat in the back of a car, with a girl in the seat behind himCar SeatsBest Convertible Car Seats for Babies and ToddlersConvertible and all-in-one car seats from Graco, Safety 1st and Cybex compared on rear-facing limits, booster modes and price, with NHTSA's rear-facing advice.gray and black convertible car seat installed in the back seat of a car with dark leather seatsCar SeatsGraco Car Seats: Every Type Compared by NHTSA StageSix Graco car seats compared on rear-facing limits, booster modes, weight and price: SnugRide, Extend2Fit, SlimFit, 4Ever, Tranzitions and TurboBooster, matched to NHTSA's stages.smiling mother leaning into a minivan to check on her baby in a rear-facing infant car seatCar SeatsBest Car Seats: Infant, Convertible and All-in-One PicksCar seats from Graco, Chicco and Safety 1st compared on rear-facing limits, weight and price, with NHTSA's rules for rear-facing, installing and replacing a seat.

Strollers

mother walking with a stroller through a sunny autumn park covered in yellow leavesStrollersGraco Strollers Compared: Full-Size, Travel, Jogging and DoubleFive Graco strollers compared on weight, fold, car seat fit and price: Modes Pramette, Ready2Jet, Outpace LX, Gomax frame and Ready2Grow double.father pushing a light stroller with a child inside while another child walks beside him on a park pathStrollersBest Umbrella Strollers: Light, Cheap and Compact PicksUmbrella and lightweight strollers from Summer, Kolcraft, Ingenuity, Dream On Me and gb compared on weight, harness, weight limit and fold size.black and white photo of two toddlers sitting side by side in a double stroller and leaning toward each otherStrollersBest Double Strollers: Tandem, Side-by-Side and Jogging PicksDouble strollers from Graco, Baby Trend, Jeep, Dream On Me and Baby Jogger compared on width, weight limits, car seat fit and price.smiling baby in a teal infant car seat clicked onto a stroller, with a parent leaning inStrollersBest Stroller Travel Systems: Car Seat and Stroller CombosTravel systems from Graco, Chicco, Baby Trend and Doona compared on car seat limits, stroller modes, weight and price, with NHTSA and CPSC rules for car seat strollers.woman in a striped top leaning over a purple stroller to check on her baby in an autumn parkStrollersBest Strollers: Full-Size, Lightweight, Travel and Jogging PicksStrollers from Graco, Summer, Ingenuity, Baby Trend and Baby Jogger compared on weight, fold size, weight limits and price, with the hazards the CPSC's stroller rule targets.

Carriers

woman in a pink jacket wearing a green front carrier by a lake, with her baby's head just above the carrier panelCarriersBest Baby Carriers: Buckle Carriers, Wraps and Ring SlingsBaby carriers from Ergobaby, Infantino and Boba compared on weight range, carry positions and price, with the CPSC's sling safety tips for young babies.

Nursery

smiling baby peeking over the patterned side of a playpenNurseryBest Play Yards and Travel Cribs: Pack 'N Plays ComparedPlay yards and travel cribs from Graco, BabyBjorn, Joovy and Dream On Me compared on size, bassinet, weight and fold, with the CPSC play yard rule.toddler lying on his back on a crib mattress with a plain fitted sheet, seen from aboveNurseryBest Crib Mattresses: Firm, Tight-Fitting and Waterproof PicksCrib mattresses from Graco, Newton, Sealy and Serta compared on firmness, size, cover and price, with the CPSC crib mattress rule and AAP safe sleep advice.small cloud-shaped night light glowing softly in a dark room with a rainbow behind itNurseryBest Baby Sound Machines and How Loud Is Too LoudBaby sound machines from Hatch, Yogasleep, Dreamegg and Momcozy compared on sounds, power and price, with research on safe volume and distance from the crib.close-up of a hand adjusting a white baby gate mounted in a doorwayNurseryBest Baby Gates: Top of Stairs, Doorways and Extra WideBaby gates from Regalo, Cardinal Gates, Ingenuity and Toddleroo compared on mounting, width, height and price, with the CPSC rule for pressure-mounted gates.bright nursery with wooden floors, a window and a white crib with a bare mattress against the wallNurseryBest Cribs: Convertible and Budget Picks That Meet the Federal StandardConvertible cribs from Graco, Dream On Me, Delta Children and Babyletto compared on conversions, size and price, with the CPSC's crib rules and safe sleep basics.nursery with a mesh bassinet beside a changing table, a play mat on the floor and framed pictures on the wallNurseryBest Bassinets: Bedside, Portable and Play Yard PicksBassinets from Dream On Me, HALO, Graco and Chicco compared on height, weight limit, portability and price, with the CPSC bassinet rule and AAP room-sharing advice.hand holding a phone that shows a live video of a baby, with the baby lying in a bassinet behind itNurseryBest Baby Monitors: Video, Audio and WiFi PicksBaby monitors from Infant Optics, HelloBaby, VTech and Nanit compared on screen, range, WiFi and price, with the CPSC's three-foot rule for monitor cords.

Swings & Bouncers

smiling baby in a pink mesh bouncer seat with the harness buckled and toys hanging aboveSwings & BouncersBest Baby Swings: Compact, Portable and Multi-Motion PicksBaby swings from Graco, Ingenuity and Bright Starts compared on weight limits, size, power and motion, with the CPSC's rule that swings are not for sleep.

Feeding

laughing baby in a gray high chair wearing a blue bib, with food on the trayFeedingBest High Chairs: Compact, Convertible and Easy-Clean PicksHigh chairs from Graco, Evenflo, Cosco, Ingenuity and Baby Trend compared on weight limits, folding, cleanup and price, with the CPSC's tips on preventing falls.smiling mother bottle-feeding a newborn in a green outfit while sitting in bedFeedingBest Bottle Warmers: Fast, Budget, Twin and Travel PicksBottle warmers from Philips Avent, Grownsy, The First Years and Momcozy compared on speed, features and price, with the CDC's rules for warming breast milk.

Clothing & Shoes

close-up of a toddler wearing black and white lace-up sneakers, stepping through colorful autumn leaves on grassClothing & ShoesBest Toddler Shoes: First Walkers, Soft Soles and Wide FitsToddler shoes from Stride Rite, Robeez, New Balance and Skechers compared on sole, fit and price, with AAP and podiatrist advice on when your child needs shoes.