One of the first things we’re told as first-time expecting moms is to get ready for lots, and lots of diaper changes. While we can listen to this over and over again, like everything else in parenting, we never really know what it’s going to be like until we tackle it ourselves.
Think Rachel Green in Friends at her baby shower for Emma. She was practically shamed for not realizing that a baby poops upwards of 10 times per day and suggesting she could leave her baby alone while she takes the diaper out to the trash can. While yes, it is important to not leave babies alone, I appreciate the ‘real talk‘ in this episode about how challenging it can be to know everything about first-time motherhood before you’ve been through it.
The truth is, yes, diaper changing will become a fundamental part of a new parent’s life, but there’s no need to go into the experience blindly. And, there are tons of products that can make the diapering process easier. With so many products on the market, we wanted to offer a helping hand and highlight the best of the best diapering essentials for your baby registry. If only we were around when Rachel was looking for answers, too!
Creating your baby registry can be overwhelming, but we’re here to help with editor- and expert-approved picks for everything you need for your new baby (and for you!) with our first ever Baby Registry Awards. Click here for our top picks for everything from bouncers to baby bottles.
The Best Diapering Essentials to Add to Your Registry
Diapers
This wouldn’t be a robust diapering essentials round-up without including arguably the most-used of all baby products—diapers.
New parents learn quickly that babies go through a LOT of diapers and the cost of those diapers adds up even quicker. Yet the benefits of a high-quality diaper are not something parents should have to sacrifice. That’s where Hello Bello comes in.
Founded in part by celeb couple Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, the duo believes parents shouldn’t have to decide between what’s best for their baby and what’s in their budget and we wholeheartedly agree. Their mission is just one of the many reasons we can’t recommend Hello Bello diapers enough. Their diapers are hypoallergenic, designed with a super soft feel, and provide a a cutting-edge core for advanced leakage protection, meaning maximum comfort for baby—and less leakage for caregivers to deal with. It doesn’t hurt that they come in adorable designs, either.
Stock up on their Starter Bundle, choose from other great registry items, register for Hello Bello gift cards, or start a Hello Bello Diaper Fund that loved ones can contribute to. And once you fall in love like we did, you’ll want to take them up on their subscription offer which will ensure you’re always stocked up. With Hello Bello, you can consider your fam (and your little one’s bottom) covered.
Wipes
A lot goes into choosing the wipes that work best—preferred wetness level, the sensitivity level of baby’s skin, and texture, to name a few. While there’s a bit of trial and error that goes with finding the best wipes, these are some of our editor-approved favorites.
Diaper Cream
Even with high-quality, ultra-absorbent diapers comes the opportunity for a diaper rash. These rashes that cause a baby’s bottom to turn red, hot, or bumpy are often either caused by moisture or friction from a diaper. The best way to combat this is with a quality diaper cream that creates a barrier between the skin and the diaper and moisture within. It can be used with every diaper change–no need to wait until a rash appears! There are endless creams on the market, but these are tried and true, and editor-approved.
Diaper Cream Brush
When a diaper rash develops, diaper creams are part of the protocol. Diaper cream brushes help keep baby more comfortable, ensure a more even coverage, and keep your hands clean. These highly-rated options will make the stressful time of dealing with a diaper rash just a little bit easier. They’re soft to the touch, easy to use, and come with a suction base for added convenience during diaper changes.
Diaper Caddy
If you want to place different diaper changing setups in every room around the house or you need to carry a few essentials with you at all times, diaper caddies are convenient for organizing your baby’s must-haves, like diapers, wipes, and creams. With plenty of different designs, styles, and materials for caddies, there’s one for every preference and nursery theme. These are also great to keep in the car so as to always have diapering essentials on hand.
Changing Pads and Liners
All of these diapering essentials become less valuable if we have nowhere to do the actual diaper changes! That’s where changing pads come in. Whether you have a changing table in the nursery or need a portable changing spot around the house, these pads essentially form a barrier between the baby and the surface below. They can all be easily cleaned or wiped down from the inevitable mess that comes with so many diaper changes. Plus, our top registry pick from Hatch also includes a smart scale for parents who need to (or want to) keep track of baby’s weight.
Diaper Pails
Diaper pails are the most functional of ‘luxury purchases,’ and will definitely add additional sanitary benefits to any diaper station. While, like a trash can, we can toss dirty diapers in them, diaper pails are specifically designed to prevent odors from escaping. Plus, many come with foot pedals or lids easy to open with one hand. Keep odors at bay with some of the best diaper pails on the market.
17 colors available
4 colors available
Diaper Bag
One of the most convenient items we can put on our registry is a quality diaper bag to hold all the necessities for diapering, feeding, and playing. There are so many options, so you can choose one that reflects your personal style. That being said, having so many options can quickly become overwhelming. Here are a few of our favorites in different styles so there’s something for everyone.
Diaper Belt Bag
When we want the functionality of a diaper bag without the large size, a diaper belt bag is a handy alternative. These are especially great for walks with baby and quick outings when you just need the essentials. Belt bags are one of the most functional trends, and one that moms shouldn’t miss out on. Here are some of our reader favorites and highly-rated diaper belt bag options.
Travel Diaper Changing Station
These options offer the same conveniences of at-home changing stations no matter where your busy schedule takes you and baby. They come with pockets for the essentials like diapers and wipes and have built-in easy-to-clean changing pads. These are a convenient and affordable must-have for mamas always on the go.
Nice-to-Have Diapering Products
Now that we’ve covered the must-haves, we wanted to highlight some nice-to-have products to make changing diapers just a little bit better. First is the baby wipe warmer. This nifty tool ensures wipes aren’t cold when used. It even comes with a night light. Second, the waterproof wet bag is a reusable bag that can be used for wet items like swimsuits or dirty baby clothes after a diaper mishap.
This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Hello Bello but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board.
