10 Best Baby Gadgets Reviewed in 2024
Every style of parenting is different but often a reflection of your own experiences as a child. Much like how values and traditions are handed down from one generation onto the next. Believe us when we say that parents are always thinking about what they need from gadgets, toys, playsets and other personal items for their children and what the best fit will be for their family. Unfortunately, no matter how much we try, we always end up thinking of more gadgets that our baby's needs. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you. Not only in recalling your childhood memories, but rather in choosing the best gadget for your baby today. Let our list of the top 10 baby gadgets be your inspiration in choosing which to provide our precious bundle of joy with.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 56 hrs of research
Bright, vibrant color scheme
Simple games to entertain them
Improves developing vision and hand-eye coordination
Soft velour body
10 Best Baby Gadgets Reviewed
1. Lamaze Freddie The Firefly
Bright, vibrant color scheme
Simple games to entertain them
Improves developing vision and hand-eye coordination
Soft velour body
You may get tired of the rattling before they do
Stimulate your child’s development with Freddie The Firefly. This brightly colored firefly is designed for children between the ages of zero and twenty-four months. You can easily take Freddie on the go as he is equipped with a hook that can attach to carriers, strollers, and bags.
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If you have an infant whose eyesight is beginning to sharpen, you will notice their growing interest in the faces and objects around them. This Toy from Lamaze is designed to stimulate and exercise these new skills for your baby, as well as serve them as a toy companion
Design
This friendly butterfly is made of plush material and offers several simple games that employ interesting sounds to encourage your baby to play. They will improve their hand-eye coordination and make their first plush buddy with this great product from Lamaze.
Educational Value
This product is designed not only to entertain your child, but also to train their developing senses. They will love the vibrant and varied colors and rattle games, and you will appreciate the hidden service this toy is providing your baby.
2. VTech Click & Count Remote
It provides interactive role play which helps with the imaginative playtime.
The colorful buttons teach kids about colors, numbers and shapes.
Sturdy toy that can withstand a baby’s rough play.
Pets like parrots like this toy as well. They find it engaging and entertaining.
2 AAA batteries included but they are made for demo mode. Parents need to purchase normal batteries for regular use.
A wonderful toy that creates a distraction and diverts attention from parents T.V. remote. At the same time it is also an educational toy that encourages learning and allows for children to engage in constructive modeling.
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Instead of letting baby play with parent’s T.V. remote, they can have their own. The Click & Count from VTech is a wonderful toy that is interactive and educational.
Design
They can mimic parents as everyone uses their remote to create actions. It has over 45 sing-along songs and sounds. Kids can pretend to channel surf, especially when they hear “breaking news” come from their remote.
Educational Value
Children enjoy imaginative fun while pushing colorful buttons that makes sounds and music. The volume control teaches children the idea of cause and effect. And the color buttons teach children about different songs, numbers and shapes.
3. Gund Flappy The Elephant Plush
Soft, perfect for cuddling
Flapping ears; plays peek-a-boo
Teaches them a new song
Will entertain them for hours
Requires AA batteries
Only sings one song
Flappy The Elephant is the perfect plush companion for your baby. Measuring in at twelve inches this soft toy can easily be snuggled by your child. When purchasing, you even have the option to customize the toy with your child’s name.
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This product will entertain your baby and give them an awesome new peek-a-boo partner.
Design
This awesome animated elephant from GUND helps get one of the giants of the savanna into your home, giving your baby a peek-a-boo partner and a snuggle buddy. This elephant’s ears flap and she sings “Do Your Ears Hang Low?” for your baby.
Educational Value
This toy offers your baby a simple and delightful form of entertainment while they are at play. They will learn the basics of peek-a-boo, and they will learn a new song in no time.
4. Cloud B Sound Soother
Highly portable
Designed with four different sounds
Equipped with volume control and automatic shut off
Several different animal plushes to choose from
Batteries not included
Cloud B’s cuddliest sound soothing machine comes in the form of an eight-inch portable plush. When purchasing you have the opportunity to choose from six different animals. Having won several awards, we’re confident your child will drift off to sleep no matter which animal you choose.
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Each animal is designed with a velcro tab that makes it easy for you to attach it to their crib or stroller. The velcro will hold the soother tightly in place, so you won’t have to worry about it falling on your baby.
Design
Each animal is designed with four soothing sounds. Whale sounds, waves, gentle stream, and rain are the sounds you can choose from. All of the sounds can be adjusted via the volume control button. You don’t have to leave the soother running all night. You can set the timer for 23 or 45 minutes and have it automatically shut off when done.
Educational Value
The soft fur of the plush will introduce your child to new textures. The noise of the soother will provide your child with a relaxing environment and will encourage them to drift off to sleep.
5. Boon Lawn Countertop Drying Rack
No mowing required.
The unit was made with good quality plastics. It is PVC, BPA and phthalate free.
There is an additional twig add-on that is available online for purchase. It helps dry small items like pacifiers very well.
Dry’s items quickly because the airflow comes from underneath the grass.
Not dishwasher safe. It’s recommended that the lawn drying rack be washed in warm water before using it for the first time and periodically.
If the idea of hanging your dishes to dry didn’t appeal to you then you should try the Boon Lawn Countertop drying rack. While it will take up more counter space than the twig drying rack, it is capable of drying more dishes at one time.
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There are a lot of little parts when it comes to feeding a baby. The unique design of this drying rack is perfect for the job. This air-drying set can hold small items efficiently such as baby bottles, caps, pacifiers and pumping accessories. It's safe to use, easy to clean and looks great on countertops.
Design
The countertop drying rack is a unique and fun way to dry dishes, especially delicate baby bottles and its various pieces.
Educational Value
The plastic grass blades hold recently washed baby items. It can hold items either vertically or horizontally of all shapes and sizes. There is a water catcher underneath the grass blades that allows for easy emptying.
6. Banana Training Toothbrush & Teether
Teething toy and toothbrush combo
Made of high-quality silicone
Dishwasher and freezer ready
Encourages better dental practices
Will want to replace when they get all their teeth; can be bitten through
With the Baby Banana Toothbrush you can teach your child about the importance of oral hygiene. In fact, you can introduce this brush to them when they are as young as three. The kid-friendly design will make them more comfortable with the idea of having this toothbrush in their mouth.
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This product is a great way to keep your baby’s mouth cleaner and help them cope with the stresses of teething.
Design
This soft teether has bristles at its tip, making this a training toothbrush for your baby as well as a way for them to cope with the discomfort of teething. They will get into good hygienic habits earlier with this great toy, and the dishwasher and freezer-ready design is convenient and easy to sanitize.
Educational Value
This product will not only help them deal with all the pain and discomfort that occurs during teething, but it will also help train them into better dental practices at a younger age.
7. Little Martin’s Nail Trimmer
Lightweight and compact design
Can be used by people of all ages
Equipped with LED light & quiet motor
Will not damage cuticles
Batteries don’t last long.
With the Little Martin’s baby nail trimmer you can prevent your little one from accidentally scratching their face. Available in blue and pink, this trimmer makes the perfect baby shower gift.
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The clippers come with three different cushioned sandpapers that are designed for different age ranges. The pink sandpaper is the softest and can be used on babies between the ages of 0-3 months. The green sandpaper is made for babies between four and eleven months. The light blue is for babies 12 months and up. While the sandpaper is safe for babies and will not damage their cuticles it is best to use the color that is designed for their age range.
Design
Designed with an LED light and a whisper-quiet motor you can trim your child’s nails while they’re sleeping. With three adult attachments included, you can use this set as well. The trimmer is designed with multiple settings. You can have the trimmer operating at a high or low speed. The compact design makes it easy for you to keep this kit in your go-bag.
Educational Value
As your baby gets older the trimmer will help teach them the importance of personal hygiene. Eventually, they will be able to use the trimmers themselves.
8. Gund Peek-a-Boo Bear
Soft-plush material
Animated bear to entertain them
Teaches them peek-a-boo
Washable surface
Requires batteries
This bear will be their favorite snuggle buddy for some time to come, and they’ll have a great peek-a-boo partner any time.
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Peek-a-boo is an engaging game for infants, and it is often one of the first games that their budding minds can comprehend and competently participate in.
Design
his animated toy bear from GUND is designed not only to serve as their first fuzzy friend, but also to teach them the basics of the classic game of peek-a-boo. This toy includes six different instructional phases that will help your child learn to play if they haven’t already, and the cute bear will engage them and serve as a great cuddle buddy when they’ve mastered the art of peek-a-boo.
Educational Value
This bear will entertain them endlessly, and the soft, fuzzy, plush material will make this teddy their favorite to cuddle. The satin accented rim of the blanket will give them a pleasant tactile experience, and the washable surface will be easier for you to clean and maintain.
9. VTech Sort & Discover Activity Cube
Five unique sides with activities
Over 75 songs and phrases
Educational
Improves motor function
Requires AA batteries
Children between the ages of nine months and three years can countless hours of interactive and entertaining playtime with the Vtech Sort and Discover Activity Cube. With five sides full of fun activities, there are plenty of ways for your little one to learn and play.
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If you are looking for a wide array of puzzles and toys to keep your infant occupied and learning, this activity cube from Vtech may work perfect for you and your child.
Design
They can manipulate multiple widgets and knobs that will improve their hand-eye coordination and begin forming the rudiments of counting that they will nail down in the future. The cube includes seven fun and educational games that will give your infant a headstart on the path to learning.
Educational Value
This fun and interactive activity cube will not only mesmerize and entertain your child, but it will also improve the motor and cognitive functions of your child. With a recommended age range between nine months and three years, this product also offers a long window of entertainment to your child as their mind develops.
10. Fisher-Price Rattle 'n Rock Maracas
Safe, soft heads
Made to fit infant’s hands
Helps develop motor skills
Lets them participate in music around the house
You will get tired of the maracas before they do
If you can already tell you have a little musician in the home, there is no instrument easier to pick up than the maracas.
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This product is great way to get your child started on a musical path.
Design
This set from Fisher-price will serve them well as a rattle, and can even help them begin to understand the basics of rhythm as they get older. The soft heads are safe and attractive to little eyes, and they’ll be developing their fine motor skills as they play
Educational Value
This maraca set is a great rattle toy option for your child, giving them a musical instrument made just for them. If you play music around the home, they will love to participate with their own maracas, even at very early ages.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Safety
So, how did we in fact come up with our list of top gadgets to give to your baby? We mostly referred to our childhood, but we also took in a lengthy list of criteria and things to consider when it came to your baby. We tasked our researchers to carefully examine all infant products in the market today and determine which ones should be included in our list. We made sure that every gadget on our items are 100% safe, first and foremost, meaning that they must not contain any harmful chemicals and that their construction should be sturdy and 100% reliable.
Design
Additionally, babies have a knack for putting their hands in their mouths, including objects that they hold in their hands, it’s crucial that infant products don’t contain extremely small components which babies could choke on. That would be utterly dangerous. This also means that we looked at how each gadget was constructed. While we of course can’t directly go to the company’s manufacturing facilities, we can assume that the level of quality that they put into each design and manufacture these products through certifications from reputable quality control organizations. We also had to consider any award or recognition which may have been given to either the company itself or the product that they manufacture.
Educational Value
Additionally, babies have a knack for putting their hands in their mouths, including objects that they hold in their hands, it’s crucial that infant products don’t contain extremely small components which babies could choke on. That would be utterly dangerous. This also means that we looked at how each gadget was constructed. While we of course can’t directly go to the company’s manufacturing facilities, we can assume that the level of quality that they put into each design and manufacture these products through certifications from reputable quality control organizations. We also had to consider any award or recognition which may have been given to either the company itself or the product that they manufacture.
Toy companies and other organizations that design and manufacture baby and infant products are becoming more and more sensitive to the needs of infants and are especially cognizant of the increasing power and influence of today’s consumers. Before, companies dictated what consumers should buy for their children instead of dictating what companies should design and manufacture for children. They now do this so that it is developmentally appropriate and safe for kids, especially younger children.
Developmental appropriateness doesn’t only refer to the inherent quality of a toy to help ensure the completion of the expected developmental tasks of a child at any given age. This also includes all other kids’ items as these eventually will have an impact as they progress later on in life. Technically, in order for any of these items or objects to be considered developmentally appropriate, they need to be able to help children enhance at least one of the following developmental areas..
Infants grow rapidly in the first year of life. Their birth weight gets doubled by age 6 months and tripled by the 12th. Additionally, they learn to control the different groups of muscles, first controlling the movements of their head and neck before progressing downwards. They then start rolling on their tummies to help strengthen their core muscles. By age 4 months, some babies can already sit while being supported by Mom or Dad. They then learn to pull themselves up to a standing position. Before you know it, they are already cruising around your house. This will also require the development of their proprioceptive senses, their visual and motor coordination, and, of course, their balance.
Cognitive – The first year of life is dedicated to the accumulation of experiences through the use of the senses. The things that babies see, touch, smell, taste, and hear eventually serve the database upon which their brains will process and integrate into more meaningful concepts. As they grow older, their cognitive abilities also start to grow. By the 12th month, they will already have a rudimentary understanding of how certain things work. They can remember things and solve simple problems. Their curiosity grows and this helps in their cognitive development.
Language – Even before babies start saying “Mama” or “Dada,” they are already building on their vocabulary by watching you talk and trying to make sense of the sounds they hear. This can be considered a part of cognitive development but child experts believe that it merits a developmental area of its own.
Of course, developmental appropriateness is not only the parameter we have to consider in choosing items or objects for young infants. It is also crucial to look at the safety of these products. For example, we all know that babies love to reach for almost anything in their surroundings. As part of their gross-motor development, they will try to grasp an object with the whole hand instead of using only the thumb and forefinger. This is normal since their ability to control fine muscular contractions are not yet fully developed so they tend to rely mostly on larger muscle groups. This allows them to bring whatever is in their hands to the mouths. And if the object is small enough, babies might choke if they ingest these objects.
This is why it is very important to choose baby items that don’t have small removable components. This is also the reason why it is best to provide infants with clothes that don’t require buttons or even are designed with small trinkets which babies can pull and put in their mouths. This also extends well into how we organize baby’s room. There should be no clutter so that our little ones will be barred from reaching these otherwise potentially-harmful objects.
Gadgets, both then and now, help us better care for our babies whether it is to help them grow to their optimum development or to help provide a safe and comfortable environment for them. It is, therefore, up to us to be wise in our choice of the best gadgets to give our young children. With our top 25 baby gadgets, we are 100 percent confident you will be more inspired to choose one for your kid.
Other Factors to Consider
Social Development
Products in today’s world has redefined the way that children grow. However, the principles of child growth and their development remain the same. It’s only the instruments and tools that parents and caregivers can help ensure that their child's development and growth will change throughout the years.
Brand
Last but not least, we took into consideration the voices coming from parents, caregivers and other consumers who have tried these products and reviewed them. We read every feedback from positive to negative if any, to create an impression above the overall acceptability and usefulness of the product.
Sensory Stimulation
Brightly colored toys are a great way to help stimulate your infant. For many of the product on our top ten list all of the colors that are featured are incredibly vibrant. When it comes to sound and music, your little one will be able to recognize favorite melodies, learn instrumental sounds, and learn some dance movement. Some of the items on our top ten list even will help your baby learn different textures. While some of the gadgets could be incredibly soft, others might make noise, have a little roughness to them, or be fun to chew. Your baby will be able to be entertained and discover for hours. Some of the toys on our list will even be able to help your baby crawl. This is a great way for your infant to develop some of their muscles.
Having gadgets such as the toys on our top ten list are a great way to help keep your infant happy, engaged and entertained for hours. When your baby is playing, you’ll learn that they’re recognizing shapes, colors, numbers, sounds and some may even begin vocalizing and repeating their favorite phrases. These tools are a great way for your little one to get a head start on their over all development.
Some gadgets featured on our list will help dry your babies' bottles, clean whatever needs to be cleaned, and some can even be used and disguised as a teething toy when your baby starts that drooling adventure. Having these gadgets on hand is a great way for your little one to stay mobile and active. Many of the toys on our list will also help your little one's hand eye coordination skills as well. Some of these toys even give off bright light features which will help keep your little one entertained and busy. These are great over all gifts as well for any new parent or parent to be. We are sure whatever you are looking for to help keep your little one busy you will find it on our top ten list above. All of the toys are designed to help make some transition periods with your infant a little bit easier and they all will help teach your little one a thing or too over all. We know that your little one will love each and every one of the gadgets that are featured on our top ten list.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: Are bottle warmers safe to use for breast milk?
Yes, they are safe to use but use a good quality warmer. A bottle warmer can overheat breast milk and therefore cause it to lose nutritional and immunological benefits.
q: Are bright flashy toys beneficial for babies?
Toys that talk too much, light up and sing songs are less beneficial than books or traditional toys. Flashy toys are not bad for babies, it is just recommended that they be kept to a minimum. It’s better to read and sing with your kids instead of solely relying on electronic toys to do the job for them.
q: Are baby toy cell phones bad or good?
Babies mimic what their parents do. If parents spend most of their time on their phone during meal times, babies will also mimic that behavior. Look at your baby while they play with their phone. Are they eating and trying to talk to others at the table or are they ignoring people to engage in pretend conversation with their phone? Can the baby put down the phone during meal time or not? When at the playground, are the parents engaged in their baby’s activities or are they more engaged with their cell phone? If parents model specific phone behaviors(good or bad), babies will likely follow suit.
q: How to clean a baby nose?
When babies noses are stuffy, it makes it harder to breathe, sleep and eat. Using a nasal bulb syringe is one of the better tools to use to clear the nostrils. If the mucus is too dry, there are nose sprays with saline that moisten and loosen mucus for easier discharge.
q: How to keep a nasal bulb syringe sterile?
Always clean a nasal bulb syringe before and after using it on baby. This can be done by squeezing the tip in soapy, warm water and then sucking some warm water into the bulb. Shake the soapy water that is in the bulb before squeezing it out. Repeat this step a few times then leave the unit tip side down to dry.
q: Why make homemade baby food?
Homemade baby food is more nutritious than store-bought baby food. Parents have more control over what goes into their baby’s food. Parents don’t put preservatives into their baby’s food and it saves money. Babies are also exposed to more flavors because store-bought baby food tends to be bland and unappetizing.
Sources
- Best Practices for Handling Breast Milk, Article ,
- Why chatty, flashy toys may not be best for babies, Article ,
- Are Toy Cellphones Bad for Kids?, Blog ,
- Baby Nasal Aspirators, Informative Article ,
- 5 Reasons To Consider Homemade Baby Food over Store-Bought Food, Blog ,