Get in Gear

A simple Google search of the word “stroller” turns up more than 40,000,000 results. Needless to say, the baby gear market is jam-packed with products, from the tried-and-true to the technologically advanced. Shopping for baby essentials can easily become overwhelming, but by offering a streamlined selection of the best items, you can make life easier on your customers. To make things easier for you, we assembled a panel of baby gear experts (see right) and asked them to weigh in on the top new products of the last year so you can help your customers gear up for life with baby.

On The Move

The 2015 model of the Uppababy Vista has the Weespring community “downright effusive,” says Downey. “It delivers every feature a parent could dream of and more,” she adds, pointing to its extra-large basket—which can hold up to 30 pounds—sturdy wheels and large extendable sunshade with a peek-a-boo vent as standouts. Plus, with a bassinet, car seat adapter, toddler seat, rumble seat and ride-along skateboard, the latest version “has tons of flexibility on configurations,” Downey notes. In fact, the Vista can accommodate up to three little ones at once. A collapse and fold that Downey calls “one of the easiest we’ve seen” makes transitions a breeze.

(uppababy.com, MSRP: $819.99 to $859.99)

Venokur describes a scenario your new mom customers probably know well: “Imagine driving around town to calm down a colicky baby and having him finally fall asleep… only to have to transfer him from the car seat to a stroller. I guarantee he’ll wake up!” Enter the Doona, the first infant car seat with a complete and fully integrated mobility system for smooth transitions (and uninterrupted naps). Best of all, no extra parts are required to convert the Doona from a car seat to a stroller—it all happens with the push of a button. “The technology is genius,” Venokur states. The Doona meets all relevant safety standards, is air-travel certified, has features like side impact and anti-rebound protection and comes in four colors.

(happykidzusa.com, MSRP: $499)

Winters says Pish Posh Baby customers love the sleek, minimal design sense of Dutch brand Nuna. The company’s newest stroller model, the Mixx, offers tons of smart features, like a reversible flat-reclining seat, a roomy storage basket, a flip-flop-friendly brake and large wheels to handle any kind of terrain. But all those perks don’t weigh the Mixx down—at 25.6 pounds, Winters assures it’s “tough enough to be your all-terrain stroller [but] light enough for everyday use,” adding that it “can truly be the only stroller you’ll ever buy.” Compared to other premium strollers on the market, the Mixx’s price point is “incredible,” Winters says, making it a great option for budget-conscious shoppers who want quality and value.

(nuna.eu, MSRP: $499.95)

Carried Away

Lanxner reports that in her shop, Ergobaby’s 360 carrier is a family favorite. “Moms love it, dads love it and most importantly, babies love it,” she says. Its versatility makes it stand out; the carrier offers the wearer six positioning options, including the forward-facing carry, which is a hit with dads, Lanxner notes. Plus, it lets the wearer stay cool and comfortable while providing ergonomic hip and leg positioning for baby. “The ease and versatility the Ergo 360 carrier has brought to babywearing has changed the game and broadened the horizon of the culture,” she muses. “Ergobaby has shown us, especially with the 360, that everyone can wear their baby comfortably, easily and lovingly.”

(ergobaby.com, MSRP: $160)

The Weespring community is “more than a little obsessed with Babybjorn’s Carrier One,” Downey quips, noting that it’s called the Carrier One for a reason—“because it’s the only carrier you’ll ever need.” Fans love its ease of use, she says, explaining, “It doesn’t require any acrobatics to put it on. You slip it over your head almost like a T-shirt, then clip a buckle around your waist.” Plus, transitioning from front- to inward-facing is a breeze. Plus, with a built-in seat for a newborn, Downey notes the Babybjorn “is designed for use from day one.”

(babybjorn.com, MSRP: $189.95 to $219.95)

Babywearing is enjoying a surge of popularity—it’s convenient and allows for parent-child bonding. Beco gets the vote of not one but two of our panelists. For baby, Venokur recommends the Gemini, which comes in an array of quirky, artful prints. “It’s fun and fashionable and I love that it’s different,” she says. For growing tots, Winters points to Beco’s Toddler Carrier, which has a wider seat and the highest weight limit of all soft-structured carriers (at 60 pounds). “The extra padding and adjustable straps guarantee that parents will be as comfortable as their toddlers…almost!”

becobabycarrier.com, MSRP: $150 to $200)

Grab Bag

With little ones, messes are unavoidable and the Bogg Bag is up to the task. Available in a rainbow of 10 bright hues, Lanxner calls this durable carryall “the perfect kid-stuff-friendly tote” and says it’s especially great for pool days and beach trips—top priorities for her Florida clientele. Constructed of thick, pliable plastic and perforated with large ventilation holes, Bogg Bags are sturdy and easy to clean—“just hose it off,” Lanxner says. Three plastic pockets inside protect valuables like wallets and phones from the elements while keeping them easily accessible.

(boggbag.com, Wholesale price: $30)

In an age where our cell phones are also our clocks, planners and cameras, multitasking products are in demand. Accordingly, the Skip Hop Duet 2-in-1 Diaper Tote works overtime, with a removable diaper organizer concealed within a stylish faux leather bag. The inner bag can also be worn on its own as a cross-body carryall; plus, Downey says, “it’s nondescript enough that dads wouldn’t mind using it.” It helps that the outer bag, which comes in black and taupe, won’t cramp mom’s style. True to form, Downey adds, Skip Hop hasn’t skimped on the essential details, “like stroller straps, a cushioned changing pad and lots and lots of pockets.”

(skiphop.com, Wholesale price: $65)

Richardson and her customers are fans of Petunia Pickle Bottom’s diaper bags, which are available in a range of styles (from backpacks to satchels) and prints (think embossed florals and chic geographic patterns). Her customers particularly loved the brand’s Spring ’15 totes because they’re stylish and functional. Standouts include the Downtown, the Altogether and the Wistful Weekender, which she says is “great for long trips or for moms with more than one child.” Another selling point? These on-trend bags needn’t be retired once baby grows out of diapers.

(petunia.com, MSRP: $139 to $185)

Sleep Aid

“When I first saw [the Baby Shusher], I fell instantly in love,” says Lanxner. “It’s one of those products that makes you say, ‘Why didn’t I think of this?’” The battery-powered device recreates a gentle shushing sound that helps soothe fussy babies and lulls them to sleep. With timer settings and volume controls, “parents can safely sneak away without any interruptions,” Lanxner notes, adding that its small size makes it conveniently portable for on-the-go naps. Quite literally, it’s the stuff sweet dreams are made of.

(babyshusher.com,  Wholesale price: $17.60)

4Moms first enchanted parents with its MamaRoo and RockaRoo baby seats, but Winters is especially excited about the new BounceRoo. “It’s much more compact and portable than their other swings but still offers tons of great features,” she says, including a plush seat, three vibration settings and an overhead toy mobile. The BounceRoo is a cinch to collapse and easy to take on the go. Plus, it’s battery-powered, meaning no cords or outlets are required.

(4moms.com, MSRP: $99.99 to $119.99)

Richardson says her new mom customers love the Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper. As the only baby bassinet that can rotate a full 360 degrees, the Halo presents an alternative to bed-sharing that offers all the same closeness and convenience. It’s especially popular with moms who are recovering from C-sections, since there’s no bending over necessary to retrieve baby. (In fact, mom doesn’t even need to get out of bed.) And its wide base makes it extra-sturdy and “almost impossible to tip over.” Key features include a night light (“amazing in the middle of the night, when you need just a bit of light to get to your little one without waking everyone up,” Richardson notes), a nursing timer, a white noise mechanism that also plays lullabies and two speeds of vibration to help send baby off to dreamland. “I love it for so many reasons,” Richardson enthuses.

(halobassinest.com, MSRP: $250)

Value Meal

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, but so does the Adiri MD+, a medicine dispenser “brilliantly disguised as a bottle,” according to Downey. Fill the syringe with medicine and insert it into the bottle to deliver a dose without mess or fuss. As Downey explains it, “Meds and milk (or any liquid you choose) remain separate until reaching your baby’s mouth.” The Adiri MD+ is sure to appeal to parents struggling with sick little ones: “Baby happily guzzles the beloved bottle and you happily ditch the old dropper,” Downey declares. “A must-have for every medicine cabinet!”

(adiri.com, Wholesale price: $11.99)

Lollaland products are a hit both at Lanxner’s store and in her own home, so she had high hopes for their new glass bottles. The verdict? “Lollaland did not disappoint,” she declares. The brand’s new baby bottles are made of high-quality glass that can be safely heated and cooled without breaking or releasing harmful chemicals. Lanxner calls them “incredibly durable and whimsically fun,” as well as “incredibly functional and innovative.” Her favorite feature is the slow-flow anti-colic nipple, which helps equalize the pressure within the bottle during feeding. “This minimizes the amount of unwanted air your baby takes in while feeding, thus maximizing comfort post-feeding.”

(lollaland.com, Wholesale price: $6.50-$7.50)

How does Richardson describe the NumNum Gootensil? Simply put, “It’s awesome!” The handy tool does double-duty as both a spoon and a soft teething toy, she explains, adding that it’s great for babies learning to self-feed, since it helps them get the hang of scooping up their food. Unlike a traditional spoon, the Gootensil has a flat head, so there’s no wrong way to use it (just dip and eat), and its contoured, ergonomic design is comfortable and easy to hold. Available in two colors and texture variations (blue with a dimpled head for thinner foods and orange with a channeled head for thicker foods), the Gootensil is dishwasher-safe, hypoallergenic and free of PVC, BPA and phthalates.

(numnumdips.com, MSRP: $9.99)