There is a lot to immerse yourself in when you expect to have it first child. You and your partner have embarked on a journey to bring a new life into the world, whether through natural conception, IVF, or methods such as surrogacy or adoption. In some ways, starting a family has never been easier — and that goes for buying expensive items. There’s a dizzying array of brands and products—some essential, some not—and the checklist adds up to a pretty penny. In 2021, the diaper market in America alone will reach nearly $6.3 billion, according to Statista. Statistics also show that although the purchase period is relatively short, parents are looking for “quality purchases”. With booming technology and more robust safety features, luxury baby essentials for first-time parents may cost a premium but stand the test of time and promise peace of mind.
To help you tackle parenting with confidence, we tested more than 20 highly-rated luxury baby essentials for first-time parents with the help of our harshest critics: newborn babies and real parents. This isn’t an exhaustive list—we’ve left out clothing and grooming products—but it should guide your shopping list and keep you from getting swept up in the Facebook forums. And if you’re looking to gift a new parent for the holidays or any time of year, consider this as an expansion pack for the registry.
Deluxe baby essentials for first-time parents
1. Joolz Aer with Carrycot
Dimensioned at just over 13 pounds, the Joolz Aer Stroller is comparable to the overhead bin capacity of airplanes (21 x 17.7 x 8.5 inches). And since traveling with a young child means you always have your hands full, it features a one-hand closure. To do this, unroll the parachute back, apply the brake, press the button on the handle and push the stroller down toward the ground. Its collapsible design lies in itself intuitively. The carrying strap allows you to lift the stroller over one shoulder (shown above). To reopen, simply depress the handle button and it will return to its full size glory. (Watch the tutorial over here.)
More thoughtful features include a mesh panel on the sun hood that expands to provide ventilation and visibility, a five-point harness that slides up and down for easy adjustment, a roomy basket under the seat for storing toys and a diaper bag, and a slip pocket stashed behind the seat. Speaking of which, the large, patented seat is well padded and supports your baby’s head and neck with a tilt function for babies 6 months and up. Simply unzip the rear chamber and adjust the tilt angle by tightening or loosening the strap.
For newborns, the Joolz Aer With Carrycot offers a bassinet with a mesh mattress for ventilation, a removable bumper bar that opens on pivots, plus an expandable UPF 50+ sun shade with a slip-on mesh panel to keep things breezy on balmy days. While it maintains a one-hand closure with the bassinet, note that it does not fit in overhead plane compartments, though it collapses the same way: slide the canopy back, then press down on the base of the bassinet (closest to the stroller handle/back) while lifting the lever and pulling it up (The front of the bassinet should pivot down), then press the handle button and push the stroller toward the floor.
The raised handlebar makes the stroller suitable for tall guys (no slipping to push), and the four-wheel suspension lets you steer with one hand without fighting over uneven surfaces.
We also love the focus on sustainability: The brand uses 100 percent sustainable and traceable fabrics, many of which are made from recycled PET bottles, which are recycled and reimagined into luxurious fabrics. For every purchase, Joolz plants a tree in Colombia in what they call the “Joolz Birth Forest.” Cardboard packaging is meant to be reused as a toy: you can put the pieces together into a plane. Your newborn may not be dazzled, but any kids (or pets) are sure to be entertained.
[$668; joolz.com]
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