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Babies don't need as much as marketing tells us they do. However, we only need the baby products we tend to buy for a few months. Is it always this way?
Parents can save money long-term by investing in baby products that grow with their babies. Such products typically convert into something that accommodates greater weight and size, or they have attachments for older phases. They cost more upfront but eliminate the need to buy an update later.
After going through the baby stage a few times, I've settled on a few nifty baby products that adapt well to growth. Take a gander!
The Problem with Most Grow With Me Baby Products
Before jumping into a list of baby products that have done really well in my case, I've got to address the biggest problem with most "grow with me" products: attachments.
Many products like this come with attachments for the older baby and toddler stages, but you've got to keep up with them all! Once you configure a product for the toddler stage, you must store the baby attachments.
So, if you plan to pass on a "grow with me" baby product to someone else, you'll have to diligently keep all the pieces together for 1 to 3 years. That's a feat for parents with multiple little ones!
Another common problem I faced with some "grow with me" baby products was the number of parts that could break. Some products, like convertible strollers, have many joints, which unfortunately means they have many weak points.
You can mitigate most issues like this by properly storing such items in a cool, dark place with proper support. A hot garage or attic space could warp or weaken plastic or aluminum pieces.
Of course, this means dedicating a closet to baby stuff you're not actively using, but it will help your product last longer.
If you get through all the babies you plan to have and see that your "grow with me" product is still in fantastic condition, consider entering it into a consignment event like Rhea Lana's or a local shop.
Many parents who need "grow with me" products but can't afford them comb through children's consignment events, looking for durable products with a lot of life left. You can use the money you collect for your children's next phase!
8 Truly Helpful Grow with Me Baby Products
Sometimes, all you need for a baby is something that will do the job. However, you can get more bang for your buck by investing in something that does the job through multiple stages of baby and toddlerhood.
That's how I discovered these products. I've tried several other versions of each product, but these are the ones I was most impressed with (and no, I am not an affiliate paid to say nice things—these are listed from experience)!
1. Car Seat
A car seat is a must for leaving the hospital and getting around in a vehicle. But the cost of a car seat is ridiculous! Safety is crucial, but it is annoying to pay so much--even more so knowing you'll have to invest another couple hundred for a toddler seat and then a booster seat!
By the time my third came around, I had discovered Graco's Premier 4Ever 4-in-1 Car Seat . It works for little ones from 4 to 120 pounds: rear-facing harness, forward-facing harness, highback booster, and backless booster.
It is definitely expensive, but with some help from family and friends, it is well worth the cost!
2. Sippy Cup
I've been through more sippy cups than anything else on this list because they don't live up to their leak-proof promise or a toddler destroys them. I was just getting used to the idea that I would have to buy new cups every couple of months when I found Moonkie's First-Stage Drinking Cup .
It comes with two lids and a straw suited for little ones learning to suck and swallow from a cup. So, it works for that beginner sippy cup stage until your wee one graduates to a straw. Then, your child can use it as an open cup as a toddler. Nifty!
Moonkie's first-stage cup is made entirely from food-grade silicone, so it can be washed frequently in the dishwasher. I love that it is firm enough for use but soft enough not to hurt a child who falls on it. As a bonus, it's truly leak-proof!
Side Note: I also love Moonkie's Silicone Training Cup with Straw so far, but I'm still testing it with my little ones.
3. Pack 'n Play
Pack 'n Plays are ridiculously helpful for the first two years. They serve as a travel crib, playpen, or mobile nap spot around the house. Graco's Pack'n Play On the Go Playard was my favorite because babies quickly outgrow the diaper changing pad and bassinet on the other versions.
This version, however, has a full-size bassinet that fills the entire top of the pen, so you can use it for longer. My first was tall at birth, so he didn't fit a standard bassinet for long. But he could use this bassinet until he was rolling over and needed to be lowered.
My family travels a lot, so we got the miles out of our pack 'n plays. Graco's version lasted through three babies and held up to toddler weights just fine!
Speaking of which, if you aspire to travel far or abroad with a toddler and baby, peruse these travel tips I learned from hard-earned experience: Traveling Abroad with a Toddler and Baby: Tips to Make Your Trip Smoother.
4. Convertible Stroller
Strollers that last are not cheap but especially expensive if you want one that will carry two or three little ones. Side-by-side doubles are a bit awkward to handle, while front-and-back two-seaters are long and hard to turn.
If you have one and are currently expecting or hoping for another, opting for a convertible stroller makes sense. Convertible strollers have attachments you can purchase to configure them to hold an infant car seat and a toddler or two toddlers.
These are great because you can break them down to one seat again when the older one starts walking more. However, convertible strollers are expensive and require you to keep up with the attachments.
Once you have three or more little ones, though, having a wagon with seats makes more sense. The bags, cups, and various kid sizes fit well in a beefy wagon, but the wagon takes up a lot of space, even when folded.
If you need to haul around several kids at once in a wagon, don't waste money on one with small or plastic wheels. Go for something with rubber tires--they last longer.
5. Convertible High Chair
Convertible high chairs are helpful when switching from a high chair to a booster seat, but Lalo's Chair goes a step further by converting into a toddler's play chair. How cool is that?
Yes, you have to purchase those other attachments to convert the chair (and they are not cheap), but I still prefer this because it is simple, easy to clean, and lasts marvelously through several baby and toddler stages.
Also, it takes less space when broken down in storage than the big folding high chairs. You can find other options that will work fairly well, but most of those are restricted to being a high chair and booster seat.
6. Feeding Set
A well-designed feeding set made of durable food-grade silicone will last you through several children, which is exactly what I found with Moonkie's Feeding Set . I've already talked about how excellent the cup is, but I also want to bring up the plate.
This plate will not slump when you put food in it and hold it with one hand. Moreover, it has firm ridges in the middle, so you don't have to push the bottom of the plate to make the suction cups work. The lid fits well, and you can freeze, refrigerate, or microwave the plate without issue.
The silicone storage containers are also heavy-duty and completely leak-proof! I was surprised at their quality when I first held them. I could go on about the other pieces in this set, but the point is that the quality, thoughtful designs, and durability are amazing for years of constant use!
We get tons of questions about whether silicone is safe for little ones, especially teethers, toys, and feeding utensils. We addressed many of those concerns straightforwardly in Are Silicone Baby Teethers Safe? What You Need to Know. The more you know, the more confidently you can choose baby products!
7. Convertible Baby Carrier
Having a baby carrier for walks and hikes is brilliant, but you may also use it while doing chores around the house (especially during teething grumpiness). Though you can find carriers for children at 50 pounds or more, I didn't find that practical for my back. So, I opted for a carrier that worked for 8 to 32 pounds.
Infantino's 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Carrier worked well for my little ones. It has options for folding the seat to make it more narrow based on your little one's size and position.
So, you can fold the seat to face inward while your baby is still tiny or face outward once your baby grows bigger, or you can expand the seat to face inward or have your baby sit behind you when larger.
I also had KIDIRA's 6-in-1 Ergonomic Baby Carrier because I liked to use the hip seat for hiking and walking for a few hours. You can remove the seat for washing or carrying around the house, but you can also remove the top and use only the seat for carrying your toddler on your hip.
A baby carrier with a seat is easier on the back and your little one's hips, but the bottom of that seat will push right on a cesarean incision, so if you plan to or must deliver via c-section, know that you won't feel comfortable with a baby carrier seat for several weeks.
8. Baby Lounger
Of all the products on this list, a baby lounger may not go as far with your little one. However, a baby lounger is an everyday item for that first year and a half and can easily be repurposed after that.
Baby loungers are adjustable, portable, reversible, and easy to clean! I used my baby lounger when doing any of the following:
traveling
putting my babies down for a nap at friends' and families' homes
laying my babies down outside while I did outdoor chores
elevating my babies' heads slightly when they were congested
going on a picnic
doing story or music time on the living room floor
camping
playing for tummy time
co-sleeping during storms, teething, and illness
One of my babies loved to feel secure on all sides, but she didn't like to be swaddled. This baby lounger worked for her until she was two and a half years old!
By the way, one-year-olds are not always the best sleepers, so adjustment in naps, bedtimes, and wake-up times is often brutal for parents. The Ultimate Guide to One-Year-Old Sleep: Tips and Tricks for Busy Parents has a few tricks you can try!
Once my youngest was done with the lounger, I let the kids use it as a pillow, play bed, floor lounger, and such for a couple of years. When that phase passed, I tied up the end and let my dog use it for an easy-to-clean dog bed. My baby lounger had many lives!
In a Nutshell
You likely don't need everything on this list, but if you know you will invest in one of these items anyway, buying a version that grows with your baby will make your dollar stretch further! I loved how these "grow with me" products cut down on clutter in my home, but not every "grow with me" product will do so.
Read the reviews carefully, double-check everything that should come with the product, and ensure you don't have to purchase additional parts to extend the life of your product. Additional pieces and extensions can cost a lot of extra money and storage space!
What are some of your favorite "grow with me" baby products? Let me know in the comments!
