6+ Months Gear
Your baby is mobile (or about to be). Time for high chairs, baby gates, and toys that don't make you want to scream.
Feeding
Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair
Grows with child from 6 months to adulthood. Pulls up to table (no tray needed). Expensive but lasts years. Worth the investment.
DoIKEA Antilop High Chair
Budget alternative. Cheap, easy to clean, works great. Doesn't grow with child but at $20, who cares.
Do
BEABA Babycook
Baby food steamer + blender in one. Makes batch cooking easy. Steam, blend, done. We used it constantly.
Doezpz Suction Plates/Bowls
Suctions to table. Harder (not impossible) to throw. Silicone, easy to clean.
DoSafety
Regalo Baby Gate
Pressure-mounted, no drilling. Easy to install. Get several for stairs and doorways.
Do
Cabinet Locks
For cabinets with cleaning supplies, sharp objects, etc. Magnetic locks are cleanest looking.
DoCorner Protectors
For coffee tables and sharp furniture edges. Those heads are magnets for corners.
DoCar Seat Upgrade
Nuna RAVA Convertible Car Seat
Rear-facing up to 50 lbs, then forward-facing. Lasts through toddlerhood. Steel stability leg. Our pick.
DoGraco 4Ever DLX
Budget alternative. 4-in-1 seat that works from birth to booster. Good value, solid safety ratings.
DoKeep rear-facing
AAP recommends rear-facing as long as possible, ideally until age 2+. Don't rush to turn them around - it's significantly safer.
Toys
Lovevery Play Kits
Subscription of developmentally appropriate toys. Pricey but thoughtful. Everything has a purpose. Cuts down on clutter.
DoFat Brain Toys
Good alternative to Lovevery. Quality developmental toys without subscription commitment.
DoStacking Cups
Simple, cheap, endless entertainment. Stack them, nest them, use in bath, use outside. Essential.
Do
Ball Pit
Collapsible ball pit + balls. Great for motor skills and independent play. Get a larger one than you think you need.
DoSkip the noisy electronic toys
Your sanity matters. The flashing, beeping toys are designed to capture baby's attention, not develop their brain. Open-ended toys are better.
Not gospel
Every baby develops differently. Don't stress if yours isn't interested in the "right" toys at the "right" time. They'll get there.