6-12 Month Baby Essentials (Most Used Products!)
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Your baby's first year goes by so quickly! Before you know it, they're sitting up, starting solids, crawling, and getting into just about...everything😂
As a of 2 mom, I have already done all of the research for my own kiddos to help you figure out a complete list of products that you will need for this stage of your baby's development.
In this guide, I'm sharing my favorite 6-12 month baby essentials, inclucing products we actually used and loved, from feeding to playing and nursery-must haves. Just click on product names to shop my faves!
Still preparing for baby's arrival? Check out my Ultimate Baby Registry Checklist for all my newborn recommendations, or download my FREE 31-page baby registry guide to plan ahead for baby's first year.
Nursery
✅ Crib
It's recommended that babies are moved from their bassinet to a crib around 4-6 months of age! A bassinet is no longer considered safe once baby starts rolling over or reaches the weight requirement of the bassinet (whichever comes first.) We transferred both kids to their own crib/room around the 6/7 month mark. Just remember to keep your crib bare - no loose pillows, crib bumpers, blankets, or toys - to keep baby safe from breathing hazards!
Crib mattresses typically are 2-sided including a firmer side for baby & a softer side for toddlers. I will say, baby mattresses can get really expensive with marketed features like breathability, organic cotton, etc. We ended up using a hammy down mattress from a family member which worked great for us, but do what works best for you!
✅ Crib Sheets (x 2)
I would recommend having at least 2 crib sheets! It's a lot easier to change the bed in the middle of the night (blow outs, spit up, etc) when a fresh sheet is available to you.
✅ Crib Mattress Protector (x 2)
Same as above! I would recommend having at least 2 crib mattress protectors to help prevent accidents from soiling your mattress. I learned this one the hard way🙈
Feeding
We went through quite a few highchairs until I found one that I liked! My favorite highchair features include: an easy clean material, small footprint, & a detachable tray. High chairs can get really messy - especially when you first start solids - so I found that a seat without fabric was the easiest to clean after mealtimes. Also, I tripped over our first high chair soo many times🙃 I would recommend to get a highchair with a slimmer base (under 25 inches.)
✅ Silicone Bibs (x 2)
I would choose silicone bibs over cloth bibs any day of the week! They are so much easier to clean after mealtime. Just rinse, hang to dry, & you are done.
✅ Spoons (x 4)
These spoons worked well for us & I like how the long hand helps baby learn to self-feed!
✅ Bowls (x 4)
I liked having see-through bowls to help me remember what baby food leftovers I was storing in the fridge/freezer!
✅ Suction Cup Plates (x3)
We ended up switching to these stainless steel baby plates. I found that the silicone baby plates/bowls made the food taste like soap. It kinda sucks that they can't be warmed up in the microwave, but the four suction cup base ensures the plate is staying put on baby's highchair tray lol👍
✅ Water Cup (x 2)
These cups were easy for baby to hold & a good way to get straw practice too!
Baby Proofing
✅ Baby Gate
It's important that stairs are blocked off for curious little ones! I would recommend a baby gate with an auto-close feature which can offer peace of mind when your hands are full or things get busy. We also have a matte black baby gate & I like how it matches the rest of our hardware in the house instead of looking like another piece of baby gear.
It's funny, we hardly baby proofed with our daughter. But our son is on ANOTHER LEVEL OF MISCHIEF! He gets into everything he shouldn't, so these magnetic baby locks help keep harmful objects out of reach (chemicals, knives, scissors, my makeup, etc). We keep the magnets up high for adult reach only & the magnet works as a key to unlock your cabinet!
Super easy & cheap way to keep baby from sticking their fingers or poking other objects into unused outlets around the house.
This set worked really great when baby started to pull up onto furniture! We used it on our TV stand, fireplace, & even on the corners of our nursery dresser which was next to our rocking chair (baby grows, gets wiggly, etc.)
Health & Safety
Babies usually get their first tooth around 6 months old, but the normal range spans 3-12 month. A little toothbrush is easy to brush those small teeth & a great way to help baby start building healthy dental habits!
✅ Toothpaste (fluoride-free)
A fluoride-free toothpaste makes the toothpaste safe for swallowing in little ones!
Clothing
Babies tend to get a little messier during the 6-12 month stage from becoming more mobile & starting solids. However, I still recommend following the clothing rule I shared in my Ultimate First-Time Parent Baby Registry Checklist.
What I recommend is called the 7x2 Rule:
7 outfits for the week
2 outfits for spare/accidents
4-5 pairs of pajamas
Also, buying clothes in the same color palette (ex: pink, purple, white, gray or blue, green, white, tan) will allow you to create many cute outfits out of what you have!
This rule has been working super well for us - even into the toddler years👶➡️👧
The only new clothing item that I would introduce for this stage is a walking shoe. It's okay if baby walks barefoot inside, but a shoe will help protect their feet when outdoors. I prefer a lightweight, breathable shoe with velcro straps as baby begins to learn how to walk.
Transportation
A convertible car seat "converts" from a rear-facing position for infants & toddlers to a front-facing car seat as your child grows. We didn't start using this type of car seat until our kiddos were around 12/13 months old though. I definitely preferred an infant car seat (with base) during the newborn stage. It made transportation a lot smoother being able to pop baby into the base, so you can keep doing that until baby reaches the height/weight requirement on their infant carrier. We got this rotating convertible car seat for our son & I FREAKING LOVE IT😍 I think it's worth the extra money & the rotating feature makes it soo easy to get baby in/out of the car!
Still unsure what a convertible car seat is? Watch this video to better understand the differences between an infant car seat & convertible car seat.
Entertainment
We use these everyday! I absolutely love how versatile they are. We stack them. We crash them. We use them as bath toys. We hide little toys underneath them. We put them on our heads as hats. The play options are honestly endless here.
Babies start walking unassisted around 9-18 months! A push toy/walker is great to help your little one strengthen muscles, gain coordination, & foster independence. I like how this walker comes with a telephone & additional accessories for fine motor skills!
These books are perfect for little hands! Books help babies develop language skills (colors, animals, etc) & learn more about the world around them.
✅ Books (flaps, textures, mirrors)
Books with flaps, textures, and mirrors help turn reading into a multi-sensory experience! They help encourage fine motor skills & hand-eye coordination. There are so many cute ones out there too!
You've Got This, Mama💗
The 6-12 month stage is such a fun one! From first bites to first steps, your little one is learning and growing so much, and it's exciting to watch their little personality come to life.
I hope this guide helped you figure out which baby essentials are actually worth having & reminded you that you don't need every baby product out there to make the most of this stage.
If you're still preparing for baby's arrival, be sure to check out my Ultimate Baby Registry Checklist, along with my free printable guide!
And remember, every baby develops at their own pace. My daughter didn't sit until she was 10 months old & my son took his first steps around 16 months old. Enjoy these little moments because that first year really does fly by!
Happy Parenting,
Stephanie xo
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