Deciding what to purchase for a newborn baby can be overwhelming when it comes to the overall cost. Here are 15+ popular baby essential dupes – to help you establish where to splurge and where to save.
Creating a baby registry can be exhausting. There are so many things people recommend you ‘need’ for a baby within the first year. And when it comes down to it, the cost on some of the most popular baby items is expensive!
When we had our first little one a few years ago, I was set on making the ultimate baby registry which had hit the best items – for less. This would include all the baby gear we would reuse for our second baby.
From diaper bags, a place to sleep and transporting a baby to new locations, the items seem endless. These are my recommendations so you can stick to your budget and meet your financial goals.
Diapering
All humans go to the bathroom – so how can we make it less expensive? Between diapers (regular or cloth), a diaper bag and a place to change baby, it can be pricy. Here are ways to save over $1,000+ on diapers – a list of the ultimate baby essential dupes.
- Diaper bag: Parker Baby Diaper Bag ($89) vs dupe ($42)
Unless you have a backpack with multiple zippers and pouches, a diaper bag is a must for our family. It is something which is equipped to hold items like diapers, wipes, a portable changing pad and more.
Thank you to this dupe for being half the price of the popular Parker Baby Diaper Bag but still have solid colors that are cute.
- Baby Diaper Changer: Keekaroo ($149) vs. Munchkin Changing Pad ($31)
Changing diapers is messy. Why not have something that you can easily wipe down for diaper changes and set in the sun to naturally bleach out if it becomes dirty? We love our Munchkin Changing Pad and have used it for our babies.
- Diapers: Save $1000-2000 by buying ‘off label’ diapers
While we diapered our first born exclusively until 9 months before starting elimination communication, we never bought brand diapers like Pampers or Huggies. Instead, we hit up Costco and Sam’s Club.
A game changer in our budget is buying ‘name brand’ diapers through a box store with ‘off label’ diaper options. We prefer scent free diapers and while our budget does not have room for the organic, non-toxic ones, we feel comfortable with the Costco brand diapers.
For an easy reference:
- Costco brand diapers are ‘off label’ Pampers diapers
- Sam’s Club brand diapers are ‘off label’ Huggies diapers
- Both locations have water wipes for a reasonable price, too!
- Diaper disposal system: Diaper Genie ($59) -> trash bin + dog bags ($10)
This might be an unpopular opinion, but skip the stinking diaper genie! This one just grosses me out. To keep a room smelling clean, take out the trash each day as opposed to waiting for 899 newborn sized diapers to fill up a diaper pail.
Additionally, dog poop bags come in handy within our ‘oh sh!t’ bag for the car or diaper bag. It is an easy way to cap the scent of diapers (or clothes with a blow out) while on the go.
Dispose of dirty diapers (IE poop diapers and wipes) by placing them in dog poop bags. If you feel like you need a scent, opt for scented dog poop bags. And while we are on a tangent, keep the scented diapers away from babies!
Baby Sleep
Babies need a safe place to sleep. Whether you choose a crib, pack-n-play or to co sleep, there are still items which can make sleep easier (and less filled with anxiety) for parents. Depending on what sleep habits you choose to provide your child, save $500 – 1,000 with these tips.
- Travel Tips: Slumberpod ($179) vs. Hiccapop ($119)
Hotels and other accommodations may have pesky lights preventing a good nights sleep. Or other family members may be sharing the same room but not want to go to bed at the same time as their children. For that reason, people like these blackout tents when traveling.
A popular, though not required, item on this list is a ‘blackout tent’ for your child. The popular Slumberpod and it’s dupe – Hiccapop – are basically a transportable blackout tent to mimic dark sleeping conditions. Both options have a spot for a camera and fan to ensure your child has the best night sleep in their pack-n-play.
- Baby Mattress Newton Baby ($299) vs. Sealy Mattress ($129)
The popular Newton Baby mattress is known for its breathability. There are not often Newton Baby Mattress discount codes available, which can make a $300 mattress seem expensive for the first year of sleep.
Because SIDS is always a possibility with sleep, parents want to make sure their child can breathe well. This Sealy Mattress is a newton baby mattress dupe that is over $150 less. We have had this for our children and love it!
- Baby Bed: SNOO ($1650) vs. Baby delight bassinet ($143)
If you choose to place baby within a crib or bassinet, the SNOO is a popular option marketed these days. It has a built in swaddle, gives you a sleep report and even rocks your baby to sleep. If you decide you like these features, look into options to rent a SNOO before you buy it.
Alternatively, options like the baby delight bassinet have a similar style and shape. However, it will not give you the sleep analysis.
- Sound Machine: Hatch noise machine ($59) vs. Momcozy noise machine ($39)
Sound machines are a great way to help infants sleep. It provides white noise which can be great background for children when they need a quiet, peaceful environment to sleep. In our household, it can filter out the noise of a nearby train (and the sounds of our toddler for our newborn).
The popular Hatch Noise machine is heavily marketed because it provides white noise and changes color. People often use this noise machine to let their older children know when they can come out of their room if they are unable to read a clock. A cheaper option is the Momcozy noise machine, saving you $20.
- Baby Monitors / Camera: Nanit Pro camera ($266) vs. Galayou camera $15 vs. Infant Optics (Wifi Free Camera) $199
There are so many options for sleep cameras these days. Our family personally opts for a wifi free baby monitor / camera, therefore there are three options listed on this baby essential dupes comparison. See the details of each camera below to decide if you want the popular item – or the cheaper dupe!
- Nanit Pro Camera: Wifi connected, one camera at a time, provides a leep analysis
- Galayou Camera: Wifi connected, one camera at a time, has an app so you can see the camera when at work
- Infant Optics Camera: WiFi free, can connect to multiple cameras on one portable monitor (great for when you have multiple children or rooms to keep an eye on at the same time. This is one of our favorite brands with a higher quality camera and monitor.
- Smart Monitor Owlet sock ($299) vs Levana Oma ($69)
For parents with NICU babies, babies with health conditions, or those who simply have more anxiety about their sleeping baby, a smart monitor can be helpful to monitor babies sleep. There are two popular options on the market – though one is less than 1/4 of the price!
- Owlet: Sock, tracks pulse, gives notification on breathing and sleep patterns
- Levana Oma: Clips onto pants, stimulates movement when needed and tracks breathing patterns
Baby Container + Toys
Transporting baby to different locations just makes sense. These baby essential dupes will save you up to $1.5k.
- Baby Bouncer: (BabyBjorn Bouncer ($182) vs. Baby Delight Bouncer ($81)
- The two things I recommend people wait on before purchasing are a baby bouncer and a baby swing. Not all babies love movement and they are not necessary.
- Baby gym: (LOVEVERY ($140) vs. Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kick mat ($40)
- While the Baby Einstein mat may not be as aesthetically pleasing (I.E. bright colors and less cute patterns) as the LOVEVERY play gym, your wallet will thank you. Kids are not laying on their backs or doing tummy time for entertainment long before they become more mobile. Save yourself the money or purchase the other play gyms secondhand if the neutral pattern of the LOVEVERY play gym is essential.
- Baby Wrap / baby carrier: (Solly baby $89 vs KeaBabies Wrap $39)
- During my second postpartum experience I have been baby wearing like crazy! Not only does it help me handle the baby’s weight with ease and helps them to learn how to monitor their body temperature, but we can be hands free!
- This is a great carrier for the newborn stage and beyond. It comes in a wide range of patterns and different colors – making it easy for anyone to pair it with a neutral outfit. We love our Solly baby wrap but I will definitely look into the dupe for next time to have a secondary option when the Solly wrap is in the wash.
- Stroller: (UppaBaby Cruz stroller ($699) vs Mompush stroller ($199)
- The one splurge we made was the UppaBaby Cruz stroller because we liked the ease of transferring a car seat between cars. However if I were to do it all again, this dupe seems to check all the same boxes without the extra cost!
- DockATot (brand $309 vs. dupe at $42)
- We bought the dupe and love it! It does the same thing and you can even change the pattern if you want.
Eating
Short and sweet- baby has to eat! These baby essential dupes will save you $75+.
Breast pumps, baby bottles and burp rags are also places to see where you can save. Did you know you can save money on breast pumps through insurance?
- Nursing Pillow: Boppy Nursing Pillow ($44) vs. Niimo Nursing Pillow ($34)
- Though the price tag is similar – $10 is $10, am I right? There are many similar features between the two.
- High Chair: Abbie convertible high chair ($229) vs. skip hop 3-1 convertible high chair ($164)
- We LOVE the skip hop high chair due to the price point and convertible nature. We have it as the booster currently for our oldest daughter and will soon be converting it over to the high chair for our youngest.
What are your favorite baby essential dupes? Let us know in the comments below!
