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It’s a running joke amongst new parents for good reason: Your little one may be, well, little, but they sure do add a lot of big, bulky gear to your living space. But it doesn't have to be that way. Our baby gear experts say that there are plenty of space-saving baby items that can make it much easier to raise a baby in cramped quarters without a lot of space, like a one-bedroom apartment in the city.
With careful consideration and an eye for design, outfitting your baby's life doesn't mean getting rid of all your treasures. Instead, look for small and easy-to-store gear. And good news for minimalists: When you shop smarter, you need less than you think you do. Here's our expert's top-rated baby essentials to help you get the job done and save space all at once.
1. Keekaroo Changing Pad
- Retail Price: $150
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: $130
- Dimensions: 32 x 17 x 4 inches
- Weight: 7 pounds
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Material: Polypropylene
Say goodbye to a bulky changing table and choose a durable and easy-to-clean option instead. This space-saving item can transform basically any spot into a changing station—place it on the bed, floor or large countertop (with supervision of course). When you’re done, wipe it and tuck it away.
Pros
- Easy to wipe clean
- Can move around the house
- Can be stashed under furniture or in a closet when not in use
Cons
- Doesn’t fold up for travel
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Expensive
2. Stokke Flexi Bath Foldable Baby Bathtub
- Retail Price: $49
- Amazon Price: $65
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: $40
- Dimensions: 32 x 10.6 x 4.5 inches
- Weight: 5.04 pounds
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Material: Plastic
A bulky structured tub? Who needs one. If you live in a small space or travel a lot, use this flexible, foldable tub during bath time to suds your kiddo with ease. When you’re done, simply fold it flat and tuck it away and out of sight.
Pros
- Folds compactly
- Fills up quickly
Cons
- Some users say babies outgrow it quickly
3. Baby Jogger City Sway 2-In-1 Rocker And Bouncer
- Retail Price: $230
- Amazon Price: $161
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: $105
- Dimensions: 18 x 32 x 24 inches
- Weight: 9 pounds
- Material: Plastic, metal, fabric
This rocker and bouncer combo works to soothe your little one via battery-powered vibrations. It also features an overhead removable toy bar to capture baby’s interest during awake hours. And, best of all, since it’s nice and lightweight and folds flat, you can stash it when not in use—or even travel with it.
Pros
- Functions as two baby products in one
- Folds flat for storage and travel
- Lightweight design
- Comes with a removable toy bar
Cons
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Batteries need to be replaced frequently
4. Inglesina Fast Table Chair
- Retail Price: $79
- Amazon Price: $79
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: $60
- Dimensions: 17 x 14 x 11 inches
- Weight: 4.2 pounds
- Material: Polyvinyl Chloride
Guess what? You don’t actually need a traditional high chair. A clip-on style like the Inglesina Fast Table Chair and tray is one of the best space-saving options for parents, since it doesn’t require any floor space whatsoever. I used these seats for my twins at our kitchen island, and loved how much space it saved. Not to mention, they’re a breeze to set up and sturdy enough to support kids upwards of 30 pounds. Best of all, the high chair folds so compactly that you can fit it in a diaper bag or a stroller’s storage basket.
Pros
- Super compact
- Comes with removable tray
- Comes in multiple colors
Cons
- Hand wash only
5. Doona
- Retail Price: $550
- Amazon Price: $550
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: $437
- Dimensions: 39 x 17.3 x 32.2 inches
- Weight: 16.5 pounds
- Material: Plastic, polyester
For baby's first year of life, there’s no need to stock both an infant car seat and a stroller. While everyone can appreciate this combination product, it’s especially great for city dwellers likely to take a cab or public transportation. The lightweight strollers easily folds down, so you can click it right into a vehicle’s LATCH system to create a safe ride for your little one.
Pros
- Functions as two products in one
- Folds easily
- Connects directly to the car’s LATCH system
Cons
- Ride isn’t as smooth as some other strollers
6. Delta Children Jeep PowerGlyde Plus Stroller
- Retail Price: $95
- Amazon Price: $95
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: $44
- Dimensions: 31.9 x 19.3 x 43.2 inches
- Weight: 13.7 pounds
- Material: Aluminum, polyester
The Jeep PowerGlyde is a compact umbrella-style stroller, but is sturdy enough for daily use. It’s also a great option for tall parents—despite its small profile, it has a very high handlebar (43.2 inches). It also has an extensive sun canopy complete with UPF 50+ protection and a large storage basket.
Pros
- Very lightweight and folds compactly
- Tall 43.2-inch handlebars
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Doesn’t handle as well on bumpy terrain
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Can’t be used until 6 months and not compatible with an infant car seat
7. BabyBjorn Bouncer
- Retail Price: $210
- Amazon Price: $204
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: $150
- Dimensions: 22 x 31 x 15.5 inches
- Weight: 4.6 pounds
- Material: Metal, cotton
I truly wouldn’t have made it through the newborn stage without this seat—for all four of my kids. Though the baby registry must-have isn’t motorized, a simple tap sends the chair into a gentle rock that almost instantly lulls little ones to sleep. And, best of all, it’s super lightweight and folds flat. I brought mine everywhere from the beach to the nail salon (seriously!), but also relied on it at home. When we weren’t using it, I simply slipped it right under the couch.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Folds flat
- Highly portable
- Can add a toy bar
Cons
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Requires manual rocking
8. Nestig The Wave Crib
- Retail Price: $749
- Avg. GoodBuy Gear Price: N/A
- Dimensions: 24.5 x 31 x 31.5 inches
- Weight: Not listed
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Material: Wood
If you don’t have much space in baby’s room, skip over the bassinet and opt for this convertible crib instead. It converts from a mini crib that’s nearly the same size as a slim bassinet to a standard crib with minimal effort. It even comes with the mattress. Later, when your little one is ready for a big kid bed, it even converts to a full-size sleep space. Also nice: The whole thing is on wheels and is slimmer than most cribs, so it fits through doorways and can be easily moved from room to room.
Pros
- Convertible
- Sustainable option
- On wheels
Cons
- Expensive
How to Choose the Best Small Space Baby Products
Instead of filling your baby registry with what sounds good, really consider what will be used right away, and consider asking for gift certificates to purchase gear when you actually need it down the line. Then, when it’s time to stock up on those in-the-moment essentials, heed this advice courtesy of our baby gear experts:
- Check dimensions and weight: Size really does matter when you have a small nursery to stash everything, so look for miniature versions of the essentials like cribs, strollers, high chairs and bouncers.
- Opt for products with more than one function: You’re bound to save space if you can find products that pull double duty. The Doona is a great example of this, since it serves as both a stroller and a car seat in one. There are also many portable cribs that can function as a contained play space for your kiddo—and, bonus, most of these fold up nice and compactly for storage.
- Look for products that fold flat (or close to it): Nowadays, you can find a folding version of just about anything, including baby bath tubs, mini cribs, bouncers, high chairs and more.
- Focus on aesthetics: When space is limited, invest in attractive gear you won’t mind looking at all the time. This way, it won’t seem like such a bummer if you can’t find a good place to store the item.
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Consider resale value: Many of the best space-saving products are expensive, which can be attributed to their advanced design features. Even if you have to splurge now, consider the fact that these more sophisticated baby essentials tend to hold their resale value really well. Plus, selling or giving away gear (via a service like GoodBuy Gear!) as your child grows is the best way to declutter a small space (or any place really) and save money in the longrun.
If you’re short on space, don’t stress. Today, there are a plethora of options for new parents who want to conserve space or save money on baby gear.
