Baby gear, researched
Buy Baby Gear That Fits Your Baby, Your Home and the Safety Rules
We compare swings, carriers, bottle warmers and more on the facts that decide whether they work for you: the maker's limits, the US safety standard, how to use them safely, and the price on the day we checked.
Latest Buying Guides
StrollersGraco Strollers Compared: Full-Size, Travel, Jogging and DoubleFive Graco strollers compared on weight, fold, car seat fit and price: Modes Pramette, Ready2Jet, Outpace LX, Gomax frame and Ready2Grow double.
StrollersBest Umbrella Strollers: Light, Cheap and Compact PicksUmbrella and lightweight strollers from Summer, Kolcraft, Ingenuity, Dream On Me and gb compared on weight, harness, weight limit and fold size.
NurseryBest Play Yards and Travel Cribs: Pack 'N Plays ComparedPlay yards and travel cribs from Graco, BabyBjorn, Joovy and Dream On Me compared on size, bassinet, weight and fold, with the CPSC play yard rule.
StrollersBest Double Strollers: Tandem, Side-by-Side and Jogging PicksDouble strollers from Graco, Baby Trend, Jeep, Dream On Me and Baby Jogger compared on width, weight limits, car seat fit and price.
NurseryBest Crib Mattresses: Firm, Tight-Fitting and Waterproof PicksCrib mattresses from Graco, Newton, Sealy and Serta compared on firmness, size, cover and price, with the CPSC crib mattress rule and AAP safe sleep advice.
Car SeatsBest Convertible Car Seats for Babies and ToddlersConvertible and all-in-one car seats from Graco, Safety 1st and Cybex compared on rear-facing limits, booster modes and price, with NHTSA's rear-facing advice.Latest Articles
SafetyWhat Is a Stage 2 Car Seat? Car Seat Stages 1 to 4 ExplainedA stage 2 car seat is a forward-facing seat with a harness. How the numbered stages map to what NHTSA and the AAP recommend, and when a child moves up.
SafetyThe AAP's Car Seat Stages: Four Steps and a Back Seat RuleThe AAP's 2018 policy gives four car seat stages and one back seat rule. Here is what it recommends, why it says to delay each move and how NHTSA's advice compares.
SafetyStroller and Carrier Injuries: What 20 Years of ER Data ShowAbout 17,000 young children a year were treated in US emergency rooms for stroller or carrier injuries. What two studies found, who is hurt most and what it means.Tools
Baby Gear Age CheckerEnter the date on a crib, bassinet, stroller, high chair, carrier or swing label to see which version of the federal safety standard it was made under, from CPSC data.Car Seat Stage FinderEnter your child's age and your seat's limits to see which car seat stage NHTSA recommends: rear-facing, forward-facing with a harness, booster or seat belt.Kids Shoe Size CalculatorMeasure your child's foot and get their US shoe size, from baby size 1 to big kid 7Y, with width from foot circumference. Based on Stride Rite's size chart.
Safety rules firstEach guide starts from the CPSC standard and pediatric safe-use advice for that product.
Maker specs, checkedLimits and sizes come from the maker's own pages, and we flag where listings disagree.
Named sourcesEvery guide lists the pages it relies on, from the CPSC rule to the maker's manual.