The status symbols that parents are obsessed with in 2024
Parents with disposable income have been turning to certain luxury baby and toddler brands.
The Snoo smart bassinet has a high price tag, but some parents swear by it.
These are the brands and items that have become status symbols.
Becoming a parent is a whirlwind of emotions. It also means spending a lot of money on items for the new baby.
While babies need very little — a safe place to sleep, diapers, and to be fed around the clock — parents with disposable income often turn to high-end products that offer extra features and stylish designs.
As a parent of three kids under the age of 6, I've seen the same products make the rounds over and over again from momfluencer Instagram accounts, celebrities, and friends' baby registries.
Here are some of the most popular status symbol brands and products for babies and why parents are obsessed with them.
The smart bassinet beloved by celebrities
The Snoo was invented by celebrity pediatrician Harvey Karp and has been on the market for almost a decade. Celebrity parents like Zoe Saldaña and Justin Timberlake love it.
The appeal of the Snoo is not just its minimalistic design but also the promise that the smart bassinet will soothe babies back to sleep, allowing parents to sleep more during those crucial first months. The bassinet sways while playing white noise, and if the baby fusses, the movement and volume go up to help them fall back asleep.
The bassinet retails for $1,695 and can be rented for a monthly fee of $159.
A car seat and a stroller in one
It can be overwhelming to find car seats and strollers because there are so many options. The Doona car seat makes it easier with a car seat that has wheels and easily converts into a stroller.
The Doona is another celebrity favorite, with Suki Waterhouse, Kourtney Kardashian, Paris Hilton, and many more choosing it to transport their kids.
Perfect for city-dwelling parents because it's easy to install in any car, the Doona retails for $550 and can hold kids up to 35 pounds or 32 inches (whichever they hit first).
Two brands dominate the luxury stroller market
There are endless stroller options, from travel strollers to multiple kid strollers. But two products dominate the luxury stroller market: UppaBaby's Vista stroller and Bugaboo's Donkey stroller.
While pregnant with my first child, I debated which of these two to buy. I ended up going with the Vista because its frame is narrower, allowing me to walk through single doors with the stroller.
While my kids don't use strollers anymore, I still get texts from friends asking which of these two is a better option.
Both strollers have similar specs: they come with a bassinet for infants and a seat for when a baby can hold their head up. They both have a single adjustable push bar, big sturdy wheels, and ample storage space.
The Vista retails for $999.99 and the Donkey for $1,499.
A Scandinavian high chair that grows with your child
The Norwegian brand Stokke launched its famous Tripp Trapp high chair in 1972. The chair has become a status symbol because of its sleek design and practicality, and it's beloved by influencers for its simplicity.
The high chair grows with your child and can even be turned into a stool for older kids and adults.
The chair retails for $299 to $399 and is available in 10 different colors.
An easy to clean changing pad
The $149 Peanut Kekaroo changer is so popular that its website only allows people to buy two per order. It's no surprise since parenting websites have consistently voted it one of the best changing pads for babies.
Since becoming a parent in 2018 I've seen this changing pad in every baby registry my friends have put together.
Word of mouth has turned it into a parent favorite because it makes changing diapers easy, as the rubber texture prevents babies from slipping. It's also easy to clean if accidents happen — which they do, all the time.
A diaper bag ready for anything
Leaving the house with a baby means parents need to carry so many things: diapering items, feeding items, extra clothes, a collection of pacifiers, and the beloved stuffie that can never get lost.
The trendy Dagne Dover Indi diaper bag, named a diaper bag for modern parents by Vogue, helps you keep track of everything.
It has enough compartments to separate items and includes a Neoprene sleeve for dirty clothes or diapers. The bag also has several outside pockets for must-reach items like wipes and keys.
The Indi diaper bag comes in three sizes and 11 colors. The larger bag retails for $219.
A crib out of a fairy tale nursery
Oeuf is a pricey Brooklyn-based baby brand that strives for sustainability in a market known for generating lots of waste.
The brand uses recyclable materials like birch wood in its furniture, including the $975 Moss crib.
The crib has been featured in Vogue as a "must-have" baby item. Celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Liv Tyler have also shared photos of their nurseries featuring the Oeuf crib.
To make it the ultimate status symbol, you can add the $499 Newton baby mattress, which is breathable, washable, and can keep your baby cool. Because leaks happen, there's a waterproof option that retails for $399. A $280 kit to convert the crib into a toddler bed is also sold separately.
Hands-free pumps
Nothing is more time-consuming for new parents than feeding a baby, and the idea that breastfeeding is free doesn't take into account the number of hours someone has to spend hooked to a baby or pump for those first six months.
While many insurance plans cover regular pumps, the next big trend is getting a hands-free pump that allows parents to do other things while pumping. Brittany Mahomes shared a photo of herself using a hands-free pump while doing pilates, and Blake Lively has been seen wearing one too.
Two brands stand out as being beloved by parents: the $400 Willow and the $550 Elvie.
Having used both myself, I can say they are pretty comparable.
A baby carrier that costs almost as much as a stroller
I often see people asking in luxury goods Facebook groups where people buy and sell products if anyone is selling their Artipoppe baby carrier.
The carriers are priced from $370 for a standard carrier to $3,800 for a 30% cashmere carrier and come in over a dozen prints and fabrics, some of which need to be hand-washed.
All Artipoppe carriers are designed for use from birth until 2 years old. They can be carried facing in, facing out, or as a backpack.
A minimalistic balance bike
The Iimo balance bike stands out because of its minimalist design and limited color scheme — it's only available in white and red.
The Japanese brand launched in the US in 2019 with the goal of bringing stylish and practical products to American parents. It has won several design awards in Japan for its balance bike and tricycle.
The bike retails for $280 for the balance option and $388 for the bike plus the pedal kit to turn it into a regular bike. Other similar balance bikes, like the Retrospect balance bike, retail for just $69.99.
A diaper that is up for a challenge
Having had twins, I've tried all the diapers on the market. There was a clear winner when it came to keeping my babies dry overnight: Coterie diapers.
While they don't come in cute prints like other brands, the quality is unparalleled. Models and moms Karlie Kloss and Ashley Graham not only have used the diapers with their kids, but have become ambassadors of the brand. Kloss is also an investor in the brand.
Sizes range from newborn (under 10 pounds) to seven (over 41 pounds) and retail for $90 without the autorenewal options. If you choose to auto-renew, you get a 10% discount.
A smart baby monitor that tracks sleep
Sleep is essential for kids as they grow, so it's no surprise that parents with disposable income are going for the Nanit Pro baby monitor.
The Nanit offers a sensor-free breathing band that can be used when the baby is a newborn up to 3 months old. After that, a sleep tracking subscription option lets parents see how many hours a child has slept and get insights on what they should adjust. The app also shows the temperature and humidity in the room.
Beyond the extra features, the camera's definition in the dark is excellent, allowing parents to keep an eye on their little ones even in the darkest of rooms.
Celebrity moms like Gigi Hadid and Halsey put the Nanit in their baby registries.
The camera can be mounted on a floor stand or on the wall and retails for $249 to $399.
An airline-approved ride-on suitcase
Traveling with kids can be stressful, especially with little ones who can't walk long distances. The Jet Kids ride-on suitcase solves that problem.
Kids as young as 3 can ride on the suitcase, which can also store their favorite stuffie inside so it's not left behind at TSA. The suitcase turns any airplane seat into a bed by filling up the footrest gap, making travel more comfortable for kids. Travel influencers swear by it, saying it makes traveling with little kids easier.
The Jet Kids ride-on suitcase is light enough that you can also carry it from the strap if needed. It comes in seven colors and retails for $229.
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