Choosing Baby Products: What Every Parent Should Know

First published March 2017
Updated August 2026

Getting ready for a new baby means making a lot of decisions, including which nursery products to get. Nursery products include items like cribs, bassinets, strollers, swings, highchairs, and baby carriers. While most products are safe when used correctly, some may have been recalled or may not be the best choice for your baby. Taking a few simple steps can help keep your baby safer. When choosing products, remember the 4 Rs – do your research, check for recalls, register the product, and read the manual.

Do Your Research

Before buying, borrowing, or receiving a nursery product, look for information from a trusted organization about which types of products are both useful and safe for your baby. They will have the newest research and the most up-to-date recommendations. Here are a few resources we recommend:

• Nationwide Children’s is a great resource for child safety information:NationwideChildrens.org/cirp-nursery-safety
• The American Academy of Pediatrics has a parent-friendly website:HealthyChildren.org
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: cpsc.gov

Check for Recalls

Go towww.recalls.govand search the products you’re considering bringing into your home to see if they have been recalled. While you are there, sign up to receive alerts about future recalls. If you’re using a secondhand nursery product, check for recalls before using it. There is a new recall for a nursery product about every two weeks in the U.S., and up to 80% of recalled children’s products remain in homes following a recall.

Register your Product

When you bring a new product into your home, make sure to register your purchase with the manufacturer. This helps them contact you if there is a recall. There’s usually a postcard that comes with the product or the packaging might direct you to complete a form on the manufacturer’s website. If you no longer have the registration card or the manual, go directly to the manufacturer’s official website and look for their support or registration page so you can fill out the form online

Read the Manual

Take a few minutes to read the manual before you use it so you can learn how the product works, when to lock it, when to buckle, where to use it, and where not to use it. Make sure the product is right for your child’s age, size, and stage of development.

Looking for more information about a specific nursery product? Check out these Nationwide Children’s Hospital resources:

• Nursery (cribs, portable cribs and playpens, changing tables, and general tips)
• Strollers
• Cribs
• Baby carriers
• Car seats and child passenger safety
• High chairs