The best pregnancy pillows

The Bluestone Full Body Maternity Pillow is a generously sized pillow that provides great support even for taller women.

The Bluestone Full Body Maternity Pillow is a half-foot longer and more than a half-foot wider than many popular pregnancy pillows. Its extra-large size allows even taller women with broader frames to comfortably balance their bellies and align their knees and hips, thus taking the strain off the lower back, spine, and shoulders during sleep.

The drawback to that generous size is that the pillow takes up much more than half the width of a standard queen-size bed, as queen mattresses are usually 60-inches wide. Thus you'll need a very patient partner if you share a queen-sized bed. If you have a king-size mattress, it will still take up about half of the bed because king mattresses are usually 76-inches wide.

The large size and 7.25-pound weight of this polyester filled, cotton-covered pillow also make it impractical to bring with you during travels.

Wirecutter named this their top pick for the best pregnancy pillows, saying "The horseshoe-like profile hugs and supports the lower back better than other shapes, and it can also be flipped around so you can use your own head pillow, which many pregnancy pillows can't accommodate."

Do also note, however, that some women reported the pillow as being too thin to give adequate belly support during late-term pregnancy, though it can be fluffed fuller with a bit of effort.

Pros: Low price point, good choice for taller women

Cons: Too large for some beds, flattens out with use

Buy the Bluestone Full Body Maternity Pillow on Amazon for $37.18

The Leachco Back 'N Belly Chic Contoured Body Pillow helps you properly align and support your ankles, knees, hips, spine, and belly.

While the Leachco Back 'N Belly Chic Contoured Body Pillow is primarily marketed as a maternity pillow, in fact, many of the people who use are not only not pregnant women, but are in fact not even women at all. This large, generously stuffed pillow can help reduce the aches and pains associated with scoliosis, sciatica, chronic back pain, and more. It can also simply prop up a side sleeper who is looking for more comfort, no defined medical condition necessary.

As a maternity pillow, the Leachco Back n Belly Chic Contoured Pillow is a favorite of many expectant mothers thanks to its adaptability. The open ends of the pillow can be set farther apart when a shallower support is needed and can be layered over one another to create thicker, more supportive padding as the pregnancy progresses.

The soft fill allows a belly to settle in comfortably, while the blended cotton and polyester cover helps to wick away moisture and moderate body heat during rest.

After birth, this pillow can help a mother relax or sleep in comfort as her body recovers, easily shifting into varied positions as the healing progresses.

One mother appreciated how this pillow had "enough stuffing to actually support [her] belly," while another gushed that the Leachco Back n Belly Chic Contoured Pillow "has absolutely changed [her] comfort level at night."

A product tester from MyNaturalBabyBirth noted that Leachco pillows don't contain "chemicals in the fabric," while a video review from Andrea Wright said it offered "full body support."

Pros: Generous volume of filling, adjustable positioning, poly-cotton blend cover

Cons: Rather expensive option

Buy the Leachco Back 'N Belly Chic Contoured Body Pillow on Amazon for $84.99 Buy the Leachco Back 'N Belly Chic Contoured Body Pillow from Bed Bath & Beyond for $84.99

Any pregnant woman who years to sleep stomach down will love the convenient cutout design of the Back & Bump Cozy Bump Maternity Pillow.

You are probably not going to spend an entire night sleeping on the Back & Bump Cozy Bump Maternity Pillow, as doing so would be something of a balancing act and would require zero position adjustment to boot. But for the pregnant woman looking for temporary relief of lower back pain or who just wants to enjoy the feeling of resting face down for a little while, this unique pregnancy pillow is a great purchase.

The body-length inflatable pillow features a large cutout circle offset above the middle its 72-inch length, and into this hollow space goes a pregnant belly. Thus the woman can lie face down in the same position she enjoyed for all those years when she wasn't growing a new human in her womb.

The Cozy Bump Maternity Pillow is great for use while an expectant mom watches TV, reads, gets a massage, or just relaxing for a while. As noted, it's not a great choice for use in bed at night, because of the risk of rolling off and because, unlike other pregnancy body pillows, this one doesn't allow for any uses but the facedown prone position.

But the pillow has been evaluated and approved both by OB/GYNs and chiropractors, and is a great choice for occasional daytime use. Note that you will need to procure an air pump separately, or else plan to really develop your lung capacity.

One woman who got the Cozy Bump Maternity Pillow at 32 weeks of pregnancy said it provided her "instant back relief," while another said she "truly recommend[s] this for any woman that desperately misses tummy [rest during] pregnancy."

Today called the Cozy Bump Maternity Pillow a unique way to try to "relieve lower back pain," while an All About Baby's World said it can also help ease hip and pelvic pain.

Pros: Allows for stomach down resting, relieves back pain, packs down small when deflated

Cons: Not suitable for all night slumber, some units suffer from tears and punctures

Buy the Back & Bump Cozy Bump Maternity Pillow on Amazon for $99

Some women don't need a person-sized pillow for comfortable rest during pregnancy, they just need some belly bump support, and that's just what the Hiccapop Pregnancy Pillow Wedge provides.

During the later weeks of a pregnancy, many women report pain in their lower backs, their hips, their knees, and at just about every other joint in the body. For these long-suffering expectant mothers, a body-sized maternity pillow can help align the legs, pelvis, back, and shoulders, and can prop up the belly to reduce strain on the spine and the muscles of the abdomen. Other expectant moms, however, simply need some extra support underneath that growing baby. For them, the Hiccapop Pregnancy Pillow Wedge is the perfect tool.

This soft and supportive wedge-shaped pillow can tuck under a pregnant belly to help prop up side-sleeping recumbent woman, reducing the strain and pressure caused by that bump pulling against her center mass.

One side of the pillow features a soft memory foam that conforms to the belly for maximum comfort while the other side is made up of a firmer padding that provides even more support such as may be needed later on in the pregnancy. Both sides of the wedge pillow feature an outer layer of perforated foam that allows for airflow and helps to regulate body temperature.

While the Hiccapop Pregnancy Pillow Wedge was primarily designed to slide underneath a the belly of a side-sleeping expectant mother, it can also be tucked between the knees or ankles to align the legs or behind the lower back while a mother (or anyone else needing lumber support for that matter) sits up in bed, on the couch, or in a chair.

A product reviewer with HQText highlighted how the pillow is "compact and can be used almost anywhere," while a writer from BabyDotDot appreciated the two-sided design that allowed for customized support.

Pros: Provides targeted support, dual-sided design, affordable price point

Cons: Not as effective as larger pillows for back pain

Buy the Hiccapop Pregnancy Pillow Wedge on Amazon for $22.92

The best baby carriers you can buy

A baby carrier lets you and your little one explore the world together. You'll be glad to have your hands free and your child nestled close, while babies love feeling warm and secure. A good baby carrier is designed with both you and your baby's ergonomic needs in mind. These are our top picks for the best baby carriers:

• Best baby carrier overall: Ergobaby OMNI 360 All-in-One Carrier
• Best low-cost baby carrier: Infantino Flip Advanced 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Carrier
• Best baby carrier for hiking: Clevr Baby Backpack 202 Cross Country Carrier
• Best for carrier for newborn babies: Moby Wrap Baby Carrier
• Best baby carrier for parent comfort: Stokke MyCarrier Front/Back 3-in-1 Baby Carrier

The best strollers you can buy

With the right stroller, you and your young one are ready for anything, from a quick trip to the stores to a week-long overseas vacation. Here are the best strollers you can buy:

• Best stroller overall: Nuna DEMI Grow Stroller
• Best stroller for multi-kid families: UPPAbaby Vista
• Best affordable stroller: Summer Infant 3Dlite Convenience Stroller
• Best rugged umbrella stroller: Ergobaby Metro
• Best jogging stroller: Chicco Tre

The best car seats

Car seats are one of the most critical pieces of gear parents with young kids need, but they're also one of the most overwhelming items to buy. We've cut through the myriad options to find the best ones for kids of all ages. Here are our top picks:

• Best infant car seat: Chicco KeyFit 30
• Best budget infant car seat: Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30
• Best lightweight infant car seat: Nuna PIPA Lite LX
• Best convertible car seat: Chicco NextFit Zip
• Best budget convertible car seat: Evenflo Triumph LX
• Best harness-to-booster seat: Britax Frontier ClickTight
• Best budget harness-to-booster seat: Evenflo Maestro
• Best booster seat: Graco Affix Booster Seat
• Best budget booster seat: Harmony Youth Booster

The best sleep sack

To ensure that a baby stays warm and safe without a blanket, many parents buy sleep sacks, which are essentially wearable blankets. When I looked at the best sleep sacks to keep your baby warm and safe, I evaluated each one based on material, design, and cost.

• Best wool sleep sack: Merino Kids Baby Sleep Bag for Babies
• Best summer sleep sack: The Nested Bean Zen Sack Classic
• Best winter sleep sack: Baby Deedee Sleep Nest Sleeping Sack
• Best organic sleep sack: Burt's Bees Baby Beekeeper Wearable Blanket