10 of the best IKEA baby products
From flannels to cots, the Swedish homeware store is stocked with affordable and smart baby essentials for new parents
There are very few of us who haven’t made a trip to Ikea to kit out a first home with furniture and homeware. But you may not realise that you can get almost everything you need for your baby and toddler too!
The Swedish company has an extensive range of nursery and babycare products, in a range of prices, but it's safe to say none of these items will break the bank.
And as you'd expect from IKEA they all share a modernist, unisex and well-thought-out design approach.
Here are 10 of our favourite IKEA items to see you through bedtime, mealtimes, bathtime and playtime with your baby…
1. Ikea Sundvik Cot, £120
Budget doesn’t have to mean cheap, as this cot proves. Made from beech and measuring 70cm x 140cm, it is solid and sturdy, with two height options for the base to ensure your baby sleeps safely.
Once your child is able to climb out or ready for a toddler bed, one side removes for a gentle transition. Available in brown or white. Mattresses are sold separately but start from £25.
You can buy Ikea Sundvik from Ikea
2. Ikea Krama Washcloths, £3 for 10
A multitasking product is worth its weight in gold, especially when it is this much of a bargain. This set of 100% cotton washcloths can be used for everything from burping your baby and bath time, to wiping off your own make up.
They will machine wash again and again, dry quickly and each one has a different rainbow coloured corner loop for identification and hanging.
You can buy Ikea Krama from Ikea
3. Ikea Stuva Changing Table, £90
Using a changing table can be a lifesaver for your back but often feels like an expensive, bulky purchase that is redundant fairly quickly. The beauty of this one is that it fits into small rooms thanks to its compact 90cm x 79cm x 102cm dimensions and you convert it to a child’s desk or play space afterwards by lowering the top.
There’s also loads of storage and you can add on the Stuva/Folja set of four drawers for £60, which come with brightly coloured stickers for the handles to match to your nursery colour scheme. Suitable to use from birth to 3 years (15kg)
You can buy Ikea Stuva from Ikea
4. Ikea Leka Baby Gym, £20
A baby gym is a key piece of kit to keep your little one stimulated and encourage those arms and legs to get moving. This classic wooden one is much more stylish than many others on the market and we especially love the unisex primary colours.
It’s also a brilliant space saver thanks to its shape, meaning you can easily pop it out of the way, and it can be used as a toy bar when your child is in a bouncer too. Suitable to use from birth.
You can buy the Ikea Leka from Ikea
5. Ikea Bussig Towel, £10
Keep your baby nice and cosy after a bath with this terry cloth hooded towel, made from 100% sustainable cotton, which is machine washable and suitable for tumble drying.
It is a generous size (125cm x 60cm) meaning it will last right into toddlerhood, and it has a handy loop so you can hang it up to on a hook to dry or store.
You can buy the Ikea Bussig from Ikea
6. Ikea Tovig Bouncer, £35
This bouncy chair has a similar style to the classic BabyBjorn bouncer, but at a fraction of the cost. It’s a lightweight and comfy spot for your baby to watch the world go by, with a soothing bouncing motion which is activated by your foot or your child’s movements.
The attractive blue and red fabric is machine-washable and it folds flat so you can store it easily or take it on trips. Suitable from birth to 6 months (9kg).
You can buy Ikea Tovig from Ikea
7. Ikea Patrull Bathmat, £9
Take the terror out of bath time with this jolly crocodile shaped rubber mat. It has loads of underside grips to keep it in place, with a textured top side to reduce sliding.
It’s nice and long too (90cm) to give good coverage, rolls up compactly for storage and travel, and has three handy holes so you can hang it to dry afterwards.
You can buy Ikea Patrull from Ikea
8. Ikea Antilop Highchair, £9 (£14 with tray)
This no-frills white highchair won’t win any prizes for beauty but it is sturdy, easy to clean and simple to use - which has made it a perennial hit with many parents. It’s also a fraction of the cost of any other highchair on the market, even when you ‘splash out’ an extra fiver for the tray.
While it doesn’t fold up, it is very light and the legs can be removed for storage, as can the tray, which allows it to be pushed up to the table for family meals. It is also comfier than you’d expect and keeps your baby very secure, with a three-piece safety harness included. Suitable from 6 months to 3 years (15kg).
You can buy the Ikea Antilop from Ikea
Our full review of the Ikea Antilop
9. Ikea Mata Eating Set, £2.50
No weaning baby could possibly resist trying a bit of sweet potato puree when it is served up in this adorable frog-themed dinner set, which contains all the essentials to get you started.
The four-piece kit include a spoon, sippy cup with two handles, bowl with a suction base and bib with handy lip for catching stray food and an adjustable neck fastening. The bowl and cup can both be used in the microwave, and the whole set is dishwasher proof.
You can buy Ikea Mata from Ikea
10. Ikea Lockig Potty, £6
Toilet training is a messy business but the bowl section of this unisex white and green potty can be removed for easy disposal of wees and poos (not to mention cleaning).
It’s also shaped to be extra comfortable, with a higher than usual back, and a well thought out ‘pee guard’ for little boys. The base has an anti-slip surface too.
You can buy the Ikea Lockig from Ikea
We've got more of the best products for babies and toddlers here...
Authors
Alex is the former deputy editor of Prima Baby, and mum to 2 boys.
Create the perfect wishlist for your baby with MyCrib
Are you expecting and don't know where to start? Discover how MyCrib can help you build your dream wishlist. You can add products from any site with just one click and even use MyCrib's buying assistant to help get you started.