Newborn NavigatorAbout Newborn Navigator
(and the very over-prepared human behind it)
Hi, I'm Branden 👋🏾
I'm a first-time parent and a massive over-planner. When I found out we were having a baby, I handled the planning anxiety by doing what I do best: going way, way, WAY too deep on research. I watched hours of YouTube reviews, read blogs, asked friends, and built ridiculous spreadsheets… because the idea of going into parenthood without a concrete plan was too terrifying.
While going down the rabbit hole of newborn planning, I found there to be an overwhelming amount of content that was either overly generic, or brand-sponsored and biased. I started aggregating research to cut through the noise. Is using that research to build an entire blog a little overboard? My wife says yes*. But hey, now you get to benefit from it.
*She wants me to mention that despite this all being overkill, she has helped me build and vet several of these guides (she's a Pediatric NP).
My condensed newborn research.
Built for overwhelmed first-time parents who want fewer, better choices and realistic advice.
Disclaimer
I'm not a medical professional, child-safety technician, or certified expert of any kind. I'm just a first-time parent who copes with stress by doing way too much research. The benefit of my position is that I'm entirely unbiased and not sponsored by any brand or product.
Nothing on this site should be taken as medical or professional advice. For safety or health questions, always talk to your pediatrician or a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
Why this exists
There's a ton of baby gear content out there, and it's difficult to cut through the clutter.
I wanted the thing I couldn't find: clear, opinionated guides that explain what actually matters, what doesn't, and which specific products are worth your money.
Partly just because I love building things, and this is a fun way to share my research with the world.
What you'll get here
My registry brain dump and research, cleaned up for humans who don't have time to read through 100+ pages of blog posts.
Straightforward guides for categories like strollers, car seats, sleep, feeding, etc.
Real-world notes from friends and parents who've actually used this stuff
How to use this site
Think of this like having a very over-prepared friend walk you through your registry.
If you just want the answer, skip to the 'What We Picked' section in each baby gear guide.
If you like the nerdy details: tap 'Show all the context' at the top of a guide to see all the content.
Look for the Bottle of Approval
Whenever you see the bottle icon, it means that tip or product is verified by real parents I know and trust, and not just internet reviews.
My principles
Fewer, better choices instead of endless catalogs.
Honest tradeoffs: I'll tell you when something is heavy, fiddly, or overhyped.
Parent-first, not brand-first. No sponsored rankings.
Safety and sanity beat aesthetics every time.
Opinionated, but flexible enough for your preferences.
Who this is for
First-time parents who want clarity, not chaos.
Researchers who like context but hate 20 open tabs.
Busy parents who just want a short list of solid options.
Anyone building a registry and trying to avoid both over-buying and under-preparing.
What this is not
Not an exhaustive database of every product on the market.
Not a replacement for medical or safety advice from your pediatrician.
Not here to convince you that you need 100+ gadgets to be a good parent.