The most important thing you can give your baby is love and attention. Babies strive on interaction with their parents, but that doesn’t mean you can implement some other helpful gadgets into your baby’s world. There are tons of different “must have” baby gadgets out there, and you might be a bit overwhelmed trying to figure out what to get.

Remember not to worry about what other parents buy for their babies—it isn’t a contest, although it might seem that way sometimes. Your baby isn’t going suffer if you don’t buy every single gadget available. If you want to buy everything, you can, but you don’t have to. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with what is out there, and then choose the ones that will work best for your family’s needs.

Baby Gym & Play Mats –Your baby can have fun with these before he or she is able to sit or stand up. Younger babies can practice lifting the head, reaching, and sitting up on the gyms. The gyms come with different toys, activities, and sometimes even music, so they will continue to provide fun as your baby gets older.

Exersaucer – These stationary play centers are also called baby activity centers, baby play saucers, and stationary play circles. Exersaucers are a safer alternative to baby walkers. They look and act a lot like a walker, but instead of allowing the baby to move around the room, the exersaucer is stationary. Your baby can practice standing while playing with attached toys.

Bouncer – These small baby seats have a removable pad that adapts to your baby’s body shape. They allow your baby to relax at an angle, and spring, bounce, or rock when your baby moves. The seats are supposed to be relaxing and soothing for the babies, helping to lull them to sleep.

Baby Swing – Safe swings are fun for your baby. You strap them in, adjust the setting, and watch him or her check out the surroundings or play with little toys attached to the swing. There are a lot of different options to consider when buying a swing—do you want one that reclines? What are the different speeds offered? You will want to find the swing that will best suit the needs of you and your baby.

Bumbo Baby Seat – These soft, sturdy chairs let your baby sit up on their own. There has been some controversy about these seats because they can tip, so you should not place up high (like on a table or counter). With supervision, these seats are handy for your baby.