Fathercraft.com

Are wifi baby monitors safe?

Mark Zalewski — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 03:03:14 +0000

When parents ask the question, “are wifi baby monitors safe?” They’re really asking 4 questions:

Can wifi baby monitors be hacked?
What happens when when my wifi goes out?
What about EMF radiation?
Ok, given all this, what monitors should I actually consider buying?

We’re going to dive into all 4 of these topics. But, spoiler alert, we think questions 2, 3, and 4 deserve most of your attention. So, feel free to skip ahead by clicking, or tapping:

Wifi baby monitor hacking & security
What happens when your wifi goes out?
Wifi baby monitors and EMF radiation
The only monitors you should consider buying

Question 1: Are wifi baby monitors secure? What about hacking?

Consider the following:

Just about any device connected to the internet is hackable
This includes wifi baby monitors
Non-wifi monitors can also be hacked, but this requires physical proximity and higher skill
A wifi monitor’s security also depends on your wifi network security
There’s no financial incentive for hacking a baby monitor. You can’t extract money from the monitor, or from a baby
Wifi baby monitor companies know that parents are very worried about hacking. So, the big brands (see below) have put tons of money and research into security. All things considered, they’re probably over-engineered from a security perspective.

You are welcome to draw your own conclusion from these statements. Here’s our take: wifi baby monitor hacking is kind of like shark attacks… if the shark had no teeth and the tensile jaw strength of your neighbor’s Chihuahua. That is to say:

Extremely rare
Still scary
Even if it happens, you’re all gonna be fine

Action plan: buy from a reputable company, whether you choose wifi or non-wifi. Buying the cheapest monitor on Amazon ain’t gonna cut it. Our picks below.

Question 2: what happens if my wifi goes out?

Wifi baby monitor companies LOVE to brag about signal quality and 4k resolution. But here’s the thing: a wifi monitor is only as strong as its weakest link. And for most monitors, that’s your wifi network. So, if your wifi sucks or has dead spots or outages—your monitor’s going to as well.

There’s one more potential weak link you also need to worry about with most wifi monitors: your phone, and the monitor’s app. If you’ve got notifications silenced or if the monitor’s app is buggy, you’ve got problems.

Knowing this, here’s what your plan needs to be:

Test the location(s) you plan to have your baby sleep before buying a wifi monitor. Pro tip here: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies sleep in their parents room (though NOT their parents bed) for the first 6 months. So, if you have trouble watching Netflix in bed, chances are your monitor’s gonna have problems. Go ahead and test the nursery for months 7 onward, too.
Choose a reputable brand that’s thought through notification strategy and invested in a high quality app for your phone or iPad.
Consider a monitor with a dedicated “parent unit” (screen). All non-wifi monitors have these, but there are now a few wifi monitor companies that offer dedicated screens, too—more on that below.

Question 3: what about wifi baby monitors and EMF radiation?

If you’ve ever Googled “WiFi baby monitor radiation,” you know it’s a minefield of fear-mongering, marketing spin, and confusing science. Instead of trying to sort internet fact from fiction, I tested some of the most popular monitors myself, using a professional EMF meter and a repeatable setup. My goal? A definitive answer to a question parents have been asking for years—are wifi baby monitors safe, or do they emit harmful EMF radiation?

This is the companion blog post to our video — breaking down how we tested, what we measured, what the science says about those numbers, and how our results compare with published research.

Wi Fi baby monitors emit the same type of radiation as your microwave. Except instead of heating up leftover pizza, they’re pointed directly at your infant’s skull sixteen hours a day. So I bought nine of the most popular monitors, Wi Fi and non Wi Fi alike, and tested them with a two hundred dollar professional grade EMF meter. What I found completely flipped everything I thought I knew about monitor safety. I’m Mark with Fathercraft, and today I’m going to show you exactly what the data says, what it means for your baby, and which monitors you should actually be worried about. When parents ask, are Wi Fi baby monitors safe? What they really mean is three things. One, can they be hacked? Two, what happens when your Wi Fi goes out? And three, what about this thing called EMF radiation? In this video, we’re focusing on question number three. Do Wi Fi baby monitors emit radiation? But you should hit the subscribe button because questions one and two are legitimate concerns we’ll cover in a future video. Now before I show you the data, we need to talk about why this question is so confusing in the first place. Because if you go looking for clear answers on whether Wi Fi baby monitors are safe, you won’t find them. So let’s start with what the industry wants you to believe. Now you might be thinking, but baby monitors are FCC approved. They have safety certifications. There are standards. Yes. There are standards. But here’s where it gets weird. Phones are tested against something called the SAM Phantom. That’s specific anthropomorphic mannequin. Basically, a fake head modeled after a six two, two hundred and twenty pound military recruit. That test gives us a number called SAAR, specific absorption rate. Translation, how much radiation gets soaked up by a hunk of fake human meat. The FCC caps phones at one point six watts per kilogram. So, yes, your iPhone was literally tested by blasting a plastic soldier head until it glowed like a Hot Pocket. Now for reference, I’m six three, two thirty, probably. My scale is hiding from me. And here’s me holding my two year old son, Hank. So these standards were designed for the guy on the right, but are being applied to the baby on the left. Now baby monitors are tested a little differently than phones. They’re classified as mobile devices that must be kept eight inches or twenty centimeters away from people. So instead of measuring how much energy goes into your head, the test is how loud is the signal in the air eight inches away, which sounds fine until you realize those limits were still built to prevent adult tissue heating. Then we sit these devices next to infants whose skulls are about as thick as a graham cracker. So when companies brag about meeting FCC standards, what they’re really saying is, we’ve proven this won’t cook an adult brain at eight inches distance, which feels like a pretty low bar for infant safety. But here’s where this story goes from mildly concerning to genuinely what the actual A brand new peer reviewed study from SETIA published in twenty twenty five in the medical journal Curious followed a hundred and five babies for an entire year, measured the EMF radiation in their homes using medical grade equipment, and then tracked their development. And what they found should make every parent want to throw their baby monitor directly to the sun. In homes with the highest EMF exposure, infants were two point seven four times more likely to show fine motor delays and three point six seven times more likely to struggle with problem solving skills. That’s not a little concerning. That’s triple the odds in two core areas of early development. Oh, and living near a cell tower? No correlation at all. Which means the radiation messing with these babies wasn’t coming from outside. It was coming from inside the home from devices like this. Now, and this part is important, this is one study. It’s a data point, not an ironclad verdict. It doesn’t prove that every Wi Fi baby monitor is frying neurons like bacon in a pan. It does, however, raise a very loud, very uncomfortable question. Why on earth aren’t we using infant specific safety standards for this? Now you might think, well, okay, but if it’s safe for adults, it’s probably safe for babies. Right? Wrong. Catastrophically wrong. A baby’s skull is two millimeters thick. For comparison, an adult skull is six to seven millimeters thick. That means a baby’s skull provides about as much protection from radiation as a piece of cardboard from a cereal box. But it gets worse. Research shows that infants can absorb up to ten times more radiation than adults from the same source in certain tissues like bone marrow. That’s the difference between getting misted with a spray bottle and being hit with a fire hose. So when safety standards say, this is fine for humans, again, they’re basing that on preventing tissue heating in adults, not protecting developing infant brains that are still figuring out how to make their hands work. Now here’s what’s fascinating. Baby monitor companies clearly know that parents are worried about EMF, and they’re not saying relax, it’s harmless. They’re saying, don’t worry, we engineered around it, which is kind of an admission that there’s something worth engineering around. Nanit designed a directional antenna. Miku claims a thousand times less radiation than a phone. An outlet actually publishes their SAR numbers. So no matter what the marketing spin is, the fact they’re even talking about this tells you everything. This is a real concern and they know it. At this point in our story, it’s safe to say that I have become mildly obsessed. Everyone online says WiFi baby monitors are dangerous. Buy non WiFi monitors instead. So I thought, fine. Let’s actually test that claim. So I bought nine of the most popular baby monitors on the market, six WiFi monitors and three safe non Wi Fi alternatives, and then got one of these to test them. This is a Trifield TF two, a two hundred dollar professional grade EMF meter that measures radio frequency power density in milliwatts per square meter. This is what building biologists and EMF consultants use. Yes. Building biologist is a real career. Apparently, I chose poorly. Anyways, the point is it’s not a thirty dollar Amazon toy. And because I know you’re wondering how I set up this test, first, I measured the background radiation in my house to create a baseline and then tested my WiFi router and I iPhone to ensure the device was calibrated. Then I set up cameras in realistic crib scenarios, wall mounted positions both two feet and five feet above the device, and collected a series of data over the course of a few weeks. Finally, I averaged everything. In fact, I feel so strongly about getting this right that I published my testing methodology and raw data. Check it out at father craft dot com slash e m f. And what I found should make every non Wi Fi baby monitor company deeply uncomfortable. Let’s walk through it. In most homes, background emf is basically nothing. It’s around point zero two milliwatts per square meter. That’s the quiet of modern life. Now let’s talk about the usual suspects. Your phone, while on a call and making contact with the meter, averages around one point zero milliwatts per square meter with spikes up to fourteen. Back it up to two feet, averages drop down to point two, and at five feet, down to point zero five. Your Wi Fi router at contact averages two point o with peaks off the scale at twenty plus. Back it up two feet down to point four. At five feet, point zero eight. Why? Physics. Radio waves follow the inverse square law. Double the distance, intensity drops by roughly seventy five percent. So distance from the source matters. Great. Hold that thought. More on that in a minute. For context, the FCC public exposure limit is ten thousand milliwatts per square meter averaged over time. But remember, that’s designed to prevent adult tissue heating, not protect infants lying next to a device running sixteen hours a day. Alright. So I tested nine monitors. Let me show you what I found. Now before we dig into this, I want you to notice something. See these three monitors? The VTech, Hello Baby, and BabySense. These are the Wi Fi free monitors. The ones commonly thought of as the safer alternative to the big, bad, scary WiFi baby monitors. No WiFi needed, hack proof, radiation free. Except they’re not radiation free, not even close. Let’s start with the WiFi monitors that everyone is supposedly scared of. Peaks at two feet, Nanit Pro, zero point three five milliwatts per square meter, Miku Pro, point three five, Harbor, point six one, Owlette, point six two. Hubo, point nine four. And Cradlewise, two point six five. Pretty low numbers. All orders of magnitude under the FCC limit. Most are barely above background noise. Now let’s look at the safe non WiFi alternatives. Peaks at two feet. VTech, four point five two milliwatts per square meter. Hello, baby, five point one two. BabySense, twelve point six four. BabySense, the monitor that literally has sense in the name and markets itself as a non WiFi alternative, emits thirty six times more radiation than nanic. Thirty six times. Hello Baby and VTech aren’t much better. And here’s the kicker, every single one of these monitors, WiFi or not, operates at two point four gigahertz. That’s the exact same radio band. So what’s going on here? How can the Wi Fi monitors be so much cleaner than the non Wi Fi monitors when they’re using the same frequency? The answer is painfully simple, engineering quality. The WiFi monitors, Nanit, Miku, Harbor, Cubo, Cradlewise, and Owlette are made by companies with actual r and d budgets. They use directional antennas, which beam the signal where it needs to go, not everywhere. Power optimization, which means the signal is only as strong as it needs to be, and quality components, which means efficient transmission and less power is needed overall. The budget non Wi Fi monitors, they use omnidirectional broadcasting, which means they spray the signal in every direction like some possessed garden sprinkler. High power transmission, which means they crank the volume to boost the range and compensate for cheap components. And finally, no EMF optimization whatsoever because they’re marketed as Wi Fi free and safe, so why bother? It’s the electromagnetic equivalent of the difference between a laser pointer and a floodlight. Same light, completely different delivery. And this matters because these budget monitors are being bought by the most concerned parents. The ones who did the research saw WiFi equals radiation and specifically chose the non WiFi option to protect their baby. They paid eighty to a hundred and sixty dollars to expose their infant to up to thirty six times more radiation than the three hundred dollar WiFi monitor they were trying to avoid. And here’s the thing, these budget baby monitor companies know this. They’re not stupid. They just know that no WiFi needed sells better than we cheaped out on the antenna design. Now there is some good news here. Distance still matters. Look at the five foot measurement peaks. BabySense drops from twelve point six four to four point two five. Hello, baby drops from five point one two to one point three two, and VTech drops from four point five two to one point five four. Still way higher than the WiFi monitors at five feet, which dropped to basically nothing, but it does show that distance is your best friend no matter what monitor you own. Even the dirtiest monitor gets dramatically cleaner when you just back it up a few feet. Alright. Now that I’ve scared the out of you, here’s what you can actually do without moving to a cabin in the middle of the woods and putting grounding mats everywhere. If you’re buying a new monitor, the data is clear. If you want a monitor with lower EMF radiation exposure, buy a premium WiFi monitor. Nanit, Miku, Harbor, they’re engineered to be clean. Yes. They cost more, but you’re not just paying for the extra features. You’re paying for the engineering that makes them emit ten to thirty times less radiation. If budget is an issue, buy one of the cheaper monitors, but mount it six plus feet away. Our testing shows that by doubling the distance, you cut exposure by seventy five percent. If you already own a baby monitor, first, check your distance. Most people, myself included prior to this research, mount these two to three feet away from the crib. I’ve also seen a bunch of those cute little articulating arms that mount the monitor on the crib. Do not do that. Back everything up. Six feet minimum. You can do this before your baby’s next nap. It’s free and it’s effective. Second, smart usage patterns. Turn it off when no one’s sleeping. Use audio only during naps if your monitor has that option. You don’t need twenty four seven live streaming like it’s Twitch for grandparents. Look. I get it. This is terrifying information. Maybe you bought a WiFi free monitor specifically to protect your child, and now I’m telling you that it might be doing the exact opposite. It’s a bit like finding out that car seats are made out of dynamite. But here’s the thing. You now have information that most parents don’t have. You can make choices that dramatically reduce any potential risk while still monitoring your baby effectively. This also isn’t about becoming a paranoid parent who wraps their house in aluminum foil. This is about applying the same precautionary thinking that we use everywhere else in parenting. We don’t let babies play with small objects because they might choke. We don’t give them honey because of botulism risk, and we baby proof electrical outlets even though the odds of electrocution are tiny. So why wouldn’t we take these simple steps to minimize radiation exposure when they’re this easy and the potential consequences based on that twenty twenty five study could affect your child’s development. Your baby’s brain is developing at an incredible rate right now. Every connection forming, every neural pathway being built, the premium Wi Fi companies clearly think EMF reduction matters. They’re engineering solutions and marketing their safety features. Maybe we should listen to what their actions are telling us. So here’s what I’m doing. First, I’ve personally moved the monitor I use for my son, Hank, back a couple of feet. It’s free. It’s not really sacrificing image quality, and it feels like a no brainer. Second, I’m publishing all of our testing data and our full methodology to father craft dot com slash e m f. You’ll find the chart we referenced in this video so you can compare your monitor against the others. Don’t see your monitor? Drop it in the comments below. I’ll see if I can keep updating this data over time. And please share this with other parents because right now, most people are choosing baby monitors based on Wi Fi free marketing with zero idea that their eighty dollars safe monitor might be pumping out thirty times more radiation than necessary. Your baby’s developing brain deserves the same informed decision making that you’d apply to car seats, cribs, and baby food. So go check out where that baby monitor is mounted and maybe skip the BabySense. Alright. That’s all for today. Thanks for watching. We’ll see you next time. Adios.

How I tested

Meter used: TriField TF2 (RF mode, measuring in mW/m²).
Devices tested: Nanit Pro, Miku Pro, Harbor, Cradlewise, Owlet, Cubo, vtech, Babysense, HelloBaby. As benchmarks: a cell phone and a WiFi router.
Setup:
- Monitors mounted as they would be in real life.
- Distances tested: 2′ (approximate Cradlewise crib placement) and 5′ (Nanit wall-mount placement).
- Benchmarks (phone and router) also tested at contact (0″), 2′, and 5′.
- Meter placed at pillow height (baby’s head position), pointed up at the monitor.
- Monitors set to video streaming ON.
Recording: For each run, we logged:
- Average (big bottom number): a rolling time average, sampled at 1s, 10s, 20s, and 30s, then reported as the median.
- Peak (tiny top-left number): the largest burst captured in that window.

Device	Distance	Reported Avg (mW/m²)	Reported Peak (mW/m²)	Peak ÷ Avg
Nanit Pro	2′	0.051	0.434	8.6
Nanit Pro	5′	0.032	0.170	5.3
Miku Pro	2′	0.151	0.570	3.8
Miku Pro	5′	0.049	0.410	8.5
Harbor	2′	0.066	0.680	10.3
Harbor	5′	0.066	0.280	4.3
Cradlewise	2′	0.300	2.600	8.7
Cell Phone	Contact	1.000	14.0	14.0
	2′	0.200	1.800	9.0
	5′	0.050	0.600	12.0
WiFi Router	Contact	2.000	20.0	10.0
	2′	0.400	3.000	7.5
	5′	0.080	0.800	10.0
Background	–	0.020	0.055	–

For those of us who prefer data in graph form, here’s the 2′ and 5′ monitor numbers visualized:

What the science tells us

How to read the numbers:

Inverse square law: RF power falls quickly with distance. Move from 0″ to 2′ to 5′ and the readings collapse, even when the device is powerful.
Bursty transmissions: WiFi and phones don’t transmit smoothly. They fire short bursts of high power, which show up in the Peak number. That’s why the Peak ÷ Avg ratio is often 5–10×.
Relative scale: Phones and routers are much noisier than baby monitors.
- Phones at contact: peaks ~14 mW/m².
- Routers at contact: peaks ~20 mW/m².
- Baby monitors at 2′–5′: peaks <3 mW/m², averages <0.3.

The obvious takeaway from these relative scale numbers: 1) don’t put your phone up to your baby’s ear so she can hear grandma talk to her. And, don’t put a wifi router near where your baby is sleeping.

Context: The FCC/ICNIRP public exposure limit is 10,000 mW/m² averaged over time. None of these devices come close. The concern for baby monitors is not raw intensity but chronic proximity — a monitor inches from a baby’s head vs mounted across the room.

Our results vs published research

Published benchmarks line up with what we measured:

Smart Cam (20 cm, McKenzie 2024): 0.32–0.85 mW/m² averages.
Baby Monitor (1 m, EMF-Portal): ~0.42 mW/m² average.
High Exposure Homes (Setia 2025): median ~8.66 mW/m², high tertile ~32 mW/m².
ICNIRP Public Limit: 10,000 mW/m².

The bottom line

Your choice of monitor matters, but placement matters more.

At 2′ (Cradlewise distance): hotter than Nanit/Miku/Harbor, but still far below phones or routers.
At 5′ (Nanit wall-mount distance): monitors blend into background.
Phones and routers are the bigger offenders in most homes.

Rule of thumb: keep WiFi baby monitors at least 6 feet from your child’s head. That step does more than comparing brand marketing claims.

Methodology and full data

Trial-Level Numbers

Type	Device	Distance	A Peak	A1	A2	A3	A4	B Peak	B1	B2	B3	B4
	Background		0.055	0.016	0.019	0.02	0.015	0.059	0.016	0.017	0.018	0.021
Control	Cell Phone	0″ contact	15.19	0.50	0.61	0.46	0.53	—
		2′	0.898	0.056	0.066	0.063	0.073	—
		5′	—	—	—	—	—	—
Control	Wifi Router	0″ contact	too hot	8.98	11.73	7.23	9.4	—
		2′	18.3	1.16	2.01	2.6	3.4	—
		5′	7.7	0.5	1.04	0.92	0.71	—
Wifi	Cradlewise	2′	2.65	0.22	0.33	0.27	0.18	2.52	0.217	0.174	0.198	0.228
Wifi	Cubo AI	2′	0.941	0.10	0.092	0.15	0.107	0.837	0.095	0.084	0.093	0.091
Wifi	Owlet	2′	0.618	0.07	0.06	0.12	0.08	0.736	0.07	0.08	0.07	0.122
Wifi	Harbor	2′	0.61	0.075	0.06	0.056	0.055	0.68	0.11	0.06	0.106	0.056
Wifi	Miku	2′	0.57	0.149	0.174	0.123	0.152	0.51	0.131	0.112	0.10	0.119
Wifi	Nanit	2′	0.35	0.047	0.044	0.049	0.053	0.434	0.047	0.054	0.046	0.067
Non-Wifi	Baby Sense	2′	12.64	4.25	4.46	4.29	4.19	13.25	4.13	4.27	4.49	4.43
Non-Wifi	VTech	2′	5.21	2.20	2.19	2.11	2.25	4.52	1.54	1.39	1.74	1.58
Non-Wifi	Hello Baby	2′	5.12	1.32	1.03	1.10	0.98	2.63	0.51	0.56	0.48	0.58
Wifi	Miku	5′	0.41	0.046	0.039	0.040	0.041	0.22	0.042	0.058	0.044	0.053
Wifi	Owlet	5′	0.322	0.24	0.24	0.24	0.24	0.403	0.25	0.26	0.26	0.25
Wifi	Cubo AI	5′	0.315	0.225	0.230	0.221	0.229	0.307	0.229	0.236	0.227	0.232
Wifi	Harbor	5′	0.28	0.061	0.065	0.074	0.066	0.25	0.069	0.058	0.060	0.059
Wifi	Nanit	5′	0.17	0.024	0.027	0.023	0.026	0.13	0.026	0.037	0.24	0.027
Non-Wifi	VTech	5′	1.21	0.33	0.23	0.19	0.26	1.06	0.37	0.44	0.33	0.39
Non-Wifi	Baby Sense	5′	0.87	0.36	0.35	0.36	0.36	2.11	0.40	0.39	0.38	0.40
Non-Wifi	Hello Baby	5′	0.54	0.32	0.30	0.28	0.29	1.09	0.26	0.27	0.25	0.26

All measurements in mW/m² (milliwatts per square meter) using TriField TF2. Scroll horizontally on mobile →

Question 4: so… what monitor should I buy?

Alright, you have the full dataset and testing.

Taking into account EMF data AND which of these monitors are actually good across the other factors I’ve tested, here’s what I think is worthy buying.

If you want the monitor with the absolute lowest EMF ratings, you should go with Nanit. And, bonus, Nanit has been our top monitor pick for many years running—it’s what we’ve used most with our own kids.

Miku and Harbor, two other wifi monitors, also have low EMF levels and are very solid picks. Harbor, the new kid on the block in the wifi baby monitor space, is our up-and-coming pick with its dedicated parent unit and fallback to a local network if your wifi goes out.

If your heart is still set on a non-wifi baby monitor…

Step 1: reconsider. Because the options, when you try to find the center of the venn diagram between 1) lower EMF scores and 2) does not suck, you will find the middle is… kind of empty.

Step 2: Do NOT mount your non-wifi monitor close to your baby. Higher EMF levels need to be countered with distance.

Step 3: Do NOT buy Babysense monitor. Worst EMF ratings AND scored low in our best non-wifi baby monitor testing (our YouTube video here).

Step 4: Choose the Vtech (Amazon). Our top overall non-wifi pick AND much lower EMF readings that Babysense. Hellobaby had a lower reading at 5′, but… it’s unfortunately a POS on just about everything else.

Please note Fathercraft is reader-supported, meaning, at no cost to you, we may earn a commission if you buy after clicking an affiliate link. Learn more. Also, we are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Best 2025 Black Friday/Cyber Monday baby monitor and baby gear deals

Paul Zalewski — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 20:32:07 +0000

Well, Black Friday season is upon us. And it’s 2025. So, Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals often run together, and thre’s no need to leave your house to grab deals for baby monitors, baby gear, strollers, and more..

Here at Fathercraft, we’ve rounded up a curated list of our favorite Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals for expecting parents and new parents, and parents of young kids. We’ve personally pulled together the best deals from products we’ve tested, reviewed, or are top-rated. You’ll find Black Friday baby monitor deals for monitors like Nanit and Owlet, Cyber Monday baby deals, strollers, smart cribs, feeding supplies and more baby gear sales!

Editor’s note:
1. Since not all deals are available yet, if a deal isn’t online yet we’ve included what the deal was in 2024 so you can compare.
2. Fathercraft is reader-supported, meaning, at no cost to you, we may earn a commission if you buy after clicking an affiliate link. Learn more.

So, here we go, the best Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals of 2025: scan through ’em all or here they are, broken down by category:

Best Black Friday/Cyber Monday baby monitor deals
- Nanit Cyber Monday sale
Crib and bassinet Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals
- Snoo Black Friday sale
- Cradlewise Black Friday sale
Stroller Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals
Even more deals — breast pumps, toys, gifts for dads, and more …

The best Black Friday and Cyber Monday baby monitor deals of 2025

30% off site wide for the Nanit Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale

We’ve confirmed our all-time favorite baby monitor, the Nanit Pro will go on sale for Black Friday & Cyber Monday, with their best deal ever. Get 30% off site wide. We’re not 100% sure when this deal will go live, but you can check here.

But, here’s how to get early access: click the link below, tap on the “Unlock early BF access, and sign up for emails & texts.

Shop The Nanit Pro

Save up to $110 during Owlet’s Black Friday Sale

We recently re-reviewed the Owlet, with all of the upgrades they’ve made, and were quite impressed.

For 2025 Black Friday, you can save up to $110 on Owlet — on their Dream Duo 3 Sock/Camera package, or $100 off an Owlet Dream Sock. And, when you use this link, you’ll get a free gift with purchase ($40 value).

Shop Owlet Black Friday. (Sale starts Thursday, 11/20.)

$60 off a Cubo Ai Baby Monitor 3 for Black Friday

Cubo is one of our favorite baby monitors in the less expensive category. They’re innovative and constantly improving. For Black Friday, you can save $30 off a wall-mounted Cubo, or $70 off a Cubo bundle with 3 different stand options. Head on over to Cubo’s website.

Crib and Bassinet Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals 2025

Snoo Black Friday sale and Happiest Baby Early Cyber Monday Deals

Happiest Baby, makers of The Snoo smart bassinet, have their Black Friday sale live now. Use this link and the code to get 30% off Snoo and up to 40% off on select items. They also have some free gifts when you spend $250, $500, or $1,000—check them out here. It doesn’t go lower than this, folks.

Shop the Snoo Black Friday sale using this link + get a free gift with purchase.

Up to $800 (40%) off Cradlewise Black Friday sale

Cradlewise is the new powerhouse when it comes to smart cribs. Similar to the Snoo, it uses a combination of motion and white noise to soothe your baby. There are some big differences though—the Snoo’s “wings” prevent your baby from rolling over when sleeping, and are designed to ensure your baby remains on her back, which is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as the safest sleep position. Cradlewise focuses on a more traditional firm mattress plus ventilated crib sides for safety, and has some interesting features Snoo does not, such as a built-in baby monitor and a larger size, which can accommodate your child for up to 2 years (vs 6 months for the Snoo).

For this year’s Black Friday sale, Cradlewise is offering up to $800 off retail price, starting now.

Shop Cradlewise and save up to $800

25% off a Newton crib mattress and Newton bassinet starting now!

Netwon Baby’s crib mattress is designed to be ultra safe (it’s ‘breathe-through’, meaning, according to the company, if your baby rolls onto her stomach she should be able to breathe through the mattress), plus it’s lightweight, hypoallergenic, machine-washable, and holds up for years — and is comfortable enough to transition to a toddler mattress and beyond.

Newton’s Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale allows save 25% on a Newton mattress and site-wide. Their sale starts now

Shop Newton mattress and save 25%

Shop Newton bassinet and save 25%

Stroller deals

25% off at Colugo

Colugo makes our favorite budget travel stroller—the Colugo Compact Stroller+. And, their baby carrier is another hit around here at Fathercraft. It’s currently 45% off on their website.

Shop Colugo, get 20% off sitewide and 25% off bundles, starting now!

Mockingbird’s only sale of the year

In the past, Mockingbird, which makes our favorite single-to-double stroller (because, let’s face it, you’re probably not just going to have one kid), hasn’t had a Black Friday sale in the past. That changes this year.

You can grab a Mockingbird stroller or high chair for 20% off here 11/25 – 12/1 … get 20% off either of these products or bundle for 25% off!

Even more Black Friday baby gear deals for 2025

Save $230 on the Fathercraft Dad-to-Be Bundle

Our own Black Friday sale is officially on! You can save on The Fathercraft Bag, our dad bag, Father’s Ed — our flagship online video course for expecting dads, and the Better Baby Sleep Bootcamp — our online class on better baby sleep. Or, you can get everything in one package perfect for the expecting dad: the Fathercraft Dad-to-Be bundle. When you get the bundle, you’ll also get 3 bonuses.

Shop the Fathercraft Dad-to-Be Bundle.

Save $50 on Fathercraft’s online course for expecting dads or $50 on our dad bag

Our own Black Friday sale starts now! You can get our best deal ever on our online course for dads-to-be, Father’s Ed, right here. Or, if you’re in the market for the ultimate dad bag for yourself as a gift, save $40 right here.

30% off the Willow wearable breast pump

A former Time Magazine Invention of the Year winner, our reviewers loved just how handy (or handsfree, that is) Willow Pump was. Basically, it allowed them to do just about anything while pumping, and did it quietly and in a spill proof manner.

Shop Willow Pump and get 30% off

Read our Willow Pump review

Save big on Molekule Air Purifiers

Why an air purifier on a list of the best baby gear deals for Black Friday? Well, with wildfires, increased pollution, and everything else going on in the world, indoor air quality is becoming an increased concern. Plus, you know, babies can be kind of stinky. We reviewed the Molekule Air Mini+ and have been customers ever since.

For Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2024, you can save $130 on Molekule’s Air Mini+.

Save on Kiwi Crates (and Koala Crates, and … all of them)

Kiwi Crate was the original subscription box service for little kids. And, it’s still one of the absolute best. Thoughtfully-designed, includes fun, educational cartoons, and mind-expanding projects that will keep your little one busy for a long time.

KiwiCo has two sales that are live right now—you can use code JOY to get 4 crates free with the purchase of an annual plan.

Shop Kiwi Crate, get up to 4 months free

Save up to 25% sitewide at Lovevery

Lovevery’s Montessori-inspired subscription toy kits contain high-quality toys that take the guesswork out of choosing brain-friendly toy for your baby or toddler. You’ll get a new kit every 3 months full of well-made toys. Or, you can buy individual Montessori toys at their site.

Starting 11/25, get up to 25% off—10% off when you spend $80, 15% off when you spend $125, 20% at $250 and 25% off at $500 or more..

Shop Lovevery and save

Save up to 50% on skincare for dads at Geologie

It’s easy for dads to throw personal care out the window when a baby enters the picture. That’s why we’re excited about Geologie, which takes a science-backed approach to skincare for guys.

Take their personalized skincare quiz and then save up to 50% for Black Friday.

And, that’s a wrap! There are tons of Black Friday/Cyber Monday baby deals out there for new parents and parents-to-be, but there’s also tons of stuff you just don’t need for your baby, so, we’re sticking to the best of the best.

If you’re overwhelmed by all of the baby gear out there, you can see our full list of what actually constitutes essential gear for babies here.

And, continue the search for that perfect new dad gift right here.

The best travel strollers of 2025: Real parents picked a clear winner

Mark Zalewski — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 22:17:49 +0000

We put some of the best travel strollers to the test: the Joolz Aer+, UppaBABY MINU 3, Bugaboo Butterfly, YOYO2, GB Pockit, the Colugo Compact Stroller+, and Baby Jogger City Tour 2

There are two kinds of travel stroller reviews: the ones written by someone who skimmed the product manual and maybe pushed the stroller across their living room—and the ones written by parents who’ve sprinted to a departure gate with a baby strapped to their chest and a preschooler yelling that they dropped their donut. Guess which one this is?

Kristan cruising through the airport with the YOYO2 and her socks/slides combo

At Fathercraft, we don’t mess around. We (Mark, toddler dad, and Kristan, bay and toddler mom) tested six of the best travel strollers in the wild—real-world conditions, real kids, and real travel chaos. In this article, we’ll break down what actually matters when choosing a compact stroller (and what doesn’t) when you’re trying to survive a trip with tiny humans in tow.

We put these six strollers through their paces:

Joolz Aer+ ($449)
UPPAbaby MINU V3 ($549)
Bugaboo Butterfly ($399-$479)
Babyzen YOYO2 ($449)
GB Pockit All-Terrain (~$270)
Baby Jogger City Tour 2 (~$260)
Colugo Compact Stroller+ (~$249)

Heads up: Fathercraft is reader supported, meaning, at no cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click a link and make a purchase. Details in our policies.

Our travel stroller testing process

We didn’t just wheel these things around the driveway. This was real-world, real-parent testing in the chaos that is family travel. Mark—dad to a 20-month-old son—ran these strollers through solo airport missions, neighborhood walks, and daily errands, often while juggling a diaper bag and the squirmy toddler. Kristan—mom to a 3-year-old and a 7-month-old—tested the gear in full family-travel mode, including vacationing with two kids, a baby carrier, and a coffee run that became a full-body workout (more on that later).

Looking for our favorite full-sized strollers? Read about our top 2025 picks here.

Between the two of us, we folded and unfolded these strollers dozens of times, navigated TSA lines, fit them into overhead bins, and saw how they held up when pushed one-handed across gravel while balancing a drink carrier. We tested for what actually matters to make travel easier: ease of folding on the go, maneuverability, comfort for both baby and parent, and how much stress each stroller saved—or created—when it counted.

Is a travel stroller worth it?

If you’re looking at these prices, you might be asking yourself if a travel stroller is worth it at all? Can I just use my full-size stroller for travel?

If you’re traveling with small kids (4ish or under), the answer is a resounding yes. You’re going to need to move your kids around, just like you do at home, but your full-sized Mockingbird setup isn’t going to fit on a plane.

You might also be asking yourself if you can skip this review and get the $20 umbrella stroller at Costco. Kristan owns that stroller and has vacationed with it… and she wouldn’t do it again.

Two reasons:

This is how much luggage we (Kristan + my husband, Tim) brought with us when we were traveling with ONE kid. And we were packing light. It would have been really nice if that stroller would have folded up into a tiny square with a strap.

This is 6’0″ Tim trying to push that stroller. He ditched two things after this vacation: that stroller… and the beard.

#throwback

The best travel strollers, reviewed

When choosing a stroller for travel, here’s what to consider:

Is it lightweight and compact? Strollers that fit in overhead bins are really convenient—you’ll benefit from it in the airport. Plus, it won’t get banged up during the checked baggage journey. Weight matters too…at some point you will end up carrying this thing on your trip, and a your back will thank you for choosing a lightweight travel stroller.
How the stroller folds… and in particular, can you fold it one-handed?

The more you check these boxes, the more you can enhance your travel experience.

Feature	Joolz Aer+	UPPAbaby MINU V3	Bugaboo Butterfly	Babyzen YOYO2	GB Pockit	City Tour 2	Colugo Compact+
Price	~$499	~$499	~$399	$449	~$270	~$359	~$249
Weight	~13 lbs	16.7 lbs	~16.1 lbs	14 lbs	~10.5 lbs	~14 lbs	~16 lbs
One-Hand Fold
Smooth Ride
Carry-On?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Fits under seat	Yes	Yes
Storage
Harness

Joolz Aer+: The MVP

If you’re the kind of parent who wants their gear to just work—without a manual, without a meltdown, and preferably with a latte in the other hand—the Joolz Aer+ is your dream machine. This stroller was hands-down the favorite in our testing, thanks to a folding mechanism so smooth it borders on magic. It’s a true lightweight stroller, compact, and built with the kind of no-nonsense precision you want when navigating an airport solo. As Mark put it, “I could shut this thing down with a baby in one arm and a coffee in the other.” It’s not cheap, and the storage space is minimal, but for ease, reliability, and daily use? This thing takes the cake for the best travel stroller.

Best for: solo air travel, urban explorers, anyone who values smooth operation above all else.

What we loved: One-handed fold so smooth it feels like magic. Tight construction. Small footprint makes it a true compact travel stroller (and fits in the overhead bin). Just works.

“Holy crap” moment: “I could shut this thing down with a baby in one arm and a coffee in the other.” – Mark

Downsides: Modest storage basket. Premium price.

Overall Winner

Joolz AER+

True one-handed fold, smooth ride, and just works.

Shop on Amazon Shop on PBK

UPPAbaby MINU V3: The Cadillac

The UPPAbaby MINU V3 is practically neck and neck with the Joolz. Of the travel strollers we tested, it’s the one that oozes quality, from the plush seat fabric to the leather-wrapped handlebar, and pushes like a dream. Mark compared the experience to “driving a Cadillac.” It’s solid, stable, and feels premium in every way. The harness is secure and familiar if you’ve used UPPAbaby’s full-size models, and the fold is easy (though not quite Joolz-easy). The downside? It’s heavier and more expensive than its rivals. But if comfort, craftsmanship, and a brand name you can trust are your top priorities, the MINU V3 delivers.

Joolz Aer+ (left) vs. UPPAbaby MINU 3 (right)

Best for: Parents who value premium materials and don’t mind a slightly larger frame.

What we loved: Most solid in-hand feel. Leather-wrapped handlebar. Great harness system. Quality everywhere. Comes with a travel bag.

“Holy crap” moment: “Everything about this just feels nice—like driving a Cadillac.” – Mark

Downsides: Carry strap is weird. Said travel bag is huge and awkward. A little heavy. A lot expensive.

Premium Pick

UPPAbaby Minu V3

$499.99

This is the premium option for parents who want to travel in style. It looks good, it works well.

Shop on Amazon Shop on PBK

03/09/2026 03:02 am GMT

Bugaboo Butterfly: The Almost–Winner

The Bugaboo Butterfly sits comfortably in the upper tier of travel strollers—just a smidge behind the Joolz and MINU. It’s compact, well-built, and comes with thoughtful features like a roomy basket and a stellar canopy that actually blocks the sun (yes, it matters). It folds up small enough to fit in the overhead compartment, but finding the carry strap once it’s folded is a mini scavenger hunt—Mark gave up and just started carrying it by the frame. The brake system also left something to be desired, with Mark noting it was stiff and annoying to use. Still, it’s a well-rounded, everyday-use contender for parents who value premium functionality.

Best for: Families looking for a sleek travel stroller that doubles as a daily driver.

What we loved: Great canopy. Solid construction. Spacious basket. Compact fold.

Downsides: Brake is stiff. Carry strap is buried. Slightly behind Joolz in folding finesse.

The almost winner

Bugaboo Butterfly

$384.30

Lots to love with a few quirks.

Shop on Amazon Shop on Bugaboo

03/09/2026 03:02 am GMT

Babyzen YOYO2: The Smooth Operator

The YOYO2 is the stroller equivalent of a city scooter—slick, agile, and kind of expensive for what it is. It earns high marks for its maneuverability and ultra-smooth one-handed steering. Kristan pushed her three-year-old with one hand, while wearing a baby and balancing coffee in the other. That level of agility makes it great for urban parents who value portability and style. But the folding process? A nightmare. Kristan FaceTimed her husband in a coffee shop just to figure it out, but even together they were unsuccessful in getting it folded on the fly. The harness is frustrating, storage is minimal, and at nearly $500, you’re paying for brand recognition (the YOYO is now officially a Stokke stroller) more than convenience.

Stokke typically does make great products. Check out our Tripp Trapp high chair review here.

Mastering the one-handed push

Best for: One-handed steering lovers. Those interested in modular accessories (newborn kit, ride board).
What we loved: Rides like a dream. Extremely maneuverable. Compact. Carry-on compliant.
“Holy crap” moment: “I pushed my almost-4-year-old one-handed while balancing a coffee carrier and wearing a baby. This thing rocks.” – Kristan

Downsides: Folding is frustrating. Harness sucks. Pricey for what it offers.

Shaded? Yes. Easily strapped in? No.

Where to buy: Amazon

GB Pockit All-Terrain: The Tiny Marvel (that hurts to push)

If your priority is ultra-compact size and nothing else, the GB Pockit is…fine. It folds down small enough to fit under an airplane seat, making it a marvel of engineering—but not one of comfort. The handlebar is a nightmare for tall users (Mark is 6’3” and hated it), the harness system is weak, and the fold involves more steps than you’d expect. It’s not intuitive or fun to use, but it’s lightweight and good in a pinch. Think of it as your “emergency stroller”—the one you keep at grandma’s or in the trunk just in case. Just don’t expect it to feel good to push.

Best for: Packing into a backpack or fitting under a plane seat.
What we loved: It’s impossibly small. Like, fits-under-the-seat small.
Downsides: Two tiny handles. Terrible for tall people. Folding is multi-step and slow.
“This drove me insane”: Handlebar ergonomics and the harness system.

Where to buy? Honestly, don’t. But if you must, Amazon

Colugo Compact Stroller+: The best budget travel stroller

We’ve long been fans of The Colugo Compact. This stroller is for parents who want champagne on a white claw budget. And, in 2025, Colugo made some significant upgrades in the form of The Colugo Compact Stroller+, which upgraded the fold, the harness, and the push bar. Sure there are still a few tradeoffs but man is it a solid option. And, at literally $200 less than our best overall pick, it does warrant serious consideration. The Colugo will need two hands to fold, but its two-step fold action is smooth. It’s built sturdily and has a surprising number of well-thought-out features like an adjustable footrest and canopy.

Two hands to fold? Yes. Still smooth and satisfying? Also yes.

Best for: Those who want quality and features… but not $500 quality.
What we loved: Price. Sturdy build quality. Nearly flat recline. Features that punched above its price class.
Downsides: Bulkier and heavier than the Joulz Aer Plus. Smaller basket and less-intuitive recline.

Top budget pick

Colugo Compact Stroller+

$239.20

The budget pick with non-budget features and quality

Shop on Amazon Shop on Colugo

03/09/2026 03:03 am GMT

Baby Jogger City Tour 2: The Budget Backup

The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 is the kind of stroller you might begrudgingly accept as a hand-me-down. It’s affordable and reclines nearly flat (which is rare in this group), but that’s about where the praise ends. Mark was “over it before he even used it,” thanks to the awkward folding mechanism and cheap-feeling materials. It doesn’t stand up on its own when folded, and the handlebar flops around like it’s given up on life. It’s an okay option as a backup for occasional use, especially if you want something inexpensive, but it lags behind the rest in nearly every way.

Baby Jogger… best for stuffies

Best for: Secondary stroller at grandma’s house or for budget-conscious travelers.
What we loved: Price. Nearly flat recline. Decent canopy.
Downsides: Clunky fold. Cheap materials. Doesn’t stand when folded. Build quality = meh.

Budget runner up

Baby Jogger City Tour 2

$349.99

Shop on Amazon

03/09/2026 03:01 am GMT

Who Should Buy What?

Solo traveler: Joolz Aer+ all day
Luxury lover + accessory chaser: UPPAbaby MINU V3
Budget-conscious parent: Colugo Compact Stroller+
One-handed driver: Babyzen YOYO2
Tiny trunk or tight overhead space: GB Pockit
Just need something that works (and works well): Bugaboo Butterfly
Spare stroller for backup duty: City Tour 2

Final verdict: what’s the best lightweight, compact stroller for travel?

If you’re going to spend $400+ on a travel stroller, get the one that actually delivers on every front: Joolz Aer+. That one-handed fold isn’t just a gimmick—it’s a sanity-saver.

But the UPPAbaby MINU V3 is a very close second. And if you’re more into modular upgrades or one-handed steering, you might find yourself leaning YOYO2 despite some frustrations.

And, if you’re on a budget, the Colugo Compact Stroller+ is the way to go.

Bottom line: don’t buy based on hype. Buy based on what actually matters when you’re juggling bags, boarding passes, and babies.

Travel stroller FAQs

Can I use these strollers from birth?

Some travel strollers can be used from birth, but most are better suited for babies around 6 months and up. Models like the Babyzen YOYO2 and UPPAbaby MINU offer optional newborn attachments or car seat adapters that make them newborn-friendly. That said, if you’re traveling with a very young baby, wearing them in a carrier might still be your best move—especially when navigating airports.

Are they compatible with car seats?

Yes—many of the best travel strollers are car seat compatible, but it depends on the brand and adapter. The MINU, YOYO2, Joolz Aer+, and Bugaboo Butterfly all offer adapters that work with popular infant car seats. If car seat compatibility is a must for your travel setup, be sure to check the brand’s compatibility chart before buying.

Can you bring a stroller through TSA or onto the plane?

Yes—TSA allows you to bring a stroller through security, and most airlines allow you to either gate-check it or carry it onboard if it meets size requirements. In our experience, a quick fold matters most during airport security. Strollers like the Joolz Aer+ and Bugaboo Butterfly made the process smooth, while others like the YOYO2 required a full-on folding tutorial (and, in one case, a FaceTime call to a spouse).

Do they work on rough terrain?

Travel strollers aren’t built for trails or cobblestones, but some handle bumps better than others. The UPPAbaby MINU and YOYO2 were the best performers on uneven sidewalks or gravel. Just don’t expect all-terrain wheels or suspension systems—these are designed for portability, not off-roading.

What accessories should I consider?

Travel stroller accessories to consider include:

Cup holders or snack trays
Travel bags (some are included, some are sold separately)
Ride-along boards (especially for the YOYO2)
Car seat adapters
Rain covers and sunshades

Meet Fathercraft

Looking for more Fathercraft? Check out our list of baby essentials or our other product reviews.

Editor’s note: this list was originally published in May, 2025, but was updated in July, 2025 with information on the Colugo Compact.

Am I Ready to be a Dad? A 5 Point Checklist and Quiz

Matt H. — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 21:18:33 +0000

Before we, the guys here at Fathercraft, actually became fathers, we asked ourselves a lot of (anxiety-induced) questions. Am I too young to be a dad? Too old? Am I responsible enough to be someone’s father? Am I stable enough? Financially and otherwise? Is my partner ready? In the end, all these questions can be summarized by The Big One: Am I ready to be a dad? Or, maybe more pressing: Will I be a good dad?

So, ARE you ready to be a dad?

Take a look at our checklist of broader questions to help you assess your mental readiness and your lifestyle. Then, you can the Am I Ready to be a Dad quiz, which has been recently updated to ask you knowledge-based questions like should your baby have water? Or, when should I give my baby a blanket to sleep with? In 5 minutes or less, you’ll get your dad readiness score, plus the answer key and a custom plan to level up the skills and knowledge you need to be an awesome dad.

Ready to dive in? Here are the five checklist items at a glance.

Am I responsible?
Am I financially stable?
Am I ready for a change?
Am I selfless?
Am I supported?

Just here for the free quiz and info? That’s here, near the bottom of this article.

Am I responsible?

Becoming a parent is one of the biggest (or the biggest) responsibilities a guy can have. You are responsible for raising your child to become a functioning member of society. You have to equip them with the tools to succeed in life. You are the primary male role model in their life. Your role in your child’s development can not be understated. For example, according to a study by the American Association of Pediatrics, a father’s “involvement in play with preschoolers predicted decreased externalizing and internalizing behavior problems and enhanced social competence.” Basically, when fathers were involved in their kid’s lives, the kids were more successful in life. You make a huge difference in the life of your child.

Are you ready for that responsibility?

Probably not. No one is ready for that big of a responsibility all at one time. But you can work to become more responsible until your child is born. Here are a few ways you can help yourself get ready to be a father:

Be disciplined in something

Wake up at the same time every day, exercise consistently, eat right, read every day, etc. Pick something and force yourself to do it every day. Being disciplined is a great skill that you can grow, and it will come in handy when you are a new dad.

Get a pet

Having a pet that requires you for everything is a great way to force you to be more responsible. Much like a baby, your pet needs you for food, potty time, play time, etc. A pet forces you to think outside of yourself and focus some of your attention on it.

Stop procrastinating

This is a big one. With a baby, things need to be done/prepped on time. Imagine you are at home alone with your child. You get a text that you need to meet your partner at the store. This used to be so simple. But now… Do you have the car seat ready to go? Do you have the diaper bag? Does the diaper bag actually have diapers in it? A change of clothes just in case? Does the baby need to be changed before you leave? Did you empty the diaper genie earlier, or are you going to have to put the dirty diaper somewhere else? Did you let your car get down to “2 miles to empty” because you thought the next time you got in you’d be going straight to the gas station? This list of questions could spell disaster if you procrastinate on your responsibilities.

Woah, that’s a lot of stuff. Need help with preparing for a baby? We’ve got you with this essentials checklist.

Being a parent is an immense responsibility. Make sure you’re ready!

Am I financially stable?

Part of being a responsible father is being able to provide for your child. Your household (however it looks—single dad, both parents work, stay-at-home parent) needs to be able to put a roof over the head and food in the belly of your child.

Obviously, financial stability looks different to everyone. Do you need to be making 6-figures and have a million dollars in a 401k in order to be ready for a baby? Of course not. But, having stable income, being financially responsible, and prioritizing your child is crucial. I’ll just be honest here—having a baby is expensive. Check out our article on how to budget for a baby if you’d like to see how expensive a newborn can be. Here are some considerations about being financially responsible:

Job/Career: Do you have a job that pays irregularly? Can you see your job/position being eliminated in a moment’s notice? Do you travel erratically for your job? These are all things that might have been perfectly fine when you were single or without a child, but these don’t spell s-t-a-b-l-e.
Spending: Do you spend more than you make? Do you buy whatever you want, whenever you want because you own a credit card(s)? Things might need to change. Take time to reflect on how you spend your money, and what monthly expenses come with a newborn (again, check out this article).
Saving: Have you viewed saving money as something you’ll do when you’re older? Well, if a baby is on the way, that time is now. Being able to shell out some cash for an unexpected expense with your child is something you need to prioritize. Want your child to go to college? That process of saving can start from the time your little one is born.

Being financially stable is a big part in taking that next step toward being the best father you can be. Shouldering the responsibility of providing for your child is not only necessary, but honorable. It’s why you see all of the dad memes about dads being cheap or thrifty. A great father prioritizes their family’s well being.

Am I ready for a change?

Are you ready for the lifestyle change becoming a parent brings?

Because there’s no way around it—your life as a dad will look different from your life now. How drastic of a change depends on the person.

When we told people that a baby was on the way, nearly all of the feedback went something like this:

“Congratulations!”

“That’s so exciting!”

“I’m so happy for you guys!”

Followed by:

“Get ready for a lot of long nights!”

“Say goodbye to your social life!”

“I hope you can function on no sleep!”

“Everything is about to change!…Everything”

“I hope you don’t mind lots of crying!”

Notice a trend? We did. After the excitement of the news of a baby, the following responses were almost all negative. How sad is that!? The only thing people could think to say was how miserable having a baby was? What did we get ourselves into??

So, does your life change? Absolutely it does! But….what does that really mean? Here are a few examples of lifestyle choices that might need to be adjusted when the little one comes around:

Leaving at 4pm for happy hour at the bar with your friends to “catch up”…until 2am
Heading straight from work to the gym to workout…for 3 hours…every single day…
Spur of the moment road trip 4 states away to visit that one friend from college
Realizing your true calling to be a drummer and practicing through all hours of the night
Finding a briefcase, driving across the country to Aspen to return it, finding out it’s full of cash, spending all of it, realizing it was actually ransom money, replacing the cash with IOU’s and somehow making it out alive…So you’re telling me there’s a chance!?

Aside from some of the more drastic examples, you are the one that can determine how much your life changes. For example, my wife and I love going camping (some might call it ‘glamping’). Set up the camper, spend the weekend relaxing, hiking, swimming, cornhole, etc. Did we decide to put that on hold until our baby was ‘old enough’ to go? Nope! My son Micah made his first camping trip when he was 5 weeks old. You know yourself, your baby and your situation better than anyone. You decide how much things change when the little one comes around.

Am I selfless?

Humans are selfish. Even the most selfless person you know is selfish—they are just better at getting over that trait. Becoming a father doesn’t mean you can never have selfish moments (it’s important to take care of yourself!), but it’s not all about YOU anymore.

You learn this lesson on a different scale when you get married. You don’t just think about YOU anymore; there is someone else in the picture. Maybe you used to spend a Saturday sleeping in, playing video games, watching football then ending the night out with your buds. With a spouse in the picture, that Saturday looks different. But, you still find a way to carve out some YOU time.

When a baby comes along, you have to be willing to potentially sacrifice more of that YOU time. Baby goes down for a nap, so you start a project. Oops! The baby woke up early—you’re back on dad duty. You sit down to eat those freshly grilled steaks (perfect when they’re nice and hot). Oops! Baby just spit up all over the place, and while you’re cleaning them up they have a blowout. 20 minutes later, those perfect steaks are no longer hot-off-the-grill. It’s the 4th quarter, your team is on a 2-minute drive, trailing by 4, needs a touchdown to win, just got into the redzone, and…baby woke themselves up crying, and they need dad to help them go back down.

Ask yourself: Am I ready to be the father my kids need me to be? Note: this isn’t to say that you never have any time to yourself again. Kids are different —some have perfect sleep schedules and you get tons of time to do your own thing. BUT, it’s important to know that you need to be prepared to sacrifice some YOU time to be “on” for your child.

Am I supported?

Having support when raising a child is crucial to that child’s development. What does that look like? It’s not just about the parents. It’s about close family members, friends, neighbors, teachers, etc. that interact with your child.

Check out this study from the National Institutes of Health, which looks into parental roles in childhood development. “We conclude that while children do better, on average, living with two biological married parents, the advantages of two-parent families are not shared equally by all.” What does this mean? Well, a child that has mom and dad at home generally has a better chance at life (better in school, less likely to struggle with substance abuse, etc.). BUT—what if mom and dad are always fighting? What if mom and dad have a terrible relationship? Is that child better off than a single mom/dad?

A rocky, shaky, more bad days than good type of relationship doesn’t magically get fixed when a baby comes around. Sleep deprivation and stress don’t exactly make a struggling relationship better. Working to have a strong relationship before the baby comes is critical! Your child needs to see a healthy relationship as they grow up. This sets the stage for them to succeed in life.

Do you have family, friends or neighbors that can give you support? Having a trusted group of people that can help you out on a moment’s notice makes a world of difference. What is your plan when you get held up at work and someone needs to pick up Baby from the sitter? Baby is sick and needs to stay home, but your boss needs you to come in? You want to go on a “date” (what’s that, again?) and need someone to babysit? Having a system of support makes life so much easier when the baby comes.

When it comes to friends, it’s said that if you say ‘no’ enough times, the invitations stop coming. Your friends will understand that your life is changing when the baby comes. But make sure you still have time to get out (take your baby!) and do things with your friends. Saying ‘no’ to every single invite will eventually land you with zero invites. Make it a priority to continue putting yourself out there and spending time with friends and family.

Take our “Am I ready to be a dad” quiz!

Think you’re ready to become a father? Test your knowledge with our quiz and stay tuned for some resources to help you prepare to be the best parent you can be.

So, are you ready to be a parent?

Having a baby is the best thing ever! If you feel like you aren’t ready, that’s totally normal. Like I mentioned, people probably only tell you about how hard having a newborn is. And, it can be a trying time. But it’s totally worth it. It’s hard to be ‘ready’ to be a dad until you are actually holding your child in your arms. Can you ever be completely ‘ready’ for something you’ve never experienced? No! But you can start to practice some of the tenets of what it takes to become a great dad before the baby comes.

Mockingbird high chair review: Parent-tested after 6 months of daily use

Kristan Barczak — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 02:24:54 +0000

The #1 thing people conveniently forget to tell you about parenting? Kids are hard to feed.

They’re picky. They’re messy. And despite all the pickiness and messiness, they’re bottomless pits from the time they’re born until, well… I think forever (my own mother paid for my dinner just last week… thanks, mom). And if your high chair is also a seemingly endless cavern of crumbs, squashed banana, and crusty old butter noodles? You’re cooked (pun intended).

I famously* hold grudges against high chairs, because in my experience as a mom of two kids, they’re bulky contraptions that only contribute to the worst aspect of feeding kids—the mess. But I decided to give the Mockingbird High Chair a try. I’m writing this review now after six months of daily feeding and cleaning, as well as shoving the chair around into various corners of my kitchen.

Mockingbird high chair review: At a glance

Price: $249 (available only at Mockingbird)
Best for: Parents who want a modern, practical, and easy-to-clean high chair that won’t break the bank.

Pros

Extremely easy to clean (wipeable straps = game changer)
Baby can eat at the table or with the tray
Adjustable footplate for proper support
Hooks to store straps when not in use
Converts into a toddler chair
Easy assembly (I built it solo with my 4-year-old “helping”)
Safe and sturdy
Compact footprint—tucks away neatly
Budget-friendly compared to premium brands

Cons

Chair slides a little when lifting baby out

Fathercraft verdict: That’s a long pros list. The Mockingbird High Chair is the best high chair I’ve ever used. After 6 months of daily meals with my now 11-month-old, I’d absolutely buy it again.

In this review, we’ll cover:

Our testing process
Design & build quality
Assembly
Cleaning—where this product shines!
Other features
Price
Mockingbird vs. Stokke
Other parent reviews
FAQs
Final verdict

Heads up: The Mockingbird High Chair tested for this review was provided free to us by the manufacturer. They received no promises of positive words for us. Also, Fathercraft is reader supported, meaning, at no cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click a link and make a purchase. Details in our policies.

Our testing process

We’ve been using the Mockingbird High Chair for about 6 months with my 11-month-old (Adi), who’s deep into the messy, joyful world of finger foods. Testing involved daily mealtimes, snacks, and plenty of real-world messes—think avocado smears, yogurt splatters, and my worst nightmare: spaghetti.

Along the way, I kept notes of what I liked and didn’t like, waiting until I felt confident in the chair’s durability, comfort, and safety before writing this review.

Design & build quality

Mockingbird has made a name for itself with a feature-rich, modern single-to-double stroller, and the high chair lives up to the high expectations set by the brand. It’s compact without feeling flimsy and looks good in a kitchen or dining space (not a hulking plastic eyesore).

Adi fitting right into our kitchen

The chair grows with your child: the adjustable footplate and harness system work well for babies, and it converts into a toddler chair as your child grows. This kind of versatility helps justify the purchase price.

Mockingbird high chair specs

Feature	Details
Price	$249 (USD)
Footprint	24” D × 16.5” W
Height	35.5” (High Chair mode) / 28.5” (Child Chair mode)
Weight	16.5 lbs (High Chair with baby seat & tray), 12.5 lbs (Child Chair), 2.3 lbs (Tray)
Age Range	From ~6 months (when baby can sit independently) to toddler years
Weight Limits	High Chair: up to 35 lbs / Child Chair: up to 150 lbs
Harness	5-point, wipeable magnetic harness with silicone coating
Tray	Removable, dishwasher-safe tray liner
Footrest	Adjustable
Assembly	Tool-free, quick assembly + clear instructions
Materials	FSC-certified beechwood, BPA-free plastics, food-grade silicone
Colors Available	Multiple: Natural, Espresso, Pebble, Mint, Cloud Washed, Petal, Midnight

Assembly & ease of use

Confession: I don’t assemble things in my house.

I’m terrible at it. But I was excited about receiving the Mockingbird high chair, so I decided to give it a shot. Mockingbird provides extremely clear instructions, including the option to watch short videos of each step, making the process actually doable.

Virtual step-by-step instruction guide

I put it together in about 30 minutes, ~~in spite of~~ with thanks to my very helpful four-year-old.

My four-year-old sitting in big kid mode (that’s not a labubu)

Day to day, it’s intuitive. The tray clicks on and off easily (don’t underestimate the value of this… some high chair trays require a rocket science degree), and you can also push the chair right up to the table for family meals.

Family breakfast–no tray required!

One small quirk: when lifting my baby out, the chair sometimes slides a little. It’s not unsafe, but I find myself holding it down with a foot to lift Adi out.

Cleaning & maintenance

This is where the Mockingbird High Chair shines. Parents know a high chair lives or dies by how easy it is to clean, and Mockingbird nailed it:

Straps are silicone and fully wipeable (no more wrestling with grimy cloth straps)
The tray is dishwasher safe
The seat itself wipes down quickly, with minimal “crevices” for food to hide
Built-in hooks on the back keep the straps neatly stashed when not in use.

“Relax, Mom… This whole thing wipes clean”

If you’ve ever owned a chair that seemed to grow its own ecosystem of crumbs, you’ll appreciate the Mockingbird.

Other features

Size, storage & portability

The footprint is modest—easy to tuck away when not in use, and it doesn’t dominate a dining area. It’s not foldable, so it won’t collapse flat for travel, but that’s rarely a dealbreaker for everyday home use.

Safety & comfort

The harness system is secure, the seat feels stable, and the adjustable footplate keeps babies comfortable and properly supported (a detail many cheaper chairs overlook). I’ve seen one review noting the curve of the chair can make it hard for a smaller baby to sit up comfortably—but my 23rd percentiler has never had an issue.

Price & value for money

At $249, the Mockingbird High Chair sits in the middle of the high chair price spectrum. It’s significantly cheaper than premium models like the Stokke Tripp Trapp (which will set you back $319, minimum) but offers many of the same perks: longevity, modern design, and family-table compatibility.

Given the build quality and versatility, we think it’s an excellent value.

Mockingbird High Chair vs. Stokke Tripp Trapp

The Stokke Tripp Trapp is a classic—beloved for its Scandinavian design and unmatched longevity (it can truly last into adulthood as a chair, and it’s on display at the MoMA… yes, forreal). But it’s also pricey, and it requires add-ons (baby set, tray, cushion) to match the out-of-the-box usability of the Mockingbird.

Read our Stokke Tripp Trapp review

Key differences

Price: Mockingbird ($249) vs. Stokke ($319 minimum).
Ease of cleaning: Mockingbird has wipeable straps and simpler surfaces; Tripp Trapp straps are fabric and more prone to mess.
Longevity: Stokke edges out here—it truly grows into an adult chair, while Mockingbird caps at a toddler chair. We’ve also heard Stokke is more durable.
Style: Both are sleek and modern, though Stokke has a more iconic, furniture-like look.

Verdict: If you want a design piece that doubles as furniture for years to come, the Stokke may be worth the splurge. But for most families, the Mockingbird nails the balance of price, practicality, and style.

Other parents’ reviews

We’re not the only ones impressed. Verified buyers on Mockingbird’s site, plus a fair share of Redditors, consistently praise its easy cleaning, sturdy feel, and smart design. Common feedback echoes what we’ve seen: “wipes clean in seconds” and “surprisingly affordable compared to Stokke.”

A few note the same quirk we experienced—slight sliding when removing a child—but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.

FAQs about the Mockingbird High Chair

Is the Mockingbird High Chair worth it?

Yes—for most families, it strikes the best balance of affordability, modern design, and ease of cleaning.

What material is used for the Mockingbird harness system?

The straps on the Mockingbird harness system are made with BPA-free silicone. This means the straps easily wipe clean with a cloth or paper towel.

What age is it suitable for?

From about 6 months (when your baby can sit independently) up through toddlerhood.

Does the Mockingbird high chair fold flat for storage?

No, but its compact footprint makes it easy to tuck away.

Final verdict

After 6 months of daily use, I can confidently say the Mockingbird High Chair is the best high chair I’ve ever used. It’s sturdy, thoughtfully designed, and shockingly easy to clean (those wipeable straps deserve their own standing ovation).

It’s not the cheapest chair on the market, nor the most premium, but for families who want a high chair that works beautifully without fuss, it’s a near-perfect balance of price, practicality, and style. And I have to say it one more time… It is SO easy to clean.

Would I buy it again? Absolutely.

Looking for more Fathercraft? Check out our list of baby essentials or our best travel strollers of 2025.

What percentage of fathers take paternity leave in 2025, and how long?

Paul Zalewski — Sat, 19 Jul 2025 20:33:44 +0000

In 2025, approximately 50-55% of new fathers in the U.S. take some form of paid paternity leave, based on recent trends and state-level data, while around 13% opt for unpaid leave, and 35% take no leave at all.

This marks a significant increase from pre-1994 levels, where only about 3% took unpaid leave and paid options were limited. On average, fathers who take leave use it for 1-2 weeks, though ideal durations cited in surveys reach 10-12 weeks. These patterns reflect evolving workplace policies, with higher uptake in states offering paid programs, highlighting benefits like improved family bonding and gender equity in caregiving.

Data breakdown: Paternity leave usage and duration

Paternity leave trends have evolved with policies like the FMLA (1993), which provides 12 weeks of unpaid leave, and state programs offering paid options. Data from 2014-2022 cohorts shows increased usage, with projections for 2025 suggesting continued growth in paid leave adoption, especially in states with robust programs. Below is a table summarizing key percentages and durations, drawn from national and state surveys.

Cohort/Year	Percentage Taking Paid Leave	Percentage Taking Unpaid Leave	Average Duration
Pre-1994	N/A (Limited)	3.3%	N/A
1994-2003	~30%	~8%	1 week
2004-2013	~40%	~10%	1-2 weeks
2014-2022	50.1%	12.6%	1-2 weeks (64% take less)
2025 Projection	50-60%	13-15%	2-4 weeks avg

Demographic Insights:

By State: In states with paid programs, men file 30-55% of claims; e.g., 55% in WA, 50% in CO, 44% in CA.
By Income: Lower-income workers get ~85% wage replacement in newer programs, boosting uptake; higher-income more likely to take longer leaves.
Comparison to Mothers: Fathers more likely to use vacation (37% vs 7%) or sick leave (11% vs 8%), but less unpaid (12.6% vs 27.3%).
Global Comparison: U.S. lags with no federal paid leave; 114 countries offer paid paternity, averaging 2.3 weeks; maternity averages 18.5 weeks.

State-level variations in paternity leave

State laws significantly influence paternity leave uptake, with programs offering paid benefits driving higher participation. For instance, in 2024, states like Washington (55% male bonding claims) and Colorado (50%)—with 12 weeks at up to 90% wage replacement—far exceed the national average, while New Jersey (30%) and D.C. (35%) lag despite similar policies. California’s program, active since 2004, saw male claims rise from 18% to 44% by 2023, illustrating how longer-established laws normalize usage. Non-program states show <20% paid leave access, underscoring policy’s role in reducing barriers and promoting equity.

In-depth analysis: Trends, implications, and future projections

Paternity leave usage has surged since the FMLA, with paid leave adoption rising in states like CA (from 18% in 2005 to 44% now). By 2025, with 13 states plus D.C. offering paid programs, projections estimate 50-60% national uptake if trends continue, driven by policy expansions and cultural shifts. However, durations remain short—64% under 2 weeks—due to financial pressures and stigma, though studies show even 1.5 weeks reduces infant mortality.

Implications include better child development, reduced maternal stress, and stable relationships, with longer leaves linked to equitable household roles. Future: Expanding state programs could close gender gaps, with surveys showing support for 10.5 weeks average, potentially aligning closer to global standards.

FAQ: Common questions about paternity leave

What percentage of fathers take paid vs unpaid leave?

Around 50% take paid leave in recent cohorts, while 13% opt for unpaid.

How long is typical paternity leave?

Most fathers take 1-2 weeks, though FMLA allows up to 12 weeks unpaid.

Has usage increased over time?

Yes, unpaid leave rose from 3.3% pre-1994 to 12.6% by 2014-2022, with paid leave surging post-FMLA.

How does it compare to mothers?

Fathers rely more on vacation and sick leave, while mothers take more unpaid (27.3% vs. 12.6%).

What are state differences?

Uptake is higher in states like WA (55%) and CO (50%) with paid programs.

What are the benefits of paternity leave?

Stronger family bonds, lower infant mortality, and more stable relationships.

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau (2025): Parental Leave.
Axios (2025): More fathers taking paid leave.
Northwestern (2025): New dads leave duration.
ParentsTogether (2025): More dads taking leave.
WBIW (2025): Leave rise.
Additional sources as cited inline.

What is the average age of first-time fathers in 2025?

Paul Zalewski — Sat, 19 Jul 2025 18:47:36 +0000

In 2025, the average age of first-time fathers in the U.S. is projected at 31-32 years, up from 30.9 in 2015 and 27.4 in 1972, reflecting delays due to education, career, and economic factors.

This trend aligns with global patterns, where U.S. dads are older than historical norms but younger than in countries like Japan (36.3).

Data breakdown: Average age trends

Paternal age has risen steadily over decades, varying by race, education, and region. Table below shows historical and projected data.

Year	Average Age (Years)	Change
1972	27.4	Baseline
1980	27.9	+0.5
1990	29.4	+1.5
2000	30.2	+0.8
2010	30.6	+0.4
2015	30.9	+0.3
2023	30.7	-0.2
2025 Projection	31-32	+0.3-1.3 year

Demographic Insights:

By Education: College-educated 33.3 years; high school 29.8 years; less than high school 29.2 years.
By Race: Asian oldest (e.g., Japanese 36.0, Chinese 34.7); White 31.1; Hispanic 30.0; Black 30.4.
Global Comparison: US 29.4 first child avg; Andorra 32.8.
Vs Mothers: Fathers older by 2.3 years on average, gap shrunk from 2.7 years in 1972.

In-depth analysis: Trends, implications, and future projections

Age rose 3.5 years 1972-2015, continuing due to education/economics. The gradual rise, evident in decade-by-decade increases, is linked to longer schooling, career establishment, and later marriages. Implications: Health risks like autism and schizophrenia in offspring due to advanced paternal age, but older fathers often provide greater financial stability and resources, leading to potentially better educational outcomes for children. Projections: 32+ by 2030, with ongoing monitoring for reproductive health effects.

FAQ: Common questions about first-time fathers’ age

What is the average in 2025?

The projected average is 31-32 years.

How has it changed?

It has increased from 27.4 years in 1972 to 30.9 years in 2015.

By education?

College-educated fathers average 33.3 years, compared to 29.8 for high school graduates.

Compared to mothers?

Fathers are older than mothers by 2.3 years on average.

Risks of older age?

Increased risks include autism and schizophrenia in children.

Global avg?

The US average for first child is 29.4 years.

Sources

Science (Recent): Age Passed 30.
Stanford Bio-X: Getting Older.
ParentsTogether: Median 30.
NPR (2017): After 40.
World Pop Review: By Country.
CBS NL (2025): First-Time.
Human Reproduction (2017): Age Rising.
IU News (2023): Conception Age.
USA Today (2024): Rising Age.
Additional sources as cited inline.

How Many Fathers Are Stay-at-Home Dads in 2025?

Paul Zalewski — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 23:07:02 +0000

In 2025, an estimated 2.1 to 2.3 million fathers in the United States are stay-at-home dads,

based on recent trends and projections from major research sources. This represents about 7% of all fathers living with children under 18, up from 4% in 1989, and accounts for roughly 18% of all stay-at-home parents—a significant shift reflecting evolving gender roles, economic pressures, and family priorities. Being a stay-at-home dad offers profound benefits, including stronger emotional bonds with children and greater involvement in daily development, but it also comes with challenges like societal stigma and financial strain.

Data Breakdown: Stay-at-Home Dads by the Numbers

The number of stay-at-home dads has steadily increased over the decades, driven by factors such as women’s rising workforce participation, flexible work options, and cultural acceptance. Below is a breakdown of key statistics, including historical trends, demographic variations, and projections for 2025. Note: Definitions vary—some sources (e.g., U.S. Census) use strict criteria like no paid work in the prior year, while others (e.g., Pew Research) include any father not employed for pay, regardless of reason.

Year	Estimated Number of Stay-at-Home Dads (U.S.)	Percentage of All Fathers	Share of All Stay-at-Home Parents
1989	1.1 million	4%	11%
2012	2 million	~6%	16%
2016	~2 million	7%	17%
2021	2.1 million	7%	18%
2022	~2.1 million	7%	18%
2025 (Projection)	2.1-2.3 million	7-8%	18-20%

Demographic Insights:

By Reason for Staying Home: In 2021, 23% of stay-at-home dads cited family care as the primary reason (up from 4% in 1989), while 34% were due to illness/disability.
By Education and Income: Stay-at-home dads are less likely to have a bachelor’s degree (22% vs. 42% of working dads) and more likely to live in poverty (40% vs. 5%).
By Race/Ethnicity: Stay-at-home dads are more diverse: 50% non-Hispanic White (vs. 60% of working dads), 18% non-Hispanic Black (vs. 9%).
Global Comparison: In Australia, stay-at-home dads have almost doubled over the past decade—from 57,900 to 106,000—and is expected to increase in the future.

In-Depth Analysis: Trends, Implications, and Future Projections

The rise in stay-at-home dads since the late 20th century marks a cultural evolution, with numbers doubling from 1.1 million in 1989 to over 2 million today. Economic factors, like the Great Recession and COVID-19, spiked unemployment among men, leading to more dads staying home—peaking at 2.2 million in 2010. 13 Snippet: “The Great Recession caused large-scale unemployment due to the financial crisis, leading to 2.2 million U.S. fathers becoming stay-at-home dads.”

Post-pandemic, flexible work and women’s higher earnings (e.g., in dual-income families) continue to drive this trend. Projections for 2025 suggest modest growth to 2.1-2.3 million, as remote work normalizes and societal acceptance increases. However, challenges persist: 51% of Americans believe children are better off with a stay-at-home mom vs. only 8% for dads, per Pew surveys.

Benefits for children include better empathy development and emotional balance from paternal involvement.

For dads, it fosters deeper family bonds but can lead to isolation or career gaps. At Fathercraft, we recommend building support networks and exploring part-time work to mitigate these.

FAQ: Common Questions About Stay-at-Home Dads

What qualifies as a stay-at-home dad?

A father who is the primary caregiver for children under 18, often not employed full-time. Broader definitions include part-time workers.

Why has the number of stay-at-home dads increased?

Economic shifts, women’s career advancements, and flexible work post-COVID.

What are the benefits for children?

Improved cognitive and emotional development from active fatherly involvement.

How do stay-at-home dads differ from working dads?

They tend to be older, less educated, and more diverse racially.

Is this trend global?

Yes, but more pronounced in Western countries; e.g. in Australia

What support is available?

Communities like the National At-Home Dad Network and Fathercraft resources for work-life balance.

Sources

Pew Research Center (2023): Almost 1 in 5 stay-at-home parents in the US are dads.
Forbes (2022): The Rise Of The Stay-At-Home Dad. Snippet:
National At-Home Dad Network (2020): Statistics on Stay-At-Home Dads.
Additional sources as cited inline.

Struggling with the transition to stay-at-home dad life? Explore Fathercraft’s online courses and gear designed for modern dads to thrive in this role.

A Colugo baby carrier review

Paul Zalewski — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 01:14:13 +0000

Looking for a baby carrier that’s easy to use, comfortable to wear, and doesn’t skimp on style? In this review, we’re taking a close look at the Colugo Carrier—what works, what doesn’t, and how it stacks up after real-world testing with actual kids (and tired parents). Bonus… this carrier might even just have pockets!

If you just like watching your reviews, here’s our Colugo carrier video review (just keep scrolling if you prefer reading & pictures):

Editor’s note: Fathercraft is reader-supported, meaning, at no cost to you, we may earn a commission if you buy after clicking an affiliate link. Learn more. We also received free product from Colugo for this review.

Our Colugo carrier review

Here at Fathercraft, we consider baby carriers essential. They allow you to do all sorts of stuff with your child strapped to you. Which is great, because as you know or will soon learn, parenting is time-intensive.

Here’s John demoing just a few of the things you can do while your baby is in a carrier:

Back when we first heard about baby carriers (aka back in our day), it seemed like offerings from Ergobaby and Baby Bjorn were the only offerings on the market (and, yes, we’ve been in the game a long time). But since the OG Fathercraft babies were in carriers, a few new reputable brands have entered the market, including Colugo.

By the way, if you’d like to see how Colugo fared against the big guns in this space, check out our list of the best baby carriers.

We love Colugo’s stroller. So, when they reached out about their carrier, we were eager to test it out.

Colugo is a “direct to consumer” company (think Warby Parker, Casper, & Dollar Shave Club) that sell directly to you via their websites, which allows them to pass on savings. It’s a model that’s worked well for razors, mattresses, and glasses, and we think it’s perfect for the baby gear market. Why? Well, baby gear is something you need to try, with your baby, to really know if you’re going to like it. And, trying it out in the wild (with other kids in tow) is much better than looking at it on a shelf at a big box store.

Kristan trying out the Colugo again in 2025… art with the toddler while carrying a baby? Check.

Colugo offers a 100-day in-home trial—more than enough to decide if their stuff is right for you. So, you can make the grocery store your testing ground.

We’re here to check back in with Colugo and see how it’s held up against some of the new carriers that have come out recently. *Spoiler Alert* It’s still awesome… and we’ve been testing baby carriers ever since—with dads, with moms, with small babies, with big babies…we’ve gone DEEP on baby carriers over the years.

Tim, friend of Fathercraft, chilling with his 10-month-old

Let’s dive into the awesome, the wish it was different, and our final verdict.

The awesome

When choosing the Colugo as our overall favorite baby carrier, we considered the full package. The Colugo was most similar to the Baby Bjorn One from a structure and mechanisms perspective, but included some extra features, and customizations that made it stand out.

Overall comfort and usability

Half the battle with baby carriers is getting them on—yourself and your baby. The Colugo allows you to separate the process of getting yourself in and comfortable and then situating your baby independently. While this does make for some extra straps, we found the process made for an easier time getting the thing (and baby) on, and a more comfortable ride overall. Your baby might just fall asleep.

Fingers crossed for a good nap

Magnetic buckles

Buckles in action

A big part of putting on a carrier is the process of buckling the baby in. Colugo features magnetic buckles for the two final buckles you’ll use to put your baby in. They’re located on the front of the carrier near your armpits, have big pull tabs, and magnets to help you quickly align them when putting your baby in. It’s a clever and welcome addition to this final step of the baby carrier, which otherwise can require needing to look around a squirming baby to align buckles.

Here’s a closeup of the buckle in the closed position:

Magnetic buckle detail

Lightweight, breathable material

As we noted in our Ergobaby 360 review, baby carriers can get hot. We liked the material Colugo selected. It was lightweight, breathable, and flexible, improving comfort and ventilation.

The Colugo carrier also weighs in at just 1.5lbs and packs down pretty nicely for travel or shoving in a diaper bag.

Detail of the Colugo’s lightweight material

Pockets!

If the mention of pockets in a baby carrier doesn’t get you excited, you probably haven’t spent much time with one. A surprisingly small number of carriers include pockets at all, and those that do sometimes include non-functional pockets.

The Colugo’s pockets are thoughtfully designed and pretty functional (though as Calvin, our test baby, got bigger, he started to sag over the waist belt pocket, making it harder to reach).

Pockets in a carrier are really helpful if you’re just heading out for a quick jaunt—there’s no need to wear a backpack and a front pack at the same time, and nobody wants that. The Colugo’s pockets give you room for a diaper or two, wipes, keys, cell phone, and maybe a food pouch or two.

The newest model of the Colugo carrier has a removable pouch that makes life so much easier. Back in 2019, our Colugo carrier made it hard to reach into the waist belt pocket as Calvin got bigger, but with the removable pouch, that wouldn’t be an issue anymore.

Machine washable

The Colugo carrier (along with nearly all Colugo products) is machine washable. And all baby stuff gets dirty, fast. So, this is a welcome feature (though not super uncommon—all 5 of the carriers we tested were.

Back-carry option

When we first tested out the Colugo carrier, back-carrying was not an option. However, they have since updated the carrier and have certified the product to allow for both front and back-carrying.

Back and side carry can be nice as your child gets older and heavier, when the front carry position can start to strain your back.

Actually useful accessories

Colugo has been steadily improving the carrier over the years, and accessories are now bountiful. They offer a “The Drool Pack“—sounds gross, is gross, but hey, babies drool A LOT. They also offer “The Cozy“, which is basically like one of those high-tech sleeping bags for your baby that clips on to the outside of the carrier to keep her warm during the winter.

The wish it was different

Carrying capacity

We had to get really nit-picky to find something that we wished was different. The carrying capacity has been reduced to 33lbs from 35lbs, and we noticed that the bigger our baby got, the harder it was to put them in the right spot.

That being said, all we are really trying to say is we wish we could use this product forever. It’s that good. I would deliver my son to his college dorm in the Colugo if I could.

The Verdict

When we consider the complete package:

Price
Comfort
Magnetic buckles
Pockets
Material
100-day in-home trial

The Colugo is our clear choice for best baby carrier. It’s also part of our newborn essentials list, which details the items you’ll want to make parenting a newborn more awesome.

At Fathercraft, there are a few products we’ve been reviewing for years and have remained at the top of the pack through all that time—the Colugo Carrier is one of those.

Pricing, options, & where to buy

The Colugo Carrier is $145 (though it goes on sale with some regularity) and available at colugo.com. There are now 9 color styles from black to the ‘Wild Child Cheetah’ and 3 limited edition primary colors that won’t last long, so get to colugo.com and order one while it lasts!

An in-depth Cradlewise review — a smart crib with built-in baby monitor and white noise

Mark Zalewski — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 13:29:45 +0000

The Cradlewise is the first smart crib on the market to combine the trifecta of baby sleep products: a “smart” bassinet/crib, a baby monitor, and a white noise machine. For the modern parent who knows that helping a baby to sleep can be an event (think: more bachelor-party-gone-wrong than charity golf tournament), the Cradlewise might sound too good to be true. So… is it?

At Fathercraft, we decided to find out with this in-depth Cradlewise review. We tested the smart bassinet + crib comb o for over a year with two families. As the technology evolved, so did our verdict.

Read on to go with us on our Cradlewise journey. We’ll cover:

An introduction to the two families who tested Cradlewise
Unboxing, setup, and daily use
Mark and Marian’s Cradlewise review
Our ultimate verdict, including:
- Does the Cradlewise work?
- Did the technology improve?
More to know about Cradlewise
Pricing and where to buy
Cradlewise vs. Snoo
Wrapping up

That’s a lot of info. Feel free to click the links to jump to what you want to see most, or read straight through for the full experience, jokes and all.

No time for reading? We get it. Check out our ~7-minute video review (it also has jokes):

Editor’s note: Fathercraft is reader-supported, meaning, at no cost to you, we may earn a commission if you buy after clicking an affiliate link. Also, our testers received a free Cradlewise to complete this review. Learn more.

Cradlewise: Unboxing, setup, and daily use

Unboxing

The first thing you’ll notice about Cradlewise is how big and heavy it is. The box arrives with one of those “team lift” labels, and the label not kidding. Be careful carrying this box around, especially if you’re pregnant. Get help from a partner and maybe a friend.

Aside from the literal maneuvering of the box, unboxing is a pleasant and well-thought-out experience. Parts and boxes are well-labeled, and you’ll find fun baby facts and affirmations sprinkled throughout—a nice touch. Unboxing provides a peek into product quality and aesthetics, too.

You’ll also find that the Cradlewise is heavy for a reason—it’s built with high-quality materials that have a premium feel. It’s also heavy because of how big it is (more in a sec). Finally, it’s a good-looking contraption that’ll fit nicely in a modern nursery (or parents’ room, where the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends your baby sleep for at least the first 6 months).

One of our reviewers Jon starts in on the assembling experience

Assembling Cradlewise

Cradlewise setup and assembly involves two big steps:

Assembling the physical product
Setting up the mobile app

Assembling the crib involves a lot of steps. Like, the instruction booklet has a spine number of steps. But, while it takes a while to put together, the assembly instructions are actually helpful. It’s kind of like putting together a piece of Ikea furniture, except that the instruction booklet includes written instructions in addition to diagrams. It also makes sense that assembly involves a lot of steps as the assembly for a newborn starts with the crib and then adds the bassinet as an “overlay,” so you’re essentially setting up both the crib and the bassinet (and that baby monitor).

One-person assembly is perfectly possible, though there are a couple of steps where two would be nice (one unskilled laborer to hold stuff while the other uses an Allen wrench).

Mark remarked (see what we did there?) that Cradlewise is one of those companies that thinks of everything. It seems like they truly care about the parents they serve. For example, Cradlewise includes a screwdriver that caused us to think, “We have a new screwdriver! And it’s nicer than any of the ones we have here …” There are extra parts, but they come in a plastic bag clearly labeled, “spare parts.”

Just a couple of steps involved trial and error/futzing around with stuff, such as inserting bolts into the mesh tensioners.

Cradlewise App setup

Setting up the Cradlewise app should feel familiar if you own any smart-home-type gadgets already. Download the iOS or Android app, connect the device to your internet, register your Cradlewise, and complete a few in-app setup type steps.

A few key features of Cradlewise

Quickly (and if you know this already, jump ahead), what does Cradlewise do, again?

Bassinet/Crib in one. The core structure of a Cradlewise is a crib … and a bassinet. The ‘bassinet’ is an insert that is placed on top of the assembled crib, and kind of floats, suspended. Why? Your back, friend. Picking up babies from a crib requires bending way down. Your baby can use a bassinet until they’ve reached the stage where they might pull themselves up over the side and fall out. Your back will thank Cradlewise for this feature.

Editor’s Note: This is also helpful for anyone recovering from a c-section.

Bouncing. This is where things get interesting. The whole crib structure literally bounces up and down, mimicking the bounce that every parent quickly learns as a soothing technique (soothing because that’s how it feels to a baby in the womb).

Side note: In a video on their site, Cradlewise shows a parent bouncing on an exercise ball, which we’ve not tried but is a good idea … because babies seem to know immediately if you go from standing up and bouncing them to sitting down and trying to mimic this motion while sitting. Sorry.

Video baby monitor. Built into the crib (it’s on the arc of wood that sits over where your baby’s head will be) is a video/audio baby monitor. This provides a bird’s eye view of your baby, popularized recently by monitors like Nanit since it provides a much clearer view than a monitor that sits on a dresser and attempts to peer through the crib’s bars to see your baby.

Bird’s eye view of Mark and Marian’s baby, Henry, in the app

White Noise. No explanation needed, but built-in speakers play (you guessed it) white noise. You can choose from a library or bring your own.

Sleep analytics. Cradlewise uses data from its camera to determine what stage of sleep/alertness your baby is in and tracks this data through the course of a night or nap.

A recent screenshot of how sleep analytics looked for Mark and Marian

Using the Cradlewise

To use Cradlewise, simply put your baby in the bassinet or crib (all safe sleep practices apply: snugly-fitting pajamas/sleep sack, on her back, nothing else in the crib with her) and start the bouncing if you wish. To start bouncing, push the button on top of the wood arc, or use the Cradlewise mobile app. (You can push and hold the button to stop bouncing or use the app.

Within the app, you can do other things, too—use the monitor, turn on white noise, control bouncing intensity, and view sleep analytics.

Mark and Marian’s Cradlewise review (October 2023 – September 2025…)

My wife Marian and I tested (and are currently still testing… our son Hank will be able to use it until around September of this year) Cradlewise.

We love the Cradlewise. So, let’s start with “the awesome.”

The awesome

Cradlewise’s bouncing worked

I felt like I got more sleep thanks to Cradlewise nearly from the beginning.

Hank was just two weeks old when the screenshot from my Cradlewise mobile app was taken. The dark blue is deep sleep, the light blue/purple is fidgety, and the yellow is awake. The dots on the right side represent the times the Cradlewise was able to successfully “soothe” Hank back to sleep:

This is a great example of how much extra sleep that Cradlewise technology can give you.

There’s real merit to the integration of crib, baby monitor, and white noise

Marian and I found the integration of the three key elements of the modern baby’s sleep setup — a safe crib, white noise, and monitoring — together in one package to be really nice. No need for three separate systems.

We also didn’t feel the need for something like an Owlet. This preference for a separate monitor is a personal decision for your family, but Marian and I felt we had enough monitoring with the Cradlewise system.

Safety

Cradlewise doesn’t make any official claims about safety, but I felt like the extra sleep my wife and I got because of the Cradlewise helped prevent accidentally falling asleep in bed with their baby. Of course, there’s no way to know if this would have happened without the Cradlewise, but I enjoyed the extra peace of mind.

Versatility, longevity & aesthetics

The lifespan of the Cradlewise is a huge plus. Many of the things we buy as parents just don’t have a long useful lifespan—sometimes it feels like you’re using that cute onesie you got at your baby shower for a few weeks before it’s too small on your ‘little one’. This is also a downside of Snoo, which is designed for the first 4-6 months.

Cradlewise, by contrast, with its two-year useful life, is a breath of fresh air in this department. And, with the integrated, removable bassinet, you’re getting a bassinet when it’s useful that transitions to a crib in a few minutes when it’s time to make the switch.

Finally, this is undeniably a good-looking piece of baby gear. It’s right at home in the modern nursery (and parents’ room at first).

Quick shameless plug: If you’re looking for another product with a long lifespan and a cool aesthetic, we’ve got you. Check out the Fathercraft’s dad bags , designed to be versatile enough to grow with your kids, and cool enough that you can rock it anywhere.

The people

I was also impressed with the people behind Cradlewise. From assembly to the actual direction of the motion of the Cradlewise (up and down, mimicking what they experienced in the womb), it seems like they thought of everything and genuinely cared.

The wish-it-were different

Honestly, I had a difficult time coming up with a downside to Cradlewise. But, there are a few things you should be aware of…

Amount of alerts

I received a TON of alerts, especially when Hank was a newborn. This really bother me, because as anxious new parents, Marian and I almost welcomed them.

Lack of a physical button for white noise

The Cradlewise has a button on the crib to turn the motion on and off but he mentioned it’d be nice to turn the white noise off without using the app (yeah, this is nit-picky; there just weren’t many problems.

Lack of a light

The one thing sleep item I felt was missing? A light.

It’s not that a baby necessarily needs it. But it’s helpful for those middle-of-the-night diaper changes (Cradlewise can do a lot, but it can’t change a diaper).

Price

There’s no way around it: Cradlewise is pricey (even at its new, permanently lower price). Even so, in my estimation, a combination of a few things made this worth it:

Marian and I got more sleep as a result of Cradlewise, period.
Longevity: Because it’s a bassinet and crib, you could end up using it for a few years
Multiple products in one: You’re not buying a white noise machine and baby monitor on top of the bassinet and crib

So what’s the ultimate verdict?

Our ultimate verdict: Is Cradlewise worth it?

This depends on the answers to

We’re pretty impressed by how hard Cradlewise worked to improve their technology, and our ultimate verdict is a positive one: We’d buy this again.

If you’re still on the fence about price, here’s my thought: if you’re going to invest in one pricier baby item, a bassinet or a crib is what I’d recommend. Your baby spends so much time there, it’s worth the investment.

But if you’re still undecided beyond that, keep reading. Because this is Fathercraft, and when we review a product, we obsess over it. Here are a few more things that are good to know, plus how the Cradlewise stacked up against the Snoo for us.

More good things to know about Cradlewise

Since we go deep on our reviews here at Fathercraft, here are a few more things you might consider.

Th further out from your due date you buy Cradlewise, the cheaper it gets. If you’re considering Cradlewise, the best time to buy is now. Here’s why: the closer you get to your baby’s due date, the more expensive Cradlewise gets. This isn’t some trick Cradlewise is using to get you to buy it, rather if you order further out, it helps them coordinate their supply chain to save money. Check the price calculator here.

Weight. Cradlewise is very heavy. Especially compared to Snoo. This, of course, makes sense since it’s so much bigger, and not that big a deal unless you think you’re going to move it back and forth for naps and bedtimes or travel with it. This is a put it in a spot and move it when it’s time to transition to the nursery type of heavy.

Moving Cradlewise might require resetting it. According to Cradlewise, you may need to recalibrate your settings when you transition from the bassinet to a crib. Additionally, if you move the bassinet to an area with a different noise level (e.g., from your bedroom to the living room where your family keeps congregating to see the new precious bundle of joy), you will likely need to recalibrate. In between the above-mentioned weight and the recalibration, this is not something you buy for portability.

Cradlewise caused some sort of interference with The Owlet Smart Sock. We had a second couple test Cradlewise before Mark and Marian. They used the Owlet Smart Sock and Cam. When their son was in Cradlewise, the Owlet Sock base station had to be moved closer to him to prevent this interference.

However, as noted Mark and Marian didn’t use the Owlet and didn’t feel they needed it. So, this is where you insert your family’s unique needs to make a purchasing decision that’s best for you.

Pricing and where to buy

Cradlewise has an interesting pricing model—the further out you order it, the cheaper it gets. So, planning ahead saves you money. If you need immediate delivery, the price is $1,749 as of the time of this review. But you can save up to several hundred dollars by ordering up to 6 months in advance. (And, worth noting, sometimes immediate stock isn’t available.)

Cradlewise is currently only available directly from the Cradlewise website.

Cradlewise vs. Snoo

The Snoo has been around for 7+ years now. And you can tell that the Cradlewise team studied it, and tried to improve on some of the “issues” or shortcomings the Snoo has. Issues are in quotes here because some of these, while notable, are actually features of the Snoo—yes, it can be annoying to clip your baby in each time, this is exactly what prevents your baby from rolling over. If you ask the folks over at Happiest Baby, they’d undoubtedly tell you their white noise and rocking motions are the best, therefore you don’t need to switch them up.

With that in mind, here are some of the things Cradlewise attempts to improve upon or change from the Snoo, with varying degrees of success:

Snoo has no built-in baby monitor, Cradlewise does
Snoo has precisely one white noise setting, Cradlweise allows you to change the sound, and even play your own tracks
Snoo uses a back-and-forth rocking motion, Cradlewise uses a bouncing motion
To use Snoo, you need to clip your baby in. Cradlewise, like any normal crib or bassinet, you just place your baby in
The Snoo is pretty small, so your baby will grow out of it quickly. Happiest Baby advertises 6 months, Gordy, a bigger baby, grew out of the Snoo in 4.

So, how do Snoo and Cradlewise stack up? Let’s review key differences—we based this on our own testing of the Snoo, Mark and Marian’s testing of Cradlewise, and a couple who are friends of Fathercraft, Jon and Andrew, who used both Snoo and Cradlewise with their son Gordy.

Rollover safety. The Snoo is the only baby sleeper product on the market that’s designed to physically prevent your baby from rolling from her back to her front. Therefore, it’s the gold standard (and, quite literally received FDA De Novo approval for safely keeping sleeping babies on their backs). Kinda hard to beat that.

Though, as many billions of babies have been kept safe the old-fashioned way—by being placed on their back to sleep with a firm mattress, fitted crib sheets, and a crib free of toys and blankets, it’s worth noting for the many parents that can afford neither the Snoo nor any other smart bassinet that doing these things is safely putting your baby to sleep. Cradlewise is in that regard like a traditional crib—it uses a firm mattress, fitted sheets, and breathable mesh sides to keep your baby safe when sleeping.

All that said, Jon and Andrew said they felt safer when Gordy was sleeping in the Snoo, especially when he started trying to roll from back to front. Mark and Marian were satisfied with the Cradlewise.

Ease of putting your baby in and taking him out. Edge also goes to Cradlewise here. There’s no clipping in (again, note Snoo’s clipping is a feature). But also, Cradlewise is literally both taller (in bassinet mode) and bigger. With the Snoo, especially if your baby falls asleep in your arms, guiding him into the Snoo can feel like a high-stakes game of operation. With Cradlewise, your target is bigger and your back will thank you for less bending over.

Ease of cleaning. Cradlewise has the edge here—its mesh sides are removable (though that takes some doing), so in the event of a disaster (yes, you may experience projectile vomiting as a parent, exorcism not required), you can wash all the pieces of Cradlewise more thoroughly, vs the Snoo, which requires spot cleaning for the sides.

White noise flexibility and options. Again, Cradlwise wins here — white noise volume is adjustable, you can choose from several options (including playing your own music through its speakers). Again, we’d call out that the makers of Snoo are pretty confident they’ve developed the world’s best white noise option for babies, but that’s up to you to decide.

Sleep tracking reliability. Both Snoo and Cradlewise claim to be able to track the amount your baby sleeps. And, at least in Gordy’s case, both were wildly inaccurate. Jon and Andrew found their Owlet baby monitor to be much more accurate in this department. Mark and Marian reported that the Cradlewise would sometimes start tracking sleep a bit earlier than when Henry actually fell asleep, but they weren’t bothered by this.

Read (and watch) our full Snoo bass i net review.

By the way, if you’re interested in what Cradlewise has to say on the matter, here’s how they compare themselves to other smart bassinets.

The overall lesson? All babies are different. Snoo and Cradlewise technology both had a hard time tracking Gordy’s (Jon and Andrew’s baby) sleep. But Mark and Marian have had an easier time.

Who are Cradlewise competitors?

While the Snoo is Cradlewise’s most well-known competitor, others include the Halo BassiNest, the Graco Sense2Snooze, and the 4Moms Mamaroo Sleep bassinet. We’d note these others are quite a bit less expensive, and not on par with either Cradlewise or Snoo from a features or a build quality perspective.

Wrapping up

I wasn’t kidding when I say we go deep on baby gear reviews Hopefully, that was helpful as you think about your baby’s futuristic sleeping arrangements. While you’re here, hi, we’re Fathercraft. In addition to reviewing products, we create cool stuff for new parents and have a YouTube channel full of parenting-related videos.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally posted on May 4, 2023, and has been updated numerous times since then with more testing information..