First-Year Staples We (and you!) Swear By 

As moms with eight kids between us, we fully understand the ups and downs of the first year of motherhood. It seems that just when you think you’re getting the hang of it, your baby reaches a new milestone and you’re scrambling to adjust to that new normal.

But it’s also magical — a heartswell of emotions and unimaginable love you didn’t know you could have. It’s in those quiet, meaningful moments you can’t help but feel that you’re getting more things right than you might think.

When we founded Gathre almost a decade(!) ago we set out to make the products we relied on ourselves available to other moms around the world. Products that balance function and style, with the versatility to make your life just a little bit easier as you navigate those first few months, years and beyond with your growing family.

Here we share the top products we used with our own babies in their first year, products that came later we wished we’d had back then, and our go-to’s for soon-to-be moms you can gift with love. All designed to bring purpose to the chaos, and the space to embrace every fleeting moment.

MICRO MAT: THE ONE THAT STARTED IT ALL

When we were new moms, we were looking for a functional, stylish mat that was easy-to-clean, compact enough to take wherever we went, and made of safe, quality materials. It was a tall order we finally solved with our signature, wipeable vegan leather that makes them so easy to clean, free of toxins and creates a high-end feel like real leather with the convenience (aka easy cleaning) of faux.

Since day one, it’s been our best seller, probably because they can be used in so many ways, which is why you can’t have enough of them. One for the diaper bag, the diaper caddy in the nursery, one in the car for unexpected messes, one in your purse.

We always hear from our customers that it’s a new-mom no-brainer, which makes it the perfect entry product to the Gathre lineup for yourself or as a gift for moms-to-be. It also works as a place mat, desk mat, pet bowl mat, arts and crafts pad (we’ll sure you’ll find all kinds of other uses too) and comes in endless colorways and prints to match your unique style.

MILESTONES PADDED MAT: MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT

Building on our original Mat collection, we added cushy memory foam in our same wipeable vegan leather to create an even softer place to land. With our Milestones Collection, we designed a timeless backdrop for capturing the monthly progress photos to share with your circle, a plush place to embrace the day-to-day bonding that comes with every second of that first year, and eventually a play space for countless numbers games and toddlers learning to tell time. Reversible for added versatility — just flip it over for an ivory neutral that fits any space in your home.

THE CADDY: THE CATCH-ALL OF CATCH-ALLS.

As new moms, it’s amazing the amount of things we accumulate around the house, in the nursery, the play room, literally everywhere. Our sleek, modern Caddy gives you a handle on staying ahead of the mess offering incredible craftsmanship for a soft yet sturdy construction and convenient handle for transporting between rooms. Great for storing diapers and creams, rattles and toys, a change of clothes for when you really need it, and even toiletries and healing essentials for new-mom, too. As your baby grows, so do the uses: books, toys and all the personal belongings they’ll want to keep close as they grow up—even into their teenage years.

BUNTING: TIMELESS DECOR FOR ANY SPACE

A little flair goes a really long way with our signature Bunting in gender-neutral colors for any space in your home. We love to keep it handy for birthdays and other special events or string it up above their crib for a cute touch with zero fuss.

BABY ACTIVITY GYM: A SLEEK AND SOFT PLACE TO LAY 

This one falls on our wishlist of essentials we wish we’d had when our babies were little. Its simple, neutral design makes it sophisticated enough to leave out around the house, but also easy to store when you need to put it away. Complete with super-soft, artisanal, hand-knit toys designed to entertain and engage your little one, the detachable arms can be removed for use as a quilted mat that grows with them over time.

ACTIVITY WALKER: PLAY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

With this play essential, we set out to imagine the walker of our dreams, hand-picking and perfecting every element over many months. Made of the highest quality materials with an easily wipeable surface, it’s a must-have for little ones developing their fine motor skills and eventually learning to walk with adjustable friction wheels for safety. They’ll push it around the house for hours with a basket for storing toys and plenty of entertainment on the front designed for aiding learning and dexterity including a spinning mirror and rain maker combo, wood block shapes sorter, xylophone with mallet, and metal bead maze. Best of all, its high-quality design in timeless colors makes it a true heirloom piece that fits with your existing decor.

SOFT PLAY: THE OPPOSITE OF ROUGH HOUSING

From our Tunnels to Ball Pits, Arc and Block Playsets, Tumbling Mats, Balance Beams, Play Balls and more, this collection is made to keep them entertained for open-ended, indoor playtime that fuels their imagination and growth — while giving parents a short, hands-off reprieve knowing their child has a soft, safe place to land. Designed to compliment each other, pair different playthings together to build the fort or gym of their dreams. All pieces are designed to become staples that keep them curious and padded as they play their way through childhood.