2020 is shaping up to be a great time for babies! From names to nurseries, Kinacle has a look at 10 of this year’s biggest trends. If you’re expecting a baby sometime soon or simply looking for gift ideas for a brand new parent, read on.
What a time to be alive. Especially for babies! With the start of a brand-new decade, the youngest members of our families have every reason to be excited. And it’s only March! And that’s probably because 2019 wasn’t too shabby for babies either. With hundreds of trending baby-friendly gadgets, apps, clothes, games and even diaper delivery services, we’re not surprised that 2019’s baby-lovin’ trends spilled over to this year.
Let’s take a quick look back at some of 2019’s baby trends that’s ushered in a great 2020 for your baby!
Cute, minimalist prints and colors for baby clothes, nursery décor and baby accessories
Kinacle’s Star Pattern Nursery Wall Art
Bold, larger-than-life prints were definitely not on-trend in 2019. Parents proudly showed off their baby photos in minimalist vibes like monochromatic nurseries, baby carriers in simple, understated shades or baby clothes featuring minimalist prints.
More options for baby-wearing dads
Kinacle’s Dad On Duty Adult Shirt
The active, involved dad was celebrated well last year. According to a recent study, dads are now more engaged with their kids and taking more active parenting roles. And this then resulted in last year’s super cool, baby-wearing options just for dad!
Last year’s viral favorite were baby-wearing shirts. An innovative alternative to bulky baby carriers for dads and dads-to-be, the baby-wearing shirt is simply a t-shirt with a pouch in front to safely carry the baby.
Another trending hit in 2019 for dads was the ingenious dad hoodie designed with hidden mesh pockets to store diapers, bottles, toys and more.
Stroller boards and compact, travel strollers upping their game
Compact, foldable strollers that also featured cool additions like stroller boards were a big hit in recent years but 2019 showed us some amazing stroller board attachments that were perfect for babies with one or more older siblings.
Sometimes known as a “buggy board”, stroller boards are wheeled attachments that can be easily attached to the rear part of most baby strollers. Older kids can simply ride along in the back while mom steers.
Sustainable and innovative baby-friendly apps and services.
In 2019, an Amsterdam-based startup, CIRCOS, developed an app that provided clothing rental services for babies. And they actually feature amazing brands such as Patagonia, Noppie, and Imps & Elf. Parents can take their pick from premium baby clothing brands and switch it once outgrown. What a clever idea, right?
Another service that parents simply loved last year was Wonderwear. It’s a diaper delivery service that delivers eco-friendly, washable diapers to your doorstep. And you won’t need to worry about washing dirty cloth diapers. The company provides waterproof and odor-proof bags to store dirty diapers. Wonderwear will pick it up and wash it for you. It’s subscription based so it’s a perfect sustainable gift for new parents.
Anti-colic baby bottles and more options for baby bottle needs.
2019’s options for feeding bottles were just downright dizzying! From bottles that mimicked mom’s breasts to cube-shaped bottles, there were just so many to choose from. And both moms and babies loved the trend!
Dr. Brown’s anti-colic bottles were a big hit the past year as young babies are often colicky and may cry for ours. It features “an internal vent system that has been clinically proven to reduce colic, spit-up, burping and gas, while also preserving the nutrients in breast milk and formula.”
Gender neutral names and clothes.
Kinacle’s Little Sprout Gender Neutral Baby Bodysuit
2019 was truly a great year for gender acceptance. While we still have tons of work to do in that department, parents naming their babies with non-binary, genderless names were a huge hit.
Nameberry listed down last year’s top non-binary names:
- Briar
- Campbell
- Finley
- Journey
- Justice
- Laken
- Revel
- Robin
- Royal
- Story
So cute, right?
And other than nonbinary names, parents also loved gender neutral baby clothes. With adorable designs and details that suit both boys and girls, it actually saves parents money and time in searching for more gender-specific baby clothes.
Aside from those mentioned above, did you have any favorite baby trends from last year? We’d love to hear about it. Reach out to us or feel free to comment in the Comments Section below.
2020: A Great Start For Babies
Thanks to last year’s baby trends, 2020 is set out to be an even more amazing 365 days for new babies and new parents. That’s probably because everyone is feeling very optimistic about this year. Towards the end of 2019, social media was abuzz with hopeful posts, positive tweets and funny, encouraging memes.
Although we will say that the first month of 2020 felt quite challenging what with the bushfires in Australia making headlines, basketball star and family man Kobe Bryant’s untimely death and the threat of World War 3, but still, resilient as we are, the whole world surpassed it all and the hopeful feeling of 2020 still remains in all of us, especially for the newest additions in our families – our adorable babies.
Symbolizing the start of a new decade, many new parents feel that this is a great year for a fresh start and for new beginnings.
What’s So Great About 2020 For Your Baby?
According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, 2020 is the Year of the Rat. Which means, according to Chinese belief, if you are set to give birth this year, your baby will be “clever, quick thinkers; successful, but content with living a quiet and peaceful life.”
Chinese culture also believes that:
“The Rat is also associated with the Earthly Branch (地支—dì zhī) Zi (子) and the midnight hours. In the terms of yin and yang (阴阳—yīn yáng), the Rat is yang and represents the beginning of a new day.
In Chinese culture, rats were seen as a sign of wealth and surplus. Because of their reproduction rate, married couples also prayed to them for children.”
- 2020 is a Leap Year. Believed to be a lucky year, if you gave birth on February 29, 2020, Leap Day – your baby is considered luckier than most. It may just all be superstitious belief but historical records show how February 29, 1504 was a very lucky day for Christopher Columbus, who was able to convince Native Americans to supply his starving crew with food due to a timely eclipse that he led the natives to believe was an angry omen from the gods. Anecdote or superstition; regardless, your baby is part of an exclusive “club” of “leaplings” or babies born on Leap Day. It’s always a good story and fun to think that your baby can have 2 birthdays – their legal birthday (either February 28 or March 1) and their actual birthday which is technically celebrated every 4 years.
- 2020 is the age of technology. Or rather, let’s just say that 2020 is the future! With all the inventions and innovations that are set to be announced and launched this year, 2020 babies are practically babies of the future. NBC reports, among other exciting innovations, Japan will start building a robotic moon base this year, there’s buzz about inventing possible flying cars (still questionable) and maybe microchips in our brains that will enable us to control our gadgets? Nonetheless, our babies will grow up in a time of super-technology like no other.
So, what’s new and trending in 2020 for your baby? A whole lot! From trending baby demographics, babies in social media, baby names, baby gadgets to smart nurseries, we’ve covered the top 10 baby trends this year.
We’ll Begin With Our Top 4:
A more colorful world with more diverse babies.
In 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that by 2020, “more than half of the nation’s children are expected to be part of a minority race or ethnic group.” This means that fair-skinned babies will no longer be the majority but babies of color and diverse ethnicity will fill our hospitals’ nurseries, and in a few years, due to more ethnically-diverse babies born this year, we will soon fill our country’s day care facilities and schools with more diversity, as well.
And that’s great! Isn’t being different what makes the world a more beautiful place? Our 2020 babies born into a time of great diversity means that they will be growing up and going to school with children from different ethnicities will teach them important values such as:
- A deep understanding of different cultures
- Tolerance, respect and appreciation for other ethnicities
- Openness to try new things especially food, toys and experiences from other ethnicities
- A great understanding of the world beyond their own homes
More real and raw social media posts related to babies and raising them.
Already a rising trend we saw on social from around 2017 up to 2019, baby posts and memes from parenting pages or parents themselves continue to become more real and raw, telling the world what it is really like to raise small babies. This shows us that 2020 continues to be a year for posting funny, honest and relatable posts about babies and parenting!
On the other hand, apart from funny, relatable memes, parents can now also share the struggles they share with raising babies and young children. From inspiring to encouraging, to sometimes sad and upsetting, parents now have an outlet to share personal struggles or celebrate baby milestones with other parents. This trend shows that 2020 is quickly shaping up to be a year for more authentic baby posts.
From old-fashioned to minimalist, 4-letter names and names inspired by pop culture – baby names are set out to be unique and interesting this year.
What’s in a name? In 2020, a name sure means a lot! If you’re searching for baby names or helping a loved one decide on a baby name, you’ll want to know what’s trending this year:
Genderless baby names. Continuing on 2019’s nonbinary name trend, 2020 is showing some great promise for gender-neutral names, as well. More than just your usual Jamie or Taylor, here are some of this year’s top genderless baby names that are going to be huge hits per baby name authorities, Nameberry, Babycenter and SSA (as reported by Maryn Liles of parade.com):
- Sam
- Alex
- Emery
- Corey
- Ari
- Cameron
- Frankie
- Remi
- River
- Skylar (or Skyler)
Short, four-letter names are definitely trending. Short and sweet but brimming with personality, up and coming 4-letter baby names include: Luna, Isla, Mila and Cora for girls and Bode and Zaid for boys.
International names are a huge hit this year. Nameberry notes that this year, popular place names will include Cairo, Denver, Phoenix, and Harlem while names borrowed from other countries is trending this year, as well. Favorites seem to be from Scandinavia: Gunnar, Leif, Magnus, Thor and Bjorn.
Names inspired by popular movies and books. An increase in babies named Yara and Stark from the Game of Thrones fame or Star Wars favorites like Olenna and Kylo will continue to dominate the baby naming scene this year. Maverick, from the movie Top Gun, seems to be gaining traction, according to BabyCenter.
Everyone loves Keanu Reeves. Keanu’s fame, which we feel never went away, spiked up even more last year showing an increased interest in his name of up to 24% this year. We won’t be surprised if many little ones will be named Keanu this year.
Kardashian faves and royalty-inspired names. Speaking of celebrity names, BabyCenter notes that there is a significant interest in babies named after the newest generation of Kardashian/Jenner brood: Stormi, True, Chicago, Dream, Reign, Nori, Saint and soon, Psalm will be joining in the crew, as well. And everyone simply loves our newest royal family: babies named Meaghan, Harry and Archie are doing well this year, too.
It’s so cool to think that in a few short years, our schools will be filled with children with such interesting names: Gunnar and Keanu. Mila and Luna. Dream and Harry. Did you find one that you liked in the trending list? Let us know!
Baby gadgets and accessories designed to make mom and dad’s life easier.
2020 is expected to be the new age of technology and this includes high-tech baby gadgets and accessories. Due to so many options, we’ll focus on relevant items related to three aspects of babyhood that will always stay on-trend: sleep, safety and mobility.
Sleep
Lack of sleep defines new parents – what with newborn babies waking every 2 to 3 hours to feed or simply needing to be held and carried. Sleep-saving gadgets and accessories designed for babies to help tired moms and dads will continue to do well this year. Here are some examples of newest sleep-based baby gadgets of 2020:
- The MamaRoo Baby Bassinet – features movements that replicate mom’s and dad’s soothing movements that will help baby (and parents) get a good night’s sleep.
- Smart baby monitors – these app-controlled baby gadgets track your baby’s breathing and sleep patterns and conditions in the nursery such as temperature and humidity. The latest smart baby monitors hitting the shelves this year are Sense U Smart Baby Monitor and Miku Smart Baby Monitor. Knowing that your baby is safe and sound will certainly help ease your mind and help you sleep better at night.
- Munchkin Lulla-Vibe Vibrating Mattress Pad – to be placed beneath your baby’s mattress, it emits soothing vibrations that will lull your baby to sleep.
- Baby Shusher Sleep Miracle Soother – ever thought of recording your own shushing sounds to shush your baby to sleep? The Baby Shusher does exactly that. Turn it on, place it close to the baby and its shushing sounds will soothe your baby to sleep.
Safety
Other than sleep, keeping newborn babies safe is what new parents are always concerned about. Thankfully, 2020 is showing some amazing promise with smart gadgets that track your baby’s health. Here are some of this year’s products that we think you’ll like:
- Owlet Smart Sock + Cam Baby Monitor Solution – an ingeniously simple product that lets you simply slip into your baby’s feet during bedtime. It tracks heart rate and oxygen levels. In cases of emergencies, it sounds an alarm. It’s perfect for moms of preemies or babies with serious health conditions.
- Summer Infant Pacifier Thermometer – fever in young infants are worrying but taking their temperatures can be such a challenge! This innovative infant pacifier doubles as a thermometer to make temperature reading easier.
- Windi Gas and Colic Reliever for Babies – sold in a pack of 20’s, this gadget by Fridababy is a safe way to help little ones pass gas. It’s perfect for soothing crying, colicky babies.
Mobility
One of the challenges that come with taking care of babies is mobility. Whether maneuvering diaper bags and a baby bassinet in the grocery store or speeding through the airport with a toddler in a stroller and a small baby in a baby carrier, 2020 continues to show off baby gadgets and accessories with the goal of helping mom and dad move freely while holding their baby. Here are some products you’ll want to catch before they become sold out this year:
- Munchkin Travel Car Baby Bottle Warmer – the newest in mobile, baby bottle-warming technology, it features flexible material that wraps around bottles of any size. It also features a digital thermometer that displays temperature and time remaining for warming time.
- BINXY BABY Shopping Cart Hammock – an ingenious and bacteria-free solution to letting your little one hang out by the shopping cart while you do your grocery runs, this shopping cart hammock is a comfortable baby hammock that moms and dads can easily attach to most shopping carts.
- Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Stroller – voted best overall baby stroller of 2020 by Babylist, the City Mini GT2 “out-stollered” the popular City Mini. With all the bells and whistles of a smooth, lightweight and foldable jogger stroller, busy urban-born babies will stay nestled comfortably and safely as mom and dad easily maneuvers around the city.
And, last but not the least, here are 6 more baby trends to look out for this year
Baby-friendly outdoor activities and nature-themed baby outfits.
Kinacle’s Wonder And Wander Baby / Toddler Bodysuit
Last year, Pinterest reported a whopping 550% increase in searches for baby-friendly areas and activities that involved “digging, splashing and sliding around outside”. 2020 is no different. Still showing a steady increase in searches related to playing outside, parents this year are answering the call of nature and expressing great interest and encouraging their children, even as small babies and toddlers, to simply go out and play.
Aside from rising trends in outdoor play for babies, online searches also spiked for nature, travel or outdoor-themed baby clothes.
Dinosaurs and Unicorns for 2019, Outer Space and Baby Yoda for 2020
Kinacle’s Solar System Wall Art – Vinyl Space, Planets, Galaxy Wall Decals For Nurseries, Children’s Rooms, And Home Decor
Planning a baby shower or looking for a birth announcement theme? Since Baby Yoda’s super popularity around the end of 2019, outer space seems to be a growing trend this year. It’s actually perfect because it suits both baby boys and girls. It’s also super easy to set up. It sort of gives that 90’s vibes, doesn’t it?
Fashionable baby nursery trends: saturated colors, jewel tones, monochromatic whites, earthy/country/wicker/rattan accessories, vintage pieces and baby name accents.
Kinacle’s Ice Cream Theme Nursery Wall Art – Cute Sweets Dessert Decals For Baby Boy And Baby Girl Rooms
While classic blue and pink nurseries with white accents, a charming stuffed bear and rocking chair are always in, nursery trends now show more stylish, fashion-forward pieces. Get ready for some real interior-design level nurseries for lucky 2020 babies. If you’re currently planning on decorating your nursery, don’t be afraid to go monochromatic or choose unique, unusual décor. Whether in-store or online, many companies offer more fashion-forward choices for baby nursery interiors.
Taking our babies back to basics – a return to simpler, more engaging wooden toys and physical books.
Samantha Kemp-Jackson, parenting expert and host of popular parenting podcast “Parenting Then And Now”, says that “With digital and electronic entertainment and communications a pervasive force in our society, [I think] parents are tired. They’ve reached their respective thresholds regarding apps, texts and notifications.” She further states that a “return to basics” is what she predicts this year.
This is a wonderful trend, too. Imagine our 2020 babies growing up with the best of both worlds – high technology + old-school books and toys.
Decline in gender reveal parties.
Parenting experts predict that you won’t be seeing a lot of gender reveal parties this year. While we would never discourage anyone to host a gender reveal if they want to, recent baby trends do show that lesser parents want to organize or host gender reveal parties finding it an unnecessary expense or they simply want to keep their baby’s gender a surprise.
Continuous trend in sustainable, eco-friendly and organic baby products.
“Green” parenting still continues to stay on-trend in 2020 as concerns for climate change and overall state of the environment continue to become an issue. In an effort to lessen our carbon footprint and contribute positively to the environment, parents will continue to use innovative, sustainable products this year. So, if you plan to gift a set of reusable cloth diapers or cloth wipes, go right ahead! It’s perfectly in 2020.
Conclusion
2020 continues to see trends for babies that’s spilled over from 2019 with newer innovations but also embracing classing baby trends. Do you have any favorites from our list above? Let us know!
Disclaimer:
We do not endorse any products or services mentioned in this article except that of the Kinacle brand. These products and services are only mentioned as they are relevant to the article’s topic.
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