If you have friends or family expecting a baby, or have recently welcomed one yourself, this is the list you’re been looking for! Here’s the chance to DIY a great parenting hack.
The list contains an exciting variety of things that could be used to help with the baby in everyday life, including some special items just for parents. Note that, while there are plenty of 3D print models for toys, we’ve opted to keep items off the list that a small baby might put in their mouth, just to avoid any concerns around choking hazards and food-safety.
The last thing a new parent needs is unnecessary clutter lying around to deal with, so all of these items are screened for being actual “needs and wants” versus, say, a cute little knickknack that won’t improve or enhance a new parent’s life. We also tried to stick to items that a large majority of parents would find helpful, as opposed to some less-universal niche items.
If you’re the maker and the new parent, it’s safe to say that you’re pretty busy, so we’ve tried to keep the models relatively simple in nature so that on top of everything else, you’re not stressing out over a highly complex printing project. And if you’ve found a design but don’t have a 3D printer nearby, know that with Craftcloud, high quality and the best materials will be part of the gift.
Coffee Sleeve
As pretty much any new parent will attest, sleep is hard to come by when you have a new baby, and caffeine can be a godsend! This stylish and very practical Starbucks-themed coffee sleeve allows new parents to have a solution for keeping their coffee or tea warm (and their hands safe from the hot cup) while dealing with feedings or diaper changes.
The clever design with thermochromic pigment turns yellow when it reaches 33 °C, allowing the user to assess how hot it is for both safety purposes (always be mindful with hot beverages around babies and small children), and for the ever-important “Is it still warm?” question. And as a bonus, this design only takes a maximum of two hours printing time, so you may as well go ahead and make several!
- Who designed it? michaelaregan
- How printable/popular is it? This print boasts over 460 downloads and has been viewed more than 10,000 times.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Change Station Rail
Safety is on every parent’s mind, especially when dealing with babies on high surfaces. This change station rail that you can 3D print helps prevent babies from rolling off the side of a changing mat or table, but it doesn’t take up much space, so it’s practical in every way.
The setup of the rail only requires filament, rods, and screws, so it’s not that expensive of an endeavor. It does have a bit of a lengthy print time at over 15 hours, but it can be re-scaled as needed. The creator has also made free accompanying video tutorials to help makers in the process.
- Who designed it? Allan
- Who printed it? There have been 5 downloads and 151 views of this print so far.
- Where to find it? PrusaPrinters
Diaper Bag Holder for Stroller
Instead of having to rummage under the stroller or take off a backpack, easy access to a diaper bag when out and about with a baby is more than helpful. These thoughtful and compact adapters allow parents to attach the diaper bag to the stroller handle for easy access and storage.
Though the adapters are designed for ABC brand strollers, they can be adapted for other brands as well if you resize the files. This print was initially designed with FreeCAD and has extremely detailed print instructions, as well as a file for a bottle holder if desired.
- Who designed it? TheGooNie
- How printable/popular is it? The file has a Make, a Remix, and 46 likes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Magnetic Drawer Locks
If you’re looking for a babyproofing solution, whether it’s needed immediately or for future use, you might want to consider these magnetic locks. They’re optimal for babyproofing drawers, one of the first items exploring children try to open. They’re complex enough that a child won’t be able to resolve how to use them but not too complicated for adults to figure out. So don’t worry, you’ll still be able to open your drawers!
This print is specifically designed for pull-out drawers, and it prints with no supports. To make this project, you’ll need two screws and a magnet, and you can go as low as 5% for the infill.
There’s also a non-magnetic drawer lock for a simpler build. For more babyproofing ideas, there are safety power outlet covers (for the US and Europe), table corner protectors (either plain or with cat ears), and cupboard latches and locks.
- Who designed it? davem80
- How printable/popular is it? Currently, this project has 134 likes and 1 Make.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Baby Mobile
A colorful baby mobile can be a great gift for new parents. The hanging items are up to you: toys, animals, planes, stars and clouds, shapes, and any and all combinations you can think of! The pictured model uses colorful origami animals which looks great and would be easy to achieve.
The build requires some bolts and nuts, but it should be a fairly straightforward process. The design files are also available to adapt the mobile to different cots.
- Who designed it? EMR
- How printable/popular is it? This sweet baby mobile has 267 downloads likes and 2 Makes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Book Stand
Many parents have their hands full while feeding a baby for long stretches of time and need a “hands-free” solution for holding a book, a tablet, or a phone so that they can get a bit of pleasure reading, to watch their favorite show, or to quickly respond to a text. This item has you covered!
This book stand features an adjustable tilt angle, and it prints without supports. Its maker reports that it needs 88 grams of filament to print. You’ll also need three screws and two nuts to assemble the parts together.
- Who designed it? dede67
- How printable/popular is it? This hands-free solution has 129 downloads and 45 likes.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Breast Pump Container Stand
Spilling breastmilk after pumping it is as far from fun as it can get. This creative solution is perfect to avoid such an issue, as the stand helps keep the pump bottles or flanges in place, preventing them from tipping over.
There are both STL and STEP files for customization purposes, so you can adjust the parameters to the items you’ve got.
- Who designed it? Jimmarks84
- How printable/popular is it? The item currently stands at 1 Make and 14 likes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Wipes Holder for Changing Table
A thoughtful design for keeping things organized, this holder allows for a box of wipes to be stored off the side of the table instead of directly atop it. This item can give parents more space on the changing table, and it could also be used for other storage purposes such as burp cloths or a stack of diapers.
This holder was designed for a Sorelle changing table and convertible crib, but could be used for other brands of changing tables. Once attached, it can also slide back and forth as needed.
- Who designed it? Golbie
- How printable/popular is it? This item has been liked by 12 users but has no Makes yet. The pictured model was printed with an infill of 10% using PLA.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Cloud Bedroom Light
For late-night feeding sessions or diaper changes when you need just enough light to see but you want to avoid waking up the baby, this adorable easy light project makes a perfect night light solution, and it’s absolutely irresistible room décor to boot.
With extremely positive user feedback, this is a perfect gift to make for friends or family members. The print requires about 11.5 hours of print time, plus an LED strip to make the light work.
- Who designed it? Nils Kal
- How printable/popular is it? This sweet, smiley project has 709 downloads, 9 makes, and 1 remix so far.
- Where to find it? PrusaPrinters
Infant Medicine Syringe Holder
Setting up medicine can be a trying task, but you can 3D print a highly practical method to store syringes for medications, keeping them clean, dry, and organized.
This particular print uses PETG filament, has 100% infill, and no supports. The syringe holder was designed in SolidWorks and an additional STL file allows users to create a holder with slightly larger syringe holes if desired.
- Who designed it? Eighty_eighth
- How printable/popular is it? This item features 52 likes, 1 Make, and 1 Remix.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
License: The text of "The Best 3D Printed Gifts for New Parents" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.