What to Expect selects products based on independent research and suggestions from our community of millions of parents; learn more about our review process. We may earn commissions from shopping links.

  • What is it? Apple AirPods
  • Why I love it: They allow me to have hands-free calls, listen to podcasts during late-night feedings and are great for workouts.
  • How much is it? $159
  • Where to buy it: Amazon

When it comes to the things you think you need when you have a baby, the list is long.

There are products for mom (breastfeeding musts, recovery items, a meal train of food) and products for baby (video monitor, high chair, toys, a slew of onesies). And then there’s the stuff you buy and never use, and the stuff you debate over adding to your cart.

But as a mom to two under 2, I’ve also realized that there’s another camp of products: the stuff you don’t realize you’ll want (or, in fact, need) until you’re in the moment, wishing you had that one thing. For me, Apple AirPods ($159 on Amazon) fit into that category.

Compared to other Bluetooth-enabled, wireless headphones, I find the AirPods to be incredibly easy to use, charge, set up and buy. With one charge, you can get up to five hours of use and the charging case can provide more than 24 hours of battery life. Plus, they have great sound quality and they’re usually on sale (right now, they’re 25 percent off on Amazon!).

I have the second iteration of the AirPods, but Apple recently released its latest version: Apple AirPods (3rd Generation). This new pair has an updated contour design and offers six hours per charge, while the charging case has a battery life capacity of more than 30 hours. For a more advanced style, the AirPods Pro have silicone tips for a super-comfortable, customized fit, and an impressive noise-cancelling feature.

For me, what was once reserved as an exercise necessity — something I picked up before I went out on a run or hopped on the Peloton — my AirPods have become something I’ve used throughout my days and nights as a parent to young kids.

First, middle-of-the-night wakeups with a new baby can sometimes be ... long. And if you don’t want to stare at your screen at 2 a.m. but want something to listen to while you feed your baby, plugging into a podcast or music that only you can hear is an amazing alternative.

Have a partner who likes to watch or listen to something before bed? AirPods lets my husband get his screen fix in bed without disturbing my sleep during a time when sleep is so, so precious.

Since I have two little ones, I also find that my AirPods allow me to make phone calls — to the doctor’s office, with my husband, for work — a little bit easier.

While FaceTime and phone calls are a wonderful way for children to connect with faraway family and friends, I find that when I’m on the phone around them, my kids can easily become irritated, confused, stimulated or suddenly demanding of attention. Being able to multitask (a key reality of being a mom to more than one small child) without disrupting my kids has its payoffs.

But here’s the other big reason I love them:

They’re a quality product that are perfect for a workout or a conversation with a loved one. And while it might sound silly, I truly find it freeing to be able to take a walk outside with my baby and listen to a podcast or have a hands-free chat with a friend. 

As a new mom, re-connecting to the world around me when I feel out of sorts, time-constrained (if you’re breastfeeding, you’re likely living your life in three-hour increments), stressed or like everything around me is new can be healing. Connection — with others, with information, with the outside world — is paramount, even if it's only for small slices of time.

I work online (many of us do these days), so I try really hard to be present with my kids. And I understand that my suggestion for a product that, by nature, causes you to “tune out” can feel like the opposite of being present. 

But I would argue that it’s not. Being able to do the things that make me feel like me (like squeezing in a workout or catching up with a friend) allows me to be more present with my children. Because when I’m done, I put away my trusty AirPods and tune into my kids. 

See more: Starting at $159 on Amazon, Target and Best Buy