As the CEO and cofounder of baby gear brand Lalo, Greg Davidson knows a thing or two about what new parents actually need. With three children of his own—ages 3, 5, and a 3-month-old daughter—Davidson has put countless products to the test in his Miami home. His mornings start at 6:30 a.m. when his older kids serve as his alarm clock, followed by family bonding time in bed before he heads to the kitchen to prepare breakfast while his wife recovers from nighttime feedings.
Davidson's journey into the baby gear industry began not as a parent, but as an observer of a frustrated friend. He and cofounder Michael Wieder launched Lalo after witnessing a pregnant friend overwhelmed by the chaos of sorting through dozens of baby registry gifts from different brands. This experience highlighted a major gap in the market—most baby brands excelled at one product but failed to support parents through their entire journey. "This customer is incredibly vulnerable. They're seeking information, but at the same time they're really excited about this moment," Davidson explains. "It's such an opportunity to build trust; it felt like a lot of brands were missing that."
Lalo officially launched in March 2019 with a stroller that the company no longer produces. However, the brand found its sweet spot when their now-bestselling high chair debuted in July of the same year. The company has since focused on three core areas: eating, playing, and bathing. They build upon successful products in each category—such as their high chair, bathtub, and toddler table and chairs set—by developing complementary accessories and new items. Their recent hook-on high chair launch proved to be one of their most successful product debuts, selling out within a week.
Operating with a fully remote team of 15 employees headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, Lalo has expanded significantly from its direct-to-consumer roots. The brand's products are now available on Amazon, and in March 2024, they secured a game-changing partnership with Target. This collaboration brought 8 feet of Lalo-specific endcaps and more than 40 SKUs to over 230 Target stores, plus 60 SKUs available online. "We're now getting more brand awareness through being in a channel like Target and that's also expanding our business in incredible ways," Davidson notes.
Despite ongoing challenges with tariffs—since Lalo's products are manufactured in China, Thailand, and Vietnam—and economic uncertainty, the company is experiencing significant transformation. Davidson believes they've successfully built trust with vulnerable new parents who can now rely on Lalo as their children grow. "We're definitely looking to go deeper into the categories we're in, because there's still tons of opportunity there," he says.
As both an experienced father and successful entrepreneur, Davidson has curated a list of baby registry essentials based on real-world testing. His top recommendation is the Bugaboo Travel 2 Stroller ($599), which he calls his "travel must-have" because it folds in seconds, fits in overhead bins, and remains sturdy enough for daily use. Naturally, he also endorses Lalo's own high chair ($225), which has served all three of his children from solids introduction through their current stages, transforming from high chair to booster to play chair while maintaining its dining room aesthetics.
For sleep and comfort, Davidson swears by several key items. The Hatch Rest white noise machine ($90) ranks as potentially the one gadget he'd keep above all others, as it allows their baby to sleep despite the noise from two active older siblings. He also recommends the Harbor Baby Monitor ($499) for its crystal-clear video quality and reliable performance, especially during those crucial 3 a.m. moments. The BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss ($210) has been a hit with all three of his children, providing just enough entertainment for him to enjoy his morning coffee.
Additional essentials on Davidson's list include the Snuggle Me Infant Lounger ($130) for creating cozy spots throughout the house, Kyte Baby Sleep Bags ($55) that work perfectly even in Miami's humidity, and the viral Frida Baby NoseFrida SnotSucker ($20) for congestion relief. He also recommends Lalo's own bathtub ($65), which fits perfectly in sinks and grows with children from newborn to toddler stage, and Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Bottles ($25), which all three of his children have used successfully due to their vent system that reduces gas and colic.
Davidson's recommendations reflect not just his professional expertise in the baby gear industry, but his hands-on experience as a father navigating the real challenges of parenting three young children. His approach emphasizes products that truly solve problems while growing with families, embodying the same philosophy that has made Lalo a trusted name among millennial parents seeking sleek, functional baby gear.
