We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A leave-in conditioning spray for curly hair to help restore your little one's curls to their former glory once more! It's also free from any toxic stuff including parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.
Reviewers say this spray will leave wavy or curly hair (from 2a–4c hair) shiny, soft, and bouncy.
Promising review: "A must-have. Best product I’ve found for my little one's hair." —Jose Orellana
Promising review: "This stuff is fantastic for curly girls! I spray it in my daughter's dry hair in the morning, run my fingers through her ringlets (never ever comb or brush curly hair dry), then clip the top back. It smells amazing, and the price on Amazon is better than other national retailers I've found it at. The price is worth it. Minimizes frizz and keeps curls soft and natural looking. My daughter has soft/fine thick hair." —Carolyn Smith
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (also available in a two pack).
2. A TikTok-famous grape cutter because is there anything more ridiculously time consuming than quartering grapes every day for your little one? This cool device will do it at lightning speed and help reduce the risk of choking at mealtimes — whether at home or at school.
Promising review: "Must have if you have toddlers. Wish I knew of this sooner. Has made it so much easier to cut grapes for my toddler. Now can do it one-handed when my LO won’t let me set him down to cut the fruit. I have also used it to cut blueberries and blackberries." —Crystal Albertin
Promising review: "If your toddler loves grapes, this is a MUST-HAVE! So much easier than cutting into 4ths with a knife." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $11.95.
3. A whale bath toy which lights up automatically and starts spouting water the minute it hits the water. Who wouldn't want to play with this ~whaley~ cute buddy during bath time?
See why this parent says this toy is a hit with their 7-month-old on TikTok.
Promising review: "My grandson LOVES this! He has so much fun! Loves the colors and how it squirts the water. Really cute for a 1-or 2-year-old. Heck I think it's fun and cute! Definitely a must-have for bath time!" —Faye
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in two colors).
4. A pack of silicone pouch lids that'll prevent your little ones from squeezing pouches all over themselves, and on your rugs and couches. This clever lid boasts a flow-control valve that prevents spills, but still lets them suck the purées.
ChooMee is a small biz based in Northern California, owned by a mom, that specializes in innovative products that solve everyday feeding challenges.
Promising review: "MUST HAVE FOR TODDLERS. My son is a little over 1-year-old and I wish I got these sooner! He gets moments of extreme excitement where is squeeze's the crap out of his pouches and it gets EVERYWHERE. Since having these I have had zero messes! I ended up buying 4 more because I wanted to keep one in every possible place I'd need one. It seems pretty darn secure if you do it following the directions. It fits Plum Organics, Earth's Best, and Happy Baby pouches for sure." —Amazon Customer
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $9.99 (available in five color combos).
5. A set of satisfying tempera paint sticks because they feel like you're painting with rich, creamy lipsticks — but dry very quickly. My toddler is OBSESSED with these and uses them literally every day. The best part? It's all the fun of painting without the mess.
Promising review: "Best invention almost ever (there’s still sliced bread). I mean how can you go wrong with paint in a stick?!! I mean certainly a toddler can go wrong with it. A toddler can go wrong somehow with a spaghetti noodle!!! But seriously, I saw these paint sticks at one of our local art galleries and it was an immediate MUST HAVE!!! Vibrant colors and they fit in little hands SO well!!! My kiddo loves them and so does her Momma!!" —RNinMD70
Get a pack of 24 pens from Amazon for $21.41+ (also available in larger quantities).
6. The Pink Stuff, a magical all-purpose cleaning paste so you don't need to go into full panic mode when lipstick (or Sharpie) marks mysteriously appear on your walls. (Good luck keeping the little Picassos out of your makeup bag, though!)
Promising review: "A must-have for toddler moms! My 3-year-old recently decided to channel his inner Van Gogh on our stairwell wall, and red crayon was EVERYWHERE. I tried every possible cleaning solution, and nothing was getting it off. I heard about the Pink Stuff on TikTok and decided it was worth a shot. This stuff is a miracle worker! With a sponge and some elbow grease, I was able to remove all the crayon within 10 minutes. There’s absolutely no trace of the crayon left, and it didn’t ruin my paint!" —Casey Blaine
Promising review: "If you have toddlers, this is a MUST! This stuff is amazing. It gets out crayon, ink, permanent marker, literally whatever way your toddler decides to unknowingly destroy your home — this stuff cleans it up. Will be giving this to all expectant parents as a gift from now on. Forget that cute onesie. They need this. 10/10" —Diana
Get it from Amazon for $5.97.
7. A pack of sink extenders you can install on any faucet to enable your little one to finally reach the water all by themselves *and* to save your back the strain of hoisting them over the sink.
Promising review: "Must-have for toddlers and small children! LOVE this! My 1- and 3-year-old love washing their hands now and my back gets a nice break. Adding the faucet extenders and a stepstool to our bed time/morning routine has been a godsend. Great bargain for the price." —TeaBea21
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $10.95.
8. A pack of bright laminated flash cards to help little Einsteins soak up their ABCs, 123s, shapes, and colors. They're like knowledge sponges at this age, so why not start them early?
Promising review: "My 2-year-old recognizes all her number and alphabets so she needed something to challenge her. These cards are it. Shapes, colors, number, counting animals — there is so much to learn, and so many games you can make up. A must-have for any toddler." —IG: Pink_confession
Get a pack of 58 cards from Amazon for $12.99 (also available for babies).
9. And a LeapFrog 100 Words Book that'll interact with budding scholars and help build their vocabulary in English and Spanish.
Find out why this parent calls it "one of our favorite toys for our son" on TikTok.
Promising review: "This may be my favorite LeapFrog toy yet!! So much to teach children, two languages, and it has actually kept my 1-year-old's attention for more than 60 seconds!!! It’s a must-have toy in my opinion!" —Megan Hennegan
Promising review: "Our 18-month-old toddler loves it! Clear words makes it easy for babies to repeat. A must-have toy 👍" —Zaida
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in seven styles and in two packaging options).
10. A set of plastic knives so you can enlist your mini sous chef's help with dinner prep. While these do a pretty decent job of chopping, they're not sharp enough to slice a finger.
Note: Children still need supervision while using them, of course.
Promising review: "My daughter LOVES helping me cut and prep dinner with these! My LO (2.5 years) feels so helpful in the kitchen and I enjoy spending time together. A must have!" —Kacie
Promising review: "Highly recommend these for safety, sturdiness, quality, & life skill reasons. These have been amazing for practicing cutting for my daughter. She’s been using them almost two years now since she was 2 years old. A must purchase if you’re looking to introduce a practical life skill especially to a young child!!" —Ciandra
Get a set of three from Amazon for $9.95.
11. A magnetic chore chart to help encourage good behavior by letting them earn star magnets for every "task" they accomplish and work towards a reward. A little positive reinforcement is a great motivation tool..amirite?
The chart comes with 63 chore magnets including potty training, brushing teeth etc. Also includes a dry erase marker along with some blank activity magnets so you can create unique and specific tasks that are not included.
Recommended for ages 3+.
Promising review: "A must-have for toddlers. This is a game changer. I’ve been looking for simple ways to encourage some behaviors and discourage others, and this is a good, simple, visual way to get a toddler or young child to improve. I love that it comes with different color stars for multiple kids in the household and that there’s color coordinated dry erase stickers to identify the child and how many stars to get “x” reward. My 3-year-old gets excited when he gets to have a star. I’m excited that we are getting to have a more well behaved little human." —Danielle
Get it from Amazon for $21.99.
12. A pack of ingenious light switch extenders boasting an easy to grab moon-shaped handle so kiddos can turn the lights on and off ~all by themselves.~ The best part? These glow in the dark.
These install in minutes on standard light switches.
Promising review: "Must-have for toddlers! Perfect solution! As my toddler's independence soars, so do frustrations. This light switch extender pack was a great buy. He can now turn on the lights in his room and bathroom. Installation was easy and works as expected." —AW
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.99.
13. A Melissa & Doug activity book with a pair of safe scissors that'll channel your destructive, er, busy toddler's energy into a creative activity that'll put their fine motor skills to the test.
Promising review: "Must-have for toddlers. My 3-year-old loves doing these cutouts, and I enjoy them as well. The pictures are vibrant and pleasing. The puzzles are fun. The scissors are wonderful for small hands." —Holly
Promising review: "Must-have for your toddler needing to learn scissor skills! And they actually cut, so long as you are holding the scissors straight (which teaches your child proper form). Will have to eventually move on to a bladed scissor, but these are perfect for learning." —L. Anderson
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
14. And a Melissa & Doug magnetic calendar to help teach your preschooler the days of the week, months and the weather in a hands-on, interactive way. They'll jump out of bed eagerly to update it every morning.
Promising review: "Almost 3-year-old loves it. After getting this he’s now asking me “today’s Tuesday mom?” And “it’s winter now?” He likes the holiday magnets and trying to figure out where to put the arrow for the temperature each day. It is sort of heavy, so I would recommend using a nail to hang it or command strips around the rope so you don’t damage your wall. I used a velcro heavy weight command strip and it has held up for a few months now. We tried attaching command strips to the back of the wood and it wasn’t holding to that material. This is a must have for toddlers." —Steph
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
15. And for slightly older toddlers, a wooden puzzle equivalent to playing Tetris but in tactile form that'll ~exercise brains~ without any screentime.
Reviewer's say this is a great toy for all ages — from 3 to 12.
Promising review: "Excellent for learning! Must-have! Such a wonderful toy/puzzle! Similar in some way to tangrams. Great for stimulating thinking and problem solving. My 3-year-old's teacher was blown away by her working the puzzle so easily." —tigerhax
Get it from Amazon for $8.49.
16. A pack of spill-proof Munchkin snack catchers featuring flexible flaps that'll allow easy access for little hands BUT prevent Cheerios from *flying everywhere*. Not having to constantly clean your toddler's trail of snacks? These deserve a gold medal, if you ask me.
Promising review: "These are a must-have for a small toddler and their snacks. The top is soft and flexible so I don’t have to worry about my little guy scratching his little hands when he’s digging around in the cup. Very easy to clean and they’re priced well. Buy them now!" —Wooty
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $5.95 (available in two color combos and in four-packs).
17. A detangling brush because it'll glide through knots to turn your kiddo's daily hair-brushing ordeal into a painless experience minus the *ouchies or tears* (for both of you). Just trust the 45,000+ people who gave it a 5-star review.
Reviewers swear this brush works on all hair types: straight, wavy, or curly (from 3a–4c hair).
Promising review: "Brushing hair was a nightmare for my toddler. She is so happy with this item, She brushes her hair by herself now. This is a must-have brush, especially for mixed kids or Afro hair." —pelin ercan
Promising review: "Best detangling brush I've ever used! My daughter has really curly hair and puts up a fight every time I have to brush it! This brush has made bath time a much more enjoyable experience for both of us! 😅 If you have thick, curly hair this brush is a must-have!" —Tiffany Marie
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in six colors).
18. A pair of GeoSafari Jr. binoculars specifically designed for toddlers who would love nothing more but to look at birds, planes (and other fascinating things) up close!
Promising review: "MUST HAVE. Baby K is only a year & a half and she was so excited to look out the windows and see the birds, up close! I wasn't sure they would work for her little face, but once she focused in, it was all over, hahaha!" —Brenda Richmond
Promising review: "My 3 1/2 year old loves these! Perfect for toddlers wanting to explore. He uses them for bird watching, plane watching, checking out bugs, just about anything! Great for learning!" —JillS
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
19. An Oogiebear nose and ear cleaner, one of those parenting products that'll make you say, "Is this my life now?" Seriously though, it's designed with a rubber scoop and loop at the ends to gently clean out little noses and ears without going too far.
20. A bath toy organizer with 11,000 5-star reviews (!!!) that reviewers swear will actually stick to your wall, tidy your bathtub, and keep toys dry and within arm's reach. What more could you ask for?
Promising review: "This has been a game-changer for the whole bath toy tub time mess problem. The toys hang on the bath wall and dry in the mesh bag. It's great and holds a lot of toys! And it doesn't take up any space in the bathroom. Definitely a must-have for any toddler!" —Katie V.
Get it from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in two sizes and pre-stocked with toys or by itself).
21. A pack of corner guards to protect your toddler's fragile head from big bumps when they walk precariously close to a sharp coffee table. The best part? They're incredibly discreet so your home can be kid-friendly *and* adult-looking.
Promising review: "Must-have for small children. When my toddler was running one day and smoked the corner of the island I knew I had to do something. These were perfect. They stuck on the corners great and most importantly will prevent the need for stitches if your child doesn't make a wide enough turn." —Tev
Get a pack of 18 from Amazon for $9.98+ (also available in a 24-pack).
22. A machine-washable Tiny Twinkle full-sleeved bib because your messy eater tends to get covered head to toe in applesauce. This will provide more coverage than a regular ol' bib to save their clothes from food stains.
Tiny Twinkle is a small biz based in Phoenix, Arizona that creates high quality, safe products for babies, children and parents.
Promising review: "Must have for toddlers! This is my second time buying this type of bib. My child keeps taking off the other bibs but this she doesn’t take out. Also, it's good for play time and activities. Whenever it's time to eat my child is ready for the bib and knows that it's time to sit in the highchair and doesn’t resist or anything." —Aparna
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 14 colors and in two sizes).
23. A pack of soothing stick-on gel pads sized to fit kids' foreheads that'll provide cooling relief for up to eight hours. Reviewers say these alleviate discomfort and help bring down a fever.
Each pack contains four sheets.
Promising review: "A must-have in my house! I absolutely LOVE this product. I have a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old, and it works wonders! For persistent fevers, I put one sheet on their forehead, then cut a second sheet in half (one placed on their back, another on the abdomen). If it's really bad, I'll cut it into fourths (both underarms, both inner thighs) to keep control of the main heat sources. My kids have no problem sleeping with them on. They stay solidly cool for about five hours and cooler than room temp for another two hours. They don't hurt at all when it's time to peel off — way easier than a bandaid! It's also great for boo-boos. Instead of expecting my 3-year-old to hold an ice pack on his face after knocking it on the coffee table, I just cut one of those strips to the appropriate size, stick it to the boo-boo, and we're good to go!" —Gracie's Choice
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $12.49.
24. A pack of toilet seat covers you'll be SO glad you decided to carry with you when you're out and about with your potty-trained toddler, who insists on getting their hands ALL OVER gross public restroom seats.
P.S. These are large enough to cover the *sides* of the toilet (unlike the the paper ones provided in the stalls).
Promising review: "Must-have! If you have a toddler these are a MUST! We travel and it gives us peace of mind knowing that no matter where we are, as long as we have these covers we can safely take her to the bathroom and everything is ok. Before we found these, I used to be super stressed when she would ask to use the bathroom and we were out and about but not anymore. They have cute colors and are big enough." —Dayanna Pita
Get a pack of 24 covers from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes and two pack sizes)
25. A whale-shaped bath spout cover for preventing bonks on the head when little ones are having a ~whale~ of a good time in the bath. Plus, it comes with an adjustable strap to fit snugly on any faucet.
Promising review: "My 1-year-old was always getting close to the faucet to play with the water and would end up crying all the time because he would end up bumping his head. But this saved him from that. Now he gets to enjoy the water without bumping his head, and if he does it won't hurt him since the whale is made of rubber. It's a plus that I can hang the spray tub lower and not have to stretch in my tippie toes every night. It's adjustable, so it fits pretty much all the faucets. This is a must-have if you have little ones." —Sam
Get it from Amazon for $9.29+ (available in two colors).
26. A pack of silicone dino ice pop molds so you can take homemade popsicles to a ~dino-mite~ level, y'all. Just fill them with juice, yogurt, or smoothies to make healthier versions of store-bought ones.
Promising review: "Toddler snack must-have. I absolutely love these molds. The silicone is good quality because it peels off the pops easily and I use them quite often — they are pretty durable. Both my toddler and preschooler love them although the pop portion size is generous for my younger. The bone holders are hilarious and the yogurt we use looks exactly like a dino as expected after frozen. These work great and are really fun shapes so I highly recommend." —TXFan
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $13.53+ (available in four styles).
27. A scavenger hunt that'll keep them busy by sending them on a mission to discover *treasure* AKA toys, books, clothing, furniture and other objects around the house.
Promising review: "A must-have. My 2-year-old son is obsessed. Always asks to play the 'find you' game LOL. Then we play it and every option on the game he actually thinks really hard then says 'come on mommy' and runs me through the house to find the object. Highly recommended from a mom of four." —Britney bansley
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
28. A set of nonslip educational placemats for helping little Einsteins practice their ABCs, 123s, shapes, and colors during meals — WAYYY better than watching toy unboxing videos on YouTube, right?
Promising review: "My grandson uses these to learn his colors, shapes, alphabet, and numbers! He was so excited when they arrived and picks out which one he wants to use! Thank you so much! This is a must-have for toddlers! They can learn and make a mess all at the same time!!!" —Rita Russell
Get a set of four from Amazon for $16.99.
29. An ingenious sandwich cutter and sealer so you can make your own Smuckers Uncrustables copycats at home without spending nearly $10 for a box. Prepare for your life to be *utterly butterly* changed.
30. A travel-sized antiseptic and pain relief spray because it'll work fast to treat ouchies when you're out and about with a rambunctious kiddo in tow.
Promising review: "I bought this for my toddler, she's only been walking for a few months and falls. So this is great to have on hand at all times! I have the NeoToGo version of this in my diaper bag! I really like having this foam cleanser for my little one to clean any boo-boos without stinging her! I like that it helps her skin heal quickly. This is a must-have for any first aid kit! Highly recommend!" —Kelly R.
Get it from Amazon for $13.99
31. A Tushbaby hip carrier that'll prevent back strain and do all the heavy lifting while you go shopping with a baby or toddler who clings to you like a koala. The best part? It has a ton of storage pockets for your snacks, phone, wallet, and more!
It's recommended for children between 8 and 45 pounds and can be used in four different holding positions — feeding/breastfeeding, side carrying, front facing, and face-to-face.
Tushbaby is a small biz run by three California mamas and specializes in products that bringing a little more ease to everyday parenting life.
Promising review: "A MUST HAVE!!!!!!!!!!! Moms and Dads this is the absolute best purchase I have EVER made. So worth the money. Do not cheap out and get an off brand. This is the one. I carried my 33 pound 16 month old on my hip for 3 hours in total while vacationing through a state park. 4 miles later, up stairs (were talking 200+ stairs) and dirt terrain I have no back or hip pain. And my son stayed on my hip, comfortable without any fuss. Even my husband who is 6’3” wore it and noticed the ease of putting it on and carrying our chunky monkey. Seriously, if you want to invest in something that will save your back, GET IT!" —Mom 2 Two
Get it from Amazon for $84.99.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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