1. Triple Paste Diaper Rash Cream that works wayyy faster than other ointments to help you heal angry diaper rash LITERALLY overnight. It's made with zinc oxide, lanolin, and oat kernel extract (and free of the toxic stuff: fragrance, parabens, preservatives, talc, phthalate, and dyes!).
Promising review: "As a mom of two, one of six kids, and babysitter to many kids in diapers over the years, triple paste is the best diaper cream I have ever used. It is a stiff, thick cream, yet it spreads easily. I use it preventatively on my infant, and it has quickly resolved diaper rashes on my toddler. I found this product after my older sister suggested it with my first, and I loved it even more after it was the go-to diaper cream that was endorsed and recommended by our hospital AND pediatrician. I love the top that flips open so I can easily access it when changing diapers. Both of my kids have sensitive skin, and it is not harsh on their skin in any way. It is on the expensive side, but it’s so worth it. You get what you pay for, and this is a quality product!" —Jessica
Get it from Amazon for $25.64 (available in three sizes).
2. An ingenious plate divided into eight portions with a hidden dessert compartment that'll turn mealtime into a fun game to entice picky eaters to gobble their way to the surprise treat at the end!
Promising review: "If you have a picky eater, you need this. I purchased three of these in three different themes. They are a big hit with all three kids ages 1, 3, and 9. These plates work better than I ever could have hoped. The small amounts in each compartment make it easy for them to finish and feel a sense of accomplishment. The treat under the tray at the end is genius. Great solution for picky eaters." —Kyla Van Kleeck
Get it from Amazon for $18+ (available in six themes).
3. 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: "A 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 bedtime/morning routine has been a godsend. Great bargain for the price." —TeaBea21
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $10.95.
4. A hollow penguin teether designed to mimic a boob that'll give your bubba much-needed relief during the teething phase *and* stay on their hand so you don't have to retrieve their dropped paci a gazillion times from the floor.
5. A three-in-one wooden learning tower, so you can ~safely~ involve your eager little sous chef in the kitchen. The best part? It also transforms into a slide or a table!
Weco Store is a small biz based in Latvia that specializes in building handmade wooden home decor and furniture.
Promising review: "This is SO PERFECT for NYC small space living! We use every position every day. We needed something that could do double (triple) duty as to not clutter our loft with baby gear. The quality is great, and the shipping was SO FAST. We love it. Thank you!" —Melissa LeMieux
Get it from Weco Store on Etsy for $164.85+ (available in four colors).
6. Or a set of plastic knives if you'd like to enlist their 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: "I’ve only had these for a couple of days, but already my 4-year-old daughter keeps asking me for things to chop up. They’re perfect for the little chef in your life or the kid who want to be a big helper. So far she’s easily (and safely) chopped up: lettuce, apples, bananas, strawberries, potatoes, even carrots! I can run my hand along the blade and not cut myself and yet it’s designed in a way that you can still chop through veggies and fruits. Another pro is they are super easy to clean and dishwasher safe. They came exactly as pictures for me: in three different sizes and colors, with a slight grip texture on the handle for little hands. They’re nice and lightweight as well so it’s not cumbersome for younger kids. Love them!" —Abby Roeller
Get a set of three from Amazon for $9.95.
7. A classic Diaper Genie that'll let you keep your nursery free of the stench of poopy diapers. It's designed to trap smells and not allow even a whiff to escape.
This pail saved me a dozen trips daily to our garage to dispose of poopy diapers in the trash. It does a great job of locking in the stench and keeping our nursery smelling fresh, despite my kiddo's valiant efforts. Doesn't mean the smell doesn't hit hard when the lid is open, tbh, but I'll still take that as a win.
Promising review: "I have heard both sides of the Diaper Genie...whether it's worth the money or not. After using it for nine months, I am a full supporter! Babies poop A LOT and after giving birth sometimes just standing up takes all your energy. This will save you countless trips to the garbage can all day long. It contains the smell really well. We have only recently (after nine months) started having it smell every once in a while. This is due to his diapers smelling worse now that he is eating solids and because he doesn't poo as much, so the diapers sit longer. If we stay on top of changing it out before it fills up, then we can still use it at 9 months old. Buy it!!" —A.Clark
Get it from Amazon for $47.26+ (available in three colors).
8. A pack of spill-proof Munchkin snack catchers to allow easy access for little hands but prevent Cheerios from flying everywhere. No more handing your toddler snacks *one piece at a time* or constantly clean their trail of snacks.
Promising review: "What a lifesaver! I mean really! My daughter loves her snacks, she also loves to make a mess, give them to the dog, or fill her car seat up with them. Then cry when she has nothing to eat. My wife picked one up at Target and man... we used it so much, we couldn't clean it fast enough. SOOOO we bought a few more. and for less than $5 for two.... this is a no-brainer!" —jeffgrantMEDIA
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $5.95 (available in two color combos).
9. A blooming bath lotus because it'll make bathing baby in the sink a safe and stress-free experience. Not to mention every precious lil' nugget deserves to luxuriate in a cushy flower at bath time.
The Blooming Bath Lotus is designed with four movable petals to perfectly fit in any sink and is recommended for babies 0–6 months old.
Promising Review: "I bought this to bathe my newborn in after my fourth C-section. I wish I had this for all my children! It would have made life so much easier during bath time. Because of the material my new baby stayed put and didn’t slip and slide all over the place. Also she was very calm and comfortable and seemed to enjoy the bathing experience, as the material is thick and soft, almost like a little sofa for her. It was perfect. I can’t say enough great things about it. After the bath you just press out the water and either hang the flower to dry or throw it in the dryer. I truly feel sad that I did not have this for my other kids. It was so much nicer and more comfortable for me to stand at the sink than it was to lean over a hard, wet and slippery bathtub after surgery." —Nadia
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in nine colors).
10. A leave-in conditioning spray for curly hair, parents swear by to help restore their 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: "This stuff is magic in a bottle. My daughters hair is fine, wavy. It’s a monster mess in the a.m. and once I brush it is just a frizz ball. I spray this on, dry, and scrunch. Ten minutes later she’s got full bouncy curls. It keeps the hair out of her eyes too. Big win!" —berthokr
Get it from Amazon for $8.66.
11. And a detangling brush that'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 30,000+ 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: "I'm a single dad of a 6-year-old girl and combing her hair is the hardest part of taking care of her. She gets really bad knots in her hair. This brush is the only thing that has ever worked. Thank you so much. She even likes to comb her own hair now." —Nguyen P.
Promising review: "I was shocked at how much easier it was to detangle my 3-year-old daughter’s mixed super-curly hair with this brush and she didn’t cry. It’s a huge win for us!" —Leanna
Get it from Amazon for $12.49 (available in six colors).
12. A shopping cart cover for giving you peace of mind knowing your little one won't touch (or try to lick 😱?!) those gross, germy handles while you're running errands.
Promising review: "A must-have item. No joke. This thing is a game changer. We used to just carry our daughter in the store because the cart seats are so dirty and uncomfortable. But this thing has made shopping so much easier. It takes like less than a minute to put it on the cart, and its sturdy and comfy and my daughter loves it. I also like the pockets, toy loops, and clear phone pocket. And they fit any cart — Walmart and Costco carts both fit great." —Amber Brown
Get it from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in nine prints).
13. And 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.
Promising review: "If you're a germaphobe like me, this is a must-have in your diaper bag. The thought of placing my son or daughter on a public toilet with only a seat liner is disturbing especially since they're both little and still hold onto the toilet seat for support when peeing/pooping. These cover the toilet completely and even cover the lower part of the toilet where dangling legs and pants/skirts touch. My only complaint about these is that they are not flushable. It's difficult trying to gather the liner up (they are rather large) without touching the toilet or the possibly wet liner (because it partially fell in the water) and then scrunching it up to fit into a sanitary napkin bin. Other than that, these are great. Also, I don't use the adhesive strips at all since I have two little ones that usually need to go right away so we don't have the time to remove the adhesive backing. I usually just place the liner on the toilet and then carefully plop my kid on top and all's well." —Ting
Get a pack of 24 covers from Amazon for $9.99.
14. A set of washable dab and dot markers for encouraging little Picassos to ~dabble~ in painting without making a huge mess. (Say goodbye to paint splatters and drippy brushes).
The set comes with eight paint markers and a downloadable 101 Easy Dot Marker Activities PDF.
Promising review: "A must-have for toddlers. My son started using this when he was 2 and now he is 3. We've used this everyday and he never gets tired of it. He just loves doing dab and dot with letters and numbers. I also love the free printables included and I love how easy it is for my son to hold it with his tiny hands. I definitely recommend it." —Heriberto Mendoza
Get a set from Amazon for $17.99.
15. A Melissa & Doug magnetic calendar to help you set up a daily routine for your preschooler so you don't have to ask them stop playing and take a bath for the millionth time. Added bonus: It'll also teach them the days of the week, months, and the weather in a hands-on, interactive way.
Promising review: "My 4-year-old loves loves loves this! He gets excited to change the magnets every morning. I had some magnet strips and made additional magnets for activities (preschool, zoo, library, Grandma's house). I am really happy I bought this, and it has helped teach him months, and days of the week. Determining the weather is fun too. One day we came home after school and he couldn't wait to change the weather from sunny to raining. I highly recommend this for preschoolers, it's a lot of fun." —Hammyg3
Get it from Amazon for $21.24.
16. And 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: "Scissors skills are important both in and of themselves and because it strengthens the hand muscles to be used for learning to write. My 4-year-old LOVES this book. We received it this week and she has used it for a couple of hours each day. Many of the pages are cutting things out and putting them together (four-scoop ice cream cone, pizza with pepperonis, the components to build a house or a car, puzzles). We've used tape or glue to put the components together. This book is interesting enough to have caught the attention of my older children as well, although I make them let her do the cutting. :D Would make a great gift as it is so unique." —Mom of 7
Get it from Amazon for $6.29.
17. CeraVe moisturizing cream if nothing else has worked to keep your kid's eczema flare-ups at bay (There's a reason parents call this their "holy grail"). This also works wonders to soothe dry, chapped winter skin. It's formulated to provide intense moisturizing protection for babies with a gentle fragrance- and paraben-free formula.
Promising review: "We tried so many creams marketed for eczema (most containing oatmeal) and they all made my baby's eczema worse. We were desperate to find a cream that would help and stumbled upon this cream. It did wonders clearing up his eczema and as long as we use it daily it keeps it from flaring up again, this is glycerin-based and doesn't contain oatmeal." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes).
18. And a USDA-certified organic baby healing balm made with chamomile, cocoa butter, coconut oil, calendula, and avocado oil that'll help you alleviate all types of skin issues — eczema, acne, cradle cap, rashes, and more. No joke, it's a multipurpose miracle worker!
Promising review: Promising review: "I absolutely love this stuff. I use it for my ds rashes. I was so afraid to use anything but coconut oil but I needed something that would soothe the rash as well. My ds also ended up getting eczema and hives from a laundry detergent we had switched to. This completely soothed it away. It was gone by the next day. Needless to say, this is my go-to soothing-everything solution. It stays in the diaper bag and medicine cabinet. A must-have!" —Andrea
Get it from Amazon for $14.50.
19. A Whiskware pancake batter mixer with a BlenderBall wire whisk that'll let you whip up a batch of pancakes at lightning speed on hectic mornings — no separate mixing bowl, messy spoons, or batter-coated countertops. Simply add your ingredients, shake, and pour from the spout. Breakfast's ready 😋! (You can even store leftover batter in the bottle and pop it in the fridge for a time-saving weekday breakfast!)
Promising review: "This is the best breakfast invention after the waffle maker. LOVE IT! As someone who makes pancakes or waffles three to four times a week (my kids are pretty spoiled, but breakfast is key to getting through the first part of the school day), this is the easiest and fastest way to get that done. I just add everything to the bottle, shake, and pour into the waffle maker or griddle. When I am done, just add some water, shake again, empty, and then place everything in the dishwasher." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
20. A set of handy starter spoons if you wanna encourage your babe to self feed. These have grooves that purees and mashed foods stick to easily, letting little ones dip and explore exciting new flavors all on their own.
The set includes a stage one spoon and stage two spoon. The first stage spoon doubles as a teether, and is designed to introduce babies to holding utensils and exploring purees, as they soothe their sore gums. The second stage spoon is capable of holding more food and can even be loaded with solids for the child to grab and eat.
Note: The spoons don't have a stopper, so please supervise your babies to make sure they don't stick the spoon too far back in their mouth. Recommended for ages 6 months+.
Promising review: "Great skill-building utensil. My baby loves gnawing on these for teething just as much as he loves eating with them! I love that you can load the spoon and hand it to baby to feed themselves. My little one just turned 6 months and uses these spoons with wild success. A must have for BLW or feeding, in general." —Christopher
Get a set from Amazon for $11.04+ (available in three colors and packs of two, four, or six spoons).
21. 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: "These are unbelievable. We have the dinosaur ones and they are absolutely adorable. The mold peels off beautifully, and the size is just right for my preschoolers. I'm making healthy smoothies (frozen spinach! Chia seeds! Ground flax!) and making popsicles with them, and my kids think they're eating a fun dessert. Brilliant. I'll be giving these as gifts for a good while." —LucieBlue
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $12.70.
22. A sleek touchless forehead thermometer with a built-in sensor that'll let you measure in seconds. Added bonus: You can take your baby's temperature without disturbing them while they're sleeping.
Promising review: "This is a great thermometer — accurate, looks great, a must have! If you have kids, forget about sticking a thermometer in their ears. I have four kids now and a thermometer is a must have. Hold this thing close to the forehead, push the button in and you get a reading in about one second. This thing looks good, feels good, and is accurate. We’ve used multiple thermometers in the past. The head scanner that you run across the forehead...no good. In-ear thermometers...accurate, but expect a battle. Rectal thermometers...very accurate, but expect a war. This is the easiest one out of all of them. We find it especially useful when we need the quick 'I don’t feel that great' check...i.e., man cold. Overall, highly recommend!."—BearDownChi1
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
23. And a pack of soothing stick-on gel pads that'll come in handy during cold and flu season. They're sized to fit kids' foreheads and will 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: "I can't rave enough about these gel sheets! They really help cool the temperature down and in my case, my daughter sometimes shows immediate (5–10 minutes) relief after I apply the sheet on her forehead. Each box contains four gel sheets contained in two separate packs. You can easily tear the packaging without using scissors, so that is a good thing about it. A gel sheet will last up to eight hours. I never had any issues of the unused ones getting dry or hard inside the original packaging. The gel sheet adheres pretty well to the skin of a child. It does not slide or come off even when the child sleeps sideways. It does not hurt to peel it off. My daughter is three and she likes when I put one on her. Mommies, stock up on them. They are good!" —Gracie's Choice
Promising review: "My son had a fever of 102.9 earlier this evening. We still had hours before we could give any oral meds and we're getting concerned. Within 15 min his fever went down to 102.5 and continued to go down to 102.3. Not only did it keep it down but it helped us make it to the next dosage of oral meds and we were so relieved! We LOVE these and ALWAYS have them around the house for when our son gets a fever. They help bring the fever down in between doses of Tylenol. They also help bring down a high fever a few more degrees. Our house will NEVER be without!" —Chuck
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $13.05.
24. An ingenious sandwich cutter and sealer so you can make a big batch of your own Smuckers Uncrustables copycats at home. It's a huge-time saver for packing kiddie lunches without spending nearly $10 for a box.
Promising review: "These have been a GAME CHANGER in this house!! My son has always begged me for Uncrustables but my wallet didn’t agree with them. I LOVE being able to make them at home and customize them to exactly what they would like them filled with! I make two weeks' worth of sandwiches at a time and store them in sandwich bags in the freezer so in the morning during the school year we can just grab and go! Love them!" —Katherine Smaczniak
Get it from Amazon for $17.96.
25. An inexpensive portable white noise machine because it can seem impossible to run errands with a newborn in tow. This handy device clips onto a stroller and lulls little ones to sleep on the go by drowning out noises with calming, spa-like sounds.
Promising review: "A must-have baby item! This has been a lifesaver for car rides with our tiny dude. It helps him calm down and snooze in the car and on the go. There are multiple sound levels, and multiple sounds to choose from. 10/10 recommend for all new parents!" —Devyn Washburn
Get it from Amazon for $16.95.
26. A pack of reward punch cards you can hand out to provide positive reinforcement each time they clean the room or finish their homework *and* to motivate them to keep up the good work to earn a prize. A little bribery never hurt anyone...right?
27. A whale-shaped bath spout cover because it'll prevent 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: "I have a toddler who tends to be more mobile in the bathtub than I care for. This thing has saved his noggin so many times. Great padding — it doesn’t hurt when he bonks his head, stays in place (my son could not remove it at 15 months and has since given up), and cute. Can’t imagine not having this." —MM
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in two colors).
28. A bestselling Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy to help you immediately calm down a fussy baby with catchy, classical melodies (by Mozart, Vivaldi, and other masters) and twinkling lights.
Promising review: "I LOVE this thing! I bought it before my daughter was born because of high reviews. It's a reasonably priced toy and my daughter has been using it since birth. Whenever she's having a meltdown I break it out of the diaper bag and she's all better. :) I actually memorized the songs and order and they're pretty catchy. Not annoying and overbearing like other toys. I don't know what I would do without it!." —uhhdorkable
Promising review: "The best baby distractor EVER! Every person with a child must have this toy! I had about five tucked in various places in case one got lost. My son loved them from basically birth and sometimes it would distract him for hours of non-crying! (heaven for a new mother) Of course in the beginning you have to keep pushing the button for them but compared to swinging him in his car seat that was easy! Then we he got older he would spend entire car ides just playing with this one toy. I give it to everyone I know who has a baby." —NH-Mommy
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
29. Comforting Frida Baby vapor drops made of organic eucalyptus and lavender essential oils that'll provide some relief when their little nosies are stuffy. Just plop in your bath or humidifier to open up airways for a restful snooze.
Safe for babes 3+ months.
Promising review: "Immediate difference. My 5-month-old was suffering nights of awful congestion/coughing and restlessness. We tried all we could do before getting Breathe Frida and I wished we had it sooner. The first night she woke up only a couple of times in comparison to the ones before. The second night she had no middle of the night wakeups. Although these drops are not meant for cool mist humidifiers, we put them in there, just to see how it would work. We will have to get a diffuser or a warm mist humidifier in order to prevent our cool humidifier from getting damaged."—Angela
Promising review: "My little one was sick with RSV and he needed the humidifier on every night. With just the humidifier on, he didn't seem to be able to breathe any better but I got this vapor and during sleep and naps he started sounding so much better. I could tell it was working and it also made his room smell nice instead of like a sick baby! He got much better much faster than I thought with all the extra things we were doing, and this is one I wouldn't leave out of my 'getting baby better' routine!"—Lindsey
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
30. And a Fridababy three-step cradle cap system for any parent looking for an all-in-one remedy. Just use the foam sponge to lather up baby's head, then loosen the flakes by massaging with the gentle bristle brush, and finally lift flakes ~oh so gently~ with the fine-tooth comb.
Promising review: "My 6-week-old had bad cradle cap all of a sudden and this brush worked miracles. I wish I had it from birth. We have continued to use this brush even though the cradle cap has gone and it does wonders on the scalp and keeping the hair looking healthy. Highly highly recommend. Plus, my baby enjoys the gentle scalp massage from the soft bristles.." —LM01
Get it from Amazon for $14.88.
31. Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers so you can pat yourself on the back for helping your kiddos become confident readers. The stories start with simple three-letter words and gradually build in difficulty so readers can take that leap from sounding out words to be able to say, “I read the whole book!”
The set comes with 12 books.
Promising review: "My 4-year-old daughter has known letters and sounds since just past her second birthday and could 'read' a few sight words, but she had a hard time mastering the process of sounding out a word. For the last two years, she would read the word 'stop' as 'sss- tuh- ah- puh,' but didn't understand how to really blend the phonemes. But somehow, as soon as we got them for her, Bob Books finally unlocked the part of her brain that could really solve the puzzle of phonics! I'm thrilled by the amount of progress we've seen in just TWO DAYS-- going from 'getting' phonics, but not really reading, to completely consolidating and understanding the two concepts. She's also very suddenly taken up a lot of initiative in independent writing and spelling. I couldn't recommend these books more highly. They are a miracle!!" —Juniper
Get a set from Amazon for $10.19.
32. And a pack of laminated math posters for hanging up on the wall to make homework visually engaging (and a lot less painful). Perfect for elementary through middle school ages.
Promising review: "As a homeschool mom, I loved these charts when I found them. They cover a lot of material that my first-grader is learning, as well as many things to come. Seeing the visuals the way they have them set up helped him understand several concepts (place numbers, fractions, some things about reading time) much quicker than the ways we had been covering it. Even if my son returns to the school system next year, we will keep these around for homework aids and to help the younger siblings as they approach learning these concepts. The boards are of nice quality. Bright colors, thick poster board that can be written on with dry-erase and wiped off. Homeschool must-have." —Marvel
Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $14.99.
33. The Ollie Swaddle to make bedtime less of a struggle. It wraps snugly to prevent your lil escape artist from breaking out and boasts an opening at the bottom to make diaper changes a breeze. The best part? Moisture-wicking fabric to prevent overheating.
The Ollie World is a small biz based in Rancho Cucamonga, California, founded by a foster mom who set out to make her own swaddle that could meet all of her foster son's needs.
Promising review: "New mama and I had no idea how to get my baby girl to sleep. She fought and kicked her way out of the blanket swaddles and kept us (me) up all night. I saw the Ollie on Instagram and decided to try it out. The first day I put her in it I actually got some sleep — it was a miracle!! I read more into how it works for babies and found out that the inventor was also a fellow social worker (another reason I absolutely love it!) but that it makes my baby Z fall asleep in a minute is beyond amazing. I’m so glad I found it and I recommend it to all my mommy/to be mommy friends now. Thank you!!!" —Ashti M.
Get it from The Ollie World for $59 (available in five colors) or from Target for $59.99.
34. A cult-favorite stain remover especially great for knocking out stubborn stains like grass, oil, or blood. You can count on on this concentrated spot treatment to make messes from your kids' clothes disappear.
Promising review: "This is the best stain remover I have ever used! I wish I would have found it years ago! My daughter is 6, and I can't think of how many stains this product hasn't gotten out for us, even old set-in stains that I thought were hopeless. A friend turned me on to this stuff, and now I will never go without it! A must-have for anyone with kids." —Lauren Ruffin
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $12.35.
35. A nifty car seat buckle release tool to *undo* the daily frustration of school dropoffs aka fumbling with getting your kiddo out of the car seat, while always running late. This handy little gadget makes unbuckling an absolute breeze.
P.S. it doesn't attach to the car seat, letting you decide when your kids can safely access the tool.
Promising review: "Love that my kindergartner can unbuckle himself. It makes morning school drop-off SO MUCH EASIER! And he likes the independence of being able to do it himself!" —Lauren
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
36. A genius Baby Brezza instant water warmer that'll dispense water at the ~perfect formula temp~ round the clock at the press of a button. A *godsend* for formula-feeding parents.
Have you waited on a bottle of formula to warm up at 2 a.m. while your baby's cries escalate? Those few minutes can feel like a lifetime. Formula-feeding parents, I know you can relate. Which is why we bought this magical device so we could get a bottle of formula ready almost INSTANTLY 24/7. If I had to pick the baby item that helped me survive those first few months with a newborn this would be it.
Promising review: "This thing is a must have for anyone feeding formula. Let me reiterate.......MUST HAVE. Sure, you can buy the 'traditional' bottle warmers. And they work fine, don't get me wrong. But if you are looking at this product, and this review, YOU know what it's like at 4 am, screaming hungry baby, trying to make a bottle of formula and then wait 2-4 minutes for it to warm up. Oh, you pre-prepared some formula that's in the fridge so it would be easier like we used to do? Well then you're gonna wait longer for those old bottle warmers. Not so with this miraculous blessing of a miracle wrapped up in a modest plastic package! No sir/ma'am! Put the bottle under the dispenser, hold down the lever for two to four SECONDS, dump in your powder, shake and voila! You are feeding that hungry ridiculously loud screaming baby in more seconds. Yes, you can buy the $200–$400 machines that make your formula for you on the spot. But why? This little miracle device is $50!!! Seriously, everyone who bottle feeds formula should own one of these. The temperature is SPOT ON and it is INSTANT. Please do yourself the biggest favor ever and buy it. You will never be sorry you did." —aigh11
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in three styles).
37. A chic Boon drying rack to prevent the absurd amount of bottles and accessories, you have managed to acquire for your tiny human from taking over your adult-looking kitchen.
Is it possible for a drying rack to be life changing? Why yes, it is. I caved and bought this grassy patch after my kitchen started to look an episode of Hoarders. This thing instantly organized my kitchen by creating a dedicated spot for baby stuff. Bottles, pump parts, sippy cups...this bad boy can hold a LOT (at least six bottles and four cups at once) and dries everything quickly. Did I mention it's a heck of a lot more cheerful and stylish than your regular drying rack?
Promising review: "Newborn twins are a mess. They took over our house within in moments of coming through the door. For this type A mama, it was a horrifying side effect of the two most precious things in the world. A friend gave us one lawn at our shower and we promptly hopped on Amazon and bought a second to manage the sheer volume. The lawn and the accessories are a convenient and cute way to keep your bottles and pump parts organized. There is ample space in one for one baby's needs." —Lacey
Get it from Amazon for $21.24.
38. A clever sight word Bingo game; if you've ever asked yourself, "How do I take the frustration out of learning sight words and make it FUN?" then this game is for you.
The set comes with 36 playing cards, 264 playing chips, caller's mat and cards, and a storage box. This version is a fun twist on the classic, but instead of calling out numbers, the leader calls out words (there are 46 most-used words), players search their cards for a match and place a red chip on the match. Once a player has covered the spaces on their card needed to win, they call BINGO!
Promising review: "Our first-grader was feeling really discouraged with her sight words and I've been trying to think of ways to encourage her and get her excited to learn things she doesn't already know. She loved this game! We played with the whole family and her 3-year-old sister even enjoyed playing (we show her the cards and have her find the word that matches on her Bingo card). I think this is a great way to make learning/practicing sight words fun! I am very happy with this purchase and I can see how it would be great for teachers in the classroom as well!!" —Jennie
Get it from Amazon for $8.89.
39. And a pack of bright laminated flash cards for folks looking for a fun and engaging tool to help little Einsteins soak up their alphabet and numbers. They're like knowledge sponges at this age, so why not start them early?
Promising review: "My 2-year-old mastered her numbers, alphabet, colors, shapes, and identifies all animals and objects on the cards. When I first received the cards, I thought they may be a little too advanced for her age (18mo old at the time), but I was dead wrong! After about a month and a half of using the flash cards she mastered them! We usually 'play' with the flash cards for only about 10 minutes before her bedtime. This is a great tool in the early developmental stages for any toddler. I’m excited to get her the next card set. Material = durable, same as a normal deck of cards. Size = a little bigger than your typical deck of cards. Fits nicely in pocket or purse, great for keeping toddlers busy while traveling. Overall = A+." —M. Abdallah
Get a pack of 58 cards from Amazon for $12.99 (also available for babies).
40. A pack of Crayola Globbles that'll keep mini whirlwinds busy running around the house hurling these sticky globs at the wall or ceiling. Don't panic, parents, reviewers say they don't leave a sticky residue.
Promising review: "Amazing toys! My 1- and 2-year-old LOVE them! They scream 'sticky balls!' and run around throwing them on the fridge, windows, cabinets, walls, etc. Easy to wash and air-dry, and don't lose their stickiness! My new go-to gift! Love them!" —Rachel
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.09.
41. And a value pack of reusable 500+ puffy stickers for when you run out of ideas to entertain them. These are pretty much guaranteed to keep easily bored kids engaged for hours (which is nothing short of a miracle, TBH). Plus, they're easy for little ones to peel, stick...and restick all by themselves.
The stickers feature letters, numbers, vehicles, butterflies, deep-sea life, animals, fish, dinosaurs, and more.
Promising review: "I love that they are removable. They don’t leave marks on your window. You can even place them back on the plastic sheet and use them again. I have a busy box for my toddler and these stickers are in there. She peels them off and puts them on the lid of the box and then peels them off again and puts them back. She creates scenes with them. She puts them on windows at home. I peel them off and put them back. They really are fantastic stickers." —Elizabeth A. Zapf
Get a pack of 20 sheets from Amazon for $7.99.
42. A grossly adorable Shrek-shaped toothpaste cap to help turn nighttime battles with your kiddo over brushing their teeth into them hilariously begging to do it 😂
Casual Chicken is a small business based in Irvine, California, that sells an array of unique 3D-printed items.
Promising review: "My kids went from dreading getting their teeth brushed to looking forward to their 'Shrek poops' on their toothbrush. Thank you!" —Kate DeJuliis
Get it from Casual Chicken on Etsy for $9.99.
43. A pack of multi-purpose safety straps for childproofing your fridge, toilet, washer and dryer...basically anything your tiny troublemaker enjoys tampering with. These won't budge, despite their Hulk-like efforts. The best part? No drilling required, just peel and stick.
Promising review: "These things are awesome! Super easy to install. I didn't think they'd actually work, because my toddler is a beast, but we have them on our fridge and a few cupboards, and they keep her out :) She pulls pretty hard and they don't budge. They're pretty easy to unlatch, my 7-year-old doesn't have a problem with it. Great purchase!" —Angel Starr
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $9.95.
44. And a set of ingenious magnetic locks you can install in seconds to keep your curious tot from breaking into drawers. These don't require screwing into your cabinets *and* are hidden inside so they aren't eye sores.
The set comes with 12 locks (with strong 3M double-sided tape on the back) and two keys.
Promising review: "Works perfect! I love that it does not have any visible parts. The magnet idea Is genius! Perfect for my apartment cabinets. When I leave I can just easily remove them because of the 3M tape it comes with. Very easy to install and my toddler can’t get in. WIN!" —Cathy R
Get a set from Amazon for $33.99.
45. A wooden puzzle if you can't get your kiddo to put down their iPad or video game controller. This is equivalent to playing Tetris but in tactile form that'll ~exercise their brain~ without any screentime.
Reviewer's say this is a great toy for all ages — from 3 to 12.
Promising review: "I ordered this for my K–1 after-school class and they line up to use it! It is also a favorite of the autistic children I have in the class — it keeps them calm and focused for a good while. It also helps test determination because it's an easy puzzle until you get to the end and you have to move stuff around to make everything fit! Endless possibilities! I highly recommend it! The pieces are small and wooden — would not recommend for ages of children who like to put toys in their mouths." —C. Delgado
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
46. A Summer Infant potty training toilet designed to look just like the "big potty" to help toddlers transition confidently to the real thing. The best part? It has realistic flush sounds, lights, and music to reward them for a job well done.👏👏👏
FYI, it also has a built-in wipe compartment, a removable easy clean bowl, and a clip on splash guard.
Promising review: "This is a huge hit. First, I'm obsessed with how cute it is. Second, my 15-month-old pee peed in it the first time trying it out and liked that it made a flushing sound. It was hard to potty train my son until he was big enough to use the regular potty; he hated the colorful training potty. This is genius because it looks exactly like a regular potty, and the flush sound is a fun addition." —Lakai
Get it from Amazon for $38.15 (available in two colors and also available without lights and music).
47. And a waterproof potty-training watch that exists for the sole purpose of reminding toddlers to use the toilet on the reg. Before you know it, they'll be excitedly yelling “potty time" when the alarm goes off. *What a time to be alive!*
You can preset intervals of 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 2 hours, and 3 hours. The watch has an inbuilt proximity sensor and only sounds alerts when it is worn so no need to turn it off at night. How smart is that?
Promising review: "Love this watch! My 3-year-old was giving me a run for my money. He was by far my most stubborn child to potty train. This watch has made a night and day difference. He puts it on when he wakes up and leaves it on all day. He gets super excited when the the countdown timer starts to okay music and lights up. He now will yell 'potty' and run to the bathroom. This watch is a must-have if you have a stubborn little one!" —MamaBear3
Get it from Amazon for $24.45.
48. 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.
Promising review: "Must have! This thing is amazing, it works very well for us. Good length and it's soft/firm. I was able to gently scoop my 4-month-old's ear wax and pick out her sticky, crusty boogers. She enjoys being clean so she sat/laid down very still for us. I would definitely buy this for a baby shower gift and definitely recommend to anyone." —P. T.
Get it from Amazon for $12.95.
49. A travel-sized antiseptic and pain relief spray that'll work fast to treat ouchies when you're out and about.
Promising review: "This is the perfect travel item to throw in my diaper bag. With a rambunctious toddler, I can always use some Neosporin on the go!" —Kelsey Marciano
Get it from Amazon for $7+ (available in three sizes).
50. An anti-nail-biting pen, if no matter how hard you try you can't break their bad habits. It tastes sooo awful it'll basically make your kiddos want to 🤮 at the very thought of biting their nails or sucking their thumb *ever again* (which is exactly the point).
Plus, it has anti-inflammatory ingredients like organic aloe leaf juice and organic eucalyptus leaf to soothe sore fingers.
Promising review: "I love this stuff!! It’s taste horrible, which was great to help stop my 4-year-old from biting her nails. In about three days she completely stopped now and her nails have grown.." —Denise Batista
Promising review: "OMG it works!! My 3 1/2-year-old was a constant thumb sucker. Four days and she hasn't put her thumb in her mouth!! It's the worst taste ever but it works. We tell her we are painting her nails. We put it on during the day and at night. Best product around." —Natalie Plaza
Get it from Amazon for $18.95.
51. A Silly Poopy's toy because it'll do all the heavy lifting during a game of hide and seek, while you take all the credit. It involves hiding a fake rainbow-colored poo that says "yoo-hoo" and gives other hysterical clues about its hiding place. Kids who delight in toilet humor will get a total kick out of this.
Promising review: "This game is HILARIOUS. My kids love playing with it and taking turns hiding it. (8, 6, and 3 years). They all think poop is funny and run around yelling 'Silly Poopy, where are you?' It keeps them busy for at least half an hour at a time and they leave me alone. Also? It's pretty durable. I found it outside in my garden in the 20-degree winter weather. I guess my 8-year-old left it out there for a few days. It also gets thrown down the stairs and Silly Poopy just keeps on giggling and having fun." —Adele
Get it from Amazon for $12.98.
52. And a bubble machine that'll provide endless fun without you needing to lift a finger. Literally, just turn it on and voilà, instant bubble wonderland that'll keep them entranced for HOURS (or at least give you enough time to finish that lukewarm coffee sitting neglected on your kitchen counter).
Promising review: "This is so much easier than giving your kids bubbles only to have them spill all over their clothes and the ground. It is truly a 'set it and forget it' item that provides hours of entertainment, even for a little ones! Such a great investment." —Allison A.
Get it from Amazon for $29.97.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.