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 so your little one's curls are restored 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: "My 2-year-old daughter has curly frizzy hair. And I have tried sooo many leave in conditioners to define her hair. Nothing thus far has worked. But this stuff is amazing! Truly defines her curls without any hold or crunch. Soft bouncy curls. The smell is quite strong — but it does smell good. If you are sensitive to smells you might want to prepare yourself ahead of time for this. I will buy this again and again. So glad I found something that works for my toddlers curls." —mike
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
2. A sturdy step stool with a grippy surface and slip resistant rubber feet to give any toddler a confident boost during the "I can do it by myself" phase.
Promising review: "We got this for our 22-month-old daughter so she can brush her teeth at the sink on her own. She absolutely loves this stool, the only problem now is getting her off it and out of the bathroom. She wants to stay in there and stand on her stool and brush her teeth all day. It is very sturdy and easy for her to drag to the sink. I would highly recommend this stool, especially for toddlers and kids." —Ashlee Strobel
Get it from Amazon for $22.95.
3. A set of nonslip educational placemats that'll help 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!!!" —Diane C
Get a set of four from Amazon for $14.97.
4. Or a nonslip Montessori silicone place mat designed to help munchkins develop some serious life skills through setting the table independently. It's also chemical free, eco-friendly, and dishwasher safe.
Kid's House UK is a small biz based in London founded by a mom who specializes in Montessori products to help nurture independence at home.
Promising review: "My 2-year-old loves being able to set the table. He makes sure the silverware and cup are lined up perfectly. I love the independence it gives him. The place mats clean easily, store nicely, and are of great quality." —Beth Steele
Get it from Kid's House UK on Etsy for $22.33.
5. A pack of bright laminated flash cards so toddlers and preschoolers can 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 the 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 $10.99 (also available for babies).
6. And a 100 Words Book that'll interact with budding scholars and help build their vocabulary in English and Spanish.
Promising review: "One of the best gifts we bought for our 1-year-old on his first birthday!! This is an amazing electronic book for toddlers or little ones that are learning their first words. It is also something they can continue to learn with as they grow because there are different settings. I couldn’t believe how nice it was for the price. Great buy and very educational/fun!" —slowdown&lookup12
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
7. A Melissa & Doug magnetic calendar for teaching them 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: "Great for curious toddlers. 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.
8. And a Melissa & Doug activity book with a pair of safe scissors to channel (*cough* destructive) energy into a creative activity that'll put their fine motor skills to the test.
Promising review: "I was looking for toddler scissors for my 2-year-old but I was hesitant about introducing a new 'toy' that could potentially be used for hair cutting of her nearly non existent hair. This scissors is ALL plastic and no metal blade!!! My husband looked at this thing and gave me the 'what you paid $8 for plastic scissors, it won't cut' look.... and to his surprise, CUTTTT and it even made the noise that a normal scissors would make when cutting — AND it was a sharp straight cut! BOOM, win for mom!! The kiddo has to work to open it with one hand, but she's slowly getting the hang of it and guess what... it works for left or right-handed kiddos because mine is still working out the kinks on which hand she wants to use, both ways cut nicely! The pages are a little thicker and are colorful and fun with lots of different things to cut, changing directions, different shapes and it's perfect for the beginner. Melissa & Doug brand, we are huge fans!!" —Cody Cakes
Get it from Amazon for $6.49.
9. A potty training chart that'll provide positive reinforcement (aka a dino sticker) each time they successfully use the "big potty." A little bribery never hurt anyone...right?
The set includes four weeks of training chart, a steps-by-step visual chart to using the potty for the kiddos, and eight-page potty training guide, two celebratory crowns, a certificate of completion, 200 stickers, three cards, and an erasable marker.
Promising review: "Had my son using the potty on the first day! I will never regret buying this set. I swear it’s the only reason my 3-year-old boy is peeing in the potty now multiple times a day. The stickers bring such excitement to his little face and he beams with pride when he places it on his chart. He lets his dad know when he gets home about his stickers for today. My 2-year-old boy has even peed in the potty a few times because he wants a sticker too." —kandis stewart
Get it from Amazon for $9.95.
10. And a waterproof potty-training watch which 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.
11. 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 bought this for my 2-year-old daughter who has fine hair, but a lot of it. She hated me brushing her hair, even with using nice shampoo and a detangler. I was battling her all the time to brush it. So after seeing pictures of other people that it worked for I decided why not give it a try. This brush is seriously awesome, my daughter is now brushing her hair on her own and offering to brush other people's hair. It was seriously the best thing we could hav bought. I highly recommend it!!" —Alan
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in six colors).
12. A cult-favorite stain remover especially great for stubborn stains like grass, oil, or blood. You can count on on this concentrated spot treatment to make messes disappear from your mini tornado's clothes.
Promising review: "This solution is magical!! I ran into this in Annapolis, Maryland, at a Muse paint bar and again randomly in TJ Maxx (I love the spray bottle for bigger stains), but since I'm a mom of a toddler this is ideal for clothing and spot treatment in the house or on the go. If you don't have this in your house hold then this is your sign. GET IT!!" —Lauren Ruffin
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $11.89.
13. A child-safe wooden knife for sous chefs eager to help in the kitchen. This tool will keep their little fingers protected, while they hone their chopping skills.
Justenbois is a Canadian small biz specializing in eco-friendly and zero-waste tableware made from maple wood for babies, children, and adults.
Promising review: "A really beautiful object and very well made. My 2-year-old loves chopping her own apples and fruit and helping me in the kitchen. I love this wooden knife. I'm so glad I bought it." —Juliana Pivato
Get it from Justenbois on Etsy for $16.45.
14. A value pack of reusable 500+ puffy stickers that'll 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.
15. A canvas growth chart for helping you keep track of your munchkin's height (who is growing up waayyy too fast 😢) without marking up the walls. Reviewers love that it can be rolled up and stored away as a cute keepsake.
Promising review: "The designs on this are adorable and look great in my toddler's room. It's soooo tall, too. You'll be able to measure even your giant kids before they go off to college. It rolls up nice and small so it will be easy to store and take out when they are too big for the cutesy designs but you still want to torture them with your parental nostalgia." —Justina Schneeweis
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in two colors).
16. A bug bite suction tool invented by a mom that's worth the Shark Tank hype. This ingenious device sucks out all kinds of bug bites, instantly relieving itching and swelling, so your kids aren't left scratching.
Promising review: "This is a miracle-worker for my toddler. I bought this after receiving a spider bite on my foot, that was already healed when it came in. Two days after delivery, my 2 1/2-year-old got stung by a bee or wasp and was screaming and in tears. I broke this out, and he immediately went from screaming to laughing as I used it. It was amazing. He got his second sting today, and the same thing happened — instant pain relief. I don’t know what I would do without this thing. Plus, he likes to play with it afterwards which further calms him down. A+++" —Briley Black
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two colors).
17. A pack of toilet seat covers to have on hand if your potty-trained toddler loves to get their hands ALL OVER gross public restroom seats.
Promising review: "This is amazing! I keep one with me wherever and whenever I have my toddler with me when not at home. He adjusted to using it right away and it actually made him more comfortable using public potties than without this coverage. There is plenty of seat coverage and the adhesion works perfectly. In these times of germophobia, this puts my mind at ease a little more and makes us feel just a little safer." —Jessica
Get a pack of 24 covers from Amazon for $10.49.
18. A bath toy organizer with 9,000 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: "We got tired of stepping on our 2-year-old's toys or having to take them all out of the shower/bath to put in a tub where there was also a small amount of water at the bottom because of the toys draining, I've only had for few days but so far so good. My daughter likes it too, now she is just taking out the toys she wants instead of all of the toys. I also used the suction hooks, no falling so far. I also put it closer to the tub over lapping a bit so she can reach her toys herself. If you have toddlers who love bubbles and toys this is perfect!"—Jessica Kirby
Get it from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in two sizes and pre-stocked with toys or by itself).
19. A Silly Poopy's Hide & Seek game, which 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.
20. And 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 '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.
21. A pack of spill-proof Munchkin snack catchers boasting flexible flaps that'll allow easy access for little hands BUT prevent Cheerios from *flying everywhere*. Not having to 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).
22. And a Contigo spill-proof tumbler that reviewers call "holy grail" because this is one of those rare cups that *actually* doesn't leak. If you're looking for a container that won't let 👏 a 👏 drop 👏 of 👏 water 👏 escape when flung across the room by your kiddo, this is it.
Promising review: "I was skeptical that these were ACTUALLY leak-proof. After all I have a toddler, they can make literally anything leak or spill. I have been through sooooo many cups trying to find ones that will not leave a puddle of water behind when it's left in its near permanent horizontal resting place on the floor or break or pour when my son inevitably bashes it onto the hardwood floor. The only liquid that comes out is what is left behind in the top of the straw after he drinks from it, which there is nothing you can do to even fix that. These are magnificent! They are easy to clean but then again I only use these for water so thicker liquid or drinks that tend to spoil may be more difficult to clean out. Overall this is the BEST cup I've come across when it comes to capacity, functionality, and most importantly ACTUALLY NOT LEAKING!" —Ashley
Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in 11 prints).
23. A personalized superhero cape perfect for the spunky little superhero in your life who never ceases to amaze you.
Capes and More is a small biz owned by a brother and sister duo who started making started making superhero capes for their kids. Once they realized other people wanted them as well, they started to sell them at affordable prices.
You can get a cape in your choice of 12 colors with a shape and letter sewn on! To personalize the cape, enter your choices for cape color, shape, shape color, initial and initial color at checkout.
Promising review: "I bought two of these, one each for my two nephews ages 2 and 4. They loved them and didn’t want to take them off! The fabric is nice and light so it billows behind them when they run around, perfect for the superhero look! Would definitely buy again for more nieces and nephews in the future." —Amy Turek
Get it from Capes and More on Etsy for $18+ (also available in various packs with mask, wristbands, and belt).
24. 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.
Promising review: "I am a dad of two toddlers who love their lunchtime 'pies.' Up until recently I was purchasing these sandwiches at the store, now with this we make our own at home and have had a few laughs during the process!!! So far a great addition to the kitchen and hope to continue using for lunchtime fun!!!!!!" —Matt Behnke
Get it from Amazon for $19.96.
25. A viral TikTok toothbrush holder and dispenser you'll regret not having bought sooner because it'll not only free up precious counter space but also keep your bathroom free of child-induced toothpaste messes.
This bad boy includes a toothpaste dispenser (that'll squeeze out every last ounce!), four cups and holders, and a place to store your toothbrushes.
Promising review: "Game changer! Mad at myself for having not purchased this sooner. Keeps the counter clear, keeps the toothpaste mess to a minimum, and allows the toddler to independently prep his toothbrush (doubling down minimal mess). The pump dispenses the perfect amount of toothpaste. The cups on top act as a convenient and functional space to hold all of our flossers. Magnetic cups work as a great resource for the kids to all rinse the sink out nicely after use. Couldn't recommend this enough." —Mike Allegrini
Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in three colors).
26. 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 $6.29+ (available in three sizes).
27. A sleek touchless forehead thermometer with a built-in sensor that measures in seconds. Added bonus: You can take your baby's temperature while they're sleeping.
Promising review: "Wow I am LOVING this thermometer!! The worst thing is having to hold your toddler still (impossible) through crying or wake them up in the middle of the night to take their temp. We even had a forehead thermometer but it has to actually touch the skin and makes a loud beep sound. This one will be perfect for those middle of the night temp checks. I also LOVE the attractive sleek design. My only criticism would be that it needs to come with a storage case. It says on the instructions to store it in the box to keep the sensor from getting dirty or scratched but the box is much bulkier than the device itself, which is slim. If it could just come with a nice little carry bag, that would be much better"—Sam K.
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
28. And a pack of stick-on fever indicators that'll come in handy during cold and flu season. Simply stick the bug on their head and it'll change color to indicate temp letting you monitor your child's fever for up to 48 hours.
It goes without saying that these stickers aren't a replacement for a thermometer. But, if your kid has a temp, these will help you keep track of whether their fever is spiking or going down.
Promising review: "We had a stressful day of trying to keep our 3-year-old's fever down and he was exhausted. I had these in the cabinet and stuck one on at bedtime. It immediately lit up N, which matched the thermometer. While putting him to bed I saw it go to 99 so when I checked on him in 30 min I brought the thermometer '99.3.' We used it throughout the night to monitor whether or not we should wake him for more medicine. I think of it as a peace of mind sticker. He loves stickers and got a big kick out of it. He’s had it on about 13 hours now with no complaints. There’s a shiny N there now, and this paranoid mama still checks with a thermometer occasionally to make sure it’s accurate." —Nateric
Get eight stickers from Amazon for $6.50.
29. A sensory swing designed with an extra spring, allowing bouncing up and down in addition to swinging — ideal for endless aerial acrobatic fun. Do they make an adult version?
Rest Nets is a small biz based in Israel started by a mom who created these hammocks as a way to give parents "an extra pair of hands" for entertaining kids.
Promising review: "The swing is great. Very good quality, beautiful colors, thick elastic fabric and comfortable to touch. It was a Christmas gift for our daughters (3 and 1) and they both love it and use it daily. I hope the fabric will keep its good quality for a long time. I highly recommend the swing to anyone with little kids. Kids have loads of fun in it!" —Sarah
Get it from Rest Nests on Etsy for $93.50 (available in 10 colors).
30. A pack of inconspicuous corner guards for protecting your wobbly toddler's fragile head from big bumps when they walk precariously close to a sharp coffee table.
Promising review: "These arrived quickly and were easy to install....you did need a good fingernail to get the tabs off for sticking, but other than that, piece of cake. And they look so good! When I showed my husband, he said they almost looked decorative on our glass table! And now I don't have to worry (as much) when our 2-year-old granddaughter races past that entry way table...she may get a little bump if she should hit the corner, but she won't get cut, and that was our big concern." —Sharon H
Get it from Amazon for $8.98.
31. And a whale-shaped bath spout cover that'll prevent boo-boos when they're 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).
32. An inexpensive Pop2Play foldable indoor slide because it LITERALLY pops up in minutes to instantly transform any room into a playground when it's raining outside. Plus, it folds down flat for easy storage once playtime's over.
The slide's capable of holding up to 50 lbs.
Promising review: "We are so happy with this slide. My almost-3-year-old is VERY rough and this slide still looks in the same condition as when I first opened it. It is very sturdy and durable but easy to fold and take on the go or store. This is going to be perfect to bring to my extended family’s house or for play dates. It provides a lot of entertainment so far. We had three toddlers ages 1 to 3 years old playing at once, taking turns, and it really impressed. My daughter spilt her milk on it at one point and it wiped away beautifully. It is the perfect indoor slide!" —John
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in two styles).
33. Sturdy and stretchy toy hammocks to corral their ever-growing collection of Squishmallows — while adding a dose of cuteness to a corner wall. No more stepping over a sea of stuffies on the floor!
Promising review: "Needed this for my toddlers room, he has over 30 stuffed animals. Some large and some medium/small. It has held them up and done wonders! Made a lot of room for other toys! Thanks" —Nakesha Gay
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.47 (available in three colors).
34. An anti-nail-biting pen which 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: "We were looking for a washable nail-biting deterrent so that my toddler would still be able to eat with her hands. This stuff tastes bad but not enough to make it cruel for children. Nail biting cured!" —Spiderpig
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 $16.95.
35. A snack spinner for enticing even the pickiest of eaters to add more foods to their *rotation* at home or on the go.
Promising review: "My 2-year-old loves it, he gets excited every time he pushes the button and sees it spin. He spins it grabs a piece of strawberry spins it again grabs a blueberry keeps him entertained. It’s easy to clean and compact for easy on-the-go snacks. Great product!" —Noe G.
Get it from Amazon for $29.95 (available in three colors).
36. An EZPZ silicone mini training cup and straw combo designed by a pediatric feeding specialist to teach toddlers to safely drink from an open cup and straw. It'll fit perfectly in chubby little hands (thanks to the weighted bottom) and make the transition from the bottle to the cup, well, eazy peazy.
EZPZ is is a woman-owned biz that creates developmentally focused, minimalist tableware for little ones.
P.S. The cup and straw are made from 100% toxin-free silicone (no BPA, BPS, PVC, latex, or phthalates). The food-grade silicone is safe for your toddler’s developing teeth + gums and dishwasher safe.
Promising review: "Must-have! I had been concerned that my 1-year-old wasn’t picking up straw drinking easily. The day the straw training cup arrived, she began drinking from a straw!! Yay! Made me so unbelievably happy! Of course, the cup is darling and the design detail is excellent. The speech pathologist who constructed the cup knew exactly what she was doing. I highly recommend you get this cup!" —Rachel
Get it from EZPZ for $17.49.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!
