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1. Stackable counting cups for your tyke to play with on the kitchen floor, which will hopefully buy you enough time to prep their fancy meal of puréed delicacies.
"These stacking cups are *such* a simple toy but are so effective in keeping a little one entertained. My son adores these cups! Whether he's smashing them together to make noise or knocking down a tower that I built for him, he truly gets a kick out of these." —Heather
Promising review: "I saw these recommended by some mom influencer on social media and they had good ratings here, so I got them as a small gift for my baby. Didn’t realize these plain cups would become her favorite thing. She’s 7 months and doesn’t even try to stack them. But she likes unstacking them and chewing on them. She likes these more than the more intricate or expensive gifts we got her. So I guess her rating is 5 stars. Mine is 5 stars for the price, durability, and easiness to clean. Also it keeps her quite occupied, which is a feat in itself." —Amber Scott
Get them from Amazon for $7.99.
2. Reusable puree pouches you can fill with your own homemade baby food or a store-bought one when you and your mini-me are on-the-go. They're super easy to clean, seal really well (they open from the side!) and simple for babies to eat from.
"One of my mom friends suggested trying these out, so I promptly added these into my cart. They arrived swiftly and have been a great solution to our dining problem! They're easy to fill, as the side opens like a ziplock bag, and even easier to rinse and reuse. We've been using them regularly and are thrilled with them. You can also fill and freeze them if you want to meal-prep your kiddo's food for the week." —Heather
Promising review: "These reusable pouches are great. They are easy to fill and use. They have been uncomplicated to wash and I have been very glad I purchased." —Kelly
Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $10.99.
3. And reusable pouch tops that'll fit any one you've purchased from the store — yes, even that VERY specific brand that's the only one your kiddo will seemingly CONSIDER eating. It has a no-spill control valve you'll thank your lucky heavens for when your little one is eating in the car.
In addition to being dishwasher-, freezer-, and boil-safe, these tops are BPA-, PVC-, lead-, and phthalate-free.
Promising review: "My now 2-year-old has never, ever eaten more than a few sips out of these pouches, of any kind. I got this spill proof lid to put on it.... she's on her second one in a matter of minute. I think the problem was she didn't like getting messy or having me constantly pull it away. This gave her so much more control and It prevents them from being squeezed all over. Wish I discovered it a year and a half ago!" —Amazonian
Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.95(available in two color options).
4. A Summer Infant potty training toilet complete with lights, music, and sounds to cheer your toddler on as they learn to use the potty. It looks just like the "big potty" they're used to seeing in bathrooms to make the transition (hopefully) even easier.
FYI, it also has a built-in wipe compartment, a removable easy clean bowl and a clip on splash guard.
Promising review: "Pretty much everything on this cute little potty is likeable. Its small size makes it ideal for toddlers, its flushing noise mechanism makes it fun for the kiddos, and it’s relatively easy to wipe down and clean, just take the removable potty to the bathroom and flush the good down and give it a quick rinse in the shower. My 2-year-old loves this potty over a few others we purchased and I’m glad I paid the few extra bucks because it’s helped him potty train quicker and more effectively because it’s more realistic and he actually enjoys sitting on it. Plus it’s the got pee trapper adapter for boys making sure there are no extra messes for parents and caregivers!" —MssyNorX
Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in two colors).
5. A BabyBjörn bouncer, so your eager-to-sit little one can comfortably survey the room, indulge in a little Ms. Rachel on YouTube, or bounce to their heart's content (honestly, whatever works).
The BabyBjörn bouncer was an item I bought for myself when my son was DYING to be able to sit up but wasn't there just quite yet. We'd plop him into this bouncer and he'd be THRILLED to sit for a bit and watch my husband make his morning espresso (haha) or happily watch Encanto for the trillionth time (don't judge my parenting screentime). Honestly, he was just so happy to be upright! It easily folds down so it's a breeze to throw in the car and bring to someone else's house. He loves this thing and I'd definitely recommend it to any parent to have on-hand.
Promising review: "My son is what is referred to as a Velcro baby. He will not let me put him down for even a moment without crying horribly. I spent two months unable to make myself food, comb my hair or even shower without him crying his little eyes out. I was exhausted but then...my mother suggested this little bouncer and everything changed! From the moment I put him in the chair, he was calm and happy. It's very well made, easy to move from room to room and the cover is machine washable. The design is simple and brilliant. The straps can be put on with only one hand. Super easy to get him in and out. He is four months old now and starting to figure out that he can make it bounce. The cover is solid canvas and soft. The seams are very strong. It make zero sound while he bounces. I now have a moment here and there to do things around the house while my little man plays in a safe comfy little seat. Highly recommend!" —Zuya
Get it in beige from Amazon for $209.99.
6. A starter set of Chicco Duo Newborn Hybrid Baby Bottles with glass on the inside but plastic on the outside that'll ensure your baby's milk will only touch pure glass. This means no gross smells, aftertaste, or discolorations over time!
Before my son Noah was born we were hoping he’d like the Chicco Duo bottles (since, at the end of the day we knew we’d end up using whatever brand he preferred). These were our first choice because they have such unique features that other bottles don’t — so we were absolutely thrilled when he took to them right away!
On the inside of each bottle is a super thin layer of unbreakable glass that prevents babies from drinking directly from plastic. I know what you’re thinking… glass = heavy… but you’d never even know there was glass in these bottles! They’re so light weight my baby has no problem already trying to hold them up on his own. Their other great feature are the nipples they come with. They have a slow release design to help prevent your little one from chugging their bottle and developing gas bubbles in their bellies. Additionally, they’re shaped for intuitive latching which I can only assume would be helpful for parents who are both bottle feeding and breastfeeding their babies.
We’ve purchased three sets so we always have a bottle at-the-ready, but you can easily clean these by hand or in the dish washer and use them in a sterilizer or bottle warmer without concern. Big win for babies and parents!
They're also dishwasher safe, can be used in a bottle warmer or sterilizer, and are free of BPA, BPS, PVC, and phthalates.
Get the 8-piece set from Amazon for $49.99+ (also available in a 10-piece set and in pink).
7. A leave-in conditioning spray for curly hair free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates you can count on to revive your mini-me's precious curls after an eventful night of rolling around like a wild thing. (How do they get such intense bed head?!?)
Reviewers say this spray will leave wavy or curly hair (from 2a–4c hair) shiny, soft, and bouncy.
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 $9.96.
8. And a lice prevention and detangling combo spray made with a blend of rosemary, citronella, tea tree, and geranium oils to help keep those vile bugs away. There was nothing my mom was more fearful of as a parent of three girls with A LOT of hair than lice. This certainly would've come in handy!
Promising review: "Love this so much, we use it daily! We have survived one lice outbreak in school by using this product as a detangler daily, and I've used it ever since. My children have extremely long hair ranging from straight to very curly. This works on all of them, both for detangling and lice prevention. The scent is wonderful, clean and subtle without the musk of some essential oils. We've reordered and reordered, it's a staple in our house. Try it! You won't be disappointed." —Hannah Jean
Get it from Amazon for $12.98.
9. A LeapFrog 100 Words Book that'll interact with your eager-to-learn little one and teach them all kinds of useful words in both English and Spanish!
Promising review: "My 1-year-old loves to touch the different animals and hear the book say their name and animal sound. He’s got a good vocabulary, but we’re working with him to encourage more and more words. His doctor recommended teaching him animals and the sound they make, so this is great to add to what we’re already doing. Great toy that is fun and also teaches. They learn through repetition — and this was just what I was looking for! I also love that this toy will grow with him. He using the name/sound mode right now, but is also has a mode that gives facts for when he’s older and also has Spanish! 10/10 recommend." —Jessica Grace
"What a great learning toy! My little boy loves it. It’s touch sensitive and his little fingers don’t have to press it too hard. He already knows 75% of the words but hasn’t lost interest in it yet. I believe this book will be good for 3-4 more years when he enters K-1st grade and learns to spell some of the words in the book." —Luciane D. Costa
Get it from Amazon for $16.49.
10. Sink extenders so you won't need to muster up Herculean strength every time your surprisingly dense toddler wants to wash their sticky little paws.
Promising review: "This is 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 $11.49.
11. A bug bite suction tool that works like a plunger and will immediately relieve itching and swelling from all kinds of bug bites — it was invented by a mom (!!!) so you know it's gotta be good.
Promising review: "This is a MUST-HAVE in our household. I was a huge skeptic but decided to try it out of desperation. My youngest daughter is highly allergic to mosquito bites and gets huge welts that itch horribly after being bit. This product drastically reduces her swelling and itching. All of my girls (and myself) immediately ask for it after being bit. It takes away, or at least drastically reduces, the itching immediately. We also used it on fire ant bites, and my daughter said they felt better almost immediately!" —Reyka Smith
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two colors).
12. Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers, which was created by a preschool teacher to help little ones get acquainted with the magic of reading all on their own. Each story starts with an easy three-letter words and slowly builds in difficulty so kiddos don't feel overwhelmed or discouraged while trying to sound out the words. They'll be happily reading the whole book before you both know it!
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 $14.
13. And a pack of bright laminated flash cards to help toddlers and preschoolers practice their ABCs, 123s, shapes, and colors. Are you even a parent if you don't find yourself constantly saying "what does the cow saaaaay?"
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 (18-months-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 $11.99 (also available for babies).
14. Melissa & Doug My First Daily Magnetic Activities Calendar to teach little ones about the day, month, year, season, and more! It comes with 80 magnets you can easily store on the hinged dry-erase board when they're not in use.
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 $21.99.
15. And an activity pad that'll show little ones how to correctly use scissors — a skill we *all* could likely work on, TBH. It comes with safety scissors (obviously) and a book filled with mazes, puzzles, animal art, sequencing activities, and more!
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 $7.99.
16. A set of 500+ puffy stickers any crafty kiddo would squeal with delight about — fear not, they actually don't leave any residue and unstick very easily!!!
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 $6.99.
17. A touchless forehead thermometer with a built-in sensor that'll make taking your tyke's temperature a breeze. Perfect for any parents that err on the side of caution and find themselves checking their kiddo's temp anytime they look a bit flushed (ahem, me).
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.
18. A Whiskware pancake batter mixer to make whipping up breakfast the easiest part of your day — break this out and impress your kids with your simple-but-delicious pancake-making skillzzzzz.
(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 $14.99.
19. A bath toy organizer you can fill to the brim with your kiddo's toys without concern it'll come toppling down. (Reviewers say it really sticks!) Since it's made of a mesh material all of the water will drain right out and back into the tub, ensuring all of your little one's toys dry nicely.
Promising review: "For the price, this thing is unbeatable! The suction cups have held tight to the shower wall since I installed this stuff. It holds all my kid's toys and allows the water to run off of them to prevent mold. I think this is a must-have for bath-time organization!"—internalburn
Get it from Amazon for $10.99 (available in two sizes and pre-stocked with toys or by itself).
20. Spillproof Munchkin snack catchers so your tyke can grab a lil' treat whenever the mood strikes in between running around at the playground on a beautiful summer day.
"These lil' snack containers are fantastic! I often put my son's puffs or yogurt bites in them so he can grab a snack while hanging out in his playroom. They're also, obviously, great for bringing snacks in the car (no spills!) or to someone else's home. I've watched him vigorously shake them upside down without a single snack falling out!" —Heather
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).
21. And a Contigo spillproof tumbler reviewers praise for actually not leaking — so if your mini-me has a penchant for tossing their cups across the room, this is THE one for you.
Promising review: "The holy grail of sippy cups!! This cup is THE BOMB! No leaking, easy to clean, my 18-month-old, who wants to do and have everything like his 6-year-old brother, loves this cup! Both boys use them. Not too babyish for my older one and easy enough that my little guy can use them, we now have four of them! I’m sure a couple more are in our future! And the price is great." —shoelover
"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 $9.83 (available in 11 prints).
22. An inexpensive baby gate featuring a pressure mount you'll adore because you won't have to drill holes into your walls (a big win). It's easy to install and easy for adults to open with one-hand, which you'll definitely be thankful for when you're trying to carry your toddler and open it at the same time.
Pssst, this gate has 62,000+ 5-star (!!!) reviews and is capable of expanding to fit openings between 29–34 and 35-38.5 inches wide. This gate will not fit an opening between 34–35 inches. It also stands 30 inches tall. Make sure to measure your opening before you buy to ensure proper fit.
Promising review: "Best gate I have ever owned. I have two small kids, a dog, and two cats. Plus lots of stairs. I have gone through so many gates in the last three years. Most broke over time or came loose. This gate is worth 20 stars. Amazing quality. It has stood the test of time! reliable, sturdy, easy to use, easy to install. The gate swings both ways! That's a HUGE plus. I feel so secure having it knowing that there is no way my kids or dog can knock it down or get over it. It is tall too. Buy this one. Coming from the girl who is the queen of gates. This one is one-and-done. IF we need to purchase more gates in the future I will come straight back to this product and seller." —L. Randall
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
23. And a pack of corner guards to ensure your wild child doesn't accidentally hurt that adorable little head of theirs while trying to cruise along any surface they can pull themselves up on.
Promising review: "Must-have. I love these. We just moved in with family, and they had a coffee table with super-sharp corners and I have a little one who pulls up on everything and is trying to walk. To say I was on edge is an understatement. My sister-in-law didn’t want an obnoxious baby proof item around her house, but these were so discreet she didn’t even notice that I had installed them. They are so soft that my little one started gumming on them to soothe his gums, LOL. They were super easy to install, stuck on very well and with not much effort, and came with plenty so if I need them I’ll have them handy. Super satisfied! If you’re thinking about getting, them please do!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.98.
24. A Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy that'll entertain your fussy babe with catchy melodies by the likes of Mozart, Vivaldi, and others as well as exciting and twinkling lights.
"My son received this as a gift around the holidays and it's, surprisingly, fantastic! It's really a simple toy but he enjoys playing with it *all* the time. He loves the sounds and the lights while I personally like that it's not HUGE (so many musical toys are very bulky). It's been a great toy option for the car thanks to its size." —Heather
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
"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.
25. Crayola Globbles, a fun lil' gadget kiddos can use to burn off some steam and provide some much-needed entertainment. Don't worry, they won't leave residue on your walls.
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 $9.50.
26. A clever sight word Bingo game that'll make learning and practicing reading a lot more fun! You can have up to 36 players, so this would be a great option for teachers to use in their classes as well.
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 $12.99.
27. Grandma's Secret, a spot remover to remind you to respect your elderly — it's *that* good. It'll make blood (!!!) pet stains, oil, paint, and other pesky substances vanish into thin air.
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 it from Amazon for $6.99.
28. A detangling brush that'll beautifully glide through knots so it won't feel like a world war every time you have to brush your kiddo's hair. You might even want to get one for yourself — it's that good.
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.
"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 $13.99 (available in six colors).
29. A canvas growth chart for the sentimental parent who has always dreamt about keeping track of their little one's height in this traditional (and adorable) way. No need to mark up your freshly painted walls (your kids will do that for you soon enough on their own 😉). You can also roll it up and save it as a keepsake!
Promising review: "This is a very cute addition to our playroom! Looks nice and she loves measuring herself (daily)." —Truth
"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 $9.78 (available in three styles).
30. A Graco Slim Snacker highchair parents are obsessed with because it can be LITERALLY folded up with one hand when it's not in use. A must-have for anyone who is all about saving space however they can.
Promising review: "Amazing highchair! Seriously, can’t say enough nice things. I love how easy it is to clean, to fold, to use. The storage bin underneath has been incredible! It’s very sturdy, lightweight, and not top heavy at all! And it works at our counter height table! The recline option is great too-so easy to adjust even when my son is in it. I looked at a lot of high chairs before getting this one and SO glad I did. This may be my favorite baby purchase to date as far as simplifying and improving my role as Mom." —Sarah C.
Get it from Amazon for $79.97.
31. A wooden puzzle that'll encourage kiddos to put down the iPad, turn off the TV, and have some fun while exercising their brain. The colors are enticing and who doesn't love a challenge?!
Reviewer's say this is a great toy for all ages — from 3–12.
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 $8.98.
32. A pack of multipurpose safety straps to help you take on the never-ending task of childproofing your home. Lock up the fridge, toilet, washer and dryer...whatever object your child is trying to maniacally open that day without having to drill any holes.
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.
33. A pack of toilet seat covers that'll bring you peace of mind knowing your toddler's tush never has to touch a grime-filled public toilet. You might want to use it yourself, TBH.
Promising review: "If you're a germaphobe like myself, 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.
34. A sandwich cutter and sealer you'll love because they'll make it easier than ever to make Smuckers Uncrustables copycats at home — embrace your love of kid-friendly meals once and for all!
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 $15.96.
35. CeraVe moisturizing cream to help keep your little one's skin feeling soft and smooth. (They don't call it "baby soft" for no reason!) It's also great for kiddos who have eczema flare-ups and are prone to dry, chapped skin. It features gentle fragrance- and paraben-free formula parents will definitely approve.
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).
36. And a USDA-certified organic baby healing balm made with chamomile, cocoa butter, coconut oil, calendula, and avocado oil to tackle an array of skin problems — eczema, acne, cradle cap, rashes will be no match for this balm.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this stuff. I use it for my kid's rashes. I was so afraid to use anything but coconut oil but I needed something that would soothe the rash as well. My kids 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 $14.75.
37. An Oogiebear tool that's confusingly kinda cute even though its purpose is *a bit* gross — to remove earwax and boogers safely from your little one.
I use this little tool to remove boogers from my son's nose (which he absolutely hates). It's not an easy task because he's VERY squirmy, but the Oogiebear definitely helps make the process go a bit more seamlessly. Absolutely recommend.
Promising review: "I mean does my child love it? No. But does it take less than a second to use and get the boogers I'd expect Shrek to possess and not my 3-month-old baby? Yes it does! He's happy as soon as it leaves his nostrils, which again only takes a second. And it's easy to clean!" —Kaitlyn Spires
Get it from Amazon for $12.95.
38. A three-piece set of kid-friendly knives, so your mini chef-in-the-making can happily get more hands-on in the kitchen without you having to fret over whether they'll keep all their tiny fingers safe in the process.
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 wants 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.
39. A cradle cap comb that'll remove dry skin from baby's scalp so gently they won't even notice — shoutout to the soft rubber bristles on this comb.
New parents, don't panic. Cradle cap — aka seborrheic dermatitis — is a very common dry scalp condition that affects infants.
"My son had a few areas of cradle cap on his head that was, honestly, pretty gross. I used a gentle shampoo, a wash cloth, and this brush to remove it painlessly while he was in the bath. He didn't even squirm, he just let me repeat the process three times until all the cradle cap was gone. The thin comb was so essential to the process and quickly removed all the flakes. Now that he's older I've broken it out to remove dandruff from his hair when his scalp has gotten dry." —Heather
Promising review: "The pictures posted here are legit. It makes removal so much easier and gives more consistent removal than my previous method of washcloths or just scratching the cradle cap off with my fingernails. It’s amazing and gross and wonderful. My babe doesn’t even flinch when I spend 10 minutes clearing his scalp of all the goo. It seems to be soothing to him. I just apply baby shampoo, then brush a little with the blue brush. Then I slowly start to comb in sections all in one direction. Then I go back and forth in multiple directions. It’s shocking the amount of dead skin that comes off. I’ve even used it successfully in his eyebrows (he gets some cradle cap there, too). This is a KEEPER!" —ZMomUtah
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
40. A set of handy starter spoons designed to encourage your lil' foodie to self feed. Each spoon has crevices in them that purees and mashed foods stick to easily so your tyke can dip into their fave food 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 $12.99+ (available in three colors and packs of two, four, or six spoons).
41. Native slip-on shoes you can slip right onto your kiddo's feet and send 'em on their way — no pesky laces needed! They're super lightweight, made of vegan materials, are odor-resistant, and can be hand-washed as needed.
Promising review: "I love Natives and pretty much every mom I know says the same thing. We get compliments on how cute they are almost every time my daughter wears them. I would say they run about a half size big or so. They also wash wonderfully! They were covered in mud the other day and I soaked them in hot soapy water and they looked perfect an hour later!" —leslies
"I’ll buy these in every size for my kid. These shoes are the best solution for when weather calls for sandals, and the kiddo needs the support of a tennis shoe. My son can run and climb all over in these, just as he would in tennis shoes, with the breathability and ease of cleaning that you would expect from sandals. He can get them covered in mud, and we can just wash them off with a hose or in the sink, no need to throw in the washing machine. These are an absolute necessity for summers with an energetic kiddo who loves to play in the dirt." —Shauna
Get them from Amazon for $24+ (available in 39 colors and in sizes 4 toddler–6 big kid).
42. A set of washable dab and dot markers to encourage your little artist to get creative without absolutely destroying your kitchen table at the same time. Fare thee well, drippy paint 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 every day 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 $16.99.
43. And a Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine that'll act as a two-way audio monitor, a night-light, a white noise machine, and alarm clock, and a sleep trainer. Fingers crossed you and your kiddo will get some sleep this decade with the help of this gadget!
"I have both a Hatch Rest and a Hatch Restore and they’ve both been essential to my baby’s nighttime routine. We keep the Hatch Rest in our bedroom and the Hatch Restore in my son’s room.
I love that I can control both the lighting and sound of the devices on my phone with Hatch’s easy-to-use app. My husband typically gives the baby a bottle before bedtime in our room, while he’s doing that I turn on the “rain sounds” that we’ve been using as white noise for our little one. However, the most helpful feature on both devices is the ability to adjust how bright the light is. We still get up a handful of times in the middle of the night to soothe Noah (he's not a greaaaat sleeper) so it’s been invaluable to be able to raise the light a bit when doing so but then be able to quickly lower it once he's has settled back into sleep. It’s also not a harsh light and has a bunch of different color options so it’s been easy enough to find a brightness that suits our needs.
The Hatch Rest is ideal for parents as it also has a sound monitor option. For the hour or so Noah (my baby) used to sleep in a bassinet in our room before my husband and I got into bed, I was able to listen in and hear if he was fussing, crying, etc from downstairs. We were also able to set it to a specific program so the light/sounds turn off on their own in the morning (one less thing for us to think about)." —Heather
Promising review: "This thing is a miracle worker. My son, my great sleeper, all of a sudden decided between 4 and 4:30 was a good time to wake up. He was cranky, throwing fits and needing naps a solid two hours before his normal. >2 weeks of this and we found THIS MIRACLE. My son knows his colors really well and this was the perfect solution. We also desperately needed to replace our battery-operated sound machine (replacing the batteries every month is not cost effective). This 'Hatch' as this is now called at home changed my son's sleeping in ONE NIGHT. He woke up, saw it wasn't the color it needed to be to come find mommy and daddy and he went back to sleep. I figured it was too good to be true, however four nights in. I've set it to change colors later and later and he is officially sleeping till 6 a.m. again. I'm in LOVE. Totally recommended to anyone struggling with sleeping toddlerdom." —Steph Pence
Get it from Amazon for $69.99.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.