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. An as-seen-on-Shark Tank car seat buckle release tool because those buckles can be a pain in the tush. Just slide it onto the button, press, and pull! It's especially great for folks with sore or weakened fingers or manis they don't want to ruin.
Promising review: "What a fantastic invention! I am a new grandma with thumb arthritis, and opening the buckle on my granddaughter's car seat was next to impossible for me. This little device was the best purchase ever! No effort, I simply place it over the buckle, press down and the buckle unlocks! I ordered two and I’ll keep one in my daughter's car and one in mine. You’ve made a happy grandma even happier!" —Shopping Maven
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in seven colors).
2. A classic Playskool Sit ‘n Spin toy that lets them control the speed and will turn your living room into their playground. As if they didn't already love visiting Grandpa's house enough!
Recommended for ages 18 months+.
Promising review: "Wonderful classic toy. This is really one of the ‘must have’ toys of childhood. My children had them and I have purchased them for my grandchildren. This is a one-piece, active toy, that can be played on inside or out. Kids love it and adults enjoy watching the little ones go crazy on it. My youngest granddaughter is almost 5 and still loves this toy and can easily spin on it." —B Thomas
Get it from Amazon for $30.37.
3. A sight word Bingo game to make learning basic words a heck of a lot more fun. Instead of numbers, you'll call out one of 46 common words for players to mark off and go for bingo. Don't be surprised if after a few rounds, kiddos start reading along with these words in their bedtime stories.
The set comes with 36 playing cards, 264 playing chips, caller's mat and cards, and a storage box.
Promising review: "My 4-year-old granddaughter and I go to the library every weekend. Once she's chosen her books for the week, she loves to 'check out' the games in the children's section. This was one that she wanted to play over and over and over. After the third go-round, I noticed that she was beginning to recognize some of the words on her own. That sold me! The minute I got home I purchased the game so she could play it at home. Every time I go over to her house, we play at least one round of this game, and I can tell her reading skills are increasing. And when we go to the library, she STILL wants to check this game out and play it there! The words on these bingo cards are words that can't be illustrated well — words like 'them,' 'her,' 'go,' 'if' — small, mostly conjunctive words, but essential to reading. This game makes it easy and fun to learn those words. I simply can't praise this game enough." —Molly Harrington
Get it from Amazon for $9.06.
4. Spill-proof Munchkin snack cups if the only thing you don't love about having the grandbabies over is the trail of animal crackers left in their wake (and in your carpet). These have soft flaps kids can easily stick their paws into, but that magically prevent the mess that usually — and by usually I mean always — ensues during snacktime.
Promising reviews: "These things are wonderful! My grands use them all the time and they keep the mess to a minimum. I've seen them carry them upside down, sideways, and yet the treats stay in the cup and not on the floor!" —cwilkes13
"Wish we had had these when my kids were small! I bought several of these for my grandbabies when they visit or are in my car. They are awesome — easy for little hands to use and hold, but the snacks aren’t so likely to spill. Now I need adult size ones for the rest of the family!" —Jo
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $6 (available in two color combos).
5. A supportive Tushbaby hip carrier to take some of the strain out of toting your beloved little ones. Because if it were up to you, you'd never put your grandkids down — but your back has a different view. This lightweight wonder even has pockets so it can double as a diaper bag!
It's recommended for children between 8 and 44 pounds.
Tushbaby is a small biz run by three moms in California.
Promising review: "I love this product! I was having issues with holding my 25-pound grandbaby because it would cause lower back pain after keeping him for a day. The Tushbaby straps on quickly and totally supports my back now so that I am not getting twisted at the hip. My daughter-in-law loves it too! She is pregnant, and picking up the baby and carrying him around was also causing her lower back to hurt. She says that it has helped her a lot with that problem." —missy wortman
Get it from Amazon for $84.99+ (available in four colors and prints).
6. A whimsical foldable indoor slide so a rainy day won't ruin your playground date plans. Kids might love this even more, and you can easily store it away when it's time for them to head home (or throw it in the car and bring it from place to place)!
The slide's capable of holding up to 50 lbs.
Promising reviews: "I was looking for an active, indoor toy for my toddler grandson, and decided to take a chance on this slide. It is exactly what we needed. Lots of fun on cold days when he is trapped indoors, first sliding himself and then running back and forth to give every stuffed animal a turn. Best of all, it folds down flat to be stashed out of sight at other times, so it seems new and exciting whenever it comes out. A very good purchase." —Elena Jane
"Best purchase ever! My granddaughter has had hours of fun on this slide! I bought it for indoor activity when she was 15 months old. By 18 months, she was a pro and asked for it every day. And when she’s not using it, it’s so easy to fold up and put away." —PR
Get it from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in three styles).
7. A detangling brush because brushing tangles out of tiny heads is something you do *not* miss from when you were a new parent. Over 50,000 (!!!) people love this brush for making hair brushing less of a literal pain.
Reviewers say this brush works on all hair types: straight, wavy, or curly (from 3a–4c hair).
Promising review: "Bought this for my 8-year-old granddaughter who has very thick hair that tangles so easy. I have tried other brushes for her, I am in charge of hair duty before school and nothing seemed to make it easier. This brush made it so easy that she has been able to get the tangles out herself now. Our morning routine has become so calm and peaceful now, we no longer have to struggle with hair brushing and for that we are so grateful! Cheers, from one happy YaYa. xoxo." —Pamela Brown Gatlin
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in nine colors and prints).
8. An adjustable bath seat to help babies sit upright and keep both your hands free to play with them! Now neither of you will have to dread bathtime.
Plus, reviewers say it's the perfect solution for bathing twins!
Promising reviews: "Super helpful when giving my grand a bath! It doesn’t feel like a wrestling match and I’m not soaked anymore." —redwingfan25
"OMG, love seeing my grandson in this bath seat! I swear he thinks he can swim! He's able to sit up and play with all his toys. He used to hate his bath because he felt he had no control. This gives him the ability to sit up and enjoy the world. He LOVES his bath now!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in four colors).
9. Plus a quick-dry cushioned kneeling pad shaped like a cute lil' whale who's here to save your knees from the cold, hard bathroom floor — because anything that makes time with the kiddo more comfortable is a whale-sized win.
Promising reviews: "This was a great buy, no more sore knees when bathing my granddaughter. Highly recommend to all parents out there that still have to kneel while bathing." —Tracey
"A grandparent's friend. This works well as a knee pad at bath time, especially if you're a grandparent with 'experienced' knees. It works well enough, it's cute, and I recommend." —Kokomo
Get it from Amazon for $13.49+ (available in two colors).
10. A table high chair if you don't really have the space to keep a high chair at your house for when the baby visits, but still want the tiniest family member to be able to enjoy meals with you. This collapsible wonder has an included storage bag and over 5,000 5-star ratings, comes in several cute colors, and is great for taking to restaurants too!
Promising reviews: "I love this highchair, it's the perfect highchair for grandparents, and saves on space when my grandbabies go home." —Ginger Cook
"Perfect for my grand daughter who is 1. We bought it when she was a few months old when she could sit. We take this chair whenever we take her to restaurants. It has a nice cushion and she can sit there for longer periods and not fuss. Restaurant high chairs are usually not all that clean, and the wooden seats, even plastic seats, are not comfortable for her. Installing, and removing, is simple as it involves unscrewing the upright bars that go under the table." —john t.
Get it from Amazon for $79 (available in nine colors).
11. Or an easy-to-fold portable booster chair you can pop up pretty much anywhere — no table required! You can securely fasten this to any dining chair *or* just stand it on its own to give bbs their own adorable little TV tray setup indoors or out.
It's got a storage pocket on the back, the cover is machine washable, and the tray is dishwasher safe. Convenient, convenient, convenient! It's recommended for ages 6 months–3 years.
Promising reviews: "As grandparents, we were looking for a high chair that doesn't take up too much space or you have to have a science degree to pack it away. This product is just what we needed and it has room for our grand babies to grow into toddlers!" —Yvonne P Tillyer
"A must have for parents or grandparents! I have three grandchildren. I purchased this for grands when they are here and when we go on about adventures and travel. I love everything about this product. Folds into a small carry case. Sturdy and easy to clean. If you're at the beach, on a picnic, or just at the park or need a safe place for your baby to watch TV and eat snacks, this is an awesome product." —Thomas family
Get it from Amazon for $39.92 (available in two colors).
12. A pair of GeoSafari Jr. kids binoculars that don't require adjustment to focus and have extra large and easy eyepieces, so your future naturalist can explore the zoo, the park, or even the backyard just like a grown-up. Also...if hypothetically an adult struggles with using binoculars, maybe they need these??? Asking for a friend.
Promising reviews: "Great for our 3-year-old granddaughters! Our granddaughters recently discovered birds outside at the bird feeders. we purchased these as a gift for them. These work soooo well! The girls can use them easily and just love to look at the birds with them. I purchased these because of their heavy duty construction too! There are other binoculars, but they're poorly constructed. These binoculars are durable, yet didn't cost nearly as much as others made by big name companies. We couldn't afford buying children's binoculars at over $100! These have met and exceeded my expectations. Thank you!" —RK
"We have four grands, ages 18 months–5 years. They LOVE this Kidnocular! Much more kid-size than imagined, it lets them see things across the street, and the airplane colors and tail designs from a few miles away much better. We can't wait to see ants and spiders close up." —Erin
Get it from Amazon for $11.98.
13. Otrio, aka a more advanced and strategic board game version of tic-tac-toe that'll keep kids and adults alike entertained for a good while! Plus, you can play with up to four people, so the rest of the fam won't feel left out.
To win, players must get three circular pieces of their color in a row in either ascending or descending order — get the same-sized pieces in a row or get three concentric pieces in the same space. But look out for other players trying to block you!
Recommended for two to four players ages 8+.
Promising reviews: "I love playing this game with the grandkids. When you have four players, you really have to pay attention to your next move! A fun way to play tic-tac-toe." —JnLHuber
"I am a grandparent who has never been a game player but this one is really fun! It seems quite simple (like tic-tac-toe) but is amazingly strategic. The problem is I keep getting beat by my very smart 8-year-old grandson! But it keeps him off screens when he comes to stay with us, it is something we can do together, and I enjoy it too. It is also a well-made and colorful game for all ages!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $39.95 (also available in plastic).
14. A pack of silicone pouch lids ingeniously designed to fit all kinds of food pouches and prevent leaks and spills. These snacktime lifesavers allow kids to snack away, but *not* spray pouch contents everywhere. Magic!
Choo Mee is a small biz based in Northern California and owned by a mom!
Promising review: "This is a wonderful item!! My grandson is getting so independent and wanted to walk around with his applesauce or other squeezable pouches, but I couldn't allow him to because of the mess!! These toppers have solved the problem!! He gets to be independent and I don't have the mess!! The one way valve prevents him from squeezing it out everywhere yet he can suck it out without any difficulty. Great product!!" —Lydia
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in five color combos).
15. A Grandma's Secret stain remover — you can buy it and claim it was named after you, since you'll now be known as the grandma who can banish any stain. Over 20,000 people swear by this stuff, which can tackle stains from anything ranging from grass to paint to bodily fluids.
Promising review: "Best stain remover ever. I have two new grandbabies and this stain remover has eliminated all stains, including stains that has been there for 2+ weeks and washed repeatedly. Highly recommend this!" —Leslie Thiel
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $11.91 (available in three sizes and various multipacks).
16. A wooden puzzle reminiscent of Tetris and sure to be your grandkiddo's favorite toy at your house. You may even find yourself playing with it — I mean, the challenge of filling the board with these blocks or just making fun designs with it sounds like a delight to me.
Reviewers say this is a great toy for ages 3–12.
Promising review: "Bought this for my granddaughter and everyone plays with it. Great brain teaser for the mind. Inexpensive, keeps you thinking. Great for eye hand coordination. Well made and just plain fun. Great to get as a gift! Awesome puzzle." —V1955LA
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
17. An accurate, touchless forehead thermometer that's a health and safety must-have in any household, but especially one with kids. This will allow you to check temps in their sleep and without any of the fuss of trying to stick something under their tongue or armpit.
Promising reviews: "This is a superior thermometer! It is easy to use, and truly touchless. I tried it on myself and husband over several days, works perfectly. I tried it on my 1-month-old granddaughter and worked great. Silent, no beeping and to need to touch sleeping baby's forehead. I highly recommend the this thermometer!" —BearDownChi1
"Best purchase!!!! So easy to use — no need to touch forehead and results in seconds. No more fuss from my grands when I take their temps." —D. Duvall
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two colors).
18. A pack of discreet corner guards to help baby-proof your home for grandbaby visits without totally ruining your decor. To this day I live in fear of some of my parents' sharp furniture — I wish they'd had these when I was a kid!
Promising review: "We highly recommend this product. The protectors work very well. Our grandbaby can freely walk around without our anxiously following her everywhere. We like the clear and plain style in that they allow the beauty of the furniture to shine through." —Jennye Cantu
Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $8.48.
19. A set of kid-safe plastic knives so you can create some yummy cooking memories together and they can (more safely) feel like a real chef.
Note: Children still need supervision while using them, of course.
Promising review: "Little hands are protected while learning how to slice and cut. When my twin granddaughters are here, they help me in the kitchen. These are good for slicing tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, and lettuce." —Deborah
Get a set of three from Amazon for $8.95+ (available in two color combinations).
20. A pack of sink extenders to make getting your grandkid's (often v nasty) hands clean less of a hassle. They'll also feel so grown-up when they can actually reach the water!
Promising review: "I love these for when our grands come to visit or any other child is at our house. It is quick to pop on and helps them reach the water without dangling them over the sink! I put one in each guest bath — ready to go!" —truffles 01
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $11.49.
21. A compact, lightweight Graco Pack 'N Play, aka a fan-fave packable playpen that can easily be toted between parents' and grandparents' houses and provide the perfect spot for little ones to play, snooze, and generally be cute.
Promising review: "I love this version of the Graco Pack 'N Play. No frills, just a nice streamlined play yard. I purchased this one so we would have two for our 7-month-old twin grandsons. Lightweight and super easy to break down and store in the included carry bag. Better than having the heavier, more expensive Gracos if you don't need all the silly add-ons. The inside mattress is exactly the same size as the more expensive Gracos with all the extras, and takes up less space. Highly recommend!" —Perri
Get it from Amazon for $69.97+ (available in five styles).
22. And a two-pack of super soft and stretchy sheets specifically designed for Pack 'N Plays, so you can make their hangout spot extra cute and comfy.
Promising reviews: "I purchased a Graco Pack 'N Play to keep at my house for when my new grandbaby comes to visit. I wanted to buy sheets for the mattress. These are great. They are super soft. They fit the mattress perfectly. I am very happy with them!" —VCA
"These were so soft and easy to put on my Pack ‘N Play. Love them for my grandbabies! My daughter loved them also so she took them with her when they went home! Lol. If they come back while he is still in the Pack 'N Play, I will order more!" —Kathe Bergin
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 15 patterns).
23. A marble run set with marbles included and over 100 pieces that you can use to build the ultimate maze with the kiddos. It'll be hours of ~marble-ous~ fun for the whole fam!
Promising review: "This is an amazing toy. I spent hours playing with it with my 6- and 3-year-old granddaughters. I enjoyed it as much as they did. While I was reading the instructions and trying to pick a figure to assemble, they started putting it together. My help consisted mostly in trying to maintain stability. They were very creative in finding ways to use the pieces. Highly recommend." —Seaford
Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in three sizes).
24. The Ollie Swaddle, a splurge-worthy and ingenious swaddle complete with a diaper-change-ready bottom opening. It's also moisture-wicking and designed to help prevent bb from overheating, safely stay below their shoulders (make sure you tie the elastic loop at the bottom), and be adjustable as they grow!
The Ollie World is a small biz based in Rancho Cucamonga, California that was founded by a foster mom who wanted to make her own swaddle that could meet all of her foster son, Oliver's, needs.
Promising reviews: "Too expensive but worth it! My grandson instantly falls asleep and stays asleep in this. He would break out of the regular swaddle blankets and I would worry about it covering his mouth and nose. I tried the other Velcro ones but this is by far easier to use and the blanket material is stretchy and soft. I ended up ordering a second one to have in rotation." —Nole Fan
"My granddaughter is finally sleeping, we love the Ollie!!" —suelyncrowe9
Get it from Amazon for $69.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.