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    25 Parenting Products Under $20 So Useful, You Might Even Shed A Tear

    Turn that tired frown upside down.

    1. A leave-in conditioning spray and restorer for curly hair so those oh-so-cute baby curls stay curled, but the bedhead stays mild. This spray is also delightfully paraben, phthalate, gluten, wheat, and nut free for those worried about chemicals or certain food allergies. 

    Reviewers say this spray works on a wide range of curls to detangle, soften, and hydrate. 

    Promising review: "This is the BEST product EVER! I will never use another hair detangler ever again. We use this product daily in my house, my daughter, my son, and I. Both of us girls have long and thick curly hair and it allows us to brush through our hair with no problems! And my son mostly uses it to style his hair before gel, and because it smells so good! We tried a few products from Walmart, Ulta and Target, and nothing was good enough. This is now on my subscribe and save every month!" —Tamira McLelland

    Get it from Amazon for $9.69.

    2. A pack of handy Avarelle hydrocolloid acne patches to help your teen — or your stressed self — fight breakouts overnight. These little wonder-patches have a blend of tea tree oil and calendula oils to help shrink pimples overnight. There are few less satisfying things than feeling a zit rising to the surface and these will help your teen feel confident and ready to take on algebra. 

    Reviewer before and after using patches
    reviewer photo of used pimple patches

    Promising review: "I was skeptical when I saw these in a BuzzFeed article but for so little a price, took the chance, and I'm SO glad I did! I had a cystic acne pop up and it hurt. I stuck one of the three different sizes over the spot in the evening, did my thing, and then went to bed. Got up the next morning and WHAT?! It was gone?! There was gunk all inside the patch. It was gross, scary...satisfying? I don't know what type of witchcraft this is, but I LOVE IT!! My teenage kids use them, and we've never been happier to see our acne disappear. And I'm a 49-year-old woman...didn't think anything could surprise me anymore, but this did! It's a wonderful product, a must-have for anyone who needs a way to get rid of a zit in less than a day. (I've ordered this product twice and will again.)" —Heather W

    Promising review: "This is really a must-have in your medicine cabinet. We have two teenage daughters at home, and they both use it anytime they have a pimple. It is discreet and blends in nicely to your skin. It comes in three sizes to choose from, and it is made with tree tea oil, which I have found to be great in acne care." —Vanessa

    Get 40 patches from Amazon for $6.70.

    3. A pair of faucet extenders to help your toddler feel a taste of independence and help save your hands from quadruple the washing. These sink extenders help your little one reach the water with ease without needing to be hoisted up like a sack of potatoes. May your back rejoice!

    A child washing hands in the sink using a sink extender on the faucet
    A faucet extender attached to a faucet
    Amazon, Amazon / Via www.amazon.com

    Promising review: "Simple, but effective and useful. They are such a simple design, but really make sink time for my toddler so much more enjoyable. My 2-year-old son was nowhere near being able to reach the faucet himself. So instead of trying to hold him over the sink with his tummy pressed against the counter, he can now reach the water while on his stool. Due to the flexibility of the silicone adapter piece, these fit both our bathroom and kitchen sinks without any issues and allow a good range of angle adjustment. Also, they are so easy to remove that you can easily pop them on and off if you prefer to use the sink without it. Such a good buy! —Darth Kitty

    Get a two-pack from Amazon for $11.49.

    4. A shockingly effective cleaning paste that cleans everything from glass to marble to stainless steel — and everything in between. No longer will jelly hands terrorize your cabinets or markers fill your walls. A little peace of mind goes a long way. 

    Reviewer removing lipstick from the walls using the pink paste
    The Pink Stuff

    Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok and had to try it. Being a mom and a babysitter, we have the occasional crayon or marker on surfaces it is not supposed to be. This takes it right off without a ton of elbow grease. I also used it on my converse today. They were covered in dirt and grass stains from doing yard work and now they look brand-new. This stuff is a lifesaver!" —TammyC117

    Promising review: "If you’ve ever got lipstick on anything you know how hard it is to remove. My 4-year-old loves make up and thinks she the next Picasso. This stuff removed it with only rubbing it over it. No scrubbing at all. I’m completely sold!"Buyer

    Get it from Amazon for $5.97.

    5. A handy faucet splash catcher that fits around your faucets to help absorb splashes. Whether you are a devil-may-care dish washer like myself, or your kid has no respect for shaking those hands a bit, these catchers are helpful for protecting your faucet and your sanity. All in favor of one less thing to clean say "aye!"

    reviewer's photo of the faucet splash catcher in gray around a faucet
    Hustle Sew Shop / Etsy

    Plus you're supporting a small business. We all win here. 

    Promising review: "This product is awesome! I have four kids who take care of the dishes after dinner each night and to say they are messy would be an understatement! This little water catcher has solved the puddle that used to surround my faucet at the end of each night. Thank you!!" —cadencewilliams2 

    Get it from Hustle Sew Shop on Etsy for $13.50+ (available in six colors and four sizes).

    6. sight word Bingo game perfect for any kid who loves games and might not love homework. Play is proven to be the best way for kids to learn and this game takes the stress out of learning for even the most reluctant of kids. It's just like the game we all love, but it uses sight words instead of numbers. Get ready to have a little fun yourself!

    Word board with chips, cards, and packaging
    Amazon

    Promising review: "Getting my daughter to do sight words has been a nightmare lately, she pretends she has no idea what anything is and refuses to sit down and try. But, with this game, she wants to play for hours!!! I give her two cards and we all play together as a family, she thinks it is the best game and it really is helping her learn her sight words!! Finally something that gets her excited about learning!!" —Rebecca

    Get it from Amazon for $12.99.

    7. Or a pack of flash cards to help number, letter, shape, and color recognition. Have a toddler that's desperate to learn? This can be a fun game to do together that's not just sitting down and drilling. You can look at them, talk about the colors and shapes, and start conversations. Plus they are waterproof and tear-resistant for your more *hands-on* learners. 

    The flash cards with numbers, colors, letters, and animals
    reviewer holding the pack of flash cards

    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 $13.99 (also available for babies).

    8. batter dispenser with a BlenderBall wire whisk that will save you from all of the reasons you don't want to make your fan-favorite pancakes — dishes and mess. You can make your batter right in the dispenser and the BlenderBall will get the clumps out all in one go. Then just squeeze and be on your way! This is also an awesome way to get your little — or not so little — one in the kitchen helping out.

    Someone holding the Whiskware Pancake Batter Mixer with BlenderBall Wire Whisk
    Someone pouring out batter from the Whiskware Pancake Batter Mixer with BlenderBall Wire Whisk
    Amazon

    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.

    9. A nontoxic stain remover that has a cult following and for good reason! You can use this product for all kinds of stains, including grass, ketchup, or blood (aka all of the things your kid winds up with on their shirt). It's about time you're able to save that favorite shirt from destruction. 

    Reviewer's photo showing a stained swimsuit
    Reviewer's after photo showing a clean swimsuit without stains

    Promising review: "This is the best stain remover I have ever used! I wish I would have found it years ago! My daughter is 6, and I can't think of how many stains this product hasn't gotten out for us, even old set-in stains that I thought were hopeless. A friend turned me on to this stuff, and now I will never go without it! A must-have for anyone with kids." —Lauren Ruffin

    Get a pack of three from Amazon for $11.70.

    10. A detangling brush that'll save you from the daily and nightly battle of the tangles. If you're tired of dreading the ordeal of brushing hair, it's time to take control of the situation with this awesomely-reviewed brush. Plus it works on all types of hair — from straight and fine to thick and curly!

    The ergonomic shaped brush in turquoise
    Reviewer's before photo of their child with knotted hair
    Reviewer's after photo of smooth hair from using the brush

    Promising review: "Finally...a brush my kids will actually use! We have two girls, both of whom are under 10 and have long hair. The crying and screaming we've always gotten during hair-brushing time has been out of control. I saw a recommendation of this brush somewhere online so I took a chance (less than $20 for a chance of no more tears? I'm in). Flash forward to a few weeks later...we've gotten a second brush, because my youngest wanted her own. They both now spend ages brushing their hair, enjoying how soft it feels and how easy the brush goes through tangles. The little one actually asked me to brush her hair last night...just because she likes how it feels. I am beyond thrilled. If you have a kid that struggles to let you brush her hair or get out tangles, GET THIS BRUSH! You will not be sorry." —L. Clark

    Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in five colors).

    11. moisturizing cream parents love for soothing dry skin. This cream is gentle enough for babies, strong enough to help with eczema, and is fragrance- and paraben-free. If your kid has dry, chapped skin, it's time to take the discomfort away and this cream can help!

    the moisturizing cream
    reviewer's before photo showing their child's eczema and after photo showing  eczema healed after seven days of applying the cream

    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 $8.97+ (available in two sizes).

    12. A canvas growth chart so you don't have to mark up your walls! This is especially helpful for families who don't want to lose those memories if they move or ever want to repaint. We're a family that moves a lot and we have one of these charts. It's so comforting to know that the next time we pack up, we don't have to leave those marks behind. 

    Reviewer's photo showing the canvas growth chart in their kid's play space
    Reviewer's photo showing the canvas growth chart in their kid's play space

    Promising review: "I wanted a keepsake item we could use through several kids and take with us if we move. This is very nice canvas, and most importantly, it is accurate. We measured it with a tape measure and it is correct. We did find the need to 'hang' the tail part up when not in use, since we have a very busy (aka destructive) 1-year-old." —L Williamson

    Get it from Amazon for $9.89 (available in two colors).

    13. A pack of 500+ puffy stickers for whatever stickering needs your child has. Distracting a crying toddler? Taking a stab at that baby book? Buying yourself 10 minutes of quiet peace to take a phone call? Grab the stickers. 

    20 sheets of stickers
    Amazon

    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.

    14. A bug bite suction tool that lifts out bite irritants like saliva and venom. This tool is a total game changer in helping to control bug bites quickly and with the least amount of misery possible. Reclaim your summer nights!

    A BuzzFeed editor's arm with a bite on it, the editor holding the suction tool and an after photo of the swelling reduced on the editor's arm.
    Rebecca O'Connell / BuzzFeed

    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 $9.90 (available in two colors).

    15. An Ollie Swaddle for keeping that baby snug — even during diaper changes. This wrap is moisture-wicking for your little sweat-monster and is versatile enough to help you through the dreaded swaddle transition. There is an opening at the bottom so that you can change your baby's diaper while the swaddle stays intact, perfect for the parent struggling to get a tight enough swaddle at 2 a.m.

    A model holding a baby in the sky blue swaddle
    The Ollie World

    Promising review: "The Ollie Swaddle is amazing! Wow. I was given two as a gift and honestly I could throw all my other swaddles away. Great material and quality product, I’m so happy with it. This is baby number 5 so I’ve had plenty of experience with different types/brands of swaddles and none of them compare to the Ollie. If you are an expecting mom or looking for a useful gift for a mom to be- this is a must have. Highly recommend." —Jessica P.

    Get it from The Ollie World for $65 (available in five colors).

    16. A pack of cooling stick-on gel pads ideal for colds and fevers. These pads are sized for a child's head, help soothe fevers, and last for eight hours. Rest is so important when a child is sick and reviewers love how effective they are. 

    The gel sheets in a box
    reviewer's photo of their child in bed wearing the gel sheet on their forehead

    Each pack contains four sheets.

    Promising review: "I can't rave enough about these gel sheets! They really help cool the temperature down and in my case, my daughter sometimes shows immediate (5–10 minutes) relief after I apply the sheet on her forehead. Each box contains four gel sheets contained in two separate packs. You can easily tear the packaging without using scissors, so that is a good thing about it. A gel sheet will last up to eight hours. I never had any issues of the unused ones getting dry or hard inside the original packaging. The gel sheet adheres pretty well to the skin of a child. It does not slide or come off even when the child sleeps sideways. It does not hurt to peel it off. My daughter is three and she likes when I put one on her. Mommies, stock up on them. They are good!"Gracie's Choice

    Promising review: "My son had a fever of 102.9 earlier this evening. We still had hours before we could give any oral meds and we're getting concerned. Within 15 min his fever went down to 102.5 and continued to go down to 102.3. Not only did it keep it down but it helped us make it to the next dosage of oral meds and we were so relieved! We LOVE these and ALWAYS have them around the house for when our son gets a fever. They help bring the fever down in between doses of Tylenol. They also help bring down a high fever a few more degrees. Our house will NEVER be without!"Sarah

    Get a pack of three from Amazon for $11.74.

    17. And a touchless forehead thermometer that measures a temperature in seconds. Since there is no contact and a vibrating feature for quiet measurement, this thermometer makes it easy for you to sneak in to take the temperature and ease your nerves without waking your sleeping child. It's also significantly easier to use than many of the forehead thermometers out there. 

    The forehead thermometer in white
    Reviewer taking temperature of their child

    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 pack of toilet seat covers that store easily for those dramatic public toilet uses. These seat covers conveniently cover the sides of the seat as well so that your toddler can hold on without touching the dirty public seat. It even has an optional adhesive strip to keep it on for those extra wiggly toddlers!

    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 (available in two sizes and four counts)

    19. A bath toy organizer that will help keep your bath toys mildew-free and organized. Reviewers say that it sticks well and is easy-to-use, allowing you to clean up the bottom of the bathtub and hang the toys to dry.

    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 $11.99+ (available in four sizes and pre-stocked with toys or by itself).

    20. A set of Bob Books for beginning readers. These cleverly use only four letter sounds for the first book and gradually build in difficulty, allowing your child to gain confidence as they move along. It even comes with a parent card to help you utilize the books to their full potential. Reading is such a fun milestone and these books make the process that much easier. 

    The set of books in a blue box
    reviewer's child reading a story with a human and cat illustrations

    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

    Promising review: "Miracle for my ADHD son. My 6-year-old son is in 1st grade and teaching him to read has been nothing short of a major challenge and a battle of wills...until we received these books. When I told him I got some books just for the two of us, he was really excited. Let me tell you, his excitement was nothing compared to mine when he sat down yesterday and read ALL 12 OF THEM out loud in one sitting with very minimal help from me. I was in tears watching and listening to him and couldn't believe my ears. The look on his face when he realized he was reading by himself was absolutely priceless. I will definitely be purchasing the next set soon since he is loving these so much. They are very basic which is exactly what he needed to start building his confidence (and vocabulary) and are simple, cute little stories. I don't normally write reviews on products, but from a mom nearly at her wit's end, thank you! These products have given my little boy (and this mom) confidence that yes, he too can succeed!" —txmom78

    Get a set from Amazon for $14.88.

    21. A Melissa & Doug magnetic calendar that helps young kids learn the days of the week and months, as well as identifying the weather. The calendar is a fun activity to complete together and many kids love changing each component every morning! It's also great preparation for school routines. 

    The magnetic daily calendar
    Reviewer's child using the magnetic calendar

    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 $17.75.

    22. A USDA-certified organic baby healing balm designed to relieve dry, itchy skin on even the tiniest of babies. This balm is made with chamomile, cocoa butter, coconut oil, calendula, and avocado oil and will gently soothe eczema, cradle cap, chapped skin, and a variety of other sensitive skin issues. Sweet relief! 

    Reviewer's before photo showing eczema on their baby's face and after photo showing the eczema cleared up
    Reviewer's before photo showing cradle cap on their baby's head and after photo showing the cradle cap cleared up

    Promising review: "This stuff is AMAZING; I wish I could give it 10 stars. My baby had cradle cap and baby eczema really bad, his entire face had broken out. Once I put this on his skin it cleared up in two days. My husband had a rash on his arm and it cleared that up too. I recommend this to anyone. In the pic is my son's face & the other side is two days later. As a matter of fact, I’m ordering some more as soon as I finish typing this just to have it on hand." —Sheri Watson

    Get it from Amazon for $14.75+ in two sizes.

    23. A pair of sturdy toy hammocks designed to control the chaos of all of those stuffies. These hammocks keep the toys handy, but also contained for the next time grandma stops by with a "but I couldn't resist!" 

    Promising review: "I had three overflowing totes of stuffed animals in my son's room, with these I was able to free up a whole section of his room. Wish I would have bought sooner, so handy! They held waaay more weight than I expected. Love!!!" —Stormy

    Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.87 (available in five colors).

    24. A pack of pacifier wipes so you can clean up that pacifier when it falls and save yourself some heartache. These are made of food-grade material so they're safe for baby and store easily in a diaper bag. Please note: these wipes will NOT prevent them from dropping it again immediately (*sigh*).

    A pack of pacifier wipes
    Amazon

    Promising review: "f you have a baby, you know they can get into everything and anything. Keeping the baby and everything your baby uses CLEAN feels impossible. Plus a lot of options for cleaning out there make you concerned to clean your toy/pacifier/bottle/etc. and give it back to your baby. These wipes are 100% food safe. You can wipe off your pacifier or toy or bottle or so on, and as soon as it dries (about three seconds) you are good to give it back to your baby and know that you are giving them something clean you WOULD put in your mouth. Have bought these since our baby was born in January 2019, and will continue to do so. The 36-packs are perfect for diaper bag and on the go! A must-have." Matt

    Get a pack of 36 from Amazon for $4.19+ (available in pack of one or pack of two)

    25. A pack of spill-proof snack catchers that are easy for your toddler to get into, but also keep the snack contained as they go screaming down the hallway in snack-induced splendor. 

    Two snack containers in blue and green
    A child model's hand pulling a cracker out of the blue snack cup
    Reviewer's video demonstrating how the container prevent snacks from falling out

    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 $6+ (available in two color combos in a two or four pack).

    The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.