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Must-haves for parents
32
items Parenting is hard. Make turning gremlins into grown ups easier.
Sections
5
Out and about with kids
Keeping the house and kids clean (or trying to, at least)
Keeping kids calm
Keeping kids organized and on task
Keep 'em safe
Out and about with kids
Vacationing with kids is really just parenting in a different location. From walks in the park to flying across the country, these items will make your life away from home with kids simpler.
I got this small backpack so I could carry all my kids' stuff around without resorting to a kids backpack. This is pretty and holds so much stuff! Big pockets for snacks, 2 side pockets for water bottles, a spot for keys, room for a first aid kid, an...
AGLOD Leather Backpack | Amazon
Tired of lugging a carseat or booster seat on trips, or buying extra boosters for the grandparents' cars, or on an Uber ride? Want to make sure your kid is safe when driving home with a friend who doesn't have an extra booster? This is the answer. We...
BubbleBum Inflatable Booster Car Seat | Amazon
A wet bag is essential for life with kids. Great for storing clothes if they have an accident, jump in puddles, get rained on, need somewhere to put a wet swimsuit. This zips closed and is easy to wash. (Just remember to actually stock it with dry cl...
Bumkins Waterproof Wet Bag
A friend with young twins swears this collapsible stroller is the best thing she's ever gotten to keep her kids corralled. She takes them on walks in this instead of trying to keep them in a stroller and one lagging behind. She also flies with it!
WONDERFOLD W4 Luxe 4-Seater Stroller Wagon | Amazon
If you've got the highly recommended Wonderfold wagon, this cover is super handy for keeping out the rain.
WONDERFOLD Stroller Rain Cover for X2 & X2M | Amazon
Let's face it, your kid probably isn't going to let you reapply that sunscreen. Keep them safe all summer with a nice bucket hat! This one comes in a bunch of different colors and patterns and stays on pretty well.
Baby UPF 50+ Sun Protective Toddler Hat
We've had our Camelbak water bottles for many years now and they're still going strong! Just the right size and cute as heck. Replace the valves from time to time and they'll last forever! Available in a million colors and patterns.
CamelBak Eddy+ Kids Bite Valve Water Bottle | Amazon
Replacement valves for Camelbak water bottles. Get the fun colors! These are invaluable if you have a kid who loves to chew on their water bottle straw.
CamelBak eddy Kids Bite Valves, 4 Count | Amazon
We use a white noise machine at home but it takes up too much room to travel with. This is great for tossing in a suitcase. It's rechargeable with a USB-C connection and can hang on a doorknob or curtain rod easily. Great for soothing them to sleep a...
Portable White Noise Machine, 3 Natural Sounds
I don't think I could live without multiple pairs of these headphones. We have them stashed all over! They fold up and are easy to wind the cord around. Lots of colors available!
Kids Foldable Headphones
Traveling in summer, or far north where the sun is out WAY too long! Don't let the sun keep your kids awake past bedtime or get them up at 5am. Cover pretty much any window with these blackout curtains (with suction cups!) and get some rest. You need...
Tommee Tippee Sleeptime Portable Blackout Blind
Sure, these are called take and toss, but we've been using the same set for...oh, about 8 years now! BPA-free waterproof, and small enough to fill with goldfish/puffs/fruit slices and stick in any bag, these will be useful for years to come. Best of ...
The First Years Take & Toss Toddler Bowls Set - 6 Count
Not just great for reading in bed, this light is handy for when the kids want to read while you're driving in the dark. We all know how frustrating it is when they turn the cabin light on while you're driving (they might even think it's illegal!), bu...
Gritin 9 LED Rechargeable Book Light, 3 Colors
Keeping the house and kids clean (or trying to, at least)
Cleaning up after kids is a never ending task. Simplify it!
For anyone with kids aged 6 months to, well, please tell me when they finally stop making messes at the table. The splat mat goes under their chair/high chair and catches all the food they dump on the floor as they eat. It makes cleaning up SO much e...
Bumkins Baby Splat Mat for Under High Chair
We go through so many washcloths and these have stood up the best over time. They're very soft and don't shrink like so many we've tried. They also have a ribbon loop on one corner, making them easy to hang from something to dry before tossing them i...
Washcloths Set 10 Pack
This is vital for babies learning to eat solid food! Bibs are pointless and only cover a small part of their clothes, and too easily get ripped off by hulking infants. They will not be able to get this one off, I promise. It has velcro at the back of...
KLADDIG Bib - multicolor
We love Burt's Bees! This is our favorite baby body wash and shampoo. We used it until the kids were 5! It washes well and smells wonderful, and the pump makes it easy to dispense one handed while you hold onto a wet, squirming baby with the other.
Burt's Bees Baby Shampoo & Wash, 21oz
We used cloth diapers and this made cleaning them so much easier. What I didn't think about when I bought it was how handy it would be for other things! We use it to spray down muddy clothes, boots, and even paintbrushes. The kids don't need it anymo...
SmarterFresh Cloth Diaper Sprayer - Bidet
Parenthood is a combination of exhaustion and constant vigilance. Make it easier by corralling your stuff in one place, while making your drinks less likely to spill. Bonus: the cover is washable!
Octagon Couch Cup Holder Pillow Tray
Keeping kids calm
Calming down your children is the end goal of parenting about 95% of the time. You can do it with a little help!
This is our every day (night) white noise machine. It has great volume control and several sounds to choose from (we like ocean and rainstorm the most). It's great for soothing them and keeping out the noise from the rest of the house.
Homedics SoundSleep White Noise Sound Machine
This is the same Slinky you played with as a kid, and you'll be shocked at how it can keep kids occupied (especially in the car). Finally, a fidget-type toy that won't drive you up the wall with clicking sounds!
Original Slinky Walking Spring Toy, 2.75"
Small enough to tuck into a pocket, this mini Stretch Armstrong will let your kids work their muscles and have fun at the same time. A great distraction when you need one!
World's Smallest Stretch Armstrong
Finally, crayons that don't get worked down into nubs you'll find in the couch later, and that stay sharp when you need them! These are great for keeping your little artist occupied without the mess. Bonus: They are much less likely than traditional ...
Crayola Twistables Colored Pencils 50ct
Your kids don't need yet another notebook they'll lose, or a coloring book they'll fill in half of and forget about. Give them an endless supply of copy paper and watch them create everything they can imagine for hours!
Amazon Basics Copy Printer Paper, 8.5x11, 20 lb, 500 Sheets
If you're like my kids (and me), proper sock choice makes all the difference in your day. These are very neurodivergent-friendly, with pretty much undetectable seams and a soft, comfortable fit. They're pricey but worth every penny, and hold up so we...
Rambutan Kids 3 Pack Bamboo Rayon Socks
Is there anything more calming than wrapping up in a blanket that has a hood, long sleeves, and pockets? If there is, please tell me because this thing is pure bliss on a cold day. Mama and kid approved!
Bare Wearable Blanket Hoodie - Plush Sherpa
Hear me out on this one. Have you ever handed a kid a duster? They instantly become the best cleaner in the house and actually want to do it regularly! It's shockingly useful for you and satisfying for them.
3 Pack Microfiber Dual-End Duster & Brush
Keeping kids organized and on task
Most kids have a tough time with time management and keeping track of their things. Make it easier!
This timer is great for making task time short and clear. It's easy to see the countdown so everyone knows how much time they have left. The alarm can be set to sound (2 volume options) or visual (light flashing). Handy, and available in multiple col...
Yunbaoit Visual Timer with Protective Case | Amazon
My kids have been using these for years and they hold up really well. Lots of colors to choose from and very expandable strap to grow with them.
Choco Mocha Kids Fanny Pack | Amazon
Keep 'em safe
We all want our kids to be safe; sadly, they often seem to have the opposite feeling. Help keep them alive another day with these helpful items.
Any kid worth their salt will learn to walk and immediately start running into corners. Sharp corners. Save a black eye or bonked head by covering the corners on all the furniture you bought before kids with these handy softeners. Grandparents love t...
Corner Protector Baby Guards Furniture Edge (12)
This smartwatch is perfect for a kid new to independence but too young for the unadulterated access to the internet a smartphone has. It has GPS, a limited call and texting list of approved people, games you can only progress through with physical ac...
Fitbit Ace LTE | smartwatch for kids
In the dark days of winter, it gets dark so early that even walking home from school can feel fraught. These flashlights are small enough for a pocket and powerful enough to actually make a difference in the dark. Put one in every bag!
BESTSUN LED Flashlight 2 Pack, Waterproof Zoom