Feeding recommendations I have gathered over the years as a pediatric occupational therapist and parent. Recs available from breastfeeding through first foods and beyond!

Favorite finds for raising littles

we recently converted a old office into a playroom for a son. our son loves to play with these toys, especially with a toy rotation

Some of my favorite items that saved me while pregnant and still use!

picked for a kid on the edge of teenagehood who still needs sensory support but doesn't want anything that looks like a little kid toy. regulation tools that pass as normal stuff an almost-teen would just own.

Mis Favoritos de lactancia 🤱These products made breastfeeding so much smoother for me as a busy mama

If you’re looking for toys with more than fun use, check out these educational/developmental toys! I feel more educated this second time around with my little! So here are a few of the toys we’ve found successful🩵

As a mom of 3 and a sort of minimalist these are the products that are worth every penny. These have served us well and contrary to popular opinion you don’t need all the bells and whistles for a baby - all you need is your presence + love and a few things more (check out my list ;)) Disclaimer - some of these have alternate options for the products choose what fits your needs. Each kid their own preference for certain things like bottles, teethers etc.

Diaper bags get clutterd, here's what I think is essential!

My compilation of all the essentials that came in handy the first few weeks of motherhood. Personally tested and impressed by, so sharing with other new moms building their baby registries. Hope this helps! Xoxo

My daughter screamed every time I mentioned the potty. Bribes failed, sticker charts failed, and I was drowning in pull-ups. Then someone suggested letting her teach a doll to use the potty first. Something clicked. She went from full meltdowns to proudly flushing on her own within two weeks. This is every single thing I used alongside that doll, from the tiny potty seat to the books she memorized. If your kid is between 18 months and 3 years and you're losing your mind over potty training, save yourself the months of guessing I went through.

Toys I have purchased or that my daughter has received over the years. Ranging from 11months-till now at 2.5 years old!

Some of my favorite finds for baby and toddler boys this season! From dressy outfits to comfy ones, shoes and everything in between!

If you spend the entire pool day chasing your kid with a bottle of SPF 50 and she still comes home pink, you already know the drill. I got tired of the crying during reapplication and the guilt when I missed a spot on her shoulders. This list is for parents who want real sun protection that actually stays on their kid, not the kind that washes off in five minutes. Took me two summers of trial and error so you can skip straight to what works.

Wanting to make a screen-free/screen-minimal travel experience more enjoyable? Here are a few items, by age, that can aid in this. We usually suggest trying at least one new item for travel paired with tools you already have like coloring books, cars, etc.

need things that are cute but practical? from clothes to supplies, here are things i’ve actually spent my money on that i use all the time!!

Do you have a toddler and lots of time to fill in Santa Barbara? Here's some fun you can have for cheap, free, or, y'know, expensive.

Here are some of my favorite Easter and Spring finds for the season. Perfect items to get and some can be reused year after year. Decor, clothing and gift ideas.

Current fav toys & wishlist items for my 6m old!

I only want to get gifts for my kids that they will consistently play with. I’m tired of toys that are played with once and then just add to the clutter. So this is a list of gifts you kids will really use!

Three hours into a drive with two kids under 8 and the backseat was already a war zone — tablets died, snacks were gone, and someone kicked someone. I started hunting for printable car games and activities that actually hold attention past ten minutes. If you're planning any kind of road trip this summer and dread the whining, this is everything I tested on real highways with real impatient children.

Once kiddos are one year old, they become so enamored with toys! It is amazing to watch their imagination blossom as they grow. Here are some of our favorite toys for this age range!

My favorite things that I regularly use for my kids, from birth to about 2 years old. I'll update as they grow!

Everything I haven’t been able to live without after 3 months of motherhood!

My daughter is starting potty training and I have been doing extensive research on what we need and how to do it! I added some things to our home and to the trunk of my car for “potty on the go”, and also modified my “diaper” bag into a potty training bag. This is what I have purchased as a first time potty training mom!

Being a stay at home mom has led me to turning every moment into a teaching moment and sometimes kids dont want to be "learning", these games are my favorites to teach my kids without them feeling the preasure of learning.

My kid asked me where fairies sleep and I panicked. Then she started leaving ‘fairy food’ on the windowsill and I realized she needed the full experience. This is everything I tracked down for parents who want to keep the magic alive a little longer, before they stop believing.

Running snack schedules off group texts and scribbled napkin notes was slowly breaking me. If you're the parent who volunteered to be team mom and now you're drowning in who-brings-what and which kid is allergic to peanuts — I spent two seasons figuring out the system so you can skip straight to the part where it actually works.

My kid treated the toilet like it was made of lava. We tried bribes, we tried begging, we tried that one weekend method that just left us all crying. If your toddler has zero interest in ditching diapers and you're running out of patience, this is everything that finally clicked for us. Took six months of trial and error so you can skip the frustration.

We definitely celebrate this holiday in our house with 7 birthdays in March and one on St Paddy's! ☘️

All things I owned or still own as a mom of 3! You don't need to over complicate baby purchases! Always go for quality and it will save you so much in the long run. #AmazonAffiliate

Not only do I love a good deal, but it must pass my clean ingredients test! Find all of my favorite recommendations for babies here.

All the things for your littles first year at school — preschool / pre-k things to help you have a smooth transition into this new chapter in their little lives.

Our top favorite interactive books for storytime! 📚My daughter LOVES storytime bc of these & we have so much fun making games out of them. We all know how easily distracted kids can get when reading, but these are our favs bc it’s not just a story- there’s also some great ones on here with interactive felt pieces to stick and stack on pages that we love taking on the road!

At 5 months my son was diagnosed with a gross motor delay. Months later he continues to struggle with things like sitting up, rolling over and grabbing items. These items continue to help him with these struggles.

Let's be honest—the first few weeks of school are a whirlwind! This list is packed with teacher-approved essentials that help me survive back-to-school season, from classroom organization and planning tools to everyday items that keep me fueled, focused, and ready to tackle the year ahead. Just for insight- I am an Autistic Support Teacher!

Three kids in the backseat, goldfish crackers ground into the carpet, and someone always screaming about whose juice box is whose — sound familiar? If your car looks like a tornado hit a vending machine after every school pickup, this is the lineup that finally brought order to my minivan. Took me two years of trial and error so you can skip straight to what actually works.

Helping you with Christmas gift ideas for toddlers between age 2 and 3, including screen, free options and some toys that my kids have played with over and over and over again

Screen-free gift picks that keep the chaos (mostly) contained — low-mess favorites for toddlers. Always double-check age ratings before you buy!

If your child stalls bedtime with a new monster sighting every single night and you're running out of patience and creative excuses, this is the stuff that actually helped us go from 90-minute bedtime battles to lights out in 20 minutes. For parents of kids aged 2-8 who need real solutions, not just another stuffed animal collecting dust.

Whether you want to decorate the house or have a sweet treat for yourself, here's what you need to make Halloween 2025 even better

Sharing some of my favorite items for my kids, as well as for the adults. I’ve listed my favorite swim safety items, sunscreen, sunglasses, Bluetooth speakers and more!

things that made my life better as a teacher! also as a human... there are so many items that can help your day run more smoothly

Planning a baby shower on a budget and everything looks like a college dorm party? Same. I threw three showers last year and spent way too long hunting down serveware that looked polished without costing a fortune. This is the full lineup of what actually worked, from punch bowls to table decor, so you can skip the trial and error before your shower date sneaks up on you.

Keep the kids entertained all summer long with these fun outdoor toys and activities! From water play and backyard games to creative ways to burn energy outside, these are our favorite picks for making summer at home exciting, active, and full of fun memories.

Gentle Picks for Little Bodies 🌱 I’m not a total purist, but when it comes to my kids, I try to keep things as natural and safe as possible. These are the body care products I trust—simple, clean, and kind to their sensitive skin. Nothing complicated, just what works (and smells good too!).

For when “Mom, play with me” is simply not in the bingo card, whether you’re sick, hurt, just drained.. these things keep my life moving! ⚡️

if you only have a very small nursery space to work (I’m talking 2x3m) with this list includes all the items on show in my nursery!

Having 5 kids and doing daycare in my home has given me a lot experience with baby products! Here are some of my favorite products that me and my kids loved!

My 7 year old sons birthday was on 7-ELEVEN! Grab the supplies needed plus, I've linked his wish list for gifts!

My personal opinions as a first time mama to a now 2-year-old girl. Being a First Time Mama can be nervewracking, not knowing exactly what's a need and what's a “nice to have”

I had no idea what I needed when I had my first child. These are some of the essentials I used in the newborn stage and recommend to others

Everything you and your kids need to make back-to-school a breeze! As a former teacher and current parent of 2, I know what they need and what the school would rather you leave at home :)

if you’re in the teething trenches this is for you😭 everything that has helped us survive the teething stage so far

Welcome to my “barely-hanging-on-but-make-it-cute” list of lifesavers I swear by as a stay-at-home mom of two under 5, one high-maintenance dog, and a husband who thinks the dishwasher is a suggestion. These are the 15(ish) things that help me survive the daily chaos, from snack-fueled meltdowns to suspicious puddles and endless reruns of Wild Kratts. If it’s here, it’s because I use it, love it, or cried over it in Walmart. Whether you’re also deep in the toddler trenches or just here for a laugh and some surprisingly useful recs—this list is for you. 💁‍♀️✨

Sometimes babies are icky, here are the tried and true products I recommend to my patients

Every September I'd buy a new set of ice packs and every October they'd be shoved in a drawer because they were too bulky, too heavy, or leaked all over my kid's sandwich. If you're a parent who has tried wedging a giant freezer block next to a thermos and a bag of grapes, you know the pain. I spent two school years testing different shapes and sizes so you can skip straight to the ones that work.

With sick 🤧 season upon us and a mom of four I feel pretty confident in my caretaking skills. Here are a few staples in the medicine cabinet. ⚠️ NOT MEDICAL ADVICE ⚠️

Every morning at 5:14am, tiny feet would slap down the hallway and a wide-awake toddler would announce it was time to play. I tried reasoning, bribes, even a paper stoplight taped to the wall. Nothing worked until I built a whole sleep system around one green light. If you're a parent running on four hours of broken sleep and wondering if these clocks actually work, here's everything I tested and the full bedroom setup that finally bought us until 7am.

A peak inside a professional birth doula’s bag! Here is every tool, comfort item, and essential I bring to support labor—covering pain relief, birth positioning, calming vibes, and partner/doula stamina. Perfect for expecting parents packing their own hospital bags or new birth workers building their gear!

As a soon to be 3rd time mom I'm going in with all the essentials needed for a quality & comfortable labor and birthing experience. Nothing extra just everything I need.

What is Actually Worth Your Money! I’m adding to this list as I go, only adding what actually works 😊 As a new first time mom, I felt overwhelmed looking through baby items not knowing what I should buy so I want to make it easier for expecting moms & new moms by sharing items I use everyday and that worked for me and my baby. Share this list with a mama to save her time and money!

Our oldest is the ultimate dinosaur lover and when it came time for him to move from a crib to a big boy bed we decided to give him a whole room makeover. Of course all he wanted was dinosaurs, dinosaurs, and more dinosaurs…. So we made it happen!

Holiday shopping for family and friends can be hard! I’ve including a gift guide of my family’s picks to hopefully help you out!

It’s never to early to start collecting stuff for boo baskets! Sometimes products sell out too and then I regret not buying immediately! These are fun and spooky things I have bought over the years and new products I find this year that I purchased so far!

a collection of my favorite things as a second time mom + 7 yr age gap

Things I used that made breast feeding / pumping a BREEZE

Throw some fun into your homeschool day with a game! I love playing games with my homeschoolers that incorporate math, science, history, geography, critical thinking, strategy, and more. They have fun, I have fun, and everyone learns!

For those first time mamas who aren’t quite sure what they will need yet or for the mamas going through the teething stage. These are my go to items with each kiddo 👦

It's difficult to find toys for my son. He likes things that light up, spin, make noise, are educational, or are colorful. Here are things I've found over the years that he enjoys.

Wanting to live a more screen-balanced life with your kiddos? You don't need lots of extras to do that! Here are the items that we love, beyond the normal items in our home.

I have had 3 babies and have had both genders. These are the toys my kids played with most as babies, specifically from ages 0-12 months. We focused a lot on sensory play at this age! Check out my other lists for toddler and young kid favorite toys!

The best gifts for your niece in 2026: Kitsch claw clips and a Grinch satin pillowcase, rhode lip tint, Stoney Clover pouches, a KODAK instant camera, a Snoopy Woobles crochet kit and Magna-Tiles for younger nieces. Picks for little kids to teens, from $12. Partnerships disclosed.

Getting a five-year-old to stay in a sleeping bag past 9pm felt impossible until I stopped buying the boring ones. This list is for parents planning backyard campouts, sleepovers, or cabin trips who are tired of their kid crawling out of a flimsy sack after ten minutes. Took me three camping seasons and a lot of returns to land on gear that kids genuinely want to zip into.

For all my nursing students🩺👩🏼‍⚕️💕These are the essentials you need for class! You will use all of this everyday.

Summer in AZ is no joke. It can feel miserable with the kids home and bored and too HOT to go outside! Check out some of the things we like to do!

These items all make my life easier in the important ways as a neurospicy Mom with two young children who are 21 months apart

If you have a kid who is constantly needing heavy sensory input, these are great purchases to help with OT at home. Children with autism and sensory processing disorder rely on tools to help with their sensory needs. Some of these also help with toddler motor coordination and balancing skills.

These are our favorite baby items based on what we used the most in Saylor's first year of life. I would purchase these again and again if I needed to!

These are things I consistently use as a pregnant mom and post partum mom!

Total game-changer for me! I swear by these and they’ll definitely be in my hospital bag next time

From swaddles to strollers, these are the must-haves that make life with a baby way less chaotic.

The products I’ve been loving for my little one to help him avoid as many harmful chemicals as possible.

Every night was a thud, a cry, and me sprinting down the hall to pick her up off the floor. We tried pool noodles under the sheet, pillows lined up like a fortress, even pushing the bed against the wall (she still found a way). If you're a parent losing sleep because your toddler treats the bed like a trampoline, this is everything that actually worked for us. Figured it out the hard way so you can skip straight to sleeping through the night.

She had notes from five classes crammed into one notebook, flashcards scattered everywhere, and zero system for finding anything before a test. Sound familiar? After one brutal finals week where she studied the wrong chapter, we built this color-coded setup from scratch. If your kid is drowning in disorganized schoolwork, grab these before midterms hit.

All the things you need a for a perfectly pink kids birthday party!!

Discover adorable and useful accessories for kids. From hair accessories and hats to backpacks, watches, and everyday essentials, these items are designed to keep children comfortable, stylish, and happy during their daily activities.

Road trips with small kids sound fun until someone screams they need to go RIGHT NOW and the next exit is 14 miles away. After one too many panicked pullover situations and gas station bathrooms I wouldn't let my dog walk through, I built out a trunk kit that handles every bathroom emergency on the road. If you're a parent who white-knuckles it between exits — this took me two years of trial and error so you can skip straight to what works.

There’s so many things I got from my shower or picked up along the way that have been insanely helpful. But these are products that if they broke, stopped working, or I lost today, I would buy another one within 24 hours! These are our must have always on hand baby products! I’d buy all of these over and over again, no questions asked!!

As seen on my Instagram or TikTok. These are some of the great toys my 2 year old has been playing with on repeat.

What I’m asking for/planning to get for my soon-to-be 2yo daughter!

Being a new mom has been a great learning curve and I'm definitely found products that we love and work for us and some that don't. I don't want other moms to waste their time purchasing products that don't last or ones they'll never actually use. So here is what I've found to be amazing! Hope they bring comfort, happiness and ease to you and your babies life too!

A little peek at what’s on my girl’s Christmas wishlist this year 🎀🤍 Sharing all the things she’s been loving and wishing for lately, from fun toys to the sweetest little girl finds. Perfect inspiration if you’re shopping for a toddler girl this Christmas!

These items are what we use daily for my boys, what they use to get ready for School and what we use for Baths.

Here are some great products that I have used since my kids were babies 20+ years ago and still use with my grandbabies. There are some new products I discovered as well with this new generation of babies in our family😀

Carrying the chaos one oversized neon pool bag at a time. Any mom knows packing for a pool day is like an Olympic sport that you feel the need to pack everything but the kitchen sink. These are my go to things to let the tiny toes and you have some fun in the sun. ☀️

As a first time mom I know how hard it can be to make sure you have everything you need and what’s necessary and what isn’t so necessary. I put this list together for moms just like me that may feel lost and have no clue where to start. 🤎 you got this momma

Gifts for little ones — toys and books I'd pick for toddlers, tried-and-true favourites for tiny hands.

Keep kids busy without screens on the road — travel colouring books, backseat organizers, car games, mess-free art, kids' headphones and snack containers for happy road trips.

I homeschool three children in three different grade levels. Here are some materials I use.

Discover the best baby and toddler skincare products and kid-friendly toothpaste all in one list! From gentle body washes and moisturizing lotions to fluoride-free and natural toothpastes, this curated collection features safe, dermatologist-recommended, and mom-approved picks for your little one’s daily care routine. Ideal for sensitive skin and developing teeth, every product is handpicked with love for babies and kids.