As a mom of three under 3, I have found that there are definitely some products that were made with moms in mind. Most days it is just me and the kids so I regularly say a little prayer of thanks for these products and their existence. Here’s my go-to list of items I couldn’t “Mom” without! Thank you to the people who invented them; I am sure you are all parents, too.
- Kids Dinner Tray: As most parents do, I despise the dinnertime hour. Thankfully, these plates were created to help parents of picky eaters like me. They come in a variety of themes-this one is the “Enchanted Forest” theme; my son has the “Superhero” theme. They make dinnertime more like a game, but with the added bonus of kids eating all of their dinner! Seriously-these really work!
- Boogie Wipes: When stuffy noses hit-and they will hit-these things are lifesavers. Those nasty crusty noses are easily wiped clean with these bad boys. Our family recently all came through a bad summer cold, and thankfully I keep these in stock because they helped keep the nasties away.
- Shout! Spray: When you have kids, the number of stains you find on clothes is unfathomable. Where do they all come from? This, in combination with potty training times, can be tough on clothes. This spray has worked miracles with our clothes. There have even been times where I forgot about the stained laundry and a couple days later remembered, threw some of this spray on and it *still* came out clean. Win!
- Stroller Fan: Having babies in the summer means lots of sweat. Most of the time they are tucked safely in their strollers, but it gets incredibly hot in there. These stroller fans are essential if you know you are going on a long day trip outside in the summertime. I even clip one to my baby wrap when I’m just sitting on the deck. Gotta keep that baby cool, somehow!
- Solly Wrap: Speaking of wraps, where would I be without the Solly Baby Wrap? Complete lifesaver for moms of multiples. I would never get anything done if it weren’t for my Solly. I easily wrap-up my baby, and continue on chasing my toddlers, doing the laundry, cooking dinner, etc. It has made my life so much easier!
- Boon: Washing all those bottles is intense. You do not realize just how many bottles a little baby drinks in a day! That in combination with kids cups makes doing dishes not only time-consuming but space-consuming as well. This boon helps tremendously with keeping all of our “baby/kid dishes” in a separate drying area on the kitchen counter. It doesn’t take up much space and it is easily cleaned-you know, when it’s not full of bottles and cups. ‘
- Contigo Cups: Kids are so clumsy! We have so many spills from our cups multiple times in a day. Contigo cups are made to be spill-free. They vastly changed the game with on-the-go kid beverages. With these cups, you don’t have to worry about finding a spill on the floor, they are guaranteed spill-proof! Definitely a necessity for any mom.
- Stackable Snack Containers: Since we are talking about on-the-go snacking, I would be remiss to leave these off my list. You know why I love these stackable cups? My kids can never make up their mind about what snack they want to bring with them on a trip, and these cups allow for three different snacks! Three choices for snacks lead to more sanity for moms in the car. Plus, there are multiple colors and characters to choose from!
- Ice pack with Cover: Bumps and bruises happen often with kids. I have one who I am convinced is accident-prone. I used to just give them the regular kids ice packs when they had a bump. These ice packs are great, though, and so much better because they have a cover that keeps your kid’s hands from getting too cold holding the ice pack. Genius!
- Snack tray: Okay, so this one is more of an organizational tip, but it is still an item that makes my daily life easier. We had this serving basket tray from when we got married. We used it for parties mostly, but I have found a new use for it. It is now our go-to snack tray. I buy my kids individually wrapped snack foods a.) to give them choices when snacking and b.) for portion control. Organizing them in a tray similar to this allowed me to display our snack options and is an easy way for the kids to get the snacks they want.
- Toy Organizer: I don’t even know how my toy room got to the size it is now. Toys just kept appearing! I was losing my mind because I could not keep it all organized or even together at all. It looked like a bomb went off every day in the toy room, and I had nowhere to store it all. Short of getting rid of toys, I needed a solution. I got this storage organizer cube and I *love* it! I have the 12 cube storage shelf, but there are 6 and 9 shelf storage cubes, too. A necessity for any mom with an unending toy supply, which is every mom, right?
- Command Hooks: You never know when you’ll need to hang up artwork, fix a toy, or rig something up for entertaining the kids, so these Command hooks come in handy. You never know when something is going to need rigging or fixing, and having these on hand saves us from going to the store and saves the kids from meltdowns over broken toys.
- Rocking Chair: Every nursery needs a good rocker. I have spent many nights rocking back and forth in my own rocker, so I know the need to have a comfortable calm resting spot on those long nights. I don/t know how anyone could survive the newborn months without one!
- Stuffed Animal Hammock: I have no idea how we accumulate as many stuffed animals as we do, but we have entirely too many! Of course as soon as I get rid of one the kids haven’t played with in months, one of my kids asks for it. I stopped getting rid of them and bought these hammocks. They are great space-savers and hold tons of stuffed animals. One item I’m so glad I purchased!
- Double Stroller: If you are a mom with multiple littles, you will be needing a double stroller. There are tons of options to choose from; I like this one because it works with my infant Chicco carseat and it is easy to grab and stow in the back of the van. Even though my oldest says he doesn’t need to ride in the stroller, inevitably, he always ends up in there on long days or walks. Some of the best money spent was on this stroller!
- Take & Toss Cups: These are great for road trips or outdoor dining. We actually rewash ours by hand once or twice before tossing it out, but they are great for road trips where you stop at a rest stop and one of your kids forgets their cup. It’s meant to be tossed!
- A good diaper bag: A good diaper bag is a mom’s holy grail. It has the ability to hold everything from Cheerios to medicine, and everything in between. It has compartments for the hand sanitizer and the baby wipes, and smart stashing options for a variety of diaper sizes. It also has to be comfortable to lug around all day and stylish. Personally, I prefer a backpack since I’m usually lugging enough for three. This one is perfect for me, but there are a variety of styles from which to choose.
- Toy bin for the car: Having a minivan, I’ve learned that it is easily filled with so much stuff! Toys, baby wipes, diapers, sanitizers, snacks, blankets–you name it, it’s probably in my van. To avoid my van looking like a literal dumpster on wheels, I invested in a couple of these bins to store all the stuff. It helps keep everything contained and allows my oldest in the car seat at the back of the van the ability to get what he needs. It’s a lifesaver if you ever get caught in traffic!
- Teether: There is nothing new about teethers, the same old teethers that worked back when I was a baby are still used today. However, teethers are one of those items that I am thankful for when my babies are cutting teeth. My suggestion is get as many as you can so you always have one in the freezer ready to go!
Well, there you have it! A list for moms, from a mom. Hope this list helps some of my fellow Mamas stay sane when the wheels start falling off the wagon!
