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Not to be dramatic, but a countdown clock literally saved my life.

I am a contributor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping for two years, with a focus on products that make parenting just a bit easier — and hopefully more fun — home decor, kitchen gadgets, and whatever deals I can scope out.

Promising review: "Super cute multi-functional baby toy with soft colors and teething accessories." —Brittany b

I have this stool and love it. When my oldest started standing independently, I got a decorative, oh-so-cute wooden one. I underestimated how clumsy toddlers are and how often they fall. She'd trip over her feet in the bathroom and get a huge bruise or scrape herself on my adorable footstool. Finally, I said "NEVER AGAIN" and bought this one. What was I waiting for?? This one is higher, lighter, and easier to clean and I do not miss the princess ballerina footstool. Plus, my kids easily grab it when they need to reach something, and I only need to involve myself if I hear a crash. Glorious. 

Promising review: "My 3-year-old uses this stepping stool constantly. It’s great for when he wants to wash his hands, get something from the fridge, turn on/off the light switch, or use the toilet. It’s very handy." —Love FP

BuzzFeed editor and mom-of-two Heather Braga has this for her 3-year-old. She said, "We're working on potty training my toddler, which comes with the added routine of constant handwashing. He's itching to be independent in all ways (yay) so I knew it was time to add these to my cart. They slip over the two very different faucets in my bathrooms and have truly made it easier than ever for my son to wash his hands."

Promising review: "I have two toddlers who are potty training. This has been a wonderful addition to our sinks! Don’t have to juggle between carrying your little one and washing their hands at the same time!" —K1525

Have a lot of bath toys you want to rotate? In addition to the caddy, you can use this drying bin with a small footprint that reviewers love! Store them away and out of sight, and keep the toys in rotation in the bath caddy until you're ready to switch. 

Promising review: "Absolutely love this little bath organizer. I’ve struggled for years to find something that holds toys and doesn’t give them that yuck when they sit with water on them. This drains all excess water and is so easy to clean!" —Jessica

This amazing potty seat comes with a travel bag and can be quickly and easily wiped clean with an antibacterial wipe. It suctions onto the toilet, keeping your kid both physically and mentally secure.

Promising review: "This product has been a game changer for getting my toddler to use the potty in public. He is smaller, so normal potties are intimidating to him. I highly recommend this seat for any little kids!!! So easy to attach and fold up. Each to clean after, too. Such a brilliant product." —Kate

Price: $14.99 (available in three colors)

The formula comes out clump free, can be made up to 24 hours in advance, and has no bubbles, which can lead to gas. If you're a nursing mama, it can also re-mix breast milk. 

Promising review: "I love this pitcher; it is the perfect size. Easy to use so that you can store formula for the whole day, and it removes air bubbles in the milk. If you have a baby registry, make sure to add this gift." —Rhonda

Price: $9.99 (available in three colors)

So many people swear by humidifiers, but I had never used one before having a baby. If you're a skeptic like I was, I can verify that getting a humidifier has been so helpful, especially now that my kids are a bit older. Whenever I see the first sign of a sniffle, I pull the humidifier out and see dramatic improvement when I try to grit my teeth and hold on until it passes. 

Promising review: "Best one I have purchased. It says it can go 60 hours. I will not test that, but I now have one that doesn’t turn off in the middle of the night, turned on full blast. The light isn’t bright, which I love, and the refill process and handle to carry are my favorite parts." —Micayla

Promising review: "Add this one to your registry! Easily cuts lots of round fruit into safe bites." —Sarafae91

When starting solids, don't be fooled by the cute cloth you used for milk spills. You need heavy-duty, something that washes easily, and a pocket. Take it from me. 

Price: $9.99 for a two-pack (also available in pink and blue hues and a green nature theme)

Promising review: "I LOVE these ABC foldable placemats. They are easy to clean, easy to store, fold compact, plus they're super cute! We always get compliments when using them at restaurants. I love keeping one in the diaper bag at all times." —Nmm

Promising review: "I have type 1 diabetes, and I use this as my snack tray when my blood sugar drops. So now I can easily see what I have, and my family can get something quickly for me. This could be used for so many different things. Great product!" —mzmullis

Promising review: "Great addition to our fridge! Helps keep our fridge more organized and makes it look better, too! Great thick material. Very easy to clean, too!" —Samyas

Promising review: "It's a good quality toaster. Depending on the setting, browning (toasting) of bread is very even. It's a powerful one, as both sides — four breads — toasts very evenly." —Anonymous

For the longest time, I used a dustpan and broom to get my kids' crumbs after meals. It wasn't that big of a deal, but it was annoying. I finally decided to treat myself to a handheld vacuum, and I do not regret anything except for waiting so long to get one. It's one of those really small things that really did make one part of parenting so much less work. Now that my baby is a big kid, she happily vacuums up after meals that are still messy years later. 

Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this little vacuum! It’s so easy to use — my 2-year-old, who likes to help, can even use this vacuum. It’s powerful and the attachments are easy to exchange. It is bagless and easy to empty; you can charge it easily from any outlet. I have a long-haired cat who sheds a lot and this vacuum works well for pet hair." —Stru

This calendar does use a subscription for a wider range of functions, but the calendar, chore chart, and lists (aka the most important) don't require anything extra. That being said, it's a huge time saver since it connects to Google Calendar, iCloud Calendar, and Outlook Calendar to keep everyone's schedule in one place. 

Promising review: "This literally does it all! There is also an app that goes along with it so you can see your calendar on the go & it can be separately accessed by your spouse or kids as well! The chore charts and reward stars are great for kids. The meal planning calendar is such a great tool. Being able to have everyone’s schedule all in one place is just great. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️" —AD

Promising review: "No more messy entryway whenever we have guests. This is a very nice piece. Sturdy and easy to assemble. Happy with this purchase." —ken210

Each organizer can hold up to 25 pounds, so if you have middle or high-school-aged kids, it might not work if they keep heavy textbooks in their backpacks. Try something more heavy-duty to clean up the entryway and keep things organized. 

Promising review: "This was perfect for our preschool homework station! Kept homework in the pocket and hung backpacks on the hooks! So functional yet still very modern and sleek." —Josi

Promising review: "BUY IT!!! I have four teenagers and three dogs, and this has been amazing to keep up with the floors in the house. The teens don’t even complain when I ask for help with the floors anymore." —T

Promising review: "We have two of these. We’ve had one for seven years and bought the other shortly after for another kid! Mella is like another person in our house lol! It was a great sleep training tool, and my kids still use it!!" —T mommy

Price: $49.99 (available in four colors)

This chart comes with 89 magnets for personal, communal, and social skills. If you have a non-reader, check out this simplified version for the morning and evening routines!

Promising review: "I was going to print my own chore chart for my 6-year-old, but when I saw this, I quickly changed my mind. Simple and easy to use, and saves me time from making chore charts. My child loved it too." —First Time Mom

I recently switched my fine-haired daughter over to this leave-in conditioner, and we both love it! The citrus vanilla scent is SO good, and it actually works. I can spray this on wet hair after a shower or on a knot in dry hair, and it's equally great. 

Promising review: "This stuff smells fantastic and works like magic! My kids have long, wavy hair, and this has become a part of their hair care routine because it’s so amazing. It detangles, and the good smell lasts in their hair." —Mama Kes

Promising review: "This has been a game changer for us! Getting our toddler to let us brush his teeth is not fun, and we never feel like we are really getting a good clean. We feel much better brushing his teeth now with this electric toothbrush! I love that the brush spins, as I feel like that helps us get a better clean. Also love that the vibration is softer than the adult toothbrushes we’ve used. Would definitely recommend!" —amber

Price: $24.99 (available in pink and blue)

Promising review: "Liked the colors. Bought one for each car. My daughter can now unbuckle herself with this which helps speed up the drop off line at school." —Erica

Price: $24.99+ for a two-pack (available in two color combinations)

If you're keeping this in your car full-time, only pack snacks that won't melt. 

Promising review: "Love how this can fit on the seat of my car or on the floor. Love the pockets on the sides that allow me to put items that I need but don’t want my twins getting into. Fits so much stuff and perfect for a road trip." —Twinmama

I keep a small trash can with me, and I am always surprised at how quickly it fills up. Luckily, the trash can fills up instead of my backseat. It's so easy to empty while I'm at a gas station or quickly before I head out with the kids, and it's saved so much mess. 

Promising review: "I love this trash can for my car. I have one in each vehicle. Its small and can easily be squished out of the way if needed. This is the first trash can my kids use in the car." —Chris

Promising review: "My first use took a pain away from the top of my foot that I have had for over a year. I love it, best gift ever." —Ri

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Plus, outdoor toys and finds for long car rides.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.