The Best Parenting Products for Feeding, Entertaining, and Taking Care of Your Kids

This collapsible, dishwasher-safe silicone cup has pretty much everything you need in a snack container — including a removable lid, although we all know your toddler’s hand will be permanently lodged between the spiral top flaps, always reaching for more Cheerios. ($9.99, Target)

There are a million water bottles out there, but if you’re shopping for a toddler or preschooler, this one’s our pick. It’s leakproof, and has a silicone straw that stays safe from germs when the lid is closed. ($15.95, Amazon)

Making nutritious meals day after day can be one of the most difficult and demoralizing parts of parenting. Little Spoon’s age-appropriate, premade meals can make mealtimes instantly easier. With everything from purées to finger foods, full meals, and pre-packed lunches, they’re the helping hand you’ve been waiting for. (Plan prices vary, Little Spoon)

Puffs…as soon as your baby’s old enough to eat them, they’ll exert an almost mystical power over your household. We love these organic puffs that have no gluten, grains, hormones, antibiotics, preservatives, or added sugar. ($32.95/6-pack, Serenity Kids)

Throw this in the car so your little one can easily join you for meals on the fly, on vacation, or at grandma’s house (basically anywhere). You can attach it to most dining tables with just a few twists, and then collapse it and carry it home with you in the included carrying bag. ($79+, Pottery Barn)

Heirloom-quality toys, expertly curated with child development in mind, and mailed straight to your door? There’s a reason so many parents (including us) are obsessed with these subscription boxes, which are now available for kids aged 0-4.  ($80+ per kit, Lovevery)

There’s pretty much no situation where we don’t love Magna-Tiles, which is why we’ve been known to pack an entire case in the car, for use in a rental house at our destination. They’re well-made, and as satisfying for 1-year-old stackers as they are for 9-year-olds crafting Minecraft-style cube worlds. The mini “microMAGs” sets are fantastic for travel, too. ($109.99, Amazon)

So simple…yet so deeply fascinating for kids (and, we’ll be honest, adults). We love packing these stretchy fidget toys for trips, or setting them out at home to encourage sensory play. ($9.99/12-pack, Amazon)

This cute little speaker gives kids a screen-free way to enjoy their favorite entertainment – from Disney songs and Dr. Seuss stories to National Geographic dino facts and beyond. Best of all, it’s incredibly durable, so it’s bound to survive even your little ones’ toughest love. ($99.99, Tonies)

The ultimate gift for any Ms. Rachel superfan out there, this soft doll can play four songs and say 16 of Ms. Rachel’s catchphrases. Recommended for age 6 months and up, it’s also great just as a cuddle buddy. ($24, Amazon)

These cotton knit-covered stuffies have an extra dose of comfort, in the form of their weighted clay filling. Choose from seven different cozy friends to cuddle with, from a sloth to a rabbit to a dino, and throw them in the washing machine in a laundry bag whenever necessary. ($99, Bearaby)

A tiny sound machine that can make a big difference when you need your baby to nap in the car, on a stroller walk, at grandma’s house…or even at home. You have 10 sound options, and can clip the speaker (which lasts up to 15 hours on a charge) to your bag or stroller easily. ($39.99, Amazon)

For a monitor with WiFi capability and lots of setup options, the Nanit is our top pick. Install the app on a phone or tablet so you can keep an eye on things from wherever you may be, and use Nanit’s overnight sleep summaries to stay on top of your baby’s midnight wake-ups and sleep trends. If you plan to travel with the baby, bundle the floor stand with the travel kit so you can set up the perfect sleep environment anywhere. ($319.20, Nanit)

Super-soft fabric that stretches (i.e. you don’t need to size up as often), plus colorful patterns, family matching options, and baby “zippies” with foldover feet and mittens? We love it all. In fact, we just wish more of these came in our size. ($34+, Little Sleepies)

Made from just bamboo — no glass or beads inside — and machine-washable, this 3.3-pound (1.5kg) weighted blanket is a great starter option for little ones. Other weights, colors, and fabrics (like organic cotton) are also available from the same brand. ($124, Woven Woven)

This simple, positive book explains and celebrates all the things that might make kids with autism feel different. It’s perfect for any child or adult seeking to better understand what autism means. ($14.95, Amazon)

Start them early with this sweet rhyming book. It’s written with kids 0-3 in mind, but there’s really no age limit on the basic lessons in equality, independence, and good manners it teaches. ($11.15, Amazon)

Books are some of the best tools for tackling little ones’ anxieties, and this sweet story is the perfect way to remind your kids that even though you may be apart during the day, you’re still always connected. ($13.13, Amazon)

It’s never too soon to introduce your little ones to classics like Little Women, The Odyssey, Dracula, Les Misérables, and Moby-Dick…in age-appropriate board book form, of course. And these adorable little volumes can help you do just that. ($11.99+, Gibbs Smith)

A beautiful (and New York Times bestselling) story about a father’s relationship with his daughter, Zuri – and Zuri’s pride in her hair that “kinks, coils, and curls every which way.” Author Matthew A. Cherry’s animated short film of the same name won an Academy Award. ($10.50+, Amazon)

For serious sun protection that’s safe for the entire family (babies 6 months and up included), we always reach for Thinkbaby. It’s a mineral sunscreen and can leave a white cast, but hey — that’s one way you know it’s working. ($14.93, Amazon)

Frida is one of our go-to brands for everything babies and postpartum moms need, and this handy kit has five fan-favorite products. It’ll help you tackle everything from congestion (with the famous snot-sucker) to cradle cap, baby gas, and beyond. ($39.97, Amazon)

We firmly believe that one of the nicest things you can do for a new parent, yourself included, is get them this bottle washer. It can wash, sterilize, and dry, or do any of the three, while you catch up on other important things (like sleep). ($299.99, Baby Brezza)

Tubby Todd’s baby- and kid-friendly ointment is the one many parents turn to when other options haven’t worked on their kids’ eczema or dry skin. It’s not cheap, but if it works for your kid…that’s priceless. (The new formula has 1% colloidal oatmeal, but you can also still find the original here.) ($36, Tubby Todd)

This vegan, tear-free formula, made with no parabens, phthalates, or phenoxyethanol, is the perfect cleanser for your newborn’s skin and hair. Bring on those delicious baby bathtimes. ($27, Amazon)