The Best Back-to-School Gear for 2018

When it comes to back-to-school kicks, kids want shoes that are cool as well as comfortable. Same for parents. The Saucony Voxel 9000 offers both—and they're easy to take on and off, to boot. If kids are into "Minecraft," Legos or other block-building games, they will love the 3D block design around the sole. Kids and parents will also appreciate the toggle closure, especially if little ones are still learning to tie their laces.

To buy: Saucony, $55

Cut back on buying all those little plastic storage bags with these darling reusable sandwich bags. They're toxin-free, dishwasher-safe and the lightweight fabric dries quickly. Plus, they come in the cutest designs, from navy blue sharks (shown) to pears, turtles and sailboats.

To buy: Amazon, $8 each

Forget having to choose between hot and cold snacks! The Zoli This + That stackable snack container lets your little one have the best of both worlds. The double-walled stainless steel lunchbox must-have keeps food cold for up to 24 hours and hot for six hours. Want to keep soup warm and fruit chilled? Not a problem—and they can be stacked right on top of each other with room to spare in your child's snack bag. Just don't forget the napkins!

To buy: Zoli, $40

Looking for a snack to jazz up your child's lunch? Instead of the same-old, same-old, why not offer up sheets of roasted seaweed? The organic offering is roasted with tasty oils and spices; it's also rich in vitamins and only 25 calories per serving. In addition to sea salt, other flavors include sesame and teriyaki. Moms might want to stash some in their own handbags, too.

To buy: Gimme Snacks, $12 (for 12-pack)

Kids have serious opinions when it comes to backpacks, and Tula's cute and creative series will not disappoint. In addition to the whimsical designs (including the safari option, pictured here), the backpacks are all about comfort and convenience. Perfect for toddlers and beyond, the shoulder straps are padded and come with an added chest clip. Two front pockets add to the already-spacious interior space. And kids will love the magnetic closures for easy access to books and other goodies.

To buy: Tula, $79

Sure, buying clothes for your kiddo at places like Target and Carter's is super convenient. But sometimes it's cool to mix things up a bit, especially when it comes to adorable designs. Duke Alexander is a great Los Angeles-based clothing line created by two moms that offers 100 percent cotton and lead-free threads, most of which feature unisex designs like the bunny short-sleeved tee (shown).

To buy: Duke Alexander, $34

It's time to move on from the sippy cups, especially when it comes to stashing one in your little one's backpack. But don't worry about spills with Skip Hop's straw bottle. This one has a flip-top lid, which keeps liquid sealed in. The velcro grab-strap attaches to anything. It's also dishwasher-safe and features an array of characters like Ferguson Fox (shown) and Eureka Unicorn!

To buy: Skip Hop, $7

While you might be stocking up on folders and notebooks, don't forget about adding a little personality to your child's school supplies. Pipsticks is a monthly sticker subscription that offers seven- or 15-plus sheets of colorful stickers and other goodies each month, depending on your subscription. Even besides the sticker aspect, what kid doesn't love getting mail?

To buy: Pipsticks, $10 per month and up

Want your kids to feel empowered to search out fun facts on their own? Now they can, by simply using their voice with the Amazon Echo Dot for Kids. They'll get to know Alexa through the kid-friendly (read: not easily breakable) device, where they can seek out games, audio books, trivia and more. The Echo Dot comes with a year of Amazon FreeTime, which gives kids access to educational content from the likes of National Geographic and parents control over what kids hear and see on their devices. Not only that, but there's a cool "bedtime" feature that automatically powers down devices. Can't beat that!

To buy: Amazon, $80 (for the Echo Dot), $3 per month plus tax for FreeTime after one year

Help make going to kindergarten a fun adventure for your child by reading them a book that makes heading to school sound heroic. In "Planet Kindergarten," the young hero prepares to launch into the new world of school. The story is cute, funny and confidence-boosting.

To buy: Target, $8

Looking for some healthy food options that are super easy and quick to make on those nights after soccer practice or when you just don't have it in you to whip up something from scratch? Try Kidfresh, which are sold at places like Target or Walmart. They use real ingredients (no artificial flavors), and have grains and hidden veggies in every meal. Meals range from Super Duper Chicken Nuggets (shown), which have pureed cauliflower in them, to Wagon Wheels Mac 'N Cheese with pureed carrots.

To buy: Kidfresh, $3