Editor’s Picks: September 2025

The HARPPA Grovi Playpen will completely transform the way you let your baby play — in the best way possible. Our editors love the versatility of the many different configurations the playpen provides; with its modular and customizable design, it can fit any living area, from big house to smaller apartment. “It was super easy to put together and a definitely must-have for any new parent,” says one of our Mom.com editors who said her son loved playing and exploring, while it gave her and her husband a much-needed hands-free break and the peace of mind that the playpen is certified safe and baby-friendly. Plus, the beautiful wooden construction fits into any type of décor without the jarring unsightliness of plastic.

As babies grow, they become more mobile and more curious. And, yes, it becomes even harder to keep an eye on them to ensure their safety. Which is why the Nordo Tower and the Nordi Tower are game-changers for growing, inquisitive toddlers. One of our Mom.com editors raves about how the Nordo Tower has become her son’s favorite while she’s in the kitchen: “Now that he’s more mobile, it’s been harder to keep him occupied while I cook or do chores, and this tower has been such a helpful solution because he can stay safe and engaged while I cook or do dishes,” she says.

Both Towers — The Nordo and the compact, foldable Nordi — are safe, with a wide anti-tip base, ergonomic rails, and an optional leather safety net for the younger users. Plus the safety isn’t just in the design: the Towers are built from solid rubberwood and finished with a low-VOC and lead-free coating, so you know even if your toddler bites and chews, you don’t need to stress. And just like the Grovi Playpen, the design of both the Nordo and the Nordi towers is as beautiful as it is useful, designed to grow with your kids and to look sleek and stylish in any style home. Plus, the Nordo Tower includes a creativity-nurturing double-sided chalkboard that turns around into a whiteboard, for hours of kitchen fun or artistic play. Both Towers offer many of the same benefits, but the Nordi Tower ($129.99 at HARPPA Baby) is designed to be foldable down to less than 6-inches in depth, so it can be stored anywhere when not in use. “It’s genius for smaller spaces, like mine,” raved one of our Mom.com editors.

Bonus: Our readers get 12% off on selected HARPPA products with code TODAY12. Visit https://harppababy.com/TODAY12 for more info. 

If you have a kiddo that is ready for battle every time you pull out their daily vitamins, you’ve got to give Grüns Cubs a try. They’re not just gummy vitamins, they are gummy vitamins that come in individual snack packs that look just like candy or fruit snacks. And they taste great too, so your kids will think they’re getting a treat, while you’re getting 20 high-quality vitamins and minerals into their little bodies without the fight. Grüns cubs are vegan, plant-based, and  gelatin-free, and there are both low-sugar and sugar-free varieties available.

Let me tell you, I am obsessed with the WanderFull HydroBag. I recently spent a week in Venice in July, and ended up wearing it as my main bag every single day. It’s perfect for travel, hanging out on the sidelines while you’re kids are at practice or games, long shopping trips, and pretty much any other outing you can think of. The HydroBag makes it easy and convenient to stay hydrated, but the best part is actually how roomy it is. I was able to fit a 24-ounce water bottle (thought it can accommodate larger), my wallet, my phone, a portable power bank, lip balm, and a few trinkets in it all at the same time, in multiple convenient pockets that kept everything secure and organized. Plus, it looks cute!

If you haven’t heard of Dazzle Dry nail polish and you or your kid loves a fresh mani, it’s time to get on that. Dazzle Dry is actually a full nail system that resulted in the longest manicure my 9-year-old has ever kept, including gel manicures done by professionals. It’s a four-step process using products that are considered healthier for nails than gel, vegan, and cruelty-free, with a promise to last 7-14 days, which actually held up for us. We love their new fall collection, which includes five rich hues in earthy, but vibrant shades.

If you want to be able to reach your kid and they reach you when they are away from home, without caving to those all too frequent phone requests, we highly recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Samsung has a slew of family-friendly features enabled on this smart watch that make it easy for kids and parents to stay connected, as well as a number of easy-to-use wellness features that keep kids motivated. It allows you to have access to your child’s location at all times, set it up so that your child can only call and text parent-approved contacts, and much more. And it’s all backed by the quality standard we’ve come to expect from Samsung Galaxy products.

Honestly, I’m including these K’lani hair tie bracelets because they make me happy. Sometimes it really is just the little things, and as a mom who literally always has a hair tie or two on my wrist, these chic hair tie bracelets do just that. They are super-stylish and come in a number of different colors and designs, with some featuring inspiring and motivational themes. You can even split up the set so you can match with your kiddo or a friend.

Get your caffeine fix and your chocolate fix in all at once with AWAKE Caffeinated Chocolate. Sold in a 50-piece pack, these chocolates are the perfect treat for when you hit that afternoon slump. They come in a number of flavors including classic dark and milk chocolates, caramel, peanut butter, and more, and they taste like some of the highest quality chocolates we’ve had.

The Bentgo Chill Max Lunch Box the big brother of the kids’ Bentgo lunchbox version and it is genius if you want to keep your lunch fresh. It has an included ice tray that is used frozen to keep the contents of your meal as if it had been on ice. The ice pack tray is optional (and rather heavy), so you can pick and choose when to use it. This bigger Bentgo holds more, so it’s more for older kids, teens, and adults.

This big tub of amazingness in a cream is one of the best (and best smelling!) body creams we’ve tried all year. It contains so many skin-healing nutrients (algae, moringa oil, shea butter, sea kelp, coconut oil, among others), it helps keep you and your kids’ moisturized all day long. And best of all, it’s cruelty-free, vegan, and paraben-free, so you know it’s safe to use on kids’ sensitive skin. At at 30 oz., there’s enough for the whole family.

This splurge of a serum is premium skincare line SkinCeutical’s latest release. The rich serum is formulated for older, sagging skin, and it visibly lifts and firms skin on the face, like the jawline, cheeks, forehead, neck. This loss of firmness happens with age, but it’s also a common side effect of GLP-1 medications, with many reporting fat loss on the face that leads to a gaunt appearance. The formula has several ingredients which are specifically used to target wrinkles and loss of elasticity. SkinCeuticals has a reputation for having products that work, like its viral CE Ferulic vitamin C serum, so you know it will be effective.