11 Must-Haves That Will Make Every Mom’s Life Easier

This all-in-one bottle washer, sterilizer, and cleaner kills 99% of bacteria and can be used on everything from bottles and breast pump parts to toys. It might seem like it’s not necessary to have a separate bottle sterilizer if you have a dishwasher, but I promise, every parent who takes the plunge into one raves about the difference it makes.

“Although having another bulky countertop device wasn’t preferred, after one use of this machine, it has made a permanent place in our kitchen,” admitted one parent on Parent Tested, Parent Approved. “Between breast pump parts, bottle parts, pacifiers and toys, I felt like I was always washing something. This has been very handy to use at night and wake up with sanitized and clean pieces to start the day with.”

It’s difficult to put a price on peace of mind, but if it were possible, 93% of parents on PTPA would recommend investing in the Owlet Dream Duo monitor and sock. Parents and caregivers get access to live health readings, can see pulse rate and oxygen in a live feed, receive alerts for abnormal heart rate and oxygen readings, and get insight and updates about when their baby moves and wakes up.

I admit I had no idea such a product even existed, but the parents at PTPA assure us all that this cord charging cover is not only important, but a parent “must have.” The covers protect Lightning, USB-C, Micro, and Mini USB cords and connectors from curious little hands and mouths.

“I absolutely love these. We started using them well before my son was mobile so we’d already have the habit of putting them over the ends of our chargers by the time he could possibly get to them,” explained one parent. “Of course, we don’t let our toddler play with cords, but naturally at some point he will manage to get his hands on one. And now I have one less thing that keeps this mom awake at night knowing he’ll be safe! They’re a simple and effective idea, and seem very well made.”

Another parent-approved, parent-tested product from Geddy’s Mom is the brand’s self-closing outlet covers. If you’ve ever had a baby around, you know those little stinkers can quickly become adept at prying outlet covers off in an attempt to electrocute themselves.

Traditional outlet covers can also be a pain to put on and off as a parent, but this self-closing cover solves both problems by being effective to keep tiny fingers off and automatically losing when you’re done with it.

“This outlet cover eliminates the normal frustration of covers on frequently used outlets — there are no small pieces that could be removed by clever toddlers, the mechanism is simple to use for adults, and the spring close prevents forgetting to replace the cover after use!” explains one parent. “The cover is bulkier than a standard outlet cover and will not work in all areas of your home, but is perfect for the outlets where you plug in vacuums, hair dryers, or other frequently used household electronics. My toddler who has figured out other outlet covers, cabinet locks, etc. was not able to open this outlet cover.”

If you’re sick of kids stealing drinks out of your water bottle when you’re not looking, Baricade has the solution: a fingerprinted-encrypted water bottle that only lets authorized users access hydration. The water bottle stores up to 10 fingerprints, so you can let family members share if you’re feeling generous.

“The best idea I had for it was to use it for adult beverages at the pool so kiddos couldn’t access it or drink by accident!” reports one savvy parent who found a use for the water bottle outside of water. 

Every parent knows that sometimes, fruit snacks and fruit roll-ups are an essential part of appeasing a child, but the added sugars are no fun when those dentist visits roll around.

Bear fruit rolls provide all the fun of fruity snacks, with no added sugars or additives: “I have been looking for zero-added sugar snack options for my small children, as I am trying to remove all added sugar from my life as well, so I was very excited to read the ingredients on all of the Bear fruit snack products,” explained one health-conscious parent. “Zero added sugars and only fruit ingredients make these a win in my book! It’s honestly hard to find a healthy yet tasty snack like these.”

As a family of seven, I once signed up for Home Chef and absolutely loved it. I’m a mom who hates cooking and the mental energy of prepping and planning meals, so Home Chef was so ideal for us — and I swear it saved us money by cutting down on last-minute takeout or expensive meals out.

“Home Chef is by far the best meal kit service available, and the family portion size makes it even more affordable and easy to make!” says Dana, a mom who totally agrees with me. “The meal options are diverse, and the recipes are easy to follow. After a full day of work, this is a relief to come home to and so much cheaper than takeout. Do yourself a favor and subscribe! You won’t regret it.”

Dirty diapers are out of sight and out of mind with this self-sealing diaper pail. You may not think dirty diapers will be that big of a problem, but you will appreciate a quick way to dispose of the diapers come 3 a.m.

“The Diaper Genie is one of those baby items I wasn’t sure I needed — but now I’m glad I have it,” said mom Sophie. “It really does keep the smell under control, even with a day’s worth (or more) of dirty diapers inside. The foot pedal is super convenient when you’ve got a squirmy baby in one hand and a loaded diaper in the other.”

This nasal aspirator is electric and doesn’t require any parent suction for power. It’s a must-have, especially during cold and flu seasons.

Our family owns two of these exact lunchboxes, and we do, in fact, use them every single day for our kids’ lunches. They’re ideally sized for elementary age and can fit plenty of food and snacks. I especially love that the internal compartment is dishwasher safe, so you can toss it in for easy cleaning.

“As a mom of a toddler and preschool teacher in the 2-year-old class, I love how easy these make lunch time,” says Alli. “It provides enough compartments that allow for a good variety of food during lunch, good size portions of each item and easy for the kids to open and close!”

For under $30, expecting parents can get a “sneak peek” into their baby’s gender with this at-home kit.

“I first learned about this product when I was researching different ways I could find out my baby’s gender,” notes Chelsea. “This one was the highest rating. I received it in about 3 to 5 business days, which was pretty fast.”