9 Must Haves for Parents of Toddlers

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
This means I make money when you click and buy. 

9 Must Haves for Parents of Toddlers 

Because Toddlers, am I Right?

I've been a mom for a while now and I can tell you that I am absolutely not an expert in any way. Parenting is hard. Being a stay at home is harder. And well, being a single mom hasn't been all sunshine and unicorn poop.

There are lots of gadgets and gizmos out there for parents to help make life a little easier. But a lot of those are uni-taskers, and when I see uni-tasker I see clutter and I am getting rid of all of my clutter. 

But there are some things that make life a little easier.

 9 of them in fact.

1. The great and mighty pouches!

These are fantastic for the parent and kid on the go! They are mostly mess free (show me a toddler that is 100% mess free and I'll show you a leprechaun and a flying pig taking a bath,) and they even come in a variety of meal pouches for the days when lunch just didn't happen the way you wanted. 

For those of you who are on the ball and want to make your own they even make reusable pouches. I've had the reusable kind, but I just couldn't keep up with the consumption rate of two toddlers. 

  

Experience the greatness that is the pouch!

2. Popup Tents 

Toddlers have two modes. All over you or they pretend not to know you.  They either want to be in your lap soaking up all the love and attention you have to give, and then a bit more. Or they are playing so hard they forget that you told them it is time to clean up. 

I work from home and I love toys that entertain the girls without my involvement and inspires their creativity and imagination. For these few short hours I can a ton of work done and spend the rest of the day with my girls. The one consistent thing I can bring out is the popup tents. I love them. 

Want your toddler to give you a break while you clean or better yet, sip a hot cup of tea? (I cant drink coffee, I love coffee, but coffee doesn't love me) Unpop one of these babies and they'll forget all about you. 

This are little indoor/outdoor sanity savers.

3. Humidifier 

Yup, toddlers are like lint rollers for germs. The snot is always flowing, someone always has a cough and they are still going like the little engine that could. 

Humidifiers are a must have item. Cant give the little ones cough syrup so you are pretty much left with a humidifier. (except for my secret night time cough fighting weapon. See 4)

Sleep for everyone is crucial. Humidifiers keep the mucus moist and the coughs away. If you don't have one, seriously, get one. I have two. The key to selecting a humidifier is one that has a big enough tank to get through the night. 

Moist mucus, that's part one of my two fold method for good sleeps for all. Moist mucus. 

4. Baby Rub

No, I am not recommending your favorite spice rub. That's just silly. 

Baby rub for colds is part two of my method for good sleeps. Every one knows that you rub it on their chests, right? 

What if I told you miracles would happen if you rubbed it on their feet? Miracles, I tell you, miracles!

Rub a little bit on their feet and put socks on and sweet sleeps will be had by all. 

I have absolutely no idea why, but this works. A nurse friend tried to explain it to me and all I got out of that was, because science. 

If there is only two things you get from this list, get the humidifier and the rub. When everyone get good sleeps, better mornings are ahead. 

5. Tablets, because quiet time is important

We don't use tablets all that often but I love them for long car rides.but you can use it for whatever you need. 

I love it because, like I said, quiet time is is important. There are lots to chose from depending on age and destructiveness of your toddler.  

6. Camel Back Water Bottles 

Hydration, hydration, hydration!

I only have camel back water bottles. They are durable and DISHWASHER SAFE! If it's not dishwasher safe, I don't want it.  It's absolutely necessary that all things are dishwasher safe. 

The Camel Back water bottles come in lots of styles to accommodate all the different personalities and passions your toddler possess. Because toddlers are tiny packages bursting with personality.

7. Ozark Trail, cause you like it hot! *(wink)*

I drink tea. Lots and lots of tea. I am constantly making a cup of tea and then one of the little bits needs something and low and behold when I find my tea several hours later its cold. And that makes me a sad momma. 

Then I got an Ozark Trail Tumbler for Christmas and it changed my life. 

I can make my tea in my tumbler and forget about it, come back several hours and it's still HOT! I am not lying. HOT tea three hours after I forgot about it. And for you iced drinkers out there. Same story, except your drink will still have ice in it. 

It's amazing, get one.

8. Wipes, Because Boogers

Just like kids collect germs, they also like to leave them in all kinds of places. Remotes, door handles, tables, all over the fridge, all over you. Everywhere. 

I keep a healthy stock of these wipes around to clean up snot, squished food, potty accidents and more. These are a grab and go item for me. Someone is always making a mess and this is how I keep up. 

9. Alcohol

You have your drink, I have mine. Whiskey in my tea in the winter and red wine in the summer. 

Taking care of toddlers all day is exhausting and we all need a break. Pour yourself a glass of something nice and kick back. Take a deep breath, change the Netflix from Princess Sofia to something a little more adult..like Supernatural. 

Okay folks, now you are ready with essential must have items to parent toddlers. I wish you luck and god speed.