Affordable Parenting Essentials with Over 5,000 Top Ratings: Discover 27 Must-Haves at Less Than $20 Each
Rewritten Article:
Hope you like our recommendations! Some may be samples, but all were hand-picked by our editors. FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners might earn a share of sales from the links on this page.
Parents everywhere sing praises for these toys, learning tools, and problem-solvers.
By Rachel Dunkel - BuzzFeed Contributor, Chandni Reddy - BuzzFeed Staff
1. A fun Bingo game for easing the pain of sight word practice. With visors, it becomes an even more engaging game!
The set includes 36 playing cards, 264 playing chips, a caller's mat and cards, and a storage box. Instead of numbers, the leader calls out words (46 most-used words), players search their cards for a match and place a red chip on the match. Once a player has covered the necessary spaces to win, they shout "BINGO!"
Standout Review: "My 4-year-old granddaughter and I visit the library every weekend. Once she's chosen her books for the week, she loves 'checking out' the games in the children's section. This was one that she wanted to play over and over and over. After the third round, I noticed that she was beginning to recognize some of the words on her own. That sold me! The minute I got home I purchased the game so she could play it at home. Every time I visit her house, we play at least one round of this game, and I can tell her reading skills are improving. And when we go to the library, she STILL wants to check this game out and play it there! The words on these bingo cards are words that can't be easily illustrated, like 'them,' 'her,' 'go,' 'if' - small, mostly conjunctive words, but essential to reading. This game makes it easy and fun to learn those words. I simply can't praise this game enough." -Molly Harrington
Get it from Amazon for $17.44.
2. Spill-proof snack catchers for keeping your car's backseat Cheerio-free (or at least less messy).
Amazon
Standout Review: "What a lifesaver! I mean really! My daughter loves her snacks, she also loves making a mess, giving them to the dog, or filling her car seat up with them. Then cries when she has nothing to eat. My wife picked one up at Target and man...we used it so much, we couldn't clean it fast enough. SOOOO we bought a few more." -jeffgrantMEDIA
Buy a pack of two from Amazon for $5.99 (available in two color combos or a pack of four).
3. A leave-in conditioning spray for curly hair that detangles post-bath time without causing a ruckus.
Amazon
Reviewers claim this spray will leave wavy or curly hair (2a-4c) shiny, soft, and bouncy.
Standout Review: "I have been struggling with my toddler's super curly hair. (My hair is hopelessly straight.) Bath time hair brushing led to meltdown level screaming - no matter how gentle I tried to be, y'all. It was constantly super tangled in the back where he shifted on his pillow at night. This spray at night before bed, and occasionally as a refresh in the morning, has COMPLETELY changed his hair. There's no more fight to brush his hair at bath time! I just wish it were available in bulk because I will be buying this spray forever. It even helps my preteen's wavy hair - she's obsessed with it, too." -LDacy
Buy it from Amazon for $8.20.
4. A detangling brush designed to make the entire process less of a hassle. Fewer tangles mean fewer tears, thank goodness.
Amazon
Reviewers swear this brush works on all hair types - straight, wavy, or curly (3a-4c hair).
Standout Review: "I never thought I'd be obsessed with a hairbrush, but here I am. My daughters get massive tangles and knots so I bought this brush out of desperation**. It does a much better job than our last brush at getting their tangles out for both my thick-haired daughter and my fine-haired daughter. They are happy, and I appreciate having less of a battle and tears! I read the reviews saying the brush feels good on the scalp, so I tried it and oh my goodness, it feels like the best scalp massage ever. After stealing my kids' brush every day for months, I finally bought my own. Extra bonus is that both colors we got are really pretty! If it isn't obvious, we all highly recommend!" -Vanessa Wright
Buy it from Amazon for $13.49 (available in 10 colors).
5. A pancake batter mixer that combines wet and dry ingredients in a bottle, shakes it up, and pours it out. Perfect for creating Mickey Mouse pancakes!
Standout Review: "This is the best breakfast invention after the waffle maker. LOVE IT! As someone who makes pancakes or waffles three to four times a week (my kids are pretty spoiled, but breakfast is key to getting through the first part of the school day), this is the easiest and fastest way to get that done. I just add everything to the bottle, shake, and pour into the waffle maker or griddle. When I am done, just add some water, shake again, empty, and then place everything in the dishwasher." -Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $13.44.
6. A pack of reusable puffy stickers for a limitless number of decorations.
Stickers include letters, numbers, vehicles, butterflies, deep-sea life, animals, fish, dinosaurs, and more.
Standout Review: "My 1.5-year-old is obsessed with these. Not sticky enough to do any damage but can also be reused a few times." -Katie Merkatoris
Get a pack of 20 sheets from Amazon for $7.99.
7. Soft and cute pack-n-play sheets for a clean pair every time.
Amazon
Standout Review: "I'm obsessed with these sheets!! So incredibly soft and they fit great. I'd definitely buy again." -Amazon Customer
Standout Review: "I absolutely love this material. We bought the really expensive 1800 count Egyptian cotton sheets for our own bed and this crib sheet is softer than our Egyptian cotton sheets for our bed - oh my gosh." -Bart
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 17 print combos).
8. A Melissa & Doug activity book with safe scissors for your crafty kid. Ironically-themed collages, here we come!
Amazon
Standout Review: "Hours of cutting fun. My daughter LOVES this book. I purchased it to help with her fine motor skills and she has been cutting out all of the shapes ever since. I love that the activities in the book start of simple and get progressively more difficult as you go on towards the end. Also, though the scissors will cut the paper in the book, they are not sharp enough to cut your child, their clothing, your curtains, etc. That's a bonus over other preschoolers' scissors." -KT
Standout Review: "This book is fantastic! My son looks forward to practicing his cutting skills EVERYDAY! The pictures are very colorful. He enjoys putting the puzzles together. We love learning to cut!" -Kristi
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
9. A cradle cap system for removing dry skin from your baby's head with a silicone brush and fine-toothed comb.
Amazon
Standout Review: "Easy to use and helps to clean out baby scalp very well. I'm obsessed with this item." -Katherine Ziegler
Standout Review: "My 6-week-old had bad cradle cap all of a sudden, and this brush worked miracles. I wish I had it from birth. We have continued to use this brush even though the cradle cap has gone, and it does wonders on the scalp and keeping the hair looking healthy. Highly, highly recommend. Plus, my baby enjoys the gentle scalp massage from the soft bristles..." -LM01
Get it from Amazon for $14.39.
10. The Pink Stuff for removing stains from stainless steel, glass, drywall, and other surfaces.
Amazon
Standout Review: "This mom of five is obsessed with this!! Lemme tell y'all something... If you have children under 2, buy about 50 of these! I have two little artists that have a knack for finding Sharpies, no matter where they are. Even if I don't have any in the house, I'm pretty sure they can conjure them out of thin air. Sometimes, I wake up with an entire Picasso on my walls. This stuff right here will take all of it off, no matter what color it is, with little to no effort at all. There is no cleaner on the market like it, hands down THE BEST stuff." -Nate A.
Get it from Amazon for $5.97.
11. Avenelle hydrocolloid patches for helping teens get through tough skincare phases.
Amazon
Standout Review: "This is really a must-have in your medicine cabinet. We have two teenage daughters at home, and they both use it anytime they have a pimple. It is discreet and blends in nicely to your skin. It comes in three sizes to choose from, and it is made with tea tree oil, which I have found to be great in acne care." -Vanessa
Get 40 patches from Amazon for $7.64.
12. A giant ruler-shaped growth chart for measuring your little one's growth.
Amazon
Standout Review: "Great and portable. My daughter loves being measured and makes me check her height almost daily. I love that we can bring it with us when we move." -Sarah Tran
Get it from Amazon for $9.88 (available in three colors).
13. A cult-favorite stain remover for tackling grass, oil, and blood stains.
Amazon
Standout Review: "I am obsessed with this product. We use it on EVERYTHING from wine spills, to grass stains, and everything in between. I use it on our carpet, sofas, and the kids' clothes! I love this stuff. We buy it over and over again." -Jennifer Collins
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $14.90.
14. A touchless forehead thermometer for taking temperatures even during naps.
Amazon
Standout Review: "This is a great thermometer - accurate, looks great, a must-have! If you have kids, forget about sticking a thermometer in their ears. I have four kids now and a thermometer is a must-have. Hold this thing close to the forehead, push the button in and you get a reading in about one second. This thing looks good, feels good, and is accurate. We've used a variety of thermometers in the past. The head scanner that you run across the forehead...no good. In-ear thermometers...accurate but expect a battle. Rectal thermometers...very accurate but expect a war. This is the easiest one out of all of them. We find it especially useful when we need the quick 'I don't feel that great' check...i.e., man cold. Overall, highly recommend!."-BearDownChi1
Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in two colors).
15. Toilet seat covers for a cleaner, germ-free experience during potty time.
Amazon
Standout Review: "If you're a germaphobe like myself, this is a must have in your diaper bag. The thought of placing my son or daughter on a public toilet with only a seat liner is disturbing** especially since they're both little and still hold onto the toilet seat for support when peeing/pooping. These cover the toilet completely and even cover the lower part of the toilet where dangling legs and pants/skirts touch. My only complaint about these is that they are not flushable. It's difficult trying to gather the liner up (they are rather large) without touching the toilet or the possibly wet liner (because it partially fell in the water) and then scrunching it up to fit into a sanitary napkin bin. Other than that, these are great. Also, I don't use the adhesive strips at all since I have two little ones who usually need to go right away so we don't have the time to remove the adhesive backing. I usually just place the liner on the toilet and then carefully plop my kid on top and all's well." -Ting
Get a pack of 24 covers from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in bigger packs and in an XL size).
16. A Melissa & Doug magnetic calendar for teaching the days of the week, months, holidays, and weather in a fun and interactive way.
Amazon
Standout Review: "My 3-year-old son loves updating this calendar each morning**. It's a great daily activity and helps with planning what activities are on the schedule for that day. It also helps him learn the days of the week and what day of the month it is." -familyof3
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
17. An ingenious sandwich cutter and sealer for making your own Uncrustables without the hefty price tag.
Amazon
Standout Review: "Absolutely love this! Wish I'd had it long ago. I make 'Uncrustables' everyday and the kids don't know they don't come from the store!" -dorothy924
Get it from Amazon for $7.93 (available in six styles and colors).
18. Colorful stacking cups for classic, fun play. These cups double as water toys, too, thanks to their holes at the bottom!
Amazon
Standout Review: "MVP in our toy collection!! Of all our toys, these stacking cups are the ones our 10-month-old reaches for first EVERY time. She is obsessed and has been since she was 4 months old! At first, the rims of the cups were easy for her to practice her grasp, but as time has gone on she has used them to bang together and, finally, to stack. They are easy to clean (I believe they are intended to be a bath toy, although we don't use them that way) and easy to throw in a diaper bag for on-the-go play. If we could only have one toy for her, this would be the one!" -Carmen Lewis
Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $8.
19. A pack of laminated math posters in bright, fun colors for a kid-friendly learning environment.
20. A Contigo spill-proof tumbler for keeping young ones hydrated on-the-go.
21. A set of starter spoons with ergonomic handles for bathing time or puréeing those first baby foods.
22. A wooden puzzle for some low-tech entertainment.
23. A bath toy organizer that sticks right to your wall and keeps bath toys within reach without cluttering everything.
24. A whale-shaped bath spout cover to prevent tiny heads from bumping into the faucet.
25. A pack of Montessori toys for hands-on, experience-based learning.
26. Corner guards to protect tiny noggins from hitting corners while still maintaining the original look of your furniture.
27. Outlet covers to keep curious little fingers from exploring where they shouldn't.
: The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
- The Bingo game, with visors, provides an engaging way for children to practice sight words, as mentioned in the review by Molly Harrington.
- The spill-proof snack catchers, such as the ones reviewed by JeffgrantMEDIA, can help keep your car's backseat clean and free of mess.
- Reading reviews for a leave-in conditioning spray like the one described can suggest its benefits for managing tangled curly hair, as mentioned in the review by LDacy.
- A detangling brush, like the one reviewed by Vanessa Wright, can make the hair-brushing process less stressful and reduce tears for both parents and children.
- A pancake batter mixer, as stated in the standout review, can simplify the process of making pancakes or waffles multiple times a week, perfect for busy parents.
- Reusable puffy stickers, according to the review by Katie Merkatoris, can provide endless decoration possibilities without causing damage.
- Soft and cute pack-n-play sheets, such as the ones reviewed, ensure a clean pair every time, providing peace of mind for parents of infants.
- An activity book with safe scissors, like the one reviewed, can offer hours of cutting fun for children, improving their fine motor skills.
- A cradle cap system, as reviewed, can be an effective solution for removing dry skin from a baby's head.
- The Pink Stuff, as stated in the standout review, can tackle stains from various surfaces, making it a valuable product for busy parents.
- Avenelle hydrocolloid patches, as reviewed, can help teenagers navigate through difficult skincare phases with minimal discomfort.
- A growth chart, like the one reviewed, can be a fun and interactive way for children to track their growth over time.
- A cult-favorite stain remover, as reviewed, can be useful for removing grass, oil, and blood stains from various surfaces.
- A touchless forehead thermometer, as reviewed, can be a convenient and hygienic way to take temperatures, even during naps.
- Toilet seat covers, as reviewed, can offer a germ-free experience during potty time.
- A Melissa & Doug magnetic calendar, as reviewed, can help children learn about the days of the week, months, holidays, and weather.
- A sandwich cutter and sealer, like the one reviewed, can help make homemade Uncrustables without the high cost.
- Colorful stacking cups, as reviewed, can offer classic, fun play opportunities for children and double as water toys.
- Laminated math posters, in bright, fun colors, can create a kid-friendly learning environment.
- A Contigo spill-proof tumbler, as stated in the review, can help keep young ones hydrated on-the-go.
- A set of starter spoons with ergonomic handles, as mentioned in the review, can be useful for bathing time or pureeing baby foods.
- A wooden puzzle, like the one described, can provide low-tech entertainment for children.
- A bath toy organizer, such as the one reviewed, can help keep bath toys within reach without causing clutter.
- A whale-shaped bath spout cover, as stated in the review, can prevent tiny heads from bumping into the faucet.
- A set of Montessori toys, as mentioned, can offer hands-on, experience-based learning opportunities for children.
- Corner guards, as described, can protect tiny noggins from hitting corners while maintaining the original look of furniture.
- Outlet covers, as reviewed, can keep curious little fingers safe from exploring prohibited areas.
