The Moms Who Get It Awards 2026: Our Favorite Products for Toddlers

Favorite Meals: Once Upon a Farm Meat & Legume Blends

Use these refrigerated blends to supplement meals and snacks when you’re short on time but still want to expose your little one to nutritional variety. With four to five grams of protein each, these pouches feature ingredients ranging from chicken, beef, and turkey to chickpeas and black beans, plus fruits and vegetables like apples, squash, carrots, beets, and more.

Favorite Snacks: Little Spoon Oat Bakes

These hidden-veggie bars (available in other flavors as well) are a sweet snack worth knowing about, with three grams of both protein and added sugar per serving, and lots of goodness from ingredients like oats, dates, blueberries, and more.

Favorite Snacks: Once Upon a Farm Soft Baked Bars

Once Upon a Farm’s soft-baked bars are another wholesome treat to keep on hand for snack emergencies. They have only one gram of protein, but zero grams of added sugar per serving, and come in three flavors: mixed berry, apple and oat, and banana chocolate chip.

Favorite Snacks: Little Bellies

We’ve been known to steal bites…er, bags…of these from the snack cabinet, and that’s because these not-the-usual-suspects of toddler snacks are honestly just downright tasty. The date, oat, and banana bars and cheesy tubes are favorites with our kids, while our adult snack of choice is this kettle corn-esque sweet and salty softcorn.

Favorite Cutlery: ezpz Mini Utensils

These are “sized just right for little hands,” in the words of one Skimm mom, and because of that, they really help encourage confident (we didn’t say neat) self-feeding. BPA-free and made from nylon and silicone, they’re easy to clean and not as painful as metal cutlery when dropped (cough, thrown) from a high chair.

Favorite Plates/Bowls: Junesday The Everyday Plate

One Skimm mom praises this set for having “the convenience and mess-protection of a silicone suction plate with the safety and longevity of stainless steel.” You can separate the silicone and stainless steel layers, and both pieces can go in the dishwasher.

Favorite Water Bottle/Cup: Owala Kids’ Tumbler

Your toddler may be too young for their very own Owala FreeSip, but not to worry — the same brand makes an ideal kiddie cup for water, milk, and more. We like both this stainless steel version and the larger, less expensive plastic version, both of which are easy to hold (for them) and clean (for you).

Favorite Training Cup: Munchkin Control Flow Open Training Cup

If you’re ready to get your little one started on open-cup drinking, but you’d rather not be cleaning up major spills right and left, this new Munchkin cup is a nice compromise. They can sip from the plastic tumbler the same way they would from a regular cup, and when they start to get the hang of it, you can just take out the yellow valve in the middle.

Favorite All-Day Water Bottle: Thermos 12-Ounce Funtainer Water Bottle with Straw

From an affordable price tag and a plethora of fun design options to easy-to-clean, dishwasher-safe parts, this stainless steel, vacuum-insulated water bottle really has it all. It’s durable and won’t leak when closed correctly, and if it does ultimately succumb to that 182nd drop onto the sidewalk outside school, it’s not so fancy that you’ll be heartbroken about replacing it.

Favorite Fruit Rolls: Bear Fruit Rolls

With only four or five ingredients per roll and no added sugar, these fruit snacks are a sweet and shelf-stable way to make sure there’s some nutrition going on at snack- or lunchtime. They have two grams of fiber per pack, and each baggie also comes with a fun collectible card.

Favorite Protein Snacks: The New Primal Snack Mates Classic Turkey Mini Meat Sticks

One Skimm’r mom swears by these tried-and-true protein snacks, saying her son eats two every single day. With seven grams of protein (and only one gram of sugar) per serving, they’re a filling snack, and since they’re shelf-stable, they’re easy to pack without the need for an ice pack or special container.

Favorite Storage Containers: Thermos Funtainer Kids’ Food Jar with Spoon

For a temperature-controlled lunch or snack, this little Thermos (with an adorable folding spoon) is a great solution. It can keep pastas, soups, or other hot entrees warm for up to five hours, and keep yogurt, fruit, and other perishables cold even longer (up to seven hours).

Favorite Bento Box (Cold-Friendly): Bentgo Chill Lunch Box

We love a tool that multitasks, and this lunch box with a built-in cooling pack has everything you need to send perishable lunch items to camp or school. Just freeze the ice pack insert overnight, then snap it into the lunch box’s frame and easily pack anything that needs to stay cool.

Favorite Lunchbag/Lunchbox: Ali+Oli Silicone Bento Box

Slide this 32-ounce bento box into any larger lunch bag, or use it in the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher with ease. The matching lid fits securely on top (although not so securely that you should pack true liquids inside this box), and we love that it has only three compartments, giving you enough room for hearty portions without all the pressure of a ton of little spaces to fill.

Favorite Placemat: Busy Baby Original Mat with Toy Straps

A placemat that stops your baby from immediately throwing their toys as far from the high chair as possible? We’re only mad this wasn’t invented sooner. This silicone mat has four suction cups on the bottom and can stick to surfaces like high chair trays and restaurant tables. But that’s not all — it also comes with “tethers” to keep your baby’s favorite toys within reach for the entire course of your “relaxing” meal out. Double-check that it works with your high chair before you buy — the site lists certain brands, like Stokke, Lalo, and Mockingbird, that aren’t compatible.

Favorite Learning Tower: Guidecraft Kitchen Helper FLEX

If you want a learning tower that won’t take over your entire kitchen, but will allow your toddler to “do it self!” while helping you bake that cake for their birthday, here it is. Foldable and capable of supporting up to 200 pounds, this is an easy-to-store kitchen tool that gives toddlers and preschoolers a chance to get involved with preparing food and more (and can be used as a step stool by adults as well).

Favorite High Chair: Evenflo Eat and Grow 4-in-1 Convertible High ChairWe’ve tried lots of high chairs over the years and have very rarely actually been impressed by any of them. This is a surprising exception. The price point is stellar, and the chair itself is simple but comfortable, dependable, and easy to clean. It also breaks down into a chair-and-table set once your kid’s outgrown their high chair days.

Favorite Travel High Chair: Colugo Clip-On High Chair

We’ve been those parents white-knuckling an Airbnb weekend without a high chair, and let’s just say it’s a whole lot more enjoyable for everyone when there’s one of these packable seats involved. With arms that clip firmly to tables and counters (just make sure the surface in question fits the specifications), this is a wonderful space-saving mealtime solution. It’s designed for babies and toddlers weighing up to 37 pounds, and as long as you don’t mind cleaning the fabric surface (it’s not washing-machine safe), it wouldn’t make a bad everyday chair, either.

Favorite Ride-On Toy: Nuby Rock ‘N Ride

A modern spin on the classic rocking horse, this waterproof foam toy gives you three play options, and makes switching between them incredibly easy. Switch out the bases to move between the rocking horse, ride-on horse, and floor scooter options, and watch your little one glide around the house with ease.

Favorite Creative Toy: Melissa & Doug Scoop & Serve Ice Cream Counter

This ice cream counter is a classic pretend play toy that’s likely to stick around the playroom long past the toddler years. With everything from cones, scoops, and toppings to pretend money and a menu, it has everything you need for a fun-filled afternoon, and the scooping tool is so satisfying that you’ll likely enjoy playing with it, too.

Favorite Coloring Toy: Do A Dot Art! Markers

More interesting than a box of crayons or regular markers, but not particularly fancy, these washable and non-toxic tools are a great addition to your at-home art supply collection. Your littlest kids can have fun just planting colored dots all over some printer paper, while more advanced kids can create intricate posters or murals, all with the same box of markers.

Favorite Building Toys: Magna-Tiles

Magna-Tiles aren’t cheap, but consider these an investment in years of play — you’re likely to amass a decent collection throughout your kids’ toddlerhood. If you haven’t started that collection yet, add this to your list (or request it as a birthday gift from the grandparents who won’t stop asking what your kids need). Even with a small collection, the building possibilities — from houses and castles to cars, slides, and playgrounds for all your mini figurines — are endless.

Favorite Play Furniture: Nugget Couch

Nugget only makes three products — this play couch, plus a matching ottoman and armchair — and they’re not cheap. But if you stretch the price over the many years of use you’re bound to get from your Nuggets, they start to look pretty reasonable. Lounge, build forts, even sleep on these couches (then easily wash the covers for a refresh) — they are so adaptable that you’ll soon want to add them to your collection.

Favorite Educational Books: Lovevery Early Reader Club

Our toddlers keep coming back to Lovevery’s board books that help them explore everyday moments both simple and complex, and this early reader club is a great way to access a steady supply of new material if you’re not ready to commit to the full Lovevery play sets. Every few months up until age 4, you’ll get a new crop of reads exploring everything from doctor visits and birthdays to lying and big feelings.

Favorite Book Series: Little Blue Truck Books

The original Little Blue Truck book will beep-beep its way into your heart pretty quickly, so the good news is that there are plenty more where that came from — from Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day editions to versions about school and bedtime.

Favorite Musical Toy: Manhattan Toy Musical Llama

This compact musical toy packs a lot of options into one small, cute piece of toy-box real estate. It has a xylophone, clackers, a removable maraca, scrapeable ridges, and more, and it looks very pretty on a shelf (or, more likely, in the middle of the floor).

Favorite Puzzles: Little Buffalo Puzzle Set

If you’ve got a little puzzler on your hands, this eight-pack of sweet puzzles from Little Buffalo will give you plenty of playtime material. The wooden puzzles come with a storage rack, and have colorful artwork featuring animals, space, the alphabet, and more.

Favorite Tech Toy: Yoto Mini

The Yoto Mini is a tech toy, but a screen-free one, making it a happy medium between the self-directed exploration you’re trying to encourage and the screens your kids might simultaneously be pestering you for. Stock up on cards that help them play music, podcasts, audiobooks, and more, and let them plan their own quiet-time playlist that’s educational and relaxing at the same time. The brand new fourth-generation edition was released too late for testing, but worth checking out as well.

Favorite Busy Board: Melissa & Doug Vroom & Zoom Interactive Dashboard

Be warned: You may be hearing the blinker on this interactive car dashboard for years and years to come. But it’s worth it for the joy this toy brings to little car fans everywhere. With a steering wheel, ignition, radio, GPS, and (of course) a horn, this has everything your kiddo needs for life in the imaginary fast lane.

Favorite Travel Toy: Melissa & Doug Water Wow!

All you need to do is fill the included paintbrush with water, then your littlest copilots can color pre-drawn scenes (then watch them dry up, and repeat) all day without making a mess. It’s so oddly satisfying that you might find yourself asking for a turn, and you’ll definitely see why these have become longtime travel day staples for more than one Skimm mom.

Favorite Outdoor Toy: Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Toddler Water Table

The siren call of this water table to toddlers everywhere is really something to behold, and it’s why you’ll see this in just about any place little kids like to hang out. For under $85, you get a two-tiered table with lots of accessories and a plug at the bottom for easy drainage when the weather gets cold. It’s easy to clean and store so you can bring it out again year after year.

Favorite Balance Toy: Woom Balance Bikes

A balance bike is a great way to get your kids comfortable with moving on two wheels, and Woom has three varieties, designed to suit kids from 9 months all the way to 4.5 years. Pick the one best suited to your child’s age, experience level and height, and get practicing so they can transition to pedal-powered bikes with ease.

Favorite Pool Toys: Robo Alive Robo Fish

Your kids won’t be the only ones impressed by these realistic fish toys, which start swimming (and change color) on contact with water. Use them in the pool, the bath, or a tabletop water tank just for fun on a rainy day.

Favorite Goggles: Speedo Kids' Swim Goggles Sunny G

These aviator-style sunglass goggles are bound to get your little one tons of compliments (the sunglass resemblance is mainly for show, but the tinted lenses don’t hurt on sunny days at the beach). The strap is comfortable and easy to adjust, too.

Favorite Water Safety Item: Sporti Progressive Swim Pack

This basic, under-$10, non-inflatable tool is all you need for swimmers still gaining their confidence. It’s what our kids have used in swim lessons for years, and we like to keep one in the car all summer long, since you never know when a swimming opportunity might arise.

Favorite Stuffed Animal: Steiff Elmar Teddy Bear

You may not have realized that there’s such a thing as an investment teddy bear, but they do exist — and you’re reading about one right now. This foot-tall handmade bear is the perfect size for cuddling, has poseable limbs, and comes from a company that’s been selling teddy bears for well over 100 years.

Favorite Restaurant Toys: Hunloot Magnetic Building Blocks

It’s easy to underestimate the power of a go-to restaurant toy — until suddenly you’re stuck waiting 20 minutes for your order, with a hangry toddler next to you and a dining room full of people who’ve apparently never met a human child before. It can all be avoided (maybe not always, but often) with a little distraction like this. This 35-piece set of magnetic building blocks comes in themes like farm animals and video games, and should be just distracting enough to hold off that mac and cheese related meltdown by a few minutes at least.

Favorite Baby Doll: Gigglescape 14” Baby Doll

In a world where baby dolls can easily cost upwards of $50, this $10 baby from Target (which comes in a boy version, too) is a steal for the price, and surprisingly durable. You can keep it simple, or fully accessorize with a stroller, crib, high chair, and more.

Favorite Dependable Birthday Gift: MindWare Butterfly Floor Puzzle

When those birthday party invites start coming in thick and fast, it can’t hurt to have a little stack of gifts all wrapped and waiting for you in an out-of-the-way closet. This puzzle is a perfect one to stock up on: no loud or messy elements to annoy other parents, and a cute design that should get little ones excited once the wrapping paper comes off.

Favorite Educational Toy: VTech Count On Me Self-Checkout Cash Register

The basic cash register toy of your youth has gotten a major upgrade. Now the next generation of little shoppers and store owners can practice with this comprehensive set including everything from groceries, play money, and an item scanner to a tap-to-pay PIN pad.

Favorite Convertible Car Seat: Graco® SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 Slim Car Seat

Instead of investing in multiple car seats to suit your changing needs over the years, get this Graco, which will grow with your child from 5 to 100 pounds, and works as a rear-facing seat, forward-facing seat, and high-backed booster. It’s also designed to fit three-across, so if you have multiple kids to fit in the same car, it’s a no-brainer.

Favorite Mattress Cover: SafeRest Premium Mattress Protector

One Skimm’r writes, “This has kept my son's mattress dry despite many nighttime accidents.” And that’s pretty much the best recommendation a mattress cover can get. Breathable and machine-washable, it’s available in sizes ranging from crib to California king.

Favorite Pull-On Training Underwear: Huggies Pull-Ups

These pull-ups are perfect for when your little one has cracked the daytime part of potty training, but still prefers a diaper at night. Fragrance-free, paraben-free, and hypoallergenic, they even have a new “learning layer” that feels wet while preventing leaks, helping little ones ultimately transition to underwear.

Favorite Cotton-Lined Diaper: 100% Cotton-Liner, Chlorine-Free Diapers

For parents who are cloth-diaper-curious, Kudos has a lot to get excited about: These diapers are made with 100% cotton liners, and free from parabens, phthalates, fragrance, lotions, and chlorine. But since they’re still disposable, you get the convenience of throwing that poopy blowout directly into the trash. Call it the best of both worlds.

Favorite Stain Remover: OxiClean Max Force

We love both this stain remover and Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater spray. Both work effectively on stains of all kinds, but if your kiddos are staining up a storm, it’s hard to beat OxiClean’s price point.

Favorite Sheets: Pillowfort Cotton Kids’ Sheet Sets

Putting a child’s first “real” bed together can get expensive, once you factor in a bed frame, mattress, and a couple of sheet sets (between nighttime accidents, unexpected sickness, and the occasional messy bedtime snack, you definitely need at least two). So these Pillowfort sheet sets from Target, which have fun patterns, are 100% cotton, and start at just $25 for a twin set, really come in clutch.

Favorite Potty Training Product: OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty

Even long after the official “potty training” days are over, you’ll be thankful for this portable travel potty, which is easy to throw in the car or the stroller for playground emergencies. It’s not nearly as gross as it sounds, since you use it with disposable plastic bags that have an absorbent pad inside, and you can fold up the legs and place it on top of a regular toilet to help little kids feel comfortable indoors, too.

Favorite Babyproofing Products: Pom Strap Lock

For babyproofing products that don’t look like they were designed by people determined to make your living spaces as ugly as possible, look to Pom. These silicone strap locks keep a low profile, and can go on any drawer or cabinet you need to keep toddlers out of.

Favorite Toothbrush: Dr. Brown's Infant-to-Toddler Training Toothbrush

These adorable animal-themed toothbrushes stand up on their own, and have soft bristles perfect for little kids aged 0-3. Your toddler might still need some help with brushing, but chances are they’ll want to do it themselves when these cute creatures are along for the ride.

Favorite Lovey: Lucy Darling Little Animal Lover Security Blanket

These soft little loveys are the sweetest gift for any baby or toddler. With animal faces and very cuddle-able fleece fabric, they’re bound to earn a place in any crib or big kid bed.

Favorite Toddler Clothes – Affordable: Target Cat & Jack

Between spills of the food and the playground variety, toddler clothes get put to the test on a daily basis. So when you’re building out a wardrobe for your preschooler, affordable staples that hold up well (but can be discarded when necessary) are a must. And Cat & Jack makes tons of them — from $5 leggings we buy on repeat to pants with reinforced knees and beyond.

Favorite Toddler Clothes – Expensive: Mini Boden

When we’re looking to invest in pricier clothes for picture day, family photos, holiday celebrations, and more, Mini Boden is always one of our first stops. No boring, basic dresses and sweaters here — these are dress-up clothes with personality, tons of color, and a little added British flair. 

Favorite Sneakers: Ten Little Sneakers

Cute enough to make you wish you could buy toddler sneakers for the rest of your life, but also neutral enough to go with any outfit (even the unhinged sweaters your great-aunt buys once a quarter), these APMA-accepted sneakers are a reliable addition to your little one’s shoe closet.

Favorite PJs: Little Sleepies

For PJs so soft you’ll covet them for yourself (don’t worry — it’s a wish that can come true), Little Sleepies is one of our go-tos. With vibrant patterns ranging from holiday designs to whimsical all-season prints, and bamboo viscose fabric that stretches to fit longer than more structured pairs from other brands, these PJs have a lot to recommend them.

Favorite Swimwear: Hanna Andersson

For high-quality swimwear in bright colors and fun prints, Hanna Andersson delivers year after year. They also carry a good variety of styles, so whether you’re looking for two-pieces, rash guards, or swim-practice-ready one-pieces, you’ll find them here. It’s just a bonus that they’ll look great in all your summer photos.

Favorite Backpack: L.L.Bean Junior Original Book Pack

You may recognize these bags fondly from your own childhood, and they’re classics for a reason. Their basic, durable construction and approachable price point make them a favorite for us year after year.

Favorite Backpack: Atgark Toddler Backpack

With two spots for water bottles and plenty of room, this even-more-affordable backpack (in the small size) is another great school or camp pick for kids under 5. You have tons of color combinations to choose from, and it’s machine-washable, too.

Favorite Winter Jacket: Patagonia Baby Snow Pile Jacket

At almost $160, this certainly isn’t a cheap kids’ winter jacket, but it holds up well season to season (order a size up to ensure you can use it for two years running). Patagonia’s “ironclad guarantee” also means you don’t have to worry about the zipper breaking after just a few months.

Favorite Event Wear: Janie & Jack Dresses

For fashion-forward pieces that are the right mix of grown-up and adorable (not to mention bound to attract compliments right and left), we’ll always come back to Janie & Jack. Particularly around the holiday season, we can’t get enough of their heirloom-worthy dresses, sweaters, suits, and more.

Favorite Rain Gear: Cuddle Club Toddler Rain Suit

Proud parents of puddle jumpers, let us introduce you to the full-body rain suit of your kids’ dreams. It’s waterproof, dries quickly, and has a zipper going more than halfway down the body so that it’s not impossible to get on and off in a pinch.

Favorite Snow Boots: L.L.Bean Kids' Northwoods Boots

It’s tempting to just order the fastest-shipping kids’ snow boots when there’s a big storm on the horizon and you forgot to size up. But if you can plan ahead, you’ll be glad you invested in these hand-me-down-worthy boots. Their height (and drawcord) work to keep snow out of your little ones’ socks, while two sets of polyester felt liners are removable for faster drying.

Favorite Bath Toys: Skip Hop Baby Bath Toy Buckets

Bath toys don’t have to sing, move, or do jumping jacks to earn a favored spot on the side of the tub — most of the time, kids will appreciate just about any opportunity to dump water from one receptacle into another. This set of five sweet animal-themed buckets will let them do just that.

Favorite Hair Care: Fairy Tales Hair Products + Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo & Body Wash

For hair care that works well, smells good (but not in an overpowering way), and addresses a variety of situations, from post-pool conditioning to curly hair care and repelling lice, the full suite of Fairy Tales is a tried-and-tested Skimm’r favorite.

For dandruff and cradle cap specifically, we love Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy, which can be used on both the scalp and skin, and is free from fragrances, dyes, phthalates, and parabens.

Favorite Sunscreen: Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen

Blue Lizard has been a favorite brand for us for years, and this mineral formula designed for sensitive skin has all the protection you need. It doesn’t have fragrances, parabens, or phthalates, but does have moisturizing organic aloe.

Favorite Mouthwash: ACT Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse

Nothing too fancy here, just an under-$5 way to know your kids are doing everything possible to keep their mouth hygiene on track. With three different flavor options and fluoride for tooth protection, this can help keep breath fresh (and keep cavity-filling appointments off your calendar).

Favorite Toothpaste: Hello Unicorn Sparkle Fluoride Toothpaste

In our experience, finding a toothpaste flavor that’s popular with multiple members of the same household can be tricky, and this one — whether because it’s inherently better tasting, or just has more interesting unicorn packaging — has done the trick for us. It also has the fluoride we’re looking for in a kids’ toothpaste.

Favorite Brush: Wet Brush Original Detangler Hairbrush

Brushing a toddler’s hair isn’t typically the highlight of anyone’s day, which is why when we find a hairbrush that inspires noticeably less whining, we’ll never gatekeep. As a bonus, this Wet Brush is both affordable and equally good for grown-up hair.