Most days I can’t believe it, but I’m the mother of a 2-year-old, even though I still call Elliott my baby. He’s a full-blown toddler. Talking, screaming, running, and everything in between. Despite how little they are, they still need a ton of things. I mean, this kid has stuff and then more stuff. Of course, whenever I buy anything for him, I do a ton of research because I want to make sure I’m buying the best. I’m saving you some of the guesswork and sharing my 8 favorite toddler must-haves! Thank me later. 🙂
Toddler Must-Haves
Toothbrush: Right around the age of 1 is when you really have to start brushing your little one’s teeth. We used a wet washcloth in the past, but at 1, we introduced training toothpaste and a real brush. I went through countless options, finger brushes, cartoon brushes, etc. Nothing worked. It was too hard to use and Elliott was not a fan. I heard about this toothbrush from Jean at Extra Petite and had to purchase it right away. Don’t even waste your money on the other options. This is my favorite toddler toothbrush. It comes with 2 brush heads (infant and toddler), and you can purchase more replacements. It’s a gentle electric toothbrush with a 2-minute brushing timer. The best part is that it lights up when brushing, so you can really see what you are doing.
Suction Divided Plate: In addition to brushes, I’ve gone through countless plates. I’m not sure why every toddler’s favorite thing to do is to throw their plate, but it is extremely frustrating. Most of the “suction” plates we tried our toddler easily picked them up. Either he is the hulk, or all of our other plates sucked until my friend recommended this one. It suctions so well my adult hands can barely lift it. Highly recommend it if you are looking for a gorilla glue-like suction. It has 3 main dividers and a middle option: winner, winner, chicken dinner.
Car Mirror: Whenever I post pictures or videos from the car, I always get a question on Instagram regarding our round mirror that we use for the car. This is our favorite. It stays put and doesn’t fall. We get a great view of our little one, and it’s usually under $15! Looks simple and clean in the car, unlike some of the other bulky options.
Footmuff for stroller: We live in Wisconsin, so it feels like it’s winter, about 9 out of 12 months. On top of that, we are all living through a pandemic and really not going out much. Our main source of leaving the house is going on walks or to the zoo. I always grab our footmuff with us during the colder months. I have 3 strollers and footmuffs for each one. It’s so nice not to pack a blanket and then deal with our toddler kicking it off. We even packed it with us the last time we vacationed as a family. We took a cruise with our son in December 2019 and used the footmuff on the BABYZEN Yo-Yo. Check out cruising with a baby post here. We also have a cover for our Bugaboo. These footmuffs historically are a little pricier, but they are extremely warm, comfortable, and convenient. I really want an adult-sized version.
Bath toy: If your toddler is anything like mine, they love taking baths! My little guy could sit in there all day if I let him. He loves playing with water and water toys. Yookidoo has fantastic toys for bath time. We also love this one!
Braun thermometer: Ever since Elliott was a baby, he’s run fevers frequently. We’ve gone through a few different kinds of thermometers and found accuracy issues with each one, this one being an exception. We’ve found that this is by far the best thermometer we have tried. Because it’s an in-ear version, they provide reusable covers for use. It was a little hard to find earlier this year with COVID, but it’s back in stock. We even have a second one for the adults.
Aquaphor Lip Stick: Speaking of living in colder climates, another fun side effect is chapped lips! My son is constantly struggling with really, really chapped lips and refuses to put vaseline on. He literally screams and wipes it off until we came across these Aquaphor sticks. He loves removing the cap, applying himself (without getting his fingers sticky), and closing it back. He actually carries one around the house with him. It’s the cutest thing.
Potty Training Book: Once you hit toddlerhood, potty training is right around the corner. Typically the best time to potty train is between 20-30 months. Honestly, I hadn’t even given it any thought until a friend of mine asked if we had started. You should have seen the panic in my eyes. I didn’t even know where to start, and she recommended that I pick up this book. It’s a short read, as you really only need the first 5 chapters, but extremely helpful. The method will have your child peeing in the potty within the first week! I also recommend this potty if you are potty training a boy. It keeps the penis from spraying everywhere and is a 3 in 1 system.
Hoping these items are helpful! What are your must haves?
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