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The 8 Products Parents Should Have But Might Not

Robot vacuum cleaning kitchen/kids with smart watches around a campfire/toilet seat cover
iRobot/Relyo/XPLORA

As a parent, you can never be too prepared. Between diaper bags, toys, snacks, and just about everything in between, you’ve got a lot of parenting essentials to lug around with you. But, have you ever thought about what you might be missing?

There are plenty of parenting products that could make your life easier and more helpful. Whether you’re looking for an item that’s basically one purchasable parenting hack or are concerned you’re forgetting a must-have, let’s take a look at a few of the products you should have but might not.

First Aid Kit

First aid kit/woman putting bandage on man's knee
Be Smart Get Prepared

The last thing you want is to be scrambling for bandages or medicine when your child gets injured. A family first aid kit is a great way to always be prepared for anything. It’s a good rule of thumb to have one at home and one you can take with you in the car. If you have kids, you know that accidents can happen anytime and anywhere!

Be Smart Get Prepared First Aid Kit Hard

Be prepared with a first aid kit for the whole family.

Electronic Writing and Doodle Pad

Little boy drawing on doodle pad/series of electronic doodle pads
KOKODI

Many parents want to reduce the amount of screen time their kids get, but what do you do when they’re yelling from the back seat that they’re bored? Try an enrichment activity instead, like an electronic writing and doodle pad.

While it’s still an electronic device, it allows your child to use their imagination and creativity to draw and write whatever their heart desires. They’ll love the way their artwork “pops” on the screen. Plus, there’s no mess to clean up. With the press of a button, they can start over again.

KOKODI Kids Toys LCD Writing Tablet

An enriching toy for creative kids.

Drywall Repair Kit

Small hole repair tool being used to patch wall
3M

Elementary-age children can sometimes feel like little tornadoes. Accidents happen, and kids play rough. Your house doesn’t need to bear the brunt of it.

A small, simple drywall repair kit can work wonders for any nicks and scratches in the walls, so you can feel better the next time your little one wants to swing around a plastic sword in the hallway.

Disposable Toilet Seat Covers

Little boy sitting on toilet/toilet seat cover
Relyo

Can we all agree that some public bathrooms are, well…kind of gross?

While you can’t completely protect your child from germs, you can keep things a little bit cleaner and safer by toting along some disposable toilet seat covers. They come in plenty of fun colors and can be tossed away after each use.

Not only will they make things safer for your kids, but they’ll protect toilet seats from newly potty-trained toddlers who haven’t yet mastered their “aim”.

Reusable Sandwich Bags

Reusable sandwich/snack bags
GLAMFIELDS

There’s no rule that says you can’t be a super parent and do something good for the planet, too. Whether your kid or teenager is a snack-a-holic or you’re trying to keep the diaper bag more organized, reusable sandwich bags are great for toting food or small trinkets. When your child is done, you can simply wash the bag and reuse it, rather than throwing away a ton of plastic.

GLAMFIELDS Reusable Sandwich Bags

The perfect bags for snacks on the go.

A Car Trash Can

Trash bin attached to the back of a car seat
HOTOR

Does your vehicle look a little bit like a dumpster sometimes? Between snack wrappers, fast food bags, toys, and discarded schoolwork, it’s easy for the trash to add up when you’re toting kids and teens around.

You can easily remedy that issue with a car trash can. Not only will it keep your vehicle clean, but it will teach your kids how to clean up after themselves. It’s also a great gift idea for your teenager if they’re about to get their driver’s license.

HOTOR Car Trash Can with Lid and Storage Pockets,

Keep your car clean and clutter-free.

A Watch Phone

Smart watch phone for kids/kids with watches around campfire
XPLORA

You might not be ready to get your child a cell phone, but if they’re starting to spend more time with friends or getting involved with after-school activities, it’s important for them to stay safe. Being able to get ahold of them is a necessity.

This watch phone covers your bases. It can send and receive texts and calls, and it also features a GPS tracker, an SOS function, and a camera. Your kids/pre-teens will love showing it off, and you can have peace of mind knowing you’re “with” them wherever they go.

While the watch does require a monthly subscription, it’s well worth it to keep track of your kids when you’re not with them.

XPLORA XGO 2 Watch Phone for Children

A smart device you can feel good about.

Robot Vacuum

Robot vacuum cleaning kitchen/robot vacuum on charger
iRobot

Maybe you’ve been reluctant to give in to the Roomba hype, but when you have kids, a robot vacuum is well worth it! Between running to baseball practice, piano lessons, work, making dinner, and the 10,000 other tasks you have to take care of each day, vacuuming might not always happen.

A robot vacuum takes care of that. You can program it quickly, track it from your phone, and come home to clean floors every day.

iRobot Roomba i3

Need a robot vacuum that can obliterate pet hair in your home? This one is specially designed for the job.


There are plenty of ingenious, unique items that can make parenting a little bit easier on a daily basis. Some will be beneficial for your kids, some will help your entire household.

Try some of these products out if you’re into helpful hacks or if you just need a little more convenience in your life. You might be surprised by how useful they really are!

Stacey Koziel Stacey Koziel
Stacey Koziel is a news writer at LifeSavvy. She's worked as a freelance writer for over ten years, focusing on family and lifestyle content. She also has a background in marketing and social media, and is always eager to talk (and write!) about the latest TikTok trends. Read Full Bio »
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