Toddler Must Haves – Toddler Essentials
We put so much thought, research and time into our baby registry and what we need for our newborns. I can’t even believe how much time I wasted spent thinking about which car seat and stroller to buy! Our first year flies by (remember, “the days are long, but the years are short”) and suddenly we have a toddler. Since I worked in the mom and baby retail space before having kids, I was aware of many of these products. I know that we are all short of time as parents, and so hope this list provides helpful products for you and your child.
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1. Step Stools
Steps stools are essential. We all know that toddlers love doing this on their own, and a step stool allows for this while also encouraging things we want – using the sink (washing hands and brushing teeth) and using the toilet. I keep 2 step stools in the bath (a shorter one for using the toilet and a taller one for using the sink) and one step stool in the kitchen for my kids to wash their hands after meals.
If you are short on space, you don’t need 2 stools in the bathroom, but we needed different height stools for both, we have the space and my son constantly needs to wash his hands so moving the stool all the time was not ideal.
Single Step Stool
A single step stool with one step works best for us with our toilet height, but you may want to measure to see what works best in your home. Single step stools also tend to be a bit wider which gives kids more room to maneuver when using the toilet.
We like the Bumbo Step Stool. The stool is sturdy, the rubber grip on top means it is not slippery, and it is easy to wash in case of accidents since it is plastic.
Double Step Stool
We use 2-step stools for the bathroom and kitchen sinks. We use a plastic step stool for our kids to use while brushing their teeth and washing their hands in the bathroom. For the kitchen, I wanted a nicer looking stool so bought the Battat Wooden Stool for there. Given that we are encouraging constant hand washing all the time these days giving kids easy access is important.
Kitchen Stool (Nice to Have)
Many kids love watching their parents in the kitchen and the Learning Tower is a great stool that safely allows them to do this. It is sturdy and my daughter enjoys being able to see what I am doing while I am cooking. The Learning Tower is pricey. We bought ours second hand from another mom in our neighborhood.
2. Books, Books & More Books
This is a great time to expand your child’s library with a variety of books. Your child may seem young, but I would find my toddler kids sitting in the playroom flipping through their books alone all of the time. I credit our early reading with both of my children knowing all of their letters by 22 months, and my son starting to read at 3.5 years old. Here is our list of favorites.
If you don’t have the budget for many, pick a few that you really like and then use your library for more. Even during these times our library is open for pickups with a online hold process.
3. Plastic Bibs
Toddlers are messy eaters and the Bumkins Plastic Bibs are perfect for them – they are big and easy to wash. I have two 3-packs of these bibs which gets me through the week. I quickly hand rinse them after meals and let them dry on the drying rack to re-use, and then throw them in the washing machine weekly.
I also have one of the same bib with short sleeves which I use if my daughter is in a nice dress and I want to protect more of her clothing.
4. Snack Cups
These Munchkin Snack Cups are great – I can give my kids their snacks in a BPA-free, spill proof, and easy to carry container that I can easily wash in the dishwasher and reuse. If you prefer stainless steel to plastic, they also make this version that is equally great.
5. Munchkin Miracle Cup
These cups are genius. My kids were using them to drink water before they were one, and we skipped the whole sippy cup phase altogether (many dentists recommend avoiding sippy cups). Essentially the Miracle Cup allows your child to drink as they would from a regular cup, except they have a lid and the child presses down slightly to allow the water to come out. We used these for a while, and they allowed for a very easy transition to a regular cup. I love the Miracle Cup.
They also make a larger version of the cup and a stainless steel one if that is your preference.
6. Potty Training Seat or Potty Chair
I would recommend that you buy a potty seat or chair early. We started putting my son on a potty seat that would fit on top of our toilet when he was around 1 year old. I only put him on it a few times a week, and if he ever did go to the bathroom it was lucky timing, but it got him used to the seat so that he was not scared when we were ready to potty train. The seat was easy and required no extra cleaning…I really didn’t want another thing to clean pee and poop off of! However, my daughter does not like sitting on the seat and so we also have a chair trainer for her. Either option is fine – pick what fits best for your child.
Potty Training Seat Recommendation
The BabyBjorn Trainer Seat is my favorite seat because it has an adjustment on the bottom that allows a more snug and secure fit to the toilet. This is important because toddlers tend to wiggle around, but this seat will stay in place unlike another cheaper seat that I have that doesn’t have this feature.
Potty Recommendation
There are 2 great options for Potty Chairs. My daughter tends to want to copy everything her older brother does, so we bought the Summer Infant Potty that looks like a toilet. We keep the toilet in the bathroom and my daughter sits on it next to me (while fully clothed) when I am going to the bathroom. Having toddlers = no privacy ever!
Many parents also like the BabyBjorn Smart Potty because it is compact and well designed. This is another very popular and recommended option.
7. Cordless Vacuum
Life with a toddler means constant crumbs and food on the floor. Our cordless vacuum is a lifesaver. We have the Dyson v10 Absolute (the absolute model comes with a soft head roller for hardwood floors), but really any of their models are great.
- Dyson V11 (Newest Model) – This is Dyson’s most powerful vacuum with the largest bin capacity. It is an awesome vacuum, but also their most expensive. If this fits within you budget, it’s a great pic – if not, see below.
- Dyson v10 – This model is a bit cheaper than the v11, but also great for cleaning. As mentioned, we have the v10 Absolute model, but the Dyson v10 Animal is also very popular.
If you are looking for a less expensive cordless option, the Dyson v8 is a great model that you can often find for a great price because it is an older model.
8. Faucet Extender
A faucet extender allows the water to get to where little hands need it to be. Even with a step stool most toddlers still need help at the bathroom sink. Given that we want to do everything, especially these days, to make it easier for toddlers to wash their hands, this is an inexpensive, but very helpful tool.
9. Table and Chairs Set
I love having as mall table and chairs set for my kids. We use it for arts and crafts, snacks, virtual school/homeschooling and anything else really. We went with a white and natural wood color one from Amazon, but there are many options. Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel have great options, but they were more than I wanted to spend. I’ve included a few selections from brands I like below – Go with the style, color and price that suits you best.
Melissa & Doug Table & Chairs Set
This is a simple, classic table and 2 chair set from a trusted brand. Parents say assembly isn’t too bad, and it fits toddlers well. The table set also comes in a natural wood or grey The dimensions of the set are 20” H x 23.5” W x 20.5”D.
Melissa & Doug also makes the set with 4 chairs in pastel or primary colors.
Kidkraft Modern Table and Chairs
Kidkraft is another popular brand for kids tables. We have this table set with 2 chairs and it works well. The table measures 23.5″ L x 23.5″ W x 19″ H.
10. Toddler Toothbrush
My favorite toddler toothbrush is the Radius Totz Toothbrush because it has soft bristles, a large enough toothbrush head, is specially designed for toddler mouths, and is BPA free. My kids also like picking from their fun colors.
