This Gear is Toddler Approved — And You’ll Love it, Too

I was originally skeptical of the Inglesina Fast Table Chair due to how many I saw on Facebook Marketplace, but this has easily turned out to be one of my favorite gifts from our registry. It’s worth every penny to have your toddler be right next to you (while contained… I said it) at a restaurant or even at home to help with kitchen activities. Beyond being a great learning opportunity for your kiddo, the high chair comes in 9 colors and supports up to 37 lbs, meaning your kiddo can likely use it for a while!

Another product I was skeptical of is the Strider Balance Bike. At $139.99 for the base model, the Strider 12 Sport, it’s not a cheap toy by any means. That being said, I do think it’s worth it. Not only does it create a nice entry point to teaching your child how to bike, it also helps teach your child balance from an early age. We admittedly started using ours at 16 months, even though the recommended age range is 18 months to 5 years, and it went great. My son can’t get enough of these “rides” & I can’t get enough of watching his confidence soar.

I don’t have this one (yet) but it's at the top of my Christmas wish list! Lots of parent friends of ours adore the Nugget couch, which is “half furniture and half play.” Designed to be sat on and creatively used during play time, it truly is a toy that’s functional in many ways. Personally, I love the way it looks, and with 15+ patterns and colors to choose from, you’re sure to find one that fits your aesthetic too.

I had parent-stuff envy for the first time the other day at the zoo — and it was over a Wonderfold Wagon. These things are truly the Rolls Royces of wagons. Sure, the price tag certainly does reflect that, but if you’ve seen them in the wild, you know that they’re stunning. With models that seat up to 4 kids, while still fitting through standard doorframes, this is the vehicle I’ll be choosing as our family continues to grow.

Sure, you’ve probably got swaddles and sleep sacks aplenty for your infant days, but what about when your kids grow up? Consider investing early in some larger sleep sacks, especially the Dream Weighted Sleep Sack ($89) from Dreamland. My toddler loves to snuggle, so the weighted sack feels like a little hug on him, even when I can’t be the one hugging.

My son is an eater — not only does he like large portions, he's somehow hungry all the time! For this mama, that means I’m constantly at the ready with food. In an effort to reduce plastic in our home, I’ve enlisted the b.box lunchbox that fits whole fruit, has leak proof compartments, and gets him excited about meal time. We brought it to the park yesterday for a playdate and it was perfect for lunch on the go.

As we get ready to welcome our second child, I’m looking for all sorts of ways to help our son feel like a “big boy.” One way I’ve thought of is to let the stroller be just for his little brother and to upgrade my son to the Doona Liki Trike. With 5 different modes and weighing in at only 14.7 pounds, this trike is a surefire, easy and fun “big kid” replacement that they’ll love, too. Read my fellow editor Julia’s  full review of the trike here.

Beloved baby brand Lalo introduced a brand new toy subscription that features gorgeous, thoughtfully-crafted toys for kids from birth to 2 years. Each box seeks to cultivate imagination, foster development, and most importantly, let your kiddo just have fun. At $90/box (or $80 when you subscribe), you’re sure to have these high-quality toys around for the long haul. But if you are ready to get rid of them, Lalo has a program that will help the toys find a new home, so they don’t go to waste.

Call me a bad mom, but I really am not a fan of character clothes for my kiddos. Maybe that’ll change as they figure out who more characters are, but mostly, I try to stay pretty basic with their clothes. Primary has been amazing for helping their wardrobe be far more versatile than a bright red character t-shirt that only goes with one pair of pants. Primary’s PJs are my favorite. At a reasonable price (think $25 for footies), you can stock up on colorful jammies that still look cute for mama, too. The colors keep my son happy and the looks (and price) keep me very happy too.

I didn’t know I could love a car seat, but here I am, head over heels for the Nuna RAVA ($550). Yes, it’s expensive for sure, but it’ll fit your kiddo up to 50 lbs and look gorgeous in the process. Most importantly, it has excellent safety reviews with its all-steel frame, reinforced belt path, and energy absorbing form for superior protection.