*None of these items were sponsored nor given to me as gifts. I purchased everything listed myself and tried it out extensively for months before writing this post.
Since I wrote a Newborn Essentials post I thought I’d follow it up with an Infant to Toddler one. Of course each child is different so these might not all work for you, but I’ve learned about many of these things from other moms so I hope in general you’ll find them useful for your own infant-fast-growing-into-a-toddler!
For Eating
Kids Kitchen Step Stool: One of the first things we bought for Emi at the beginning of the year was this kitchen step stool/toddler tower so that she could wash her hands in the kitchen without us having to hold her over the sink. She got big really quick so it was getting to be a strain on us holding her every time to wash her hands (we got it for her around 1 yo). At the beginning she couldn’t climb in it herself so we would just lift her up into it. Now she can climb in and it’s great. Also this has come in super handy during the pandemic because we are definitely washing her hands now more than ever. We like this specific one (recommended by Jean) because of the small footprint, thus taking up less space in the kitchen. But it’s still super sturdy.
OXO Tot Sprout Chair: We got this high chair out of the many ones out there because our friend also has it and we have seen how it has grown up with her kid. Her kid is quite rambunctious and if it could hold up to him, we knew it would totally work for our kid. And we’re glad we got this one since it’s super sturdy so even when Emi throws her weight around, we know it won’t tip over. The removable washable tabletop and removable washable seat cushions are also a plus!
Fisher Price Travel Booster Seat: For when we are traveling (or like now living in a temporary home) we have several travel high chairs we use. We have this foldable one but our favorite is the Fisher Price one that’s much lighter but still stable (this is the one we’re currently using in Hawaii). I love that this can eventually be converted to a booster seat for when she’s ready to eat at the table. This travel high chair straps into the seat quite well and fits most standard chairs.
Avanchy Bamboo Baby plate/bowl: We originally started with those silicone plates that stick to the table, however after awhile I got concerned with her eating on the plastic (it started to smell funny). So we tried out these bamboo plates and haven’t looked back since. I love bamboo for its antimicrobial quality and overall sturdiness. Plus bamboo is biodegradable and easy to grow (it doesn’t require pesticides or as much water). And the fact the plates can still suction onto the table makes it perfect for a toddler that tries to throw her plates. These also come with silicone spoons which I find have been Emi’s favorite of the bunch.
Baby Bjorn Bibs: We started with these flat nylon bibs but have had to go with the harder silicone one that actually catches the milk and food since the nylon ones weren’t cutting it (though they still come in handy as travel bibs). We got these baby Bjorn ones on another friend’s recommendation and we love it. There are some negative reviews on Amazon but they’re mostly for smaller/shorter infants. We had no issues with them since Emi was a toddler by the time we got them and they cleared the table height.
Other
Guava Lotus Travel Crib: We’re currently using this daily for Emi while we’re in Hawaii so I definitely think it’s 100% worth it! You can read my full review of the Guava Lotus Travel Crib here.
Video Monitor: So I had initially said a video monitor wasn’t really needed but a reader let me know it only really comes in handy once you start sleep training, and I have to say she was right. You want to know if your baby is crying because they’re just being generally fussy or there’s actually something going on. We also check it to see if she is up (sitting or standing in her crib) or still lying down when she cries out because that generally lets us know whether she’ll fall back to sleep eventually or she’s up for the day. We use a Nest indoor camera because we already have some nest devices, but there are a lot of different ones on the market.
1-2-3 Magic book: Emi is still months away from two but we already have the terrible two phase upon us. She is constantly testing us and seeing what she can get away with. This was one of the books recommended to us for discipline and even though at first I thought it was a little ridiculous for a pretty simple concept (the whole book is about counting to 3 and then giving some kind of disciplinary action like a time out), I appreciate the details and different scenarios it presents on when and how to discipline. I gotta say it works pretty well and I’m glad we started this early on so that Emi knows certain bad behaviors will get a time out. It has also cut down on the shouting in this household.
For Fun/Learning
Water Table: We got this water table at the beginning of the pandemic and it has proven to be one of our best purchases of the year. Since we don’t have a pool but Emi loves water, this thing has provided tons of backyard fun. It is a lot of plastic so we hope that when Emi grows out of it, we will be able to pass it along to another toddler to get full use out of it.
Rash Guard/Swimwear: I purchased several swimsuits at Carters but never liked who little coverage they provided. So I got a tip from another mother who said that Amazon has some good ones, and she’s right. I love how loose fitting this rash guard is (but not so much that she’s swimming in it, lol pun intended). But enough that it’s comfortable and it provides full coverage of her neck and arms (and a bit of her legs too). When Emi outgrows this one I fully intend to buy the same thing in the next size up.
The Nugget: I raved about it in my review of the Nugget here and I still stand by my decision that it’s 100% worth it.
Lovevery Play Kits: Even after 2 years we’re still getting the Play Kits (albeit not every single one). As I said in my Lovevery Play Kits review, I still think they’re worth it and a good buy for your kid (especially during a pandemic where you might not be sending your kid to daycare).
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