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With 5 kids under 10 years old, life gets hectic and messy. These 5 products help save my sanity on a frequent and daily basis. These are my must have kid products that I don’t want to live without.
I got tired of having twenty cups pulled out of the drawer, used for a half a second, and then left all over the kitchen. We got our kids these Contigo Water Bottles and used a Label Maker to put their names on them. You could also let them decorate their own with stickers (might come off or fade in the dishwasher), or purchase different colors for each child. I prefer the stainless steel ones that I linked, because it keeps water cool for longer than the plastic. We love being able to grab them to bring in the car or take to the park quickly because they are always sitting on the counter ready to use.
Our bedtime routine is busy getting multiple kids in pajamas, teeth brushed, flossed, mouthwash, journals, stories, prayers, kiss, and tucked in. I want to make sure my kids have good oral hygiene, but needed to let the older ones take responsibility for their own teeth. These tablets help them learn how to brush well and get rid of ALL the plaque. We usually use one every other week, or so, to make sure they don’t start slacking!
3. Comfortable Walking Sandals
These shoes are one of the most versatile and comfortable kid shoes I have found. Each of my kids owns a pair. They are great for walks, hiking, splash pads, water parks, playgrounds, etc. They can get wet and dry out quickly, but also have good grip in the soles. There are many color options. I also like that they are closed toe, and have an adjustable heel strap. I have not had any problems with the velcro and typically my kids grow out of them before they wear out.
Organization!!! I have tried many different systems with toys. The exploded toy room seems to by my kids’ favorite, but I prefer an organized method. These smaller bins work well for a lot of our toy sets, but these larger ones are nice for building blocks, train tracks, or larger toy sets. Again, use a label maker or put sticker labels so the kids know how to clean up!
“I’m hungry” and “Can I have a snack?” are two of the most commonly spoken phrases in my house. I like to have healthy and grab-able options for these occasions. These containers sit on the bottom shelf in my pantry, so my kids can reach everything on their own. Some ideas of what I keep on hand are pretzels, granola bars/fruit bars, dried cranberries, mixed nuts, dried mangoes, trail mix, and, let’s be honest…chocolate chips! I also try to keep apples on the counter and string cheese in the fridge.
These 5 kid products make my life run more smoothly with lots of children in my house.
What are some of your parenting ‘must-haves’?