I can’t believe I’m even typing this, but both of my babies — aged 3 and 4.5, respectively — will be in school this fall. They’re both full-grown little people now, and while we haven’t totally put the toddler toys away, the kids’ needs are definitely changing. They’re getting more independent, seriously opinionated and terrifyingly smart. (Just like all of our kids, right?)
Of course, I’m taking advantage of Prime Day to find the best deals on all of the stuff that I need for them, whether it’s goods for summer activities or things that will help them start school on the right foot this fall. As always, I’m including a few things that help me feel sane and put together as a working mom who’s trying to maintain a shred of dignity while savoring every possible moment.
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1.
Amazon
Iris stacking storage bins (15% off list price)
I can't buy storage bins fast enough. I just spent way too much money at The Container Store on baskets for our art supplies, so this six-pack of high-capacity bins for under $65 is starting to look like a really good deal. Whether it's excess toys, clothes, artwork (!), seasonal decor, or annoying stuff that I don't want to look at but can't throw away, the list of things that can be squirreled away in these bins gets longer by the day.
2.
Amazon
A 3-in-1 convertible car seat from Graco (20% off list price)
This the exact car seat that I have for both of my kids and I have zero complaints. Aside from a brief stint with the Doona (which we also loved, but that's a story for another time), we used this with each of my kids from about six months on. You might as well get a convertible car seat that will grow with your children because they'll basically live in these things until they're like, 45. (Which is great! Safety first.)
3.
Amazon
A popular detangling brush that really works (29% off list price)
After much brush-related hemming and hawing, I did end up getting this detangling brush for my girls before a trip earlier this year, and I'm happy to say it really does work. I use it at home and when we’re traveling – even thought it's a full-size brush, it's lightweight and compact enough to fit in a small purse. I love having this on hand after we go to the pool.
4.
Amazon
A 10-pack of Swedish dishcloths (29% off list price)
Everyone is certainly sick of hearing me sing the praises of these un-smelly, endlessly reusable and hardworking cleanup cloths, so I won't say much other than to advise you to buy them. Your cleanup routine is about the change for the better.
5.
Amazon
O-Cedar RinseClean mop (26% off list price)
A professional cleaner once told me, anecdotally, that this is the best mop — and there are quite a few reviews that back this up. It's actually one of the highest-reviewed products that I have ever seen on Amazon —146,509 reviewers have given it five stars.
6.
Amazon
A set of Paw Patrol water painting books (18% off list price)
This is another parenting product that I will never shut up about, so I won't say too much today — other than please do yourself a favor and get these for your toddler or preschooler for that upcoming family reunion, dinner party, car ride or plane trip. My only critique of these activity books — which feature coloring pages that are activated with only water! — is that Melissa & Doug need to come out with more designs because my kids have exhausted what seems like every single one. (They don't, however, have this Paw Patrol set.) A ton of these are on sale today: Here is a non-branded six-pack of neutral themes like ocean life and jungle animals.
7.
Amazon
100 Magna-Tiles (30% off list price)
Magna-Tiles are freaking expensive, but they are a really beloved universal toy that kids will play with for years (at least in my experience) — and the more you have, the more craziness your kids can build, so I feel like it's worth investing in. They store well, too.
This is another item that I price-track pretty obsessively, and let me tell you this is a GOOD deal. The cost on Amazon has been holding steady at around $119 since Black Friday of last year.
This is another item that I price-track pretty obsessively, and let me tell you this is a GOOD deal. The cost on Amazon has been holding steady at around $119 since Black Friday of last year.
8.
Amazon
New Balance 515 sneakers (25% off list price)
I got a pair of these New Balances at my local shoe store recently and I will never parent in anything else. They're lightweight, easy to pack with you or carry in a bag, go with a bunch of outfits and will keep your feet happy while you're running errands or running after kids and pets. These come in a bunch of colors in women's sizes 5-12 with wide options.
9.
Amazon
Sun Bum SPF 50 roll-on sunscreen (31% off list price)
You urgently need this easy-to-apply sunscreen as much as I do, and I will definitely be buying it on Prime Day. I borrowed this from a friend on a scorching park day and marveled at the smooth and thorough application as I used the rolling tip to rub sunscreen all over my daughters' faces and arms. It's not easy to put SPF on wiggly preschoolers and this make it a little more seamless. I actually bought a similar roll-on product from another drugstore sun care brand a few weeks back when my local Walgreens was sold out of the Sun Bum, and it was definitely nowhere near as functional as this stuff. Stock up!
10.
Amazon
Supergoop Play sunscreen lotion SPF 50 (20% off list price)
You could also try this-rarely-on-sale oversized offering from a widely adored sun care brand. This easily absorbed, lightweight and white cast-free lotion for the face and body offers broad spectrum SPF 50 sun protection and a high-performance formula that stays for working for up to 80 minutes even through sweat and water. I received a container of this as a gift at a previous gig and it's lasted us forever — although it's almost time to stock up again, so the timing is perfect.
11.
Amazon
A set of two easel-sized notepads (47% off list price)
Come summer, you can never have too many huge sheets of drawing paper on hand. This bundle from Melissa & Doug features two 50-sheets packs of easel-sized paper measuring 17 by 20 inches. NOTE: this listing is for the paper not the easel.
12.
Amazon
Speedo unisex kids' swim goggles (48% off list price)
Whoa! Goggles got a sexy new upgrade when no one was looking! (They’ve probably looked like this forever and I just wasn't paying attention.) After swim lessons last summer, I learned that goggles are a.) not at all a necessity and b.) a total novelty that makes them want to get into the pool. Go figure! (My four-year-old also calls them "googles," which absolutely kills me.) This pair from Speedo comes with an adjustable strap and are designed for children aged 3-8. The eyewear-style shape comes in a ton of fun colors that kids will get a huge kick out out.
13.
Amazon
A five-quart KitchenAid stand mixer (24% off list price)
I am not a good baker at all but I do enjoy baking, and I especially love doing it with my kids. We don't need need this stand-mixer for our extremely low-maintenance go-to banana bread, but I know the girls would get a kick out of using it (and maybe I'd bake even more if I had one on hand). It's a 5-quart standing mixer that comes with a dishwasher-safe coated flat beater and coated dough hook, as well as a 6-wire whip and 1-piece pouring shield to prevent splatters. Its tilt-head design lets you add ingredients without pulling the 5-quart bowl out of its stand, and it has 10 speeds for beating, whipping and kneading.
14.
Amazon
Ninja Creami ice cream maker (25% off list price)
Another thing that would make my kids lose it? Making their own ice cream. AT HOME. Can you imagine? If I remember correctly, this thing was ultra-sold out all of last summer, so it's very cool to see it on sale today. It’s still a bit of a splurge, but it's also at its lowest price this year.
15.
Amazon
A set of three reusable Stasher bags (30% off list price)
It's a parental rule that you can never have too many Stasher bags. Snacks, toys, toiletries — every kid-related (or life-related) thing under the sun can be, well, stashed in these handy little reusable vessels. This set contains a 1-cup, 2-cup and 3-cup bag.
16.
Amazon
StriVectin crepe-correcting body moisturizer (43% off list price)
I need this now, and I hear this moisturizer is the best. The targeted body cream utilizes a patented triple-peptide blend to help improve skin's elasticity and minimize the appearance of thin, crepey skin. We've previously been told by experts that peptides are skin care ingredients that act as building blocks of proteins. Improving levels of collagen and elastin can combat skin laxity. The cream also contains murumuru seed butters to deeply hydrate, while turmeric root extract works to brighten dull and uneven skin tone. This one review was relatable: “It changed my life. [I'm] now wearing shorts.”
17.
Amazon
Bissell Little Green carpet cleaner (34% off list price)
It's honestly silly that I don't own this yet. It's been recommended to me by other team members and mom friends alike, and there's more than one rug in my house that's has more Play-Doh, Chunkies shavings, and dried avocado ground into than I'd like to admit.
18.
Amazon
768 (!) wipes from Seventh Generation (30% off list price)
I naturally took to our internal parents Slack to source some suggestions for this roundup, and the discussion turned quickly to wipes. And while my kids are definitely at the tail end of their “wipes” phases — like, no one is in diapers — I'm definitely still bringing a pack of them everywhere I go (sometimes stored in a small Stasher bag if I don't want to bring an entire pack). One HuffPost copy editor expressed interest in this insanely well-priced bundle from Seventh Generation consisting of 12 64-packs. Each package has a flip-top lid to keep the hypoallergenic wipes moist.
19.
Amazon
A 12-pack case from another really popular brand (42% off list price)
Another HuffPost editor flagged this really good deal on another popular brand of wipes. (I've used these before and also spotted them at my kids' pediatrician.) They're unscented and contain a “drop” of fruit extract. Sounds magical.
20.
Amazon
A Toniebox starter pack (41% off list price)
A few toddler parents in our Slack room debated the age-appropriate-ness of the Toniebox speaker. (Too young for a two-year-old, for example?) My children have had only brief interactions with this delightfully screen-free toy — which enables kids to play songs and stories from the speaker by placing a magnetic figurine on top — but their reactions have been quite enthusiastic, and I've been thinking about taking the plunge on one of these for quite some time. I keep pretty close tabs on the sale price for this particular bundle, and the price hasn't been this low since December of last year. This is definitely a good time to buy it.
21.
Amazon
Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck magnetic dress-up dolls (15% off list price)
We've had this magnetic set for years and I'm kind of surprised that the girls haven't outgrown it yet. Every time I'm getting ready to donate it, someone pulls it out and spends three hours (joking, never that long) painstakingly curating Minnie's 'fit. (Our set actually doesn't have Daisy and I wish it did.) This kit comes with two wooden magnetic dolls, two stands and over 40 accessories to mix and match.
22.
Amazon
A jute rug (47% off list price)
The pretty, colorful dining room rug that I painstaking spent weeks choosing is now, about two year after purchasing it, just utterly destroyed. I don't know what I was thinking then, but now I am thinking that we just need something extremely cheap and fairly durable that won't be upsetting to (respectfully) adorn with tomato sauce, avocado and macaroni and cheese on a nightly basis. This jute rug measures about six feet by nine feet and, while I really like the classic natural color, comes in a total of 12 solid colors.
23.
Amazon
A Pay-Doh bundle with a storage table and tons of accessories (25% off list price)
I will also, against my better judgement, buy more Play-Doh. Sigh.
This kid-approved set comes with an activity table, 25 Play-Doh tools and eight mini containers of Pay-Doh. Best of all, the table has two storage containers on its sides, to help keep everything in place.
This kid-approved set comes with an activity table, 25 Play-Doh tools and eight mini containers of Pay-Doh. Best of all, the table has two storage containers on its sides, to help keep everything in place.
24.
Amazon
Even more Play-Doh (29%off list price)
If you really want to torture yourself, here's enough Play-Doh to ruin every rug in your home and then some. Also a smart buy if you're hosting a birthday party anytime soon — these little jars make excellent goody-bag fodder.
25.
Amazon
Hape three-story dollhouse (60% off list price)
Our girls' besties have this exact dollhouse at their house and it's been a source of conflict at playdates in the past. (And before you question the “source of conflict” descriptor, know that that's parent shorthand for “insanely popular and hugely in demand all the time.”) I mean, how could you not have trouble sharing this thing?! It has freaking solar panels and chic midcentury lighting. (And yes, it comes with all this furniture.) This is an insanely deep discount. Time to get one for our house!
26.
Amazon
Bentgo five-compartment leak-proof lunchbox (53% off list price)
I still don't own one of these but I probably should, right? Actually, I guess I'll need two of them, since sniff both of my babies will be in school in September. Bentgo's classic five-compartment, leakproof lunchboxes will be at their lowest price of the year today. This has over 58,000 Amazon reviews and a 4.6-star rating and they are simply all over TikTok. Reviews say these are great for picky eaters, as they keep food separated and protected, so nothing gets mushy or mixed together.
27.
Amazon
Another bento-style lunch box for hot food
Parents love the OmieBox for its ability to keep a portioned lunch hot — something that one HuffPoster said was a bonus for her “kind of picky” kids. This is a really rare deal: According to our price tracker, it's only been on sale once (on Amazon) for the last 365 days.
28.
Amazon
An enormous insulated Yeti that keeps my entire family hydrated (30% off list price)
Have you heard we're in the middle of a heat wave? Sheesh. This has not stopped our babysitter from taking my kids out every single day to play in the sprinkler at our local playground — and they need to carry tons of water with them for a day spent outside in 90-degree weather. My husband recently got one of these vacuum-insulated Yeti bottles and we've all become completely obsessed with it. The carrying handle makes it so easy to tote around, and it's equipped a “chug cap” for easy drinking. (You can also remove that cap and drink straight from the vessel like a cup, an option that's nice to have when you're sharing water with someone or pouring it out.) I, personally, love being able to travel with one single water bottle that will keep me and the girls hydrated (instead of clunking around with their individual water bottles and having to drink their pasta-flavored water when I get thirsty). This is a really great deal on this pricy item, and it's at its lowest price of the year today.
29.
Amazon
Hydro Flask insulated water bottle (25% off list price)
Another option, if you're looking to shop around: this popular Hydro Flask with a similar design. (My sister uses this one.) It holds 32-ounces and has an insulated construction to keep drinks at exactly the right temperature.
30.
Amazon
Breville Barista Express espresso machine (27% off list price)
I am not suggesting that all parents need this exact coffee machine, but it is the one that I own — and I am not exaggerating when I say that I basically give it a hug every morning. It has absolutely preserved my sanity in the three-ish years that I've owned it. It was a birthday present to my husband and definitely a huge splurge, but I even paid full price for it and don't regret it one bit. I am certainly not a barista, but having the ability to replicate a cafe-style coffee drink every morning with the push of a few buttons is something that I am extremely grateful for.
31.
Amazon
Cetaphil baby wash and shampoo (20% off list price)
In the summer, I bathe my kids daily (especially after an entire day out at the playground, as previously mentioned) so I'm always on the lookout for a nice mild soap that won't dry out their skin. This one has an astonishingly near-perfect rating (4.8 stars) and over 5,000 ratings. One reviewer has used it on her sensitive-skinned kids for eight years.
32.
Amazon
DJI mini 4K drone (20% off list price)
My kids have fortunately not started asking for a drone, but I figure it's bound to happen eventually and I wanted to include this for any parents who might be in the market for one. This brand, DJI, is the one that's endorsed by most of the reliable product-testing outlets (Wirecutter included), and based on light research it seems like a variety of models are highly recommended. This model is a few dollars shy of its lowest price of the year, and its designed for beginners. One reviewer who described using it with their 10-year-old said it offered “the most stabilized and accurate flying I've ever experienced with a drone.”
33.
Amazon
Amika: dry shampoo (30% off list price)
I rely very heavily on time-saving beauty products, and dry shampoo is something that can offer a little life to my hair on the days I don't have time for the ever-popular "everything" shower. (Which is, um, every day.) I haven't tried this dry shampoo, but I'm willing to give it a shot at 30% off — the lowest price its been this year. This brand comes highly recommended, too. It has over 15,000 Amazon ratings. “I’ve tried more than I can count and I always come back to this one,” wrote one reviewer.
34.
Amazon
R+Co Death Valley dry shampoo (28% off list price)
You could also try to exact one that I currently have and am enjoying, which is R+Co's Death Valley dry shampoo. R+Co hair products are some of the best, and this dry shampoo is no exception. It can absorb oil and odor, leaving hair bouncy, fresh and looking lovely.