Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Best Baby Products Under $20

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These are seriously the best baby products under $20. They’re all mom-tested and -approved, and guaranteed to make this parenting thing a whole lot easier.

I’ve bought a lot of baby products over the last six plus years. Some I’ve loved, some I’ve hated, and some I’ve enjoyed so much I’m constantly telling others about them. If you’re looking for a roundup of must-have baby products, this isn’t it. If you want a list of items guaranteed to make your life a little easier, read on.

Best Baby Products Under $20

These are seriously the best baby products under $20. They're all mom-tested and approved, and guaranteed to make this parenting thing a whole lot easier.

 

  1. Self-Laminating Baby Bottle Labels, $9 | If your baby spends any time in a place with other babies- church, daycare, grandma’s house- you need these labels. They’re super easy to use and will hold up for months.
  2. Bandana Bibs, $5 | Q is a drooler. Big time. She’s pretty much worn a bib around the clock since she was three months old. To avoid covering all her outfits with a big, bland bib, I bought a couple sets of these bandana bibs. They’re adorable and they help hide the fact she’s actually wearing a bib. Bonus: these come in an adorable bag, perfect for gifting.
  3. Diaper Cream Brush, $10 | Okay, so I don’t own one of these, but I totally want one! I hate applying diaper cream with my fingers; the feeling and the smell never seem to go away. I would definitely use and love this brush.
  4. Mesh Feeder, $7 | These mesh feeders are ideal for when baby is first learning to self-feed. You can pack the pouch with fresh or frozen fruits or veggies and let baby suck and chew away. If you’ve ever used something like this, you know the product gets really hard to clean after a few weeks. That’s why I love this brand; you can buy replacement mesh for the feeding part.
  5. Silicone Teething Necklace, $12 | You know how babies put everything in their mouths, including whatever jewelry mom is wearing? This necklace is the perfect solution. It’s made of silicone is specifically for baby to chew on.
  6. Burpy Bib, $7 | Q was a messy eater from day one. We found these burp cloth/bib combos so convenient because they button around her neck like a bib, but then they lay flat over your shoulder like a burp cloth. They’re way more convenient than trying to keep a regular burp cloth tucked up under baby’s chin.
  7. No-Squeeze Pouch Holder, $5 | This is such a brilliant product. We love using baby food pouches, both store bought and homemade, but babies have to be pretty old before they can understand not to squeeze the pouch. With this box, the pouch goes inside and baby can’t squeeze. Perfect!
  8. Take & Toss Cups and Bowls, $3-$9 | My aunt got a set of these bowls and cups for us at G’s baby shower more than six years ago and we still have a bunch in our cabinet. They’re cheap enough to be considered disposable if necessary, but durable enough to last for six+ years and 2+ kids.
  9. Bambino Land Muslin Swaddle Blankets, $14 | There are lots of companies out there making muslin swaddle blankets, but Bambino Land is my favorite. I love their prices, their prints, and their quality. We have a ton of these and have used them as swaddles, nursing covers, burp cloths, changing table covers, floor blankets, car seat covers, and more.
  10. Munch Mitt, $18 | Q sucks and chews on her hands pretty much nonstop when she’s awake. Ever since she started teething, she’s been making them red and dry by constantly having them in her mouth. I went in search of a product to help and discovered the Munch Mitt. I initially thought I’d have to buy a second one, but I put it on one hand she uses her second hand to pull the mitt into her mouth. At first I was appalled by the price of this thing, but it’s ended up saving her poor little hands.

What would you consider the best baby products under $20?

Looking for more posts like this one? Check out what you really need for a new baby and 5 things you don’t need for a new baby.

(this post contains affiliate links; to learn more, see my disclosure policy)

What’s in My Diaper Bag

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BetterBottles #CollectiveBias

What’s in my diaper bag? The necessities and the unnecessary, as told by an experienced mom of three little ones.

What's in my diaper bag? The necessities and the unnecessary, as told by an experienced mom of three little ones.

So much has changed since I first became a mom. I remember so vividly how overwhelmed I felt when we first brought G home from the hospital. I had younger siblings and cousins, and I’d even cared for infants as part of my brief job as a daycare worker. But then we got home and it was just the three of us and the vastness of all the things I didn’t know.

I feel like I’ve come a long way in nearly six years. Baby number three, Q, is nearly four months old and, while I can’t say I’ve completely stopped texting my mom questions and consulting Dr. Google, I feel much more confident in my parenting than I did back then.

One of the dozens of things that has changed since G was born is my diaper bag packing skills. When he was a baby, I would fill a huge bag with all the “essentials”: a ton of diapers, several outfits, and way too many burp cloths and bibs. I also left out several items that would have been useful to have.

So what’s in my diaper bag now that I’m a more seasoned mom? Let’s take a look.

What’s in My Diaper Bag

The biggest mistake I made when packing G’s diaper bag was filling it with stuff for him- more stuff than he’d ever need in one outing- and nothing for me. Now, when I pack Q’s bag, I focus on both of us.

What's in my diaper bag? The necessities and the unnecessary, as told by an experienced mom of three little ones.

For Baby

Basically, baby just needs food and a clean diaper. I toss in a clean outfit or two, but mostly everything other than food and diapers is inessential. I pack one diaper for every hour or two we plan to be away from home, plus wipes and a changing pad. Unless we’re in the middle of fighting a rash, I leave the creams and powders at home. They just take up precious space in the diaper bag and I don’t need them. Same goes for extra clothes; one outfit is all you need, unless your little one is known for spitting up or blowing out.

I exclusively pump for Q, so I have to pack bottles and pumped breast milk. Finding bottles that worked for her was a little tricky this time around; she didn’t care for the two expensive brands we used for G and B. We ended up discovering that she prefers more affordable options, like these Playtex Baby™ VentAire® bottles (how fitting is it that my infant daughter is as frugal as I am? Do you think she knows that 3-packs of  Playtex Nurser 8 oz., VentAire 9 oz., and VentAire Color sat Walmart have a $3 off coupon on them?)

What's in my diaper bag? The necessities and the unnecessary, as told by an experienced mom of three little ones.

We’re enjoying these bottles for a few reasons. Some of the reasons are obvious, like the way the Anti-Colic Bottom Vent soothes Q’s tummy troubles, or the way the angled design promotes semi-upright feeding, which I just learned is supposed to help prevent ear infections (yes, please!). We also like them because the wide mouth makes it so easy to pour in breast milk or scoop in formula. That same wide opening makes the whole thing a breeze to clean, so much more so than some of those other bottles that seem to have a gazillion different parts.

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Stop Saying My Son Needs to Toughen Up

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Stop saying my son needs to toughen up.

First of all, he’s five. He’s far too young to be subjected to your narrow-minded stereotypes and ill-informed ideas. Secondly, and most importantly, he’s perfect just the way he is.

First of all, he’s five. He’s far too young to be subjected to your narrow-minded stereotypes and ill-informed ideas. Secondly, and most importantly, he’s perfect just the way he is.

You see his sensitivity as weakness, as something a little time spent hunting or throwing a football can extinguish. I see it as precious, like the time he insisted on putting his arm around my shoulders as I sobbed on the couch after finding out I’d miscarried his younger sibling. I see it as sweet, like the way he’s content to hold and sing to his newborn sister for far longer than most kids his age would be.

First of all, he’s five. He’s far too young to be subjected to your narrow-minded stereotypes and ill-informed ideas. Secondly, and most importantly, he’s perfect just the way he is.

You see his cautious nature as weakness, too, as if he’s one hesitation away from wilting like a delicate flower. I see it as intelligence; he’s bright enough to think through the potential consequences of his actions. I don’t want him to grow up fearing the world around him, but I also refuse to dismiss his concerns and anxieties. They’re part of who he is and I won’t try to frighten them out of him.

I don’t know when I first began to notice the implication from others, often from well-meaning family members, that my firstborn needed to toughen up. The comments didn’t bother me much at first, I guess because it seemed like such a silly thing to say about such a young child.

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Potty Training Made Easy

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It seems I’m no good at potty training.

The entire process went poorly with G. At the time, I chalked it up to inexperience on my part and resistance to change on his part. Some kids are more difficult to potty train than others, I told myself.

And then it was time to potty train B. I’d say it went slightly better than it did with her brother. Part of that is because we had more experience under our belts, and part of that is because I got a little bit wiser.

Potty training doesn't have to be the exhausting battle it was for us. Here are the tips and tricks we've used discovered to make it easier on everyone.

Before I had kids, I wasn’t going to be a mom that bought Pull-Ups® Training Pants. I thought they were an unnecessary step between diapers and underwear. I thought they just prolonged potty training and confused the child about what the goal was.

I was wrong.

It turns out toddlers thrive on consistency and diapers don’t teach potty training skills like Pull-Ups do. Plus, they look and fit more like underwear, giving your child the independence to slide his pants on and off.

By the time we started the potty training process with B, I’d learned my lesson. With her, Pull-Ups were a big part of the process, and they were also why it was easier on all of us. We used Pull-Ups to help B make the transition from diapers to underwear. Thanks to Pull-Ups, B felt like a big girl because we no longer had to change her diapers, but J and I didn’t have to worry she’d have an accident while we were in public.

Pull-Ups are super easy to put on and take off; the stretchy sides make them way more convenient than any other options we tried. Even though we’re grateful we discovered them in time to take a lot of the stress out of potty training B, that doesn’t mean the process was without hiccups. She’s a super stubborn kid- strong-willed, we like to say- and she can’t be easily coaxed into doing anything she doesn’t want to do.

All of the mistakes we made potty training G and B have solidified my desire to do a better job when it’s time to train baby number three. Luckily, I found the Pull-Ups website, and it’s full of resources to help make the transition from diapers to underwear as smooth as possible for both parents and toddlers. Specifically, I found three resources I’m absolutely going to take advantage of next time around.

Potty training doesn't have to be the exhausting battle it was for us. Here are the tips and tricks we've used discovered to make it easier on everyone.

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Toddler Summer Bucket List

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We want to make the most of the summer, instead of just watching the days fly by, so we created our toddler summer bucket list.

We want to make the most of the summer, instead of just watching the days fly by, so we created our toddler summer bucket list.

This summer is going to look a little different around here. Baby #3 is due in late July, which, according to my track record, really means mid-July. We’ll be spending about three weeks with family in Oregon as soon as school gets out, and we’ve got a handful of other trips and commitments squeezed in, too.

As the kids get older- G is five and B will turn four this summer- it becomes more important to me to make memories with them. I’m finding that especially true this year, as I know it would be easy to blink and have the entire summer be gone. To avoid that, and to make sure both kids have a great summer before the baby arrives, I’ve created a toddler summer bucket list.

The list isn’t too long, it contains a variety of easy, realistic activities, and we can knock the whole thing out without spending too much money. It’s the perfect road map to a fun summer.

Toddler Summer Bucket List

  1. Make sun tea | Goodness knows we should be putting this Mississippi heat to use somehow. The kids will get a kick out of setting the tea outside and coming back later to have a refreshing drink.
  2. Play in the sprinkler | This just seems like the quintessential childhood activity, but I don’t think G and B have ever done it. We had a kid sprinkler a few years ago, but they were too scared to go near it.
  3. Make dish soap silly putty | One of our favorite indoor activities is homemade playdough, so I know the kids will love making a different fun substance like this.
  4. Make coffee can ice cream | I made this once as a child at my aunt and uncle’s house and it’s stuck with me (I guess that shows how much I love ice cream). The kids get to burn off energy outside rolling the can, and we all get to enjoy homemade ice cream after. It’s a win-win.
  5. Get a water table | G and B love to stand at the sink and play with cups and bowls of water. I know they’d love a water table just as much. Plus, I can let them play on the back porch, in the shade, while I sit inside in the A/C with my swollen ankles propped on the coffee table.
  6. Eat sno-cones| This is a Southern thing. We have an adorable sno-cone stand here in town. In the heat of the summer, it’s the perfect cold, affordable, refreshing treat. I’m guessing this pregnant mom will make sure we fit in more than one trip.
  7. Make bath paints | Because summer is usually too hot for my fair-skinned little gingers to be outside for too long, I’m planning ahead to make fun happen inside instead. They’ll have a blast painting the tub, and themselves, and then washing off after.
  8. Have one-on-one outings | This is my personal goal for the kids, and it’s more to do with the coming baby than with it being summer. I want to do something individually with each child- even something as simple as going to the grocery store- before my time becomes consumed by a newborn.
  9. Bake cookies | The kids ask often to help me in the kitchen, but I don’t say yes as frequently as I’d like. We’re going to set aside time this summer to let them help with every messy step of cookie baking.
  10. Make s’mores | My kids love s’mores. Because duh. My dad has promised them a camp out while we’re in Oregon, so I’m hoping the s’mores making will happen then. If not, we’ll make sure to make them another night.
  11. Have an indoor camp out | Like I said, my dad has promised them camping, but I’m not about to brave a tent during the Mississippi summer while eight months pregnant. Instead, we’ll build a big fort inside, pop popcorn, and sleep in the critter-free comfort of the air conditioning.
  12. Visit the library | This one is a big stretch for my don’t-know-the-meaning-of-inside-voice toddlers, but since they’re both starting big school next year, and G’s been to the library with his preschool class, I think it’s time we made it a family thing. Both kids love to read, and I love that we can check out books for free, so hopefully it’ll be the first of lots of trips.
  13. Go to Wildlife Safari | One of the only concrete outings we know we want to do while in Oregon is take the kids to Wildlife Safari. J and I went pre-kids, and we took G when he was too young to realize what was going on, but they’re both at the age now that they’ll love it.
  14. Have a midnight Sonic run | This idea was pretty big on Pinterest several years ago. Here’s the gist: put your kids to bed, but wake them a little while later. Everyone piles in the car and goes to get ice cream. It could be that our kids are still a little young for this, but I want to give it a try anyway.
  15. Go fishing | G and B have asked a few times in the last couple months to go fishing. We don’t have any equipment and I don’t even know where we’d take them around here, but we’ll be Oregon just in time to fish for salmon. Not only will they get to experience something they’ve been excited to do, but, with any luck, we’ll all enjoy fresh salmon for supper.

What’s on your summer bucket list? Did I leave off anything you think we can’t live without?

We want to make the most of the summer, instead of just watching the days fly by, so we created our toddler summer bucket list.

(this post contains affiliate links; to learn more, see our disclosure policy)

how to make a pool noodle busy bag

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We’ve all seen this craft idea, right? While I can’t say I ever read a tutorial or a blog post about how to make it, I’ve been seeing pins of this pool noodle stringing activity since Pinterest was barely a thing. It’s one of about a million busy bag ideas floating around the interwebs nowadays. Since it seems to be one of the most frugal, and since I knew my kids would enjoy it, I bought what I needed and sacrificed eight minutes of my life to put the whole thing together.

Do you have $2 and 10 minutes? If so, you can create an activity that encourages creativity, develops hand-eye coordination, and earns you a few minutes of quiet.

And since I thought maybe, just maybe, there’s someone out there who wants a step-by-step photo tutorial of how the whole thing went, I took pictures to share here.

pool noodle busy bag

-pool noodle
-3 feet of rope
-plastic shoebox size container (optional)

Begin by cutting your noodle in half. Unless you want a ton of circles, one noodle makes enough slices for two busy bags.

Do you have $2 and 10 minutes? If so, you can create an activity that encourages creativity, develops hand-eye coordination, and earns you a few minutes of quiet.

Using a sharp knife- I used my all-time favorite Rada bread knife– and a cutting board, slice each half of the noodle into one-inch sections.

Do you have $2 and 10 minutes? If so, you can create an activity that encourages creativity, develops hand-eye coordination, and earns you a few minutes of quiet.

Don’t worry about the noodle holding up when it’s cut. Before I got started, I wondered if the Styrofoam would crumble or break off, but it doesn’t. It holds it shape perfectly, so I imagine this activity will last a while. (Note: the noodle certainly isn’t indestructible; if your child still puts things in her mouth, she should be watched while playing with her busy bag.)

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how to make a toddler good behavior chart

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Summer is a tricky time for discipline. Even though our kids are only in preschool, and their school schedule remains the same during the summer, they still know that things are off. Mom and Dad are home with them when they aren’t at school and the months are filled with trips that interrupt the routine they crave. This year, in an attempt to combat the behavior issues that often accompany summer break, I decided to make a toddler good behavior chart.

For a few dollars and less than an hour of your time, you can make a basic chart to reinforce and reward your toddler's good behavior (this idea would totally work for older kids, too!)

I had two main criteria when creating this system. The first was that the concept be uncomplicated. G. is four and B. is nearly three; I didn’t want something they’d have difficulty understanding or following. It would completely defeat the purpose of the chart if they didn’t know what they were working toward or how to get there.

The second criteria was for this to be specifically a chart to track and reward good behavior. We already have punishments in place for when the kids disobey; this chart wasn’t designed to supplement or replace those consequences. We won’t take stickers away when they misbehave.

Now, I know there’s controversy over rewarding children for doing what’s expected of them. I’ve learned, though, that positive reinforcement is a great teaching tool. No, our kids won’t always get an ice cream cone for picking up their toys, but I don’t think this chart is teaching them to expect that.

If you read the tutorial, you’ll see what I mean.

For a few dollars and less than an hour of your time, you can make a basic chart to reinforce and reward your toddler's good behavior (this idea would totally work for older kids, too!)

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my 5 favorite toddler products under $10

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the best toddler products under $10

As a parent of two toddlers- G. is four and B. is two- the internet would have me belief that there are a ton of products out there that I have to have. As a mom who’s tried many of those products, I can attest that there are few worth spending money on. Here are my favorites.

1. baby food pouches

the best toddler products under $10

These pouches aren’t just for babies. In fact, as a mom of picky eaters, I plan to buy them for as long as my kids will eat them. With flavors like Spinach, Pea, Pear and Sweet Potato, Apple, Carrot, I feel zero guilt giving my kids one of these as a snack. The bonus is that they’re great for tossing in a diaper bag when we’re on the go.

These pouches can be purchased individually at the grocery store for anywhere from $1.00 to $1.75 each, depending on the the brand and the ingredients, but the best deals are on Amazon.

2. these sippy cups

the best toddler products under $10

We’ve owned a lot of sippy cups. A lot. I’ve chosen them based on price, reviews, characters. I’ve regretted some of the purchases I’ve made because, for one reason or another, the cups didn’t live up to expectations. After several false starts, I finally discovered our favorite sippy cup brand.

These Gerber Graduate Fun Grips cups are durable, leak-proof, and easy to clean. The lids are mix and match, so we don’t have to worry about keeping each cup with its lid.

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