The 5 Best Investments for Toddlers…and Which to Skip

As a new mom, I was inundated with articles about the best gadgets for my baby. Everything from strollers to carriers to clever gadgets that promised good sleep. I was tempted by many—I won’t lie. And let me tell you, most were a waste of money. If a newborn is going to cry, they will cry. While some things might make life a bit easier, many old-school household tips and tricks work just as well.

So when my daughter became a toddler, I was hesitant to invest in expensive equipment and fancy educational toys. I was much more selective about what I spent money on, knowing how much I had wasted when she was a baby. Since there are a lot of articles about newborn and baby essentials, I thought I’d write one about the things that were worth it and that I believe made our toddler journey smoother.

1.        Gro-clock

This was something I was on the fence about. I’d heard good things, but my husband assured me it was just another trendy gadget. When I received a voucher for a toy store, I decided to use it on a tommee tippee gro-clock. I’m not sure if I would have bought it otherwise, but I can tell you that it would have been worth every cent. Toddlers have a habit of waking early, especially in summer when the sun rises in the early hours of the morning. When Allegra was in her own bed, she would often be up and waking us at the crack of dawn. I wasn’t sure if this would work, but I thought it was worth a try. You can set the time for wake-up times for both morning and daytime naps. There is a blue owl that ‘goes to sleep’ when it’s sleepy time and it’s surrounded by stars. Throughout the night (or nap), the stars disappear one by one. When it’s time to wake up, the owl wakes up and the clock turns yellow. Some clocks have a sun, but ours stays with the owl. It took some time for Allegra to fully understand the concept, but by 3 years old, she knew exactly how it worked and would often wake before the yellow owl came on but would know it’s almost time to wake up if there was only one star left, and would stay in her bed until it was ‘wake-up’ time. Even now, she still excitedly rushes into our room in the morning to tell us the ‘yellow owl’ came up! The great thing is you can lock the clock (to prevent clever hands from rigging the system), and you can also change the times for weekends and holidays as needed. This has been a game-changer in allowing us to get extra sleep and teaching Allegra how to stay in her room or go back to sleep when needed.

2.        Sleep Suit Bag

Speaking of sleep, our toddler had a habit of throwing all the blankets off her, even in winter. This was problematic as her room gets very cold at night. Many of the sleep sacks are designed for babies and don’t really allow older children the flexibility to move around. Enter the Star Sweepers Sleep Suit Bag. Not only is it super practical, allowing her to move around and even walk while keeping her warm and cosy, but it also looks absolutely adorable. We called it her ‘space suit’ because she looked like a little astronaut. She didn’t mind wearing it, which made things much easier, and getting in and out was a breeze—also a major time-saving win.

3.        Handling Tantrums

While sleep is an issue for many toddlers, another possibly more common problem is tantrums. I was warned about the ‘terrible twos’, but it wasn’t until age three that the tantrums really took off. Fortunately, I had equipped myself with the wisdom of Harvey Karp. After the success of his ‘The Happiest Baby on the Block’, his book ‘The Happiest Toddler on the Block’ was a must-read for me. I devoured its pages, and especially when I was in the thick of it, the words of wisdom acted as a lifeline. There is advice for handling toddlers of all ages, from younger ones of 1 year old to the infamous ‘threenagers’. It also explains the mind of a toddler, which proved incredibly valuable to me in navigating toddlerhood as a first-time mum. This wasn’t a read-it-and-leave-it type of book but rather a take-note, practise, and read-some-more kind of guide. I tried reading several other books, but this is the one I kept coming back to, and the tools taught in the book really worked for me when put correctly into practice.

4.        Trunki Suitcase

The next must-have investment of ours is only really relevant if you plan to travel with your tot, especially if flying is involved. We invested in a Trunki—a ride-on suitcase. They come in different colours and designs. We went for shocking pink, of course, but there are other characters such as ladybugs and zebras, all just as adorable and fun. I believe there are other brands, but I can vouch for the Trunki brand as it’s sturdy and has lasted some very rough rides. It fits a decent amount of clothes and/or toys and is easy to carry, pull, or for toddlers (or younger children) to ride on through the airport like a push-bike. This is both helpful for you and fun for them. There is also a lock feature so it doesn’t accidentally open. The size is big enough for a toddler to sit on but small enough to fit in carry-on or even under the seat of an airplane or car. This is a must-have for any travelling toddlers, especially ones who don’t like being pushed in strollers (like ours).

5.        Water Wow Colouring Pads

The final item is a smaller one and a wonderful gift for toddlers and children alike. The Water Wow colouring pads from Melissa & Doug come with a ‘paintbrush’ that you fill with water, and by using it, colourful pictures come to life. The reason this is such a must-have is that these pads are reusable. Once they dry, the colour fades, and they can be painted again and again. This is our go-to accessory for restaurant visits as it keeps our little one entertained and is a great alternative to tablets or other devices. It also encourages their creativity and fine motor coordination. They come in several different themes and designs. It’s always a win in our house and makes a great gift as well.

There are many other things which have also been great fun but didn’t make the list because there is only so much that kids need, and more often than not, less really is more.