parenting: my must have toddler sanity savers (ages 1-2.5)
Now that we have infants and a toddler (3 under 3), I feel positioned to say that the toddler stage is no joke! It’s both incredibly challenging emotionally, physically, mentally, but also incredibly rewarding. A number of friends currently are expecting their first child, and I’ve been asking them what sort of lifestyle they want to build with their family. This has been in the context of baby items they want to put on their registry, but also nudging them to start building those habits now, so that it’s second nature when the baby comes.
My husband and I have always been pretty active individuals, but we have have found that in the past few years we have been less active, and we’d like to get back into that. Our intentions for 2025 are largely around health, community, and family, and therefore taking my own advice, we have been thinking about what would help us achieve our goals.
I have come up with this list of some of my favorite toddler items that are helping us live with intention. Note: not included in this list are all of our buses/fire truck/trains, bubbles, cups for pouring, Magna-Tiles, and books.
Learning Tower: Kitchen Chaos to Connection I was on the fence about it initially since its basically another person standing in the kitchen, but I have learned to love it. It’s an easy way to keep an eye on our toddler, as well as for him to keep an eye on us! And then now, he is staring to become my little sous-chef, and actually starting to help me with with meal prep (pouring broccoli onto the plan). Plus, now he can see our video-chat camera, and our family can see him? Triple whammy. There are a number of companies who who this well - Lalo, Sprout, The Learning Tower. Note: We bought this used on Facebook Marketplace.
Hiking Backpack: Adventure Buddy, Secured For us outdoor-loving parents, this is a non-negotiable. There are a number of brands who make thise, but we went with the Osprey Child Carrier (sunshade and storage? Yes, please!). It's more than just a backpack; it's a ticket to shared adventures, and the extra bonus is that he can sleep in it, and you can take it off and it will stay upright in case your toddler needs to keep sleeping. The one downside is that you need to find a place to store it, and it doesn’t pack down. Note: We bought this used on Facebook Marketplace.
Nugget Couch: Energy Redirector, Seating Savior I really wanted one of these, but my husband thought the price tag was ridiculous. $400 for a glorified cushion? Eventually we decided to go for it, and the Nugget Comfort (waterproof liner? I thought with three boys it would be worth it) has been a game-changer. It's extra seating for us grown-ups, and a brilliant energy absorber for my little climber. Instead of table-top parkour, I’ve directed his energy to scaling this couch. There are a few brands who make these (search for “play couch”), and I am thinking about buying a second one from Facebook Marketplace. Note: We bought this new (and went with the Nugget) mostly because I wanted a particular color.
Zoo Membership/Park: Sanity Saver Let's be real, toddlers have energy. And every weekend, you’re just trying to find a way to burn that energy. For us, a zoo membership has been a lifesaver because we can go for an hour or two, and then run back home for nap-time. And who doesn’t enjoy seeing giraffes? But, if memberships aren't your thing, the park would probably be just as effective. Fresh air, open space, and then they can run and scream wild. Highly recommend.
Balance Bike: Little Rider, Big Adventures Watching my toddler zoom around on two wheels? Pure magic. We started with a basic trike, but quickly upgraded to the Woom 1 Balance Bike. Balance bikes teach them coordination and confidence, and it's amazing to see how quickly they pick it up. Plus, it's a fantastic way to burn off some of that toddler energy. We first let him “ride” (aka walk around) it in the house, and now we have graduated to the park! We love to do playdates with his friends who also have bikes, and its a new favorite activity. Strider is another popular brand, and there are even more here. Note: We bought our Woom used on Facebook Marketplace.
Tent Sweeper/Home Vacuum Cleaner: Little Helper, Big Fun My toddler loves to clean. Maybe it's the Montessori influence, or maybe just a toddler thing. Either way, we purchased this tent brush from REI, mostly because it fit his hands, and it has been a hit. He's actually excited to help sweep up crumbs, and it's teaching him valuable skills. He also loves “vacuuming” with our Dyson (we just give him pieces of it, and recently he has been strong enough to hold the battery) and it keeps him occupied and feeling helpful.
Family E-Bike: Eco-Friendly Adventures This one's a game-changer for our family. Ditching the car for school drop-offs and errands? Our family Aventon e-bike has become our favorite way to get around with our toddler. It's healthy, eco-friendly, and a special way to connect with my little one. The wind in our hair, pointing at all the buses and trains – it's pure magic. Plus, it’s great for the environment, and it's a great way to get some exercise. My husband is trying to figure out how to get our infant twins on the bike too, but we haven’t found a solution for that yet. There are a number of brands who do this well - the other brands we see in our neighborhood are Tern and Specialized. Note: We purchased our Aventon new from our local bike shop.
Our goals as parents right now is to involve our toddler, and model the behaviors we want him to learn. Whether it be cooking, biking, reading, close connection to family and friends, these things help us achieve that. Of course, we've got the obligatory books and trucks – because, let's face it, those are toddler givens. They want to be in our world, doing what we're doing. Plus, as a family that loves the outdoors and prioritizes activity and health, they've been absolute gold.