Latest news with #SeattleChildren's
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
My 5-year-old survived cancer – twice. Don't put politics before medical research.
Few issues in American politics have consistently united both parties like the fight against cancer. While funding levels and strategies may differ, Democrats and Republicans alike recognize that cancer doesn't discriminate – and neither should our commitment to defeat it. Under the Biden administration, the Cancer Moonshot was relaunched to accelerate progress toward a cure. More recently, President Donald Trump announced his 'Stargate' initiative, which aims to harness artificial intelligence in detecting and treating cancer, including through personalized mRNA vaccines. In the United States, cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children after infancy. Across the political spectrum, there remains a shared hope: that no one should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one or fight this deadly disease. Yet today, that consensus is showing signs of strain. State legislatures across the country are advancing bills to ban or severely restrict the use of – and further research into – breakthrough technologies like mRNA, a technology that is driving promising advancements in cancer. What should be a story of American scientific innovation is being twisted into a political talking point. And it's putting lives at risk. Opinion: Biden's diagnosis shows two things. Cancer hits everyone and some forgot that. If the politicians pushing these bans spent even a few minutes inside a pediatric oncology unit, maybe they'd understand. They'd see floors filled with sick children on small bicycles, pulling IV poles behind them. Children in hospital beds, brave beyond measure. And parents clinging to hope. I've seen it firsthand. I'm a mother whose 5-year-old daughter has survived cancer – twice. My daughter Charlie is one of a small percentage of pediatric cancer patients whose tumors don't show up on standard blood tests. Her cancer went undetected for more than a year. By the time doctors found it, it had already spread to her liver. She was just 3 years old and had Stage 4 cancer. Once Charlie's cancer was detected, we rushed into treatment: high-dose chemotherapy, stem cell transplants and multiple surgeries. After months of treatment, we got the news every parent prays for: Charlie was cancer-free. But just a few months later, scans revealed a relapse. Two small nodules were found on her lung. Her baby brother was only two months old when we learned her cancer had returned. Relapse treatment was grueling. Charlie lost weight and muscle mass. She needed a feeding tube to stay nourished, hydrated and medicated. But through it all, she never lost her smile. Her strength became ours. And while we juggled caring for a newborn and two other children, we held onto hope, because science gave us a reason to. Thanks to expert care at Seattle Children's and research-backed protocols, she's once again cancer-free. She started preschool this year. She's coloring, laughing and chasing her siblings again. Every option we had was made possible by decades of public investment in research. Families who came before us joined clinical trials. Lawmakers chose to fund pediatric science and cancer research. That is the same kind of work mRNA research builds on today. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Researchers are developing an mRNA-based diagnostic test that could catch cancers like hers earlier, when they're more treatable. The test uses mRNA from her original tumor to detect any circulating cancer cells through a simple blood draw. Catching a relapse early could be lifesaving. We first learned about this test in 2023, and knowing it's almost within reach brings us, and families like ours, so much hope. Beyond mRNA-based diagnostic tests, mRNA has also shown early promise as a therapy for cancer patients, enabling personalized treatment that could more effectively target one's tumor. That kind of innovation is exactly what's under threat right now. The role of mRNA technology in oncology has been studied for decades, and yet some lawmakers want to roll this progress back, arguing it is untested and unsafe. This technology, along with many innovations that come from federally supported medical research, is a critical source of hope for families around the world. I'm a doctor. So is my mother. When she got cancer, I realized how little that mattered. | Opinion When you're watching your child battle cancer, every advancement matters. I know firsthand how critical it is to catch cancer early and have access to every possible treatment option. When politicians politicize science – when they ban or restrict it based on misinformation and politics – they aren't protecting families like mine. They're limiting our options. They're slowing down the breakthroughs that could save lives. We can't afford to let misinformation and polarized politics dictate the future of lifesaving research. Thanks to innovation in medical research, Charlie is thriving today, but far too many kids are still fighting. Let's ensure science continues to move forward for all of our children. Emily Stenson is a childhood cancer advocate and the mother of 5-year-old two-time cancer survivor Charlie Stenson. She lives in Seattle. You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cancer research saved my child's life. Fund mRNA innovation | Opinion
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Heath care for mothers, kids expanding in South Sound with enhanced partnership
A local health care system and Seattle hospital have announced plans to bring their two entities closer together and reduce the need to drive to Seattle for South Sound families in need of care. Tacoma-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and Seattle Children's on Tuesday announced a strategic affiliation 'to advance clinical excellence and expand pediatric and mother-baby care for patients in the Puget Sound region,' according to a joint news release. The two have worked together for years in specialized neonatal care within VMFH Family Birth Centers, with neonatologists available on site and by phone 'so the most vulnerable newborns can receive advanced, expert care without leaving VMFH facilities,' it noted. The joint news release offered an example of collaboration. At the St. Joseph Medical Center Level III neonatal intensive care unit, Seattle Children's pediatric cardiologists and its infection-prevention team already aare vailable to assess 'complex diseases for mother and baby.' 'The agreement, built on nearly 15 years of collaboration and a shared commitment to exceptional patient care, will strengthen access to expert physicians and care teams and ensure seamless coordination of care for young patients and their families by extending the current longstanding affiliation and expanding it to new areas,' it continued. With this new strategic affiliation, VMFH and Seattle Children's 'will leverage resources and an expansive footprint across both organizations to serve more patients closer to home,' the release added. VMFH, with 10 hospitals and hundreds of care sites in the state, is part of CommonSpirit, one of the nation's largest health systems. Seattle Children's serves as the pediatric and adolescent academic medical center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho, and includes its hospital, research institute and foundation. Along with improving access to specialists, the move is set to expand perinatal, neonatal and related specialty services across VMFH Birth Centers in King, Pierce and Kitsap counties, according to the release. An oversight committee, with representatives from both organizations, will guide the implementation of the strategic affiliation. Tom Kruse is VMFH chief strategy officer and Mark Salierno is Seattle Children's chief strategy and business development officer. The two spoke to The News Tribune Tuesday about the enhanced affiliation. Both emphasized how the move will bring more specialized services south of Seattle. 'Seattle Children's has the region's leading quality specialty program and platform, and VMFH has over 300 sites of care,' said Salierno. 'So our goal is to deploy specialists together in different geographies that allow us to keep moms and babies together and allow kids to stay in their local community wherever possible.' 'It really is going to bring new services to the community — much needed services,' said Kruse, acknowledging the move is going head to head with Tacoma-based MultiCare's Mary Bridge Children's Hospital to bring more competition to MultiCare's home turf. Mary Bridge Children's is in the midst of construction of a new medical campus and hospital in Tacoma, which will bring a new inpatient hospital tower, ambulatory building with specialty clinics and urgent-care services. It is set to open early next year. 'Franciscan, years and years ago, decided not to create a duplicative service to Mary Bridge,' Kruse said. 'It's not that there's anything wrong with Mary Bridge. It's just not sufficient for what we find ourselves needing with the high acuity births that we deliver and unfortunately, the very sick kids that we see.' To that end, Kruse said, it's 'likely' to see expansions at sites such as St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma and St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale. 'There's very specific specialties that we're trying to deploy together on the pediatric side,' said Salierno. 'So, if there's a prenatal anomaly diagnosed at week 20, it would allow a fellowship trained specialist who's part of a top 10 US News-ranked hospital to come down or use telemedicine, like we're doing now, to meet with the obstetrician and help build a care plan within 24 to 48 hours of that prenatal diagnosis. 'And as Tom alluded to, we are exploring over the next several months, ways to expand at St. Joe's and St Michael's and other sites of care models such as that,' Salierno added. Kim Deynaka is director of NICU and NICU operations at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. In an interview Tuesday, she told The News Tribune that St. Joseph had benefited from years of working with Seattle Children's neonatal team. 'They're mission driven like us, and they're family centered and collaborative,' she said. 'We have an annual reunion that the families come back to see the doctors and the nurses that help care for their babies and help them graduate from the NICU, and it's grown so big that now we're over 300 invites per year.' She offered another example of the benefit of virtual care collaboration. 'If a newborn baby has a rash that the pediatrician can't identify or understand, just getting that consultation virtually, and being able to see the baby and the family and talk to them and examine the baby with the local pediatric has been just amazing,' she said. 'In the past, without that virtual support, that baby would have either had to been transported to a higher level of care, or the families would have had to drive them to a specialty appointment and things like that. But now it can be done here at the hospital right in their own community.' she said. 'What really is impressive is that they come to us. We're not having to leave our communities and our families to go to them,' she added. So, now would be the time for patients to add their two cents, Kruse noted. 'What we have to look at, is where our families are at, what do they need, and where do they need it, and then figure out where we can put that service that makes the most sense,' Kruse said. 'Our commitment to the long term to the South Sound, which Seattle Children's has made over the years, is now doubled down,' Salierno added. 'We're committed for the long term to reduce that drive time by using technology to do that, and to deploy brick and mortar capabilities to do that.' Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and Seattle Children's are soliciting input from the South Sound on what services residents would like to see. Send comments via email to vmfh-sch@
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and Seattle Children's expand pediatric, neonatal partnership
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) and Seattle Children's announced Tuesday they have expanded their longstanding partnership to enhance pediatric and mother-baby health care services across the Puget Sound region. The new strategic affiliation builds on nearly 15 years of collaboration between the two organizations and aims to improve access to expert physicians, specialized care teams, and seamless coordination for families, according to a joint statement. Access to high-quality health care remains a significant challenge in the Puget Sound region, VMFH and Seattle Children's noted. By joining resources and leveraging their combined network of care sites, both groups say they hope to bring advanced medical services closer to home for more patients. 'This affiliation marks a significant step forward in our mission to improve health care access for mothers, babies and children,' said Ketul J. Patel, CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and President of CommonSpirit Health's Northwest Region. 'Seattle Children's is a globally recognized leader in pediatric medicine, and we're honored to work alongside them to further elevate the standard of care in our communities.' Seattle Children's consistently ranks among the top ten children's hospitals in the United States, while VMFH hospitals are also nationally recognized for quality care. Their partnership has already brought neonatologists to VMFH Family Birth Centers, offering 24/7 onsite and remote support to care for the region's most vulnerable newborns without the need to transfer them to different facilities. The collaboration has also connected patients at VMFH's St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma to Seattle Children's pediatric cardiologists and infection prevention teams, allowing for on-site assessments of complex maternal and newborn conditions. Jeff Sperring, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Children's, said the expanded affiliation aligns with the hospital's broader mission. 'We are proud of our long-standing reputation for excellence in pediatric and neonatal care,' Sperring said. 'Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is a recognized leader in quality care and clinical excellence, and we're excited to work together to continue fulfilling our vision of helping every child live their healthiest and most fulfilling life possible.' As part of the expanded affiliation, perinatal, neonatal, and specialty services will grow across VMFH Birth Centers located in King, Pierce, and Kitsap counties. The goal is to support thousands of families while minimizing the separation of mothers and their newborns after delivery. The partnership will also focus on improving access to pediatric specialists across VMFH's nearly 300 care sites, strengthening connections between primary, specialty, ambulatory, and urgent care services. Officials said this effort will ensure children can get the right care at the right time, with seamless referrals to Seattle Children's specialists when needed.
Business Wire
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation for BrainChild Bio's B7-H3 CAR T-Cell Therapy for Incurable Pediatric Brain Tumors
SEATTLE & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BrainChild Bio, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing CAR T-cell therapies to treat tumors in the central nervous system (CNS), today announced that the investigational B7-H3 targeting autologous CAR T-cell therapy has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation (BTD) by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), an incurable pediatric brain tumor. This FDA designation was based on the promising overall survival benefit in patients with brain tumors treated with an autologous B7-H3 CAR T-cell therapy observed in the BrainChild-03 Phase 1 trial (NCT04185038), conducted by BrainChild Bio's academic partner, Seattle Children's, and recently published in Nature Medicine. 'Breakthrough Therapy designation gives us the possibility to accelerate the development path for BCB-276 as a CAR T-cell therapy that can potentially transform the treatment of DIPG,' stated Michael Jensen, MD, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of BrainChild Bio. 'This designation is a major milestone for the children and families afflicted with these devastating brain tumors and represents a new paradigm for treating CNS brain tumors in children and adults, including a large number of patients suffering with glioblastomas and brain metastases.' FDA grants Breakthrough Therapy designation to investigational medicines that demonstrate the potential to treat a serious or life-threatening condition and show preliminary clinical evidence that the drug may show substantial clinical improvement over available therapies. Investigational medicines with BTD are provided early and more frequent interactions with the FDA to discuss the product candidate's development plan in addition to being eligible for rolling submission and priority review of the marketing application. 'This designation is an important milestone for Seattle Children's and demonstrates our continued momentum in pediatric brain cancer research,' said Dr. Jeff Sperring, Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Children's. 'We harness the power of research to bring potential cures to kids faster, and we're excited by the early promise shown by our work with BrainChild Bio to advance a potential CAR T therapy.' BrainChild Bio is preparing to advance BCB-276 in a Phase 2 multi-center, pivotal registration trial to support a potential Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA for the treatment of children and young adults with DIPG. This clinical plan is based on alignment between BrainChild Bio and FDA at a Type B meeting in late 2024. About Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) and Application of CAR T-cell Therapies Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a primary high-grade brain tumor that arises in the pons and is uniformly fatal. DIPG affects approximately 300 children per year in the U.S. with the majority of diagnoses made in children between 5 and 10 years of age. Current standard-of-care treatment remains limited to palliative focal radiation therapy which results in a median overall survival of only about 11 months from diagnosis. 1 Barriers to effective therapies for DIPG include the precarious location of the tumor in the brainstem, the infiltrative growth of the tumor throughout normal brainstem functional anatomy, and the blood brain barrier that remains relatively intact during tumor progression preventing therapies from gaining access to the cancer. The barriers to effective therapies for DIPG can be effectively overcome by the locoregional delivery of appropriately targeted CAR T-cells directly into the cerebrospinal fluid via intracerebroventricular (ICV) dosing with an indwelling reservoir-catheter device. This enables the potential for extensive exposure of the pons to cerebrospinal fluid flow from the ventricular system, thus permitting infused CAR T-cells to directly access the tumor bed. This also allows for repetitive infusions of CAR T-cells to replenish the tumor bed, offering the potential for more durable and sustained efficacy. Additionally, with the blood brain barrier intact, this therapeutic approach can also minimize any on-target, off-tumor toxicities resulting from systemic exposure of CAR T cells. About BrainChild Bio BrainChild Bio, Inc., is a kids-first, clinical-stage biotechnology company harnessing the power of CAR T-cell technology to treat tumors in the central nervous system, prioritizing pediatric indications with plans to expand into adult CNS tumors, specifically Glioblastoma and brain metastasis. BrainChild Bio was launched out of Seattle Children's Therapeutics program and founded on the work of Dr. Michael Jensen, a pioneer in the cancer immunotherapy field and previous Chief Therapeutics Officer at Seattle Children's. BrainChild Bio is advancing a next-generation CAR T-cell therapy platform for tumors of the CNS that weaves together synthetic technologies, including multiplex targeting and enhanced potency controls, to enable multiple targets in a single CAR T-cell therapy, novel transgenes to increase potency, delivery technology for durable efficacy, and streamlined CAR T-cell design and manufacturing. BrainChild Bio's lead drug candidate is BCB-276, an autologous CAR T-cell therapy that targets the immune checkpoint B7-H3, that is advancing in clinical trials for the treatment of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a pediatric cancer that forms in the brainstem which currently has no approved treatments. More information is available at
Buzz Feed
19-04-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
40 Things For Parents Who Need Solutions To A Plethora Of Problems
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. From potty training to stuffed animal storage, I've got you covered. Helllooooo parents, my name is Heather, and at the time I'm writing this, my son is 3 and my daughter is almost 1 (so you know I get *it*). So, a lot of these items I've personally tested out! I can happily tell you *all* about what has worked for my family, but kindly wanted to note that I'm aware every kid is different! So, what worked for me may not work for you. But hey, it's worth a shot. Right? 1. A Frida Baby The 3-Step Cradle Cap System that'll remove dry skin from baby's scalp so gently they won't even notice — it comes a sponge, a brush, and a comb that'll all work together to get your kiddo's scalp looking good. Read more about cradle cap — aka seborrheic dermatitis — at Seattle Children's and the American Academy of Dermatology. My daughter had WAAAAY more cradle cap than my son did as an infant, so I was prepared to really tackle it head on (pun intended). This system was SO useful and made removing the cradle cap so simple. I paired it with a gentle shampoo, rubbed it in with the sponge side, scrubbed it good (but gently) with the scrubbier brush, rinsed it out and repeated 3x. At the end I combed all of the particles out of her hair. It made such a difference! Promising review:"My baby is 2 months old and has been suffering from cradle cap. I didn't want to pick it out. So i ordered this product. When i tell you it took EVERYTHING out and DIDN'T take out his hair! I'm VERY APPRECIATIVE!" — Ahonesty Get it from Amazon for $14.39. 2. A travel busy board packed with activities that'll keep your toddler from asking you a zillion questions like, "Is that a red light?" "Why are we listening to your music, Mom?" "Why is the sky blue?" while you're trying to drive. They'll keep their head down and their fingers busy so you can enjoy some peace. Amazon Promising review:"Perfect for a long car ride or desk play. My son was very entertained by it. Perfect for my 5-month-old and 4-year-old. Stuff for both of them to use and share. They've been playing with it for months, and everything remains intact." — Danielle Blackwell Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in two styles). 3. A baby butt spatula you'll either laugh or cringe at but will thank your lucky stars that you thought to purchase it when you see how much nicer it is to apply diaper cream to your baby's booty with it instead of your finger. It has incredible suction on the bottom, so you can keep it right next to your changing pad without fear of it being kicked over by your unruly tot. Both my mom and my mother-in-law poked fun at me for getting this lil' spatula but I have ZERO regrets. I love my kids more than life itself, but I am more than pleased to not have to put my finger in their butts after they've recently pooped and I think that is OKAY! I'd like to think they're also happier to have a lil' spatula do the job ANYWAYS! That being said, this lil' tool is fantastic as it's super easy to clean, doesn't waste any product, and suctions onto my changing table with ease. Promising review:"If I could give this little tool 10 out of 5 stars I would!!! It makes the whole process of applying diaper rash ointment SOOOOO much easier. And this thing cuts down on how much diaper rash ointment is wasted because your fingers are not getting covered in ointment. I HIGHLY recommend this product to anyone with a baby!!!" — Hazel-91 Get it from Amazon for $5.99. 4. A 3-in-1 Frida Baby Infrared thermometer with a built-in sensor that'll make taking your tyke's temperature a breeze. You can also remove the tip and use it as an inner-ear thermometer and use it to take your own as well! Perfect for any parents who err on the side of caution and find themselves checking their kiddo's temp anytime they look a bit flushed (ahem, me). My son is prone to getting *very* high fevers, so I've always needed to have a reliable thermometer on hand. I truly love the Frida Baby one (and, honestly, everything the brand makes), as it can be used in more than one way. I like having the option to take his temperature on his forehead and in his ear, then compare the two to feel like I have a pretty accurate reading. It lights up green if the temperature is good and red if it's a bit too high (or low!). It's so easy to use. My 2.5-year-old has learned how to use it on his own (he likes to check his stuffed animals for fevers, haha). I've literally never had to change the batteries, and I've had it for over a year! Promising review:"So easy to use!! Popped it straight out of the box and was able to use without instructions. In fact even my 3-year-old was able to use it on her own without my help. Definitely a must-have!" — Nichelle Get it from Amazon for $39.99. 5. A travel urinal — a saving grace for when your child, once again, has to pee while you're out and about enjoying the refreshing springtime weather even though you *JUST* asked them 10x if they had to go. Watch this mom's review on TikTok. Promising review:" I purchased this for my son and our long car trips. How many times can we pull over to potty on a three-and-a-half hour car trip? Ask my 4-year-old. When I saw this, I couldn't resist. We brought it along, and when he had to pee, no problem. It's only a little gross when you dump it later. Well designed, definitely recommend." — Evan Get it from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in eight colors). 6. Or a Frida Baby fold-and-go potty seat that'll bring you peace of mind, knowing your toddler's tush never has to touch a grime-filled public toilet. It comes with a travel bag that'll fit easily in your diaper bag or regular tote bag if you're just running a quick errand with your toddler. Amazon, We're in the midst of potty training my toddler, and the hardest part has definitely been his need to pee whenever we're out of the house. I ordered this seat, and it's become an essential item in any bag I carry. It folds up nice and small; it's not bulky to toss in a tote bag or the diaper bag. I can whip it out quickly (ideally before he has an accident) and pop it onto any toilet seat. So far, we've used it in the airport, at my parents' house, and in several stores and restaurants. I wipe it down with a disinfectant wipe after we use it and move on to the next chaotic moment of our day. Promising review:"My toddler loves her little training potty but would not sit on regular toilets at home or elsewhere. I purchased this foldable potty seat and started using it at home so she would get comfortable with it, making her comfortable using it outside of the home. I love that it puts a barrier between her and public bathroom seats. It is a very good quality design. It's easily foldable and stable. It has a rubber lip around the edge to keep it from slipping on the toilet seat when my toddler sits on it. No leakage or complaints. It's easy to clean or wipe down on the go. Would 100% recommend to all my mom friends." — Jess Get it from Amazon for $10.48. 7. And a portable pack of soap sheets, because entering a public bathroom is grime-y enough without having to worry "will there be soap left in the dispenser???" These will melt away in your hands and ensure they'll be squeaky clean (very important after changing your kiddo's diaper or helping them wipe their adorable little butt). Amazon Promising review:"I'm thrilled to have purchased these! Amazing soap sheets. The scents are not overwhelming. I have sensitive skin and, this does not irritate my skin. Hands feel soft and clean and smell great. My 6-year-old son loves these. With pretty much everything still closed down, due to COVID-19, we have been doing a lot more outdoor activities. It's nice to have soap handy when in middle of hiking or biking and, need to wash hands before eating lunch. I would strongly recommend these soap sheets." — Ann Get three packs of 100 sheets each from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in lemon, orange, lavender, a variety pack of the three scents, or unscented). 8. A car seat buckle release tool that'll save both your nails and your precious time! No one wants to struggle to open those (thankfully) extremely secure buckles while their kiddo is hitting a pitch that could likely break glass. This gadget doesn't attach to the car seat, so no need to fret about kiddos unbuckling themselves while you're driving. UnbuckleMe is a small business! Promising review:"Love that my kindergartner can unbuckle himself. It makes morning school drop-off SO MUCH EASIER! And he likes the independence of being able to do it himself!" — Lauren Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in seven colors). 9. A bug bite suction tool invented by a mom that sucks the irritating part right out of an insect bite with a pull of the plunger — it's so easy your kiddo can definitely do it themselves (if they stop screaming long enough because, duh,, they got bit by a bug). See it in action on TikTok. Bug Bite Thing is a small business. Promising review:"I saw this product on TikTok and had to get it. I'm super glad I did. My daughter and I always get a ton of mosquito bites, and this helps alleviate the itching as soon as you pull the suction back. It's great." — Rebekka Talley Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (also available in two-packs and three-packs). 10. A sunscreen applicator that'll make covering your mini-me from head to toe a whole lot easier — especially if they're squirmy! Pour the lotion inside this travel-size container, flip it upside down, shake it, and apply. No mess and no stress. Amazon Check out how easy it is to apply sunscreen with this clever gadget in this TikTok. Solar Buddies is a small business based in the UK, founded by two moms, who set out to develop a product that would make applying sunscreen on kiddos easier. As a parent myself, I can confirm this gadget is fantastic. During the summer I'd keep one in my diaper bag to ensure my son was protected from the sun at any given moment. He loved being "painted" and I loved knowing applying sunscreen wasn't going to be a fight. Promising review:" I hesitated, but I originally saw this item on TikTok and knew it would make life SO MUCH easier when it comes to putting sunscreen on myself and my kids, and I have to say, I am NOT disappointed!! The sunscreen goes on so smoothly and evenly, and I feel like I will be saving so much sunscreen now that I'm not just squirting a huge glob in my hands and spending so much time trying to rub in a ridiculous amount into mine and my children's skin. My only regret with buying these is that I wish I would have bought a couple more so that I could have different ones for each of the sunscreens we use! But I will be recommending these to everyone!" — Carmen Get a pack of two from Amazon for $23.98+ (available in four colors and in three-packs). 11. A sand removal bag filled with a talc-free, reef-friendly powder to help remove the pesky particles your kiddo will likely have all over them after rolling around in the local playground's Amazon See it in action on TikTok. Shakalo is a San Diego–based small business that started to figure out a way to help people, especially parents remove sand before leaving the beach. The soft fabric pouch allows the powder to remove the sand without scattering everywhere. Promising review:"We recently moved to a beach area, and we are constantly there. This item has changed our entire lives! It lasts decently long (depending on how much you use it), it smells super good (not at all like baby powder), and it's super effective. It has saved me from vacuuming my car at least 1x–2x a week. I even use it on my dogs' paws and bellies to make sure they're taken care of. I will definitely be buying the refill and another bag to have exclusively in the car." — Gabbs Uresti Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two sizes). 12. A battery-operated stroller fan with a flexible handle so you can adjust it as needed to keep your mini-me at the perfect temperature while heading out on a springtime stroll. Honestly, buy two so you can *also* enjoy some sweet relief — you're the one pushing that stroller uphill, after all! Amazon Reviewers have also attached it to their little one's cribs and car seats for extra airflow. I personally used one on my stroller during my son's first summer (he was about three months old at the time) and bought a second one when my daughter was born. Now, both kids enjoy a nice lil' breeze when we walk in warmer weather. Promising review:"This little fan has changed my life! I bought this for Disney, and now I use it all the time. I had gotten this fan for the stroller and four little handheld fans. If I had the space, I would have bought four of these. It is lightweight, easily attached, has flexible legs, a powerful fan, and Bluetooth, too! I set it up as a phone stand for the kids while they waited for food, cooled everyone off all day, and charged it at the end of the day. We used it off and on daily, not continuously. Now I use it in my girls' room when it's stuffy and set a timer if needed. It has speed controls, too. It's a great product 100% recommend to every parent or anyone needing a portable fan." — Robert Get it from Amazon for $13.59 (available in six colors). 13. A dual cup holder that'll ensure you always have a spot for your emotional support coffee *and* your phone — attaches easily to strollers, bikes, wheelchairs, and scooters (one reviewer even attached it to their lawn mower!). It's so sturdy your drink won't go flying even if you absentmindedly roll over a HUGE bump in the sidewalk. One of my mom besties had this on her stroller and I immediately was like, "Welp, NEED." I ordered one and never looked back — it attaches tightly and can be adjusted to any angle. In a desperate attempt to keep both my baby and my toddler content, I spent the majority of my maternity leave on walks around my neighborhood — it was ESSENTIAL to have a solid spot to put my drink and also my phone (we needed music, of course). This one was so great I've already ordered a second one for our other stroller. Promising review: " I ordered this with low hopes because I feel like stroller cup holders are always so flimsy. I'm extremely impressed with the quality of this cup holder! You can attach it to any bar, no matter the direction it goes, as it is adjustable. It was easy to attach. It holds my large 42-oz cup with no problem. I do have to remove my wallet from my phone to put in the phone compartment. I'll be ordering another for our leisure stroller!" — Jeanette Rojas Get it from Amazon for $9.98 (available in 26 colors). 14. A pack of spill-proof Munchkin snack catchers so your kiddo can take their fave snack with them while venturing to different areas of the playground or enjoy a lil' nibble of something while en route to a playdate. I swear by these! I rarely leave the house without one of these filled to the brim with Cheerios to stave off my tykes' endless need for snacks. My son can typically be found with one of these in hand while hanging out in his car seat. And now that my daughter is also a snack fiend (but doesn't yet understand how to reach into the cup and take a snack out), I fill one for her as well and toss it into my bag, knowing nothing will spill out of it while we're on the go. Promising review:"After having my 18-month-old crush her graham crackers in the bag and then toss it all up in the air covering herself and everyone and everything in graham cracker powder (including the interior of my car), I had enough. These cups are a godsend! They are the perfect size for her hand, and she can't just yank the top off. She likes the independence they grant her, and my husband likes not having to strip her car seat and have the car detailed over cracker crumbs." — Shawny Get a pack of two from Amazon for $5.96+ (available in three color combos and in two count sizes). 15. Or a snack spinner with five compartments for kids who like to diversify their palate when on the go, and by "diversify," I mean they want Goldfish, graham crackers, cereal, yogurt bites, *and* fruit all at once. Why is it so hard to satiate a toddler?! GoBe is a small business! I picked this up for my snack monster of a son and he is obsessed. He asks for his "spinner" every time we get in the car (which buys me a blissful break of his endless questioning of all things). I had a different version from another brand that he adored but was impossible to clean. I replaced it with this one because the entire top pops off for super easy cleaning! Promising review: "A friend told us about this and it saved us on our first flight with our 1-year-old. Not only is it great for holding a variety of snacks, it served as great entertainment also. He loved watching it spin and pressing the button, and opening and closing the door. It entertained him for a lot longer than any other toy we had. A must have for traveling with a toddler, we won't go on another trip without it." — Nicole A. Get it from Amazon for $27.95+ (available in two sizes and seven colors). 16. Some reusable pouch tops that'll fit any you've purchased from the store — yes, even that VERY specific brand that's the only one your kiddo will seemingly CONSIDER eating. It has a no-spill control valve, so when your tyke eats one in the car, they won't be able to squeeze it with all their might and create an apple sauce volcano in your backseat. ChooMee is a small business based in Northern California, owned by a mom, that specializes in innovative products that solve everyday feeding challenges. Promising review:" A MUST-HAVE FOR TODDLERS. My son is a little over 1-year-old and I wish I got these sooner! He gets moments of extreme excitement when it squeezes the crap out of his pouches, and it gets EVERYWHERE. Since having these, I have had zero messes! I ended up buying four more because I wanted to keep one in every possible place I'd need one. It seems pretty darn secure if you do it following the directions. It fits Plum Organics, Earth's Best, and Happy Baby pouches for sure." — Amazon Customer Get a pack of two from Amazon for $9.99 (available in five color combos). 17. A portable car vacuum that'll help you battle the seemingly endless amount of dirt, sand, and cracker crumbs that have made themselves right at home in the hard-to-reach crevices of your toddler's car seat. Yuck. Promising review:"I bought this product for my minivan and the messy little humans who ride in it. It does an EXCELLENT job cleaning up after them. This product can get in the little crevices and tiny places, and it comes with a brush that I used to be able to round up all the hair and random things that a normal vacuum would leave behind. It's easy to empty, easy to clean, and it does a great job." — Jillian Barr Get it from Amazon for $34.99. 18. A leave-in conditioning spray for curly hair free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates you can count on to revive your mini-me's precious curls after an eventful night of rolling around like a wild thing. (How do they get such intense bed head?!?) Reviewers say this spray will leave wavy or curly hair (from 2a–4c hair) shiny, soft, and bouncy. SoCozy is a small business! Promising review:"This leave-in conditioner spray has worked so well with my daughter's hair. It smells amazing after her showers! Definitely a must-have." — Diana Beger " This stuff is fantastic for curly girls! I spray it in my daughter's dry hair in the morning, run my fingers through her ringlets (never ever comb or brush curly hair dry), then clip the top back. It smells amazing, and the price on Amazon is better than other national retailers I've found it at. The price is worth it. Minimizes frizz and keeps curls soft and natural-looking. My daughter has soft/fine thick hair." — Carolyn Smith Get it from Amazon for $7.97 (also available in a two pack). 19. Plus a pack of hair bow ties in any color you might possibly need to transform your toddler from a terror into a tiny treasure (or, at least, their hair). It'll be a major upgrade from trying to twist minuscule rubber bands around their locks *and then* fastening a hairbow while their already-slim patience is wearing thin. I ordered these for my daughter because, as stated above, I'm tired of fighting with tiny rubber bands! She also is *not* a fan of having said rubber bands removed at the end of the day (I can't imagine why!). These have made getting a bow into her hair (and keeping her hair out of her eyes) so much easier. I love that they come with two of every color so I can easily do matching pigtails whenever the mood strikes (or she sits still long enough). I also purchased this container to keep track of her new accessories neatly! Promising review:"For the price, amount, and quality, you should definitely get them. They are adorable; my daughter likes wearing these way more than little clip-in bows." — Mikayla Get it from Amazon for $14.49+ (available in various colors and sets). 20. A BabyBjörn Harmony Carrier, so you can do all kinds of things hands-free, like take your baby on a Target shopping trip, do chores around the house, make a salad, brush your hair, whatever! They'll likely get a nice, snuggly nap in while you get stuff done. It'll be a win for everyone! Since the birth of my son in 2022, I have been on the hunt for a baby carrier I love. It took me two years to find one that finally fit the bill! This one from BabyBjörn is pricey but has all the features I was looking for in a carrier. Many of the other brands I tried were SO difficult to figure out — how should the straps go? How do I get the baby in? How do I get the baby OUT?! The Harmony simplified all of those concerns with its easy-to-use clasp system. I could buckle my daughter in on my own, allowing me to go on more outings alone with her and my toddler. My neighbors definitely all had a glimpse of me wearing my daughter while pushing my son on his trike at the same time. (I am EXHAUSTED, to say the least.) Additionally, the material is very lightweight, whereas other brands I've tried left me and my tot feeling hot and sweaty. I used this one throughout the entire summer, and while I was, of course, warmer from having a baby strapped to me, I wasn't overtly dying of heat. It was also designed with padded shoulder straps and a pressure-relieving waist belt, which was MUCH appreciated. When your tyke inevitably spits up all over it, you can just toss it in the wash! Truly love this product. Get it from Amazon for $239.99 (available in nine styles). 21. And/or a Tushbaby hip carrier you may have seen across your TikTok travels — it's a must-buy for your back if you've got a Stage 5 clinger for a toddler (siiiiigh) but don't want to let that stop you from getting outdoors. It *also* has a ton of pockets for storage so you won't have to lug around an additional bag to hold your phone, wallet, and keys. It's recommended for children between 8 and 45 pounds and can be used in four different holding positions — feeding/breastfeeding, side carrying, front facing, and face-to-face. Tushbaby is a small business run by three California mamas and specializes in products that bring a little more ease to everyday parenting life. Promising review: "My 1-year-old is super wiggly and so heavy. The TushBaby helps to solve that because I can't put her in a regular carrier for more than five minutes before she gets upset. Using this carrier, I can pick her up and put her down to explore and much as needed and it really helps alleviate all the weight off my back. I use it around the house as well as when we're out. Very convenient and quick to put on and adjust." — Nadia M Get it from Amazon for $84.99. 22. Ms. Rachel's Potty Time With Bean book — a must-have for toddler parents who are in the midst of tackling potty training. The book features a sweet, motivational story about a little bear who is learning to use the potty (with Ms. Rachel for support, of course). It has reward stickers in the back and tips/tricks for parents! We're in our potty training era here, and this board book has been an integral part of our process. My son adores Ms. Rachel (who doesn't?) and recognized Bean when we passed the book in a store. So, we tossed it in the cart and took it home to start this ever-stressful endeavor. Anytime my son sits on the potty he asks me to read "The Bean book" and whenever he successfully goes he gets rewarded with one of the stickers from the book. There's even a handwashing song in it that he's taken to heart and sings every time he washes up after using the potty. If you want to take things to the next level there's also a Potty Time with Bean toy! Promising review: " The quality of this is great, and the books are nice and tough, so littles won't be able to rip them or anything. It's very good quality, and it is a book made to last! It's also fantastic and is really helping with teaching the littles in your life how to use the potty. Thank you, Ms. Rachel!" — End Up Here Get it from Amazon for $6.99. 23. Sink extenders so you won't need to muster up Herculean strength every time your surprisingly dense toddler wants to wash their sticky little paws. Amazon, We're working on potty training my toddler, which comes with the added routine of constant handwashing. He's itching to be independent in all ways (yay) so I knew it was time to add these to my cart. They slip over the two very different faucets in my bathrooms and have truly made it easier than ever for my son to wash his hands (with the help of a step stool, of course). These should be mandatory in every toddler's home! Promising review:" Must-have for toddlers and small children! LOVE this! My 1- and 3-year-old love washing their hands now and my back gets a nice break. Adding the faucet extenders and a stepstool to our bed time/morning routine has been a godsend. Great bargain for the price." — TeaBea21 Get a two-pack from Amazon for $6.59. 24. And a pack of brilliant light switch extenders that'll let tykes turn them on all on their own! Don't be surprised if you catch them humming Kelly Clarkson's "Miss Independent" soon. These install in minutes on standard light switches. When we turned our son's crib into a toddler bed (aka giving him freedom to come/go) his biggest complaint was that in the morning it was "dark." He is only tall enough to turn his light OFF but not on! So, we ordered this product and it was the perfect solution. Took two minutes (literally) to install and now he's happy as a clam (most of the time). Promising review:" Must-have for toddlers! Perfect solution! As my toddler's independence soars, so do frustrations. This light switch extender pack was a great buy. He can now turn on the lights in his room and bathroom. Installation was easy and works as expected." — AW Get a pack of two from Amazon for $13.99. 25. An over-the-door stuffed animal organizer, because somehow at the age of two, your child has accumulated a concerning amount of plush pals. This will *attempt* to keep 'em contained and hopefully save your back from lots of bending to put them back in a basket on the floor. Honeyera is a small business that sells items specifically designed to keep kids' toys organized. Promising review:"This holds a ton of stuffed animals. I bought it for my two girls, who share a room, and their beds are overrun with stuffies. This holds so much so they can still be on display; it's easy for them to get them in and out except for the top basket, and it matches their room colors. Great quality and easy to use." — The Word Of A King Get it from Amazon for $28.95 (available in nine colors). 26. A 20-pack of vacuum storage bags to help you purge your tyke's too-small clothes once and for all — but also help you hold onto 'em in case you're still hoping to expand your family. Fill up a bag, suck out the air (a hand pump is included), and watch the pile shrink down to a fraction of its original size! Promising review:"Love, love LOVE! These space-saver bags are amazing! I was able to fit so many clothes, blankets, and even my kid's old stuffed animals into them, and they all compressed perfectly. I used my vacuum to seal them, which made the process super easy. One thing to note is that some of the smaller bags don't have a vacuum hole, but honestly, you don't need it. You can just roll the air out and seal the bags, which works just as well. There were plenty of bags in different sizes, and I'll definitely be buying more soon. Highly recommend if you need to save space!" — Perlyn Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 27. Tubby Todd All Over Ointment — aka parents' saving grace for any skincare issues their tyke throws their way. It's formulated with plant-based materials like Jojoba Esters and Camellia Leaf Extract that naturally moisturize skin but *without* any heavy fragrances. It's a thick, reliable cream that soaks in quickly and works wonders on everyone and everything. Tubby Todd I have yet to come into contact with a parent who doesn't rave about the Tubby Todd brand — and for good reason. I've been using their bath products since my son was born (shampoo, conditioner, bubble bath) but only recently gave their All Over Ointment a try with my daughter. I don't know why I waited so long. It's INCREDIBLE. She has more sensitive skin than my son did as a baby, and a little of this has gone a long way in keeping her skin moisturized. Most recently, I used it on my son's cheeks after he had been rubbing them against his sleeve nonstop, causing bright red irritations. I applied it before bedtime, and by the morning, he was as good as new — no redness left at all! Tubby Todd products are great for sensitive skin, are designed for all ages, and have been clinically Dermatologist and Pediatrician tested. Additionally, Tubby Todd is a family-owned small business. Promising review:"Saved my baby's skin from eczema, red spots, and dryness. Consistently put this on after baths and throughout the day and her skin issues cleared up within a week. My daughter is almost four now, and we still use it to moisturize dry patches and itchy skin. My husband and I also like to use it when our skin gets dry during winter months. It's magic." — Kat C. 28. Bumkins washable bibs that'll turn mealtime into a fashion show (hehe) while also protecting your little one's clothes from all kinds of gross baby food stains. Pop culture fans, look no further! These come in so many fun styles you won't know which ones to order first. My son has these bibs in a variety of styles: Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, and Mickey Mouse. They're super cute and make for silly photos, but best of all, they can be easily rinsed off or thrown into the washing machine. I've put the bibs in with his regular laundry and then dried them on cool — they come out nice 'n' clean. I've loved them so much it was a no-brainer to get my daughter her own Disney Princess set! We also have a Bumkins Nintendo-themed splat mat I simply could not live without, as it catches all the food debris my son tosses over the edge of his highchair. Promising review:"This is easy to put on and easy to clean. We just rinse, wipe and dry. I can see our son may be able to take it off one day, but that's part of the process. I like how light it is compared to the silicone bibs we have." — hmfan24 Get a pack of two from Amazon for $13.95+ (available in 22 styles and sets). 29. A portable MyBaby white noise sound machine you can attach directly to your baby's car seat or stroller in hopes they'll *fingers crossed* get an excellent nap in while their older sibling runs amok at the park. Maybe if you're REALLY lucky, they'll enjoy the soothing sounds on the way home and take a rest, too. Amazon Promising review:"Our newborn photographer had one at my son's newborn shoot, and it calmed him down, so we bought one and started using it. He's now 19 months, and we use it for every nap and every night at bedtime. There are several sounds on it, including a lullaby, a heartbeat, white noise, and, I believe, the ocean. We only use the lullaby on it because it works for my son. The great thing about it is that it has a setting where you can choose to have it on continuously (basically until you turn it off or the batteries die), or you can click a button to change it so that it goes off after 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 45 minutes. So, if your LO only requires the sound to actually fall asleep, you don't have to try to sneak into their room to turn off the sound. And you also don't have to try to sneak into the room to turn it back on. I simply love this thing and can't say enough good things about it. I have recommended it to friends as well. And for the price, you can't beat it!" — NurseBS88 Get it from Amazon for $15.99. 30. An outlet light for anyone who has accidentally walked into a wall one (or two) times too many when getting up in the middle of the night with a sick tyke or a kiddo asking for a zillionth cup of water. This lil' gadget will subtly light your way without the need for a bulkier option. Amazon Promising review:"I don't like night-lights because they take up the wall outlet, so this was the perfect solution. I put it in the guest bath, and at night, with the bathroom door open, this provides just enough light to guide a person to the bathroom without blinding them. I ended up putting two on my hallway switches as well. What a great product." — LMK Get it from Amazon for $22.98+ (available in four colors and three sizes). 31. A jar of internet-beloved The Pink Stuff, which is an all-purpose cleaning paste that'll help you tackle all of your kid-made messes but make it *~pretty in pink~* at the same time. Your kiddo's attempt at Piccasso-ing your walls won't scare this cleaning product. 😅 Promising review:" A must-have for toddler moms! My 3-year-old recently decided to channel his inner Van Gogh on our stairwell wall, and red crayon was EVERYWHERE. I tried every possible cleaning solution, and nothing was getting it off. I heard about the Pink Stuff on TikTok and decided it was worth a shot. This stuff is a miracle worker! With a sponge and some elbow grease, I was able to remove all the crayon within 10 minutes. There's absolutely no trace of the crayon left, and it didn't ruin my paint!" — Casey Blaine " If you have toddlers, this is a MUST! This stuff is amazing. It gets out crayon, ink, permanent marker, literally whatever way your toddler decides to unknowingly destroy your home — this stuff cleans it up. Will be giving this to all expectant parents as a gift from now on. Forget that cute onesie. They need this. 10/10" — Diana Get it from Amazon for $5.97. 32. Miss Mouth's Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray you'll be very glad you bought after your kid decides to perfect *sliding into home base* during their baseball game. No need to sweat those stains — you can just cheer 'em on, knowing this spray will get those clothes looking fresh again later. Promising review:"My 1-year-old has taco meat stains ALL over the sleeves of his shirt. The stains were 2–3 days old, too. I sprayed the shirt, let it sit for about 15 mins, and then washed the shirt with regular laundry soap. Almost every bit of the stains came out. Definitely buying bulk in this product!" — Sloan Avery Get it from Amazon for $7.97+ (available in a variety of quantities) 33. Puracy enzyme-based spot cleaner that'll have your little one's clothes looking like you just pulled them off the rack in a store instead of out from under a car tire. You can also use it on carpets, bedding, cloth diapers, etc. Promising review:"I just purchased this. It took stains out of baby clothes and I used it on the fabric on a toddler chair and it looks brand new. I wish I would have taken before and after photos! Love it already!" — Brianne Get it from Amazon for $22.49. 34. A Zak Designs BPA-free, leak-proof cup your kiddo will adore because of their fun designs and you'll love because they'll actually fit in a cup holder! They really and truly do not leak (phew), so when your toddler shakes it upside down (and they will), you won't have a fountain of water to mop up. Amazon I cannot even begin to tell you just how many toddler cups I've tried out for my son before settling on these. They really don't leak, he can't open/close it for fun like he does with flip-top cups, and he has no issue using the straw (I think because it's thicker than most!). I personally like that they come in a bunch of fun styles. My favorite feature, however, is that I can toss it into the dishwasher for easy cleaning! Promising review:"They don't leak or volcano everywhere! It's taken so long and so many different straw cups, but we finally found ones that don't make a huge mess, even when our son is trying to make a mess!" — A. Smith Get a set of two from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in 20 styles) 35. A shopping cart cover to create a barrier between your kiddo and all of the unseen germs lurking around — certainly can't hurt and will also prevent them from, literally, sucking on the cart itself (babies are wild). Heather Braga / BuzzFeed I used this cover with both of my kids (pictured above) and am *very* glad that I did. As you can see from my son's first time in a shopping cart at Target (left), all he immediately wanted to do was chew on it — which is disgusting and germy! The cover protected him from sucking on unknown It was an excellent item to stow away for baby number two, and as you can see (right) we're making use of it! Promising review:"Love! I was in the market for a nice shopping cart cover. My newest baby definitely is one that puts everything possible into his mouth, so a shopping cart cover was a must this time around. It's easy to unfold and fold up. A little tricky to put on the first time, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. It seems to be fairly padded. Covers a standard Walmart cart thus far. I believe it will work for high chairs as well. I do wish it came with its own toys. I would definitely recommend for children who are comfortable sitting up on their own." — Alicia Get it from Amazon for $24.49+ (available in three styles). 36. A stainless steel cleaner you can count on to help you (temporarily) banish all of those sticky little toddler-sized fingerprints that have somehow made their way across your fridge and dishwasher.... This plant-based cleaner will remove streaks, smudges, and fingerprints from all stainless steel surfaces — sounds very therapeutic to me! Additionally, Therapy Clean is a small business! Promising review:"This is by far the best stainless steel cleaner I have ever used. So easy to apply and I wipe it off with a clean microfiber cloth. It lasts months and I have twin toddlers that are always touching my appliances. No finger prints at all. I highly recommend. Completely safe , no chemicals. Great product." — martha Get it from Amazon for $19.95. 37. A bulk pack of premoistened lens wipes for parents with a baby whose favorite game includes taking your glasses on and off. My 1-year-old does this ALL day, so I'm constantly cleaning tiny fingerprints off my glasses. Promising review:"These Zeiss wipes are the real deal — they're not dry, and they do an amazing job cleaning glasses, phone screens, and anything else that attracts fingerprints. No streaks, no smudges, just clear vision every time. I've got these stashed all over the house because I have reading glasses in almost every room (I swear they multiply on their own). With 400 in the box, this stash should last me a while—unless my glasses decide to start attracting grease and fingerprints at record speed. If you wear glasses, own a phone, or just like things to be clean and smudge-free, these are a must-have! 🕶📱✨" — Chi Guy Get a pack of 400 from Amazon for $17.71. 38. A steering wheel desk for anyone who often finds themselves trying to quickly catch up on some work while being nap-trapped in the car after desperately driving around in circles in hopes their cranky toddler will *finally* get some rest. Don't you DARE wake that baby!!! Promising review:"Works perfect for a working mom!!! Picked this up knowing summer is around the corner and I will be no longer be utilizing a nanny. Figured I'd save money and work from the car as needed during sports and take calls when needed. Worked like a charm!" — Ashley Seitzer Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five colors). 39. Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener — it'll conceal and brighten the dark circles under your eyes SO FAST you might even forget you stayed up literally all night long with your infant (watching the sun rise was nice, though, right?) This lightweight color-adapting formula now comes in four fabulous shades! Heather Braga / BuzzFeed The color-adaptive formula is designed so one of four shades will work on any skin tone. I've personally tested this out and it has become an essential part of my daily routine. As a mom of two I gotta just say I am TIRED. So tired that I'm not sure what my face even looks like without bags under my eyes — that is, unless I've got the Catrice "Instant Awake" on. A little really goes a long way and has great coverage. I wore it throughout my sister's wedding weekend in Aruba and, despite the heat, it stayed perfectly in place. An incredible product for an even more incredible price... 10/10 from me. Promising review: "Took years off my eyes! This product is so reasonably priced. I came across a TikTok promoting this and decided to take a chance since the price was super reasonable. My eyes looked brighter in a good way, and the concealer worked so well that I felt I looked younger. I got compliments from friends asking what I did differently with my makeup. I recommend it." — Monica T. Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in four shades). 40. And, of course, Lumify Eye Drops, which are *so* beloved on TikTok they've been selling left and right on Amazon! Reviewers adore them because they reduce redness in their eyes nearly instantly. They're an absolute must-have if you have a jam-packed day of meetings and need to get rid of your bloodshot eyes in a snap (shout out to the night of NO sleep your baby gifted you). Learn more about different kinds of eye drops and what they can do at Cleveland Clinic. Note that eye drops can potentially mask symptoms of eye conditions, so you should talk to your eye doctor about what's right for you. And according to Mayo Clinic, you should avoid redness-reducing drops if you're looking for dry eye relief. Promising review:"I have a big spot of blood vessels in the inner corner of my left eye. I use the expensive lubricant eye drops for moisture — I've used Visine, Clear Eyes, you name it. No eye drop has made my eyes look this great. Only Lumify! I was soo happy when I looked in the mirror and saw some beauty in my eyes instead of darkness and redness." — Angela Leonard Get it from Amazon for $13.99. Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
