Baby Must Haves Part 2: Early Toddler Edition

Since my last 'Baby Must Haves' post, my daughter and I have discovered some new amazing things. My daughter is a little over a year old now so there are some new things we really love. So let's just get right to it! To see my first 'Baby Must Haves' post click here.

1. Backpack Diaper Bag

I do not know why I didn't just ask for this right on my baby registry. There is so much hype to get all of these name brand diaper bags but let's be honest, they are over rated. As your child gets older, and heavier, holding them on your hip and the weight of a diaper bag swinging on your shoulder gets to be a lot. I purchased my diaper bag backpack when my daughter was 6 months old. It allows for much more mobility and even weight distribution. In short, it is much more practical. 

2. PBS Play and Learn App

This one is a little different but I think technology can be good in moderation. There are so many apps that are amazing resources for your little one. One of my favorites is the PBS Play and Learn app. It captures my daughter's attention, I can see improvement with her learning, and it is free (bonus)! Why is this app great? This is a child and parent app. It is specifically designed for parents to work with their children.

  "The app is designed to build on a child’s natural curiosity about his or her everyday world to encourage dialogue between kids and parents. Each game comes with a parent note that provides information about the math and literacy skills woven into the game and suggestions for effective ways to interact with a child while playing the game to maximize the learning experience." 

  -pbskids.org

3. Floor Mat

If your child is a messy eater like mine than this is a life saver. If your child isn't a messy eater, TEACH ME YOUR WAYS! Anyways, this is pretty self-explanatory. Saves you the hassle of scrubbing that pasta sauce or other foods off the floor. You can find these floor mats at most stores (Walmart, Target, Babies R Us, etc.). If you are feeling crafty, you can get your own fabric at your local fabric store so you can match it to your kitchen. Just throw it in the wash when it gets dirty!

4. All Terrain Stroller

If you have not bought an umbrella stroller yet, make sure you get an all terrain one! I asked for a Jeep all terrain umbrella stroller for my baby shower (not because I am obsessed with jeep or anything) and I knew it would come in handy. It was one of the best things I put on my list. You may not always be on pavement when pushing your child in a stroller. Regular umbrella stroller's wheels will easily get caught on the terrain. A few examples of when our stroller came in handy was at a local fair and apple picking. I was able to push the stroller with ease through the dirt and grass as I watched other frustrated parents try to trudge with their umbrella stroller. 

5. Remote Control

Let's throw a bit of a joke in here to end on a light note. This is actually no joke in my house though. My daughter has become obsessed with the television remote. I know a few other children who always race over to the remote to play with it as soon as they see it. We cleaned an old remote we had in the house (and of course took the batteries out). Instead of my daughter grabbing our remote and changing all the channels, she thinks she has her own and perfectly content. 

*All images provided by Google Images