35 Genius Inventions That Moms Need

Parenting is hard. While no product or gadget will make that 4AM feeding less exhausting, a four year old more amenable to parental suggestions, or the sudden onset of adolescent attitude less infuriating, these 35 products definitely make some of the smaller parental frustrations and challenges a whole lot easier.

We hope you find these handy products as awesome as we do. Just an FYI: 22Words is a participant in the Amazon affiliate program, and may receive a share of sales from links on this page.

This Time Timer Countdown Clock Helps Kids Understand Time Well Before They Can Read a Clock

Parents set time parameters all the time. Whether we mean it when we say "in five minutes" or not, little kids have no idea what 5 minutes feels like. Teachers and parents love this Time Countdown Clock because the visual is so clear and easy to understand. Use it for time outs, for timed tasks, or for countdowns or any sort.

Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Duo for Lice Prevention Will Help Keep You From Having to Burn Down Your House

Few things strike terror into the parent of a school aged child like the word lice. Fairy Tales Repel Duo is a prophylactic measure you can take to help your kids' heads be less attractive to the near-impossible to get rid of critters.

Crayola Color Bath Dropz Make Bath Time So Much More Fun

Bath time is great because your little kids are contained in a small space, leaving the rest of your house blissfully void of their destructive ways. Make it last as long as possible with Crayola Color Bath Dropz. Even the most bath-reluctant kid can't resist the bright, fun colors.

Make Sure the Baby Doesn't Wake the Toddler, and Vice Versa With This White Noise Sound Machine

Within hours of becoming a parent, it becomes overwhelmingly clear that sleep is the most precious commodity - your sleep, your baby's sleep, all sleep is to be courted and treasured. Don't let random noises ruin sleep. Get yourself a White Noise Sound Machine.

No Need to Use an Iron with These Handy No-Iron Kids Clothing Labels

Keep your kids' belongings clearly labeled if you want to keep your kids' belongings. But, since ironing is literally the worst, use these no-iron writable clothes labels. With a selection of sizes, these little stickers can be permanently affixed to just about any fabric so you can label everything from jackets to backpacks to towels to t-shirts.

The Mighty Handle Helps Parents Do It All in One Trip

It's no secret that parents need more than two hands. Until we figure out a way to grow more, make the most of the two you've got with a Mighty Handle, which makes carrying a million bags in one hand easier.

This Play Mat and Toys Storage Bag Makes Clean Up a Cinch, Literally

For some reason, the best toys have a million little pieces. These pieces tend to spread out all over our homes. And then some genius, likely a parent, invented this Play Mat and Toys Storage Bag. The kids sit and play, and then the mat itself closes up into a bag containing ALL THE LEGOS!

The OK to Wake! Clock Lets Kids Know When It's OK to Get Up in the Morning

Little kids are early risers, especially on Saturdays. But they can't tell time, so how are they to know when it's OK to get up? Enter the OK to Wake! Clock which changes color from yellow to green at whatever time the parents choose. This clock kept our toddlers in their rooms past dawn, and provided us with so many extra morning hours of sleep!

Another Genius Parent Invented the Extra Large Stuff 'n Sit

The Stuff 'n Sit is a fun comfy seat your child will love. But, more importantly, it's also the most brilliant way to store your child's 12,987 stuffed animals.

The Echo Dot Does More Than Just Answer All Your Kids' Questions

We all know that an Amazon Echo is extremely useful for all the random questions your kids ask all day long, and for setting timers, but did you know that it can be used to keep your whole house connected? Install one upstairs and one downstairs, and instead of yelling up to your kids for dinner, simply ask Alexa to "drop in" on them, and she beckons them for you!

A Good Waterproof Sheet Protector is a Parenting Must Have

Mattresses are expensive and kids leak. Not only will you need a Waterproof Sheet Protector, but you might want to buy a few. I'm now going to share my #1 parenting hack: make your kids' beds in layers. Waterproof pad, fitted sheet, waterproof pad, fitted sheet... the more layers the better. That way, when there is a middle of the night accident - and there will be middle of the night accidents - you don't have to remake the entire bed. Just peel off the top layer of fitted sheet and waterproof pad, and voila! A fresh made bed!

Whether You Have a Book Worm or a Reluctant Reader, a Digital Bookmark and Reading Timer is a Great Gadget

For kids who can't get enough reading, the Digital Bookmark and Reading Timer can be used to remind them to stop reading and go to bed. For the reluctant reader, it's a helpful tool to get their daily reading minutes in.

Use a Snack Catcher Unless You Like Crunchy Floors

Toddlers like few things more than snacks and running all over the place, and those things combined make for a mighty messy house. Hand a kid a Snack Catcher full of Cheerios and you've bought yourself a few minutes of peace without finding Cheerios all over everything.

If You Have a Baby or Toddler This Waterproof Silicone Bib Will Be Your Favorite

The open pocket at the bottom of this Waterproof Silicone Bib will catch all the wet, gloppy, mush and food that doesn't make it into your kid's mouth.

A Balance Bike Makes Learning to Ride a Bike So Much Easier

Training wheels are great, until the day comes when you want to get rid of them. The transition from training wheels to a real two-wheeler is hard on everyone involved. But, if you start with a Balance Bike for your toddler you can skip right over training wheels! My kid is not the most coordinated athlete in the world, and she pedaled herself on a two-wheeler at 3 years old with NO PROBLEM because she had a balance bike first.

This Portable Easy Seat Makes Going Places With Toddlers a Thousand Times Easier

In order for a newly mobile child to sit still long enough to eat, he needs to be restrained. It sounds weird, but it's true. Running around, especially in a new and unfamiliar environment, is just too distracting and tempting. Enter the brilliant Portable Easy Seat which allows you to attach your wild child to any chair, anywhere.

This Adorable Aqueduck Faucet Handle Extender Set Helps Your Small Children Help Themselves

If your kids can do something by themselves, that means that you just took one more thing off the list of things you have to help them with! Kids are short. Faucets are high. This Faucet Handle Extender solves that problem.

If You Want Your Children's Clothes to Remain Hung Up After They Go Anywhere Near Their Closets, Get Some Kids Velvet Hangers

Hangers might not seem like an exciting or necessary kid product, but having the right size hangars for your kids' clothes matters, and having non-slip hangars is hugely helpful.

Because Taking Kids to a Shoe Store is the Worst, Get a Squatchi Shoe Sizer

I have literally never, ever taken my kids shoe shopping. Why would I subject myself to such a thing when I can just use a Shoe Sizer at home, and take advantage of Amazon's and Zappos' free shipping/returns? Buy a few sizes and brands, limiting the possible selection, and one is bound to fit. This way your daughter won't fall in love with a pair of patent leather Mary Jane's and insist they are perfectly comfortable even though they actually don't fit and ultimately make her feet bleed, which is exactly what I did to my mom way back when the Internet didn't exist.

Use Red Lace, Yellow Lace to Ensure Your Kid Can Tie His Own Shoes in Under an Hour Before You Get Him Those Lace Up Shoes

Tying shoes is one of those milestones that seems like a great idea, until your child can actually do it and you buy the shoes and then you are 9 hours late to everything. Red Lace, Yellow Lace will not make your child move at a normal person pace when you're running late, but use it as incentive before buying the lace up sneakers, and you might only be 7 hours late.

If You Want Your Young Child to Come Home With Two Gloves, You're Going to Need a Set of Elastic Glove and Mitten Clips

My kids wore mismatched pairs of gloves, made from the unlost singles, for years before I discovered the magic of these Elastic Glove and Mitten Clips.

Using an Electric Toothbrush Helps Kids Brush More Thoroughly and For Long Enough

Kids like using an Electric Toothbrush, especially if it's kid-themed. And with built in brushing timers and helpful vibration, they might do a not-half-bad job brushing, which is a huge improvement from a totally bad job.

This Little Hands Playing Card Holder Will Help Stave Off Frustration and Tears - Both Yours and Your Child's

Little kids are frustrating, and often frustrated, because they are entirely incompetent AND they insist on doing things themselves. These handy Playing Card Holders help them play like big kids instead of on a team with mom.

Starbucks VIA Instant French Roast Coffee is Instant Coffee That Tastes Like Real Coffee

You don't always have time to brew a cup of coffee but you do always need one. In a pinch, having a sachet of Starbucks VIA Instant French Roast Coffee on hand will make your life so much more caffeinated.

The Tear-Free Waterfall Rinser Protects Your Baby's Face and Eyes From Soap and Water When You Rinse

Bath time is all fun and games until it's time to rinse out the shampoo. There really is no peaceful way to do this and babies and toddlers tend to scream when you dump a bucket of water over their heads. So, some genius invented the Tear-Free Waterfall Rinser which allows you to dump the bucket, but ensures that no water runs down your baby's face.

These Dual Action Multi Use Latches Will Save You From Having to Buy a Different Baby Proof Device For Every Single Type of Thing You Want to Baby Proof

So many baby proofing products are also house-guest proof, and sometimes even parent-proof. Don't lock you and your loved ones out of your cupboards, just your curious baby. These Dual Action Multi Use Latches are easy for an adult to operate, and work on several different types of drawers, cabinets, doors, and even toilet lids.

Boudreaux's Butt Paste is a Life Saver

Diaper rash happens. And when it does, a thick layer of soothing Boudreaux's Butt Paste is exactly the thing to fix it. You can also use it prophylactically if you have a rash-prone baby.

Mom’s Compact Emergency Essentials is the Perfect Portable First Aid Kid That Should Go Everywhere You and Your Kids Go

Keep one of these Compact Emergency Essentials kits in the car, the stroller, the diaper bag... Not much in life is guaranteed, but the need for bandaids, tweezers, and other first aid supplies definitely is.

With This Digital No Touch + Forehead Thermometer You Can Take Your Sleeping Child's Temperature Without Waking Him

The LAST thing you want to do is wake that sick kid who finally fell asleep, but you're dying to know if her fever has gone down. This Digital No Touch + Forehead Thermometer gives an accurate reading from up to two inches away.

You May Not Really Read Go the F**k to Sleep to Your Children, But You'll Still Love it

With sing song rhymes and dreamy illustrations, Go the F**k to Sleep reads almost exactly like a standard bed time book. Except that it says what you're really thinking but don't generally say to your kids.

If Someone Else is Taking a Shift With Your Crying Baby So You Can Sleep, You'll Want Some of These Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs

Sometimes it's your turn to sleep. For me, the only way I could possibly do that was to not hear my baby crying. It wasn't good enough to not have to be the one to get up, I had to be completely unaware of any crying if I had any chance of actually sleeping. These Earplugs are a lifesaver, and make a great, and funny, addition to a shower gift.

This Magnetic Chalkboard Dry Erase Responsibility Chart Will Help Keep Your Kids on Task

Use it for chores, for staying on task when getting ready for school, or for help breaking up and keeping track of bigger school projects. If you have kids, this Magnetic Chalkboard Dry Erase Responsibility Chart will be useful for years and years.

Walkie Chalk Stand up Sidewalk Chalk Lets You Draw on the Ground Without Having to Be on the Ground

Drawing with chalk on the sidewalk or driveway is a classic childhood pastime that kids enjoy from the toddler years well into adolescence and beyond. The only downside is that kneeling, crouching, and crawling around on the pavement sucks. Enter Walkie Chalk Stand up Sidewalk Chalk which has the most self explanatory name ever.

A Bed Tent Might Just Help Everyone in Your Household Get More Sleep

For many kids, the transition from crib to big kid bed is tough. They have a hard time staying in bed without actually being contained in the bed. Or they feel insecure, or they literally fall out. A Bed Tent gives a sense of security and containment, plus it's super fun and exciting.

A 20-Pound Dumbbell Set Can Get You More Than Super Toned Arms

You might be wondering why I'm including a 20-Pound Dumbbell Set on a list of things parents need. Well, let me tell you a story: a friend of mine, who is a bonafide parenting genius, keeps a decorative basket full of hand weights by her bedroom door. When she and her husband want some adult time together, without risking traumatizing one of their kids, they slide the basket in front of the door. While a kid might find a locked door alarming, a difficult to open door simply gives her and her husband time to become less child-trauma-inducing. Universal parenting problem solved with a decorative basket of hand weights. Brilliant!