20 Useful Items To Make Parents' Lives Less Stressful

The Yoto player is like a Siri for kids, sort of. It is an alarm clock, sleep machine, storyteller, and more — all in one. It's a great toy, but can really come in handy for parents who are just too exhausted to read that third book before bedtime. All kids have to do is stick a card in the device and a story is read to your little one. The best part is that it's screen-free!

Sometimes, the simplest products are the ones that go a long way when it comes to giving parents a hand. This snack cup, the MorePeas Snack Cup, is one of those products. Kids can snack at their own pace as its lid is spill-proof. It can also be put in the microwave for a hot lunch or dinner.

This child's stool is a life saver, or shall we say, arm and back saver. It can be used in the kitchen or bathrooms as a safe stepping stool for kids or toddlers to stand on to be able to help with food prep, wash their hands or face, or just feel like they know what's going on without anyone throwing out their back while picking them up.

Cutting grapes has to be one of those "universal parent tasks" that moms and dads have to do to make sure their child's meal isn't a choking hazard. But have you ever cut a grape before? It's a bit tedious. Or it was before this grape cutter was invented. Takes seconds and slices grapes into safe, ready-to-eat, bite-size pieces.

Kiwi Co is a company that makes educational toys and subscription boxes for kids of all ages. Parents can pick from themed crates or boxes for different age groups. For example, the Atlas Crate is designed for kids ages 6 to 11 and includes things like STEAM projects and an atlas adventure book. The kits will keep your kiddos occupied so you can have some time to yourself.

There's nothing more annoying than a stuffy nose, except for a fussy baby or toddler with a stuffy nose who can't blow it and get relief. That's what the Fridababy NoseFrida Aspirator is for. It suctions the gunk out of baby's nose and hopefully helps the little one calm down. Having a stuffy nose can be so frustrating.

Moms with more than one kid, especially a baby and a toddler, who are on the move need to have one of these stroller attachments. Not only is it fun for the big sibling to ride on the back, but it helps parents keep track of their bigger kids and just get around more easily without waiting for the little-legged one to catch up.

Speaking of parents on the move, having a "console" or transportable cup holder and storage bag to clip or strap onto a stroller is a hack that will go a long way. Stick in that Stanley cup, your phone, and anything else that needs to be handy and wouldn't otherwise fit or be able to be at arm's reach.

This clock will make teaching time fun, but also help kids become more independent and less reliant on you. This clock is kid-friendly and a triple time threat as it can also be a nap timer and/or a sleep sound machine. Included is a silent countdown for older kids to keep them on track and even make getting ready fun.

These long leather pillows may look like weird, but the car gap fillers and are life-changing. Picture it: You're driving and the kids are playing with a small toy or snacking on small pieces of food and they drop the tiny item in the seat cracks. Or worse, a phone drops in there. Well, not with these gap fillers that prevent items from falling onto the car floor abyss.

Parents and messy cars go together like peanut butter and jelly, but having a tiny car trashcan that also doubles as a storage container can make the space a little less gross. It can strap onto the back of a seat and be used for a lot of the garbage that would otherwise go on the floor. It's waterproof, too! You're welcome.

Magic erasers aren't just for cleaning counter tops, although they're good at that! They can also be used to clean crayon or other child-play substances off of a wall that's been made into a mural of scribbles. Having one handy saves the stress of having to use messy soap and water to scrub the masterpiece off.

Changing pad liners are key to minimizing mess and leakage through sheets and changing beds. Just put the liner on top of the sheet or whatever cloth the child is laying on top of and if (when) there's a leak, just remove and toss the liner in the washing machine, without having to worry about cleaning the furniture or sheets underneath it.

You've likely seen those Facebook posts that are one of many a parent's nightmare and that is of a lost stuffed animal or toy. Never worry again with a Chipolo tracker that can be put in a child's favorite toy when on the go or on a vacation. It is paired with an app that can also ping you when the item is left behind.

Bath time doesn't have to be a pain, literally. Just put one of these foam kneelers down on the side of the tub and your knees will feel a whole lot better after leaning on them while scrubbing down your kid. It's lightweight and has a handle for easy storage and transport. Target has a couple of colors to choose from.

Young kids in high chairs are a mess. It's just the truth. But there's a solution that'll cut down cleanup time for parents (or at least contain the mess) and that's the Catchy high chair mess catcher. Slide it on the high chair legs and it'll catch all the food, toys, and liquids that somehow never stay on the actual high chair tray.

We love this sandwich cutter tool because of it's multiple benefits. The obvious one is the ability to easily cut off crusts in a quick and accurate way for kids who don't want crusts. Another benefit is that it cuts into a shape that looks like the store-bought PB&J sandwiches (Uncrustables), but for a lot less. It also seals the peanut butter and/or jelly (or butter or ketchup — we don't judge!) inside for minimal mess.

Parents, don't give up on a non-scuffed or dirty car just yet. While we can't promise complete cleanliness, we found a product that can at minimum protect the back seats of the car from muddy cleats, wet rainboots, or sneakers with grass, poop, or who knows what on them. All hail the "Seat Back Protector."

Making pancakes isn't the hardest thing in the world, but why not make the task easier and much cleaner? Instead of having to whisk ingredients in a bowl then pour into haphazard circles, get messy, and then have to redo the process again at a later date, this pour bottle from Amazon allows you to mix the batter in the bottle device and has an easy pouring nozzle for less mess and more precision — and it can be stored for another use without taking up much space.

Parents with kids who love pacis, you won't have to worry about where it is with this handy Ubbi On the Go Pacifier Holder. Stick it in the holder in between uses and clip the holder onto a purse, backpack or stroller for easy access. There's two compartments for two pacis and it's dishwasher safe.