As a mom, I have a love-hate relationship with technology. On the one hand, technology has improved my life in countless ways. (Grocery shopping from my phone? Lifesaver.) But on the other hand, technology can also feel overwhelming at times. Like, do I really need to download an app to brew coffee on my home coffee maker?

The key to using technology as a parent is choosing tech products that make your life better. This is in part why we’ve teamed up with Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) to see how real parents weighed in with their real-life feedback, ratings, and reviews, to create this list of the best home tech products that can improve your life as a parent.

The post 10 Game-Changing Tech Products Parents Say Are Worth Every Penny appeared first on Mom.com.

It’s no secret that if you want a product recommendation for parenting, there’s no one better to ask than, well, a parent. Which is exactly why a site like Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) makes perfect sense: the site brings together parents and products to get real feedback and reviews. Parents can test, review, and rank products based on how their real families and children used and enjoyed them, so you can know that you’re getting accurate feedback before you buy.

As real parents ourselves, we teamed up with PTPA to find the best approved and ranked products that can make a parent’s life easier. We were impressed by unique products like self-closing outlet covers and water bottles that only open with your fingerprint (no unauthorized child sips on your watch!) and, of course, recommend the peace of mind that the Owlet camera and monitor provide.

Here are other products that can help take the burden off any busy parent’s life.

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Getting through cold and flu season can be absolutely brutal as a parent. You’d do anything to help your little one be more comfortable. Unfortunately, colds and flus can impact your baby or toddler’s ability to sleep, but thanks to the reviews from real parents at Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA), we have some recommendations that can help. The site brings parents and products together for real recommendations and feedback to help you decide before you buy.

From a must-have nasal aspirator (we promise it’s not as gross as it sounds) to all-natural cough syrup, we teamed up with PTPA to find the must-haves to stock for cold and flu season to help you all get the sleep you need.

The post Lifesaving Products That Actually Help Your Baby Sleep Through Cold & Flu Season appeared first on Mom.com.

If you’re a last-minute holiday shopper, we have something even better than two-day shipping or battling the crowds at the store: digital gifts.

Digital gifts, or gifts that can be downloaded for a gift recipient instantly, are my go-to as a busy mom. For instance, the sheer number of Starbucks gift cards that I have given out in my life should make me a shareholder.

I love the convenience of e-gifts, but you can also personalize a digital gift, too, and give something really special and meaningful.

Here is a mix of personalized and standard digital gifts you can give this holiday season. (And if anyone is wondering, I am a size Audible subscription.)

The post The Ultimate Guide to Gifts You Don’t Have to Wrap or Wait For appeared first on Mom.com.

Whether you’re looking to pamper a new mom in your life, or you are the new mom in your life, Black Friday is the perfect time to pick up some well-deserved gifts. (Push present, anyone?)

We’ve all seen the cost of formula and baby diapers these days, so any way to save money as a parent is a gift in itself, which is why we’re definitely swooping in on these Black Friday deals for new moms.

We’re loving coffee mugs that never go cold, the coziest blanket that makes snuggling with a newborn even better, nursing bras that offer all the right support, and a digital calendar that’s about to become our new mom BFF.

Here’s a full list of the best Black Friday deals for first-time moms that we are adding to our carts.

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It’s September and the little ones — from tots to teens — are officially back to school (or will be in a few short days), temperatures are already cooling and to be honest the vibe in our homes and neighborhoods is already changing. It feels like, well … people are actually ready for fall. It was an admittedly hot and hectic summer for many, and we are totally looking forward to all the cozy things.

And while our day-to-day schedules might be a little busier this time of year, we’re finding ways to sneak in some self-care and find ways to make our lives just a little bit easier. So with this month’s Editor’s Picks, we’re bringing you some favorites that will help you settle into the season, meeting every challenge, and maybe even finding time to glamorize the little things.

The post Editor’s Picks: September 2025 appeared first on Mom.com.

In 2025, it feels like nearly everything is more expensive than it’s ever been before … and the costs just keep on rising. And, well, our kids just won’t stop growing. While the costs of most basic school supplies like folders, pencils, and notebooks aren’t too pricey, kids’ clothing in particular is.

These days it seems like unless there’s a major sale happening, the graphic tees we used to pay $5 for are closer to $10 and those sweats that would run us $10 are nearing $20. Now, recently imposed tariffs are also starting to have an impact at the register as well.

As parents, it can be frustrating to say the least. We’re already spending so much on things such as food, gas, housing, and utilities, the knowledge that our back-to-school costs are likely to be higher than ever is overwhelming.

According to Scripps News, parents are expected to spend an average of $600 per child on back-to-school shopping this year. That’s no small sum for families already juggling increased costs of living, especially if they have more than one child or older children whose shoes and clothes cost a whole lot more than when they were younger. And U.S. News & World Report says that 85% of parents in the US are concerned with the impact tariffs will have on their back-to-school spending.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like costs are going to go down any time soon, and to be honest, many of us are not thrilled with the overconsumption trend and the behaviors and practices of a lot of the major budget-friendly retailers lately anyway. So as we prepare to send our own kids back to school in a few weeks, we’ve been thinking about how we can both save money and use our hard-earned cash more mindfully.

We’ve come up with five ways parents can save money on kids’ clothes this back-to-school-season. Keep reading to see our tips.

Clothing Swaps

Have friends with kids in the same age range as yours? Try organizing a clothing swap. Set a date, decide on a location (can be someone’s home or a rented space that everyone pitches in for) and have everyone interested bring their kids’ gently worn clothing and shoes for everyone else to “shop.” Of course, there’s no charge because everyone can take home as little or as much as they like. You could even get super-organized and have people bring in and set up their donations by size a day or two ahead.

If you don’t know enough people with kids, you could try organizing through a school group like the PTA or a sports team you’re involved in. Or look out for these types events on Facebook and Facebook Marketplace, and simply sign up to participate.

Back-To-School Sales

The old stand-by. Yes, we’re recommending something nearly everyone already knows about, but we want to propose handling these annual sales a bit differently than you might usually. Instead of attempting to buy entire new wardrobes during the back-to-school sales, stick to only the basics.

These sales will offer a percentage off of clothing, but they’re often not the best deals of the year. However, for items like shoes, socks, and underwear that don’t often drop too much lower at the end of a season because they’re worn all year, the back-to-school sales will often offer the deepest discounts.

Brands like Nike and Adidas are both offering 20% off select items (including some already discounted items), and the Under Armour back-to-school sale is up to 25% off. And don’t forget to check athletic stores like Kid’s Foot Locker and Dick’s Sporting Goods, which usually offer back-to-school discounts as well. Tip: we always find the best selection — even on sale items — shopping these stores online.

Consignment Stores

When you have younger kids, it’s always worth making a trip to your closest kids’ consignment shop to take a look. Oftentimes these stores will have a large selection of gently used items at steep discounts. Sometimes, you’ll even find never-worn clothes or shoes with tags still on them.

Once Upon a Child is a national chain with lots of locations, but there are also stand-alone consignment shops that specialize in children’s clothing in many towns and cities. If you can’t find any near you, try Goodwill or look for a local Salvation Army thrift store. Alternatively, there are some online kids’ consignment shops that ship nationally, like Bounce MKT, and ThredUp has kids’ clothes as well.

Clearance Racks

Chances are, your kids go back to school in August or early September. In most of the country, the weather is still quite warm this time of year. So instead of shopping for cool-weather clothes, hit up the clearance racks of summer clothes.

You can buy a few things in their current size to get them through the first month or two of school and buy clothing a size or two bigger that they’ll be able to wear the last couple months of the school year when they’ll inevitably have outgrown everything they wore this year. At popular stores such as Old Navy, Target, Gap, Kohl’s, H&M, and others, you’ll often find these end-of-season clearance items for a few bucks apiece.

Tax Holiday Shopping

Although they can be inconsistent, many states have tax holidays on essential goods and school supplies in the summertime. If you live in a state where clothing and shoes are taxed, shopping during these days can save quite a bit, especially when combined with other savings from regular sales.

Dates vary, and depending on individual state budgets, tax holidays may be paused from one year to the next, but it’s a good thing to look into before picking up your back-to-school haul. You can check the tax holiday schedule on the Federation of Tax Administrators website.

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We blinked and summer is almost over — how the h*ll did that happen?! It seems like just yesterday it was May and the weather was getting warmer and we were making plans for summer vacation. Now kids are back from summer camp, the sun is starting to set a little earlier, and back-to-school season is upon us.

Whether your kids start school in August or September (or already started in July!), it’s essential to be prepared for the academic year. Of course, that doesn’t just mean buying folders and glue sticks. There are a lot of other essentials we have to buy as we head into the fall — that’s where our Editor’s Picks come in!

If you’re looking for back-to-school must-haves, we’ve got you covered, but here are some great extras for moms, dads, toddlers, and babies.

The post Editor’s Picks: August 2025 appeared first on Mom.com.

If you or your kids are Owala water bottle enthusiasts, may we present yet another reason to love it: the Owala sauce holder.

According to the great people of Instagram and TikTok, the viral water bottle not only makes an excellent vessel for hydration, but also pulls double-duty as a very practical sauce holder.

The post People Are Hacking Their Owalas as Sauce Holders and We’re So Inspired appeared first on Mom.com.

If you have ever wondered if you needed a wicked witch waffle maker in your life, we’re here to answer that question for you:

The answer is yes.

Summer may still be in full swing, but that hasn’t stopped many of us from starting to think about the upcoming fall months. From ‘Summerween’ parties to dreaming about cool, crisp mornings, fall is beckoning.

And what better way to embrace the upcoming spooky months than by serving up some pumpkin spice waffles on a mini wicked witch waffle maker?

The post ‘Practical Magic 2’ Is Coming Soon, So We’re Celebrating With Witchy Waffles appeared first on Mom.com.