Taylor Tested Essentials

Toddler Essentials…That Actually Get Used (Ages 1-3)

Toddler “must-have” lists can be overwhelming and full of things that get used once and forgotten. This page focuses on toddler essentials that actually get used. These are items that we use daily and absolutely love – the kind of items that you make sure are on any packing list, that you keep two of, or that you constantly reorder. More specific lists, i.e., favorite eating, travel, learning toys, etc. coming soon!

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely believe are useful for everyday family life.

  1. Toddler Multivitamin WITH iron – https://amzn.to/3NuefP5 . We love this vitamin! I mix the recommended amount into my toddlers milk every morning. We choose the one with added iron because his levels are borderline. We haven’t noticed any issues with constipation like you see with other iron supplements. Link to the same vitamin WITHOUT iron (https://amzn.to/3LRZTaM).
  2. Toilet Seat with Built-In Potty Training Seat – https://amzn.to/4pL1v3W . First we bought the travel potty, the removal seat attachments, etc. I should’ve just gotten this from the beginning. At least it would have been better for at home until he was actually potty trained. This has been so much easier and much more comfortable for him than the other attachments. You don’t have to store it anywhere when it’s not being used!
  3. Bath Crayons – https://amzn.to/4qZnULM . My son used to love baths, but for some reason he recently started throwing a fit when he has to take them. These bath crayons are the only thing that has kept him entertained while he’s in there. They allow us to get everything done and avoid a tantrum! We just keep them in a little cup next to the tub. They’re easy to store and to clean up. Our most used and enjoyed bath item!
  4. Tonie Music Box – https://amzn.to/4jLed1c . When I tell you that this is our #1 used toy, I mean it! He has used this since his first birthday and absolutely loves it. This is great for at home and on the go. We have a carrying case for it that makes transportation and storage easy too (https://amzn.to/45jOM0Z)
  5. Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray – https://amzn.to/3NlbuQa . This spray has single-handedly saved us hundreds of dollars worth of clothes – easily. I’m fairly certain it’s a universal experience as a toddler mom to experience the “berry stage.” This spray has been a saving grace for us during this period!
  6. Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Coloring – https://amzn.to/49uXOe3 . We love these! We use them specifically for times we need to be sitting out in public – restaurants, wedding receptions, church, etc. and they keep him entertained and him/the surrounding area mess free!
  7. HonestBaby Unisex-Baby 10-Pack Short Sleeve T-Shirts – https://amzn.to/4sLCLLA . We buy one pack of these t-shirts per size to keep on hand and they’re perfect for what we need! We also do their long sleeve packs for fall/winter (https://amzn.to/4qqzXC1). I typically buy them when they’re on sale. They frequently do 30-50% off, so just keep an eye on them! They have enough color options that it keeps me from having to buy other shirts throughout the season/size.
  8. Owala Kids Insulation Stainless Steel Tumbler with Spill Resistant Flexible Straw – https://amzn.to/4b8tPcX . I personally love my Owala, so I got my son one of these and it was a huge hit! We ended up buying two, one for milk and one for water. This is ESSENTIAL for us as a milk cup. My son is in the stage where it’s taking forever for him to eat/drink and this cup keeps his milk cold for HOURS (seriously, one time we found the cup 6 hours later and the milk was still cold). You won’t find any rancid cottage cheese milk in these bad boys! While they aren’t spill PROOF, they are spill resistant and at his age of 2+, we haven’t had many issues.
  9. Your Zone Folding Kid’s Picnic Activity Table – https://www.walmart.com/ip/Your-Zone-Folding-Kid-s-Picnic-Activity-Table-for-Ages-3-8-White/5023710924?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=222222222975023710924_6634836964_22264615354&wl0=&wl1=x&wl2=c&wl3=&wl4=&wl5=9022516&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=5023710924&veh=sem&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22264616125&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIpDx12zMaSgXPQpIHwAuoUIM&gclid=CjwKCAiAybfLBhAjEiwAI0mBBiXwFEF_PE-WZyvxzxnbc1FMw0nk7X6QN-IkB4E74AiV5RPtctWj2xoC5MEQAvD_BwE . No affiliate link for this one, but we love it so much I just had to share. This specific table is cheaper than other comparable online options and is the exact one we have. I wouldn’t want to recommend a product I haven’t personally bought. We got this for holidays a few years ago and once we moved into a larger house, it’s stayed out! It’s the perfect height and size for our toddler and it makes him feel like a big kid. We use this for eating, watching movies, crafts – everything! I will say it didn’t stay up when we lived in our smaller home, so it wasn’t always used daily, but it was still absolutely a holiday/get together must have. It folds away for easy storage, too!