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11 Moms Share the Best Purchases They’ve Made This Winter

Other than groceries and gifts, I didn’t think I’d have the need to buy much while staying home and riding out the cold winter months. But then I realized something: Entertaining a busy toddler for months on end is hard. If an $11 Frozen sticker book can grant me even 20, sanity-saving minutes a day, it’s worth it. (There are 1,000 stickers! My son is obsessed!) That’s why we decided to ask other moms and dads about the best purchase they’ve made during this time.

joola table tennis

1. Portable Ping Pong

“It attaches to the dining room table and allows my husband, my 7-year-old and me to decompress and giggle a lot at the end of every day. Sometimes, I’m cooking and I hear the two of them giggle and the plop-plop-plop of the ping pong ball and it puts such a big smile on my face.” — Maayan, IL

twister board game

2. Twister

“I’m hoping it will facilitate physical sibling bonding through fun, healthy competition. Plus, it’s a game my 4-year-old and 6-year-old can play without me. (Score.)” — Randi, FL

mucinex dm
Mucinex

3. Mucinex Dm

“Mucinex DM has saved me from the symptoms of some of the nastiest colds on record. This year, it also saved the rest of my family's peace of mind in the process.” — Jillian, NY

Buy It ($7)

guitar

4. A Guitar

“Why not learn a new instrument while they’ve got some down time?” — Carin, CT

kinetic sand

5. Kinetic Sand

“It’s one of the only things that holds our toddler’s attention for more than five minutes.” — Jamie, IL

bunk beds

6. Bunk Beds

“Endless amounts of fun.” — Keith, MA

headphones

7. Noise-cancelling Headphones

“Five Chromebooks in the house, all with different Zoom meetings. This was a necessity.” — Kate, MA

pop a shot

8. Pop-a-shot

“It’s basketball for two!” – Nicole, CT

$300 on Amazon

microboard scooter

9. New Bikes And Scooters

“We shopped at the bike shop in our town. They have a website and are available to answer questions via phone, then offer curbside pickup. Local, fun and hours burning off energy when the weather gets warmer.” — Samantha, MA

brooklinen sheets

10. New Bedding

“Mama’s tired. It was the least I could do for myself!” — Kate, SC

white board

11. A Whiteboard

“We use it for daily schedules, help with schoolwork, Pictionary, doodling, reminders of what day it even is! I don’t know how we lived without one for so long. I’m even thinking about ordering a few more.” — Lori, NY


rachel bowie christine han photography 100

Senior Director, Special Projects and Royals

  • Writes and produces family, fashion, wellness, relationships, money and royals content
  • Podcast co-host and published author with a book about the British Royal Family
  • Studied sociology at Wheaton College and received a masters degree in journalism from Emerson College