20 Weird But Genius Things Moms Are Buying For Their Kids On Amazon

Baby Banana Corn Cob Infant Toothbrush and Teether, $8, Amazon

A certain famous banana infant toothbrush and teether is one of the most popular products around — but if you're a little over bananas, this corn on the cob training toothbrush (by the same makers) is for you. Wildly adorable, funny, and a little bizarre, this BPA-free brush/teether is made from 100 percent food grade silicone and has soft bristles that will safely introduce infants to the importance of oral health. It can also be popped into the dishwasher for easy cleaning, and put the freezer to relieve gum aches and pains.

Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball, $5, Amazon

Infants and young toddlers love bright colors and interesting textures and this highly-rated developmental bumpy ball doesn't disappoint. This toy, which won the 2010 Oppenheim Toy Platinum Award, boasts a variety of textures and materials, as well as bold patterns that are appropriate for a baby's vision and delicate rattle sounds that prove soothing. It even promotes gross motor skills and physical coordination as babies learn to sit up solo to play with this ball. One mom writes: "My daughter loves her sassy ball. The rattling noise really intrigues her. It has also helped put her to sleep when rhythmically rattled. She likes all the different textures on it."

Contigo Autoseal Trekker Kids Water Bottles (2 Pack), $21, Amazon

These BPA- and PVC-free water bottles are ideal for children over the age of three because their attached lids are designed to never leak or spill — which means no more wet backpacks and books. These dishwasher-safe bottles also have a soft-grip carry handle that's great for little hands. Kids simply squeeze the button on the lid to drink and, once they release the button, the seal kicks in to ensure there are no spills or leaks.

Summer Infant My Size Potty, $25, Amazon

Most potty seats look more like buckets than actual potties. Once your toddler is ready to make the switch to an actual toilet, the experience can be stressful and foreign. But this infant size potty is the perfect replica of the real thing — it has a flip-up lid, a clip-on splash guard, a wipe compartment to start teaching about wiping, and even a handle with a flush sound that rewards little ones for using the potty. It's the closest thing your toddler will have to a standard-size potty and perfect for training.

One mom loves it for so many reasons: "This potty is adorable. My son LOVES that it looks just like the 'big potty' and has a realistic flush feature, which teaches a good habit of flushing from Day 1. Unlike with a character potty, the realistic look helped him to understand its purpose immediately. I also love that it includes storage for wipes."

Skip Hop Moby Bath Tear-Free Waterfall Rinser, $8, Amazon

Lots of babies are afraid of the shower head, which isn't always gentle or mindful of an infant or toddler's inexperience with water. This adorable whale waterfall rinser creates an even pour of water to rinse soap and shampoo off of babies. It's BPA-free and doubles as a stand-up play toy when you're finished using it during the bath.

Munch Mitt Teething Mitten, $15, Amazon

Invented by a mom, this texturized teething mitten is worn by baby to provide an easy, safe solution when the need to bite and soothe irritated gums comes on full force. Instead of losing teething rings all over the house, this machine-washable mitt, made from 100 percent food-grade silicone, provides instant relief and features a stimulating black and white pattern with contrasting color and soothing crinkle noise.

One mom writes: “My son is an early teether, and hasn't really grasped the concept of holding things yet, so this is perfect. Everyone loves it, and now wants one!”

Color Bath Dropz (60 Drops), $6, Amazon

Bath time can be a pleasure for parents or a nightmare — but the more fun you can make it, the more accommodating a young child tends to be. These Crayola Color Bath Droptz are small tablets that you plop into water and that can actually color bath water to resemble your child's favorite crayon shades. They're free of fragrances, and parents say they won't dye skin or cause skin reactions, though it's always important to read labels before using anything in order to determine if it's right for your child. One mom loves how foolproof they are: “My son dumped entire can in once and we got black water but still no staining on tub.”

OXO Tot Silicone Tub Drain Stopper, $8, Amazon

If only I had a dollar for every time my daughter's Shopkins toy got stuck in our shower drain. One smart way to avoid drain mishaps is by using this silicone tub drain stopper, which seals the drain during bath time and can also be used to prevent small toys from getting stuck in the drain when the bath is not in use. This stopper has a suction cup that allows you to store it on the wall when you don't want to use it.

Sposie Booster Pads Diaper Doublers, $10, Amazon

Nighttime leaks are common with infants, no matter how absorbent their night time diapers may be. These diaper booster pads provide that extra level or protection and assurance that baby's diaper won't overflow at night or during long car trips. These booster pads don't have an adhesive strip, which means you can place them anywhere you need them and the pad wicks away moisture to prevent rashes. Forget doubling-down on diapers, because parents say this is a much more economical way to solve the problem of leaks.

Fresh Food Feeder (2 Pack), $7, Amazon

Reduce the risk of choking on large pieces of food with these mesh food feeders that deliver bite-size portions of your infant and young toddler's favorite snacks and meals. These BPA-free strainers second as a teether and feature a handle that encourages independent feeding. They're safe to place in the top rack of your dishwasher and one mom says her baby prefers these to being spoon fed: “She can grip the handle really well with one hand. She also will grip the mesh part and squeeze the food into her mouth. It is so messy but she is so happy.”

Oxford Brick Figure Flatware, $16, Amazon

If your toddler is still getting the hang of eating at the table with utensils, try handing out these fun Lego spoon and fork training utensils. They're easy to grip, come with a compatible brick utensil case, and your child can actually build on them, which makes for a more pleasurable dining experience all around (and that is not something most of us say about eating with toddlers).

One mom says: "Very cute set for my 2- and 6-year-old boys whose favorite colors are red and blue. Great quality plastic for the handle and stainless for the tip part, which is highly beyond my expectation. Boys love using them for all the meals and had more enthusiasm to eat foods well and finish meals timely."

Hot Tot Hair Care, $20, Amazon

Any parent who has ever sent their baby or toddler to daycare or school with fine baby hair in their face knows how tempting it can be to just use hairspray to keep hairs and cowlicks in place. A safer, healthier option is this popular texturing hair cream for babies and toddlers, which contains hydrating and soothing ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, and almond oil. This product, featured on Shark Tank, adds hold to braids, ponytails, or short hair that is otherwise unmanageable.

It's About Time Spotlight Sleep Enhancing Alarm Clock, $45, Amazon

This sleep-enhancing alarm clock is unique because it features a spotlight that tells toddlers itching to wake you up if it's the time to do it or not — the red light means it's time to stay in bed or fall asleep, and the green light means it's all right to get out of bed. It also features a clock and a beeping alarm sound if you prefer. "I love this alarm clock, it worked like magic for my 3-year-old," one mom writes. "Every night she stays in her bed until the green light comes on. I highly recommend this product if you have a child who likes to get out of their bed at 4 a.m. thinking it is morning."

Oilogic Care Stuffy Nose And Cough Essential Oil Vapor Bath, $10, Amazon

There are few things more frustrating than watching your baby try to power through the night with a bad cough or stuffy nose. For the most part, there's not much you can do for a cold than ride it out, but moms swear by this essential oil vapor bath products, which they say soothes congestions and coughs and helps little ones sleep better. The oil contains a blend of eucalyptus, sandalwood, geranium, and orange oil and is diluted and safe for babies older than 6 months. Simply add this to a warm bath and let your baby breathe in the vapors while they get washed up before bedtime.

Gerber BabyNes Baby Formula Dispenser, $200, Amazon

The future is here and it includes a device that mixes and prepares baby's formula at just the right temperature in less than one minute. This baby formula dispenser has a built-in capsule water filter to ensure hygienic water, BPA-free capsules to protect formula from the environment, and you a feature that heats up water at your preferred temperature. If you dislike mixing formula and seem to always end up with a lumpy mess, consider this machine the answer you didn't know existed.

hiccapop Wipe Warmer With Changing Light, $30, Amazon

Who can blame babies for complaining every time a cold wipe comes into contact with their bottoms? Make the experience of diapering a whole lot more enjoyable by storing wipes in this wipe warmer. This low voltage, device also features a light that turns off automatically after ten minutes —perfect for a late night diaper change without having to turn on bright lights. The silicone lid also keeps wipes from drying out.

Baby's Handprint Kit and Journal With Sophie la Girafe, $6, Amazon

Parents love making hand and foot prints of their little ones to keep track of how fast their growing — but given how messy it can be, this isn't typically a DIY project. This handprint kit and journal comes with dough clay that requires no mixing or baking. Simply unroll the dough, let your baby or toddler make a hand mark on it and let it air dry. You can even store the keepsake in Sophie la Girafe tin — and, of course, you'll get lots of use out of the journal, which lets you record all of your baby's firsts.

Munchkin White Hot Safety Bath Ducky, $3, Amazon

If bath time makes you nervous, this ducky bath toy has a secret power that will put your mind at ease: it registers the water temperature and reveals the word "Hot" when the bath water temperature is too high. It's also water-tight to prevent mildew, squirting, and sinking and moms say it's the perfect fun distraction for babies while they're being cleaned and having their hair washed.

"It looks just like an ordinary rubber ducky but it tells you if the water is too hot," one mom wrote on Amazon. "It is the only rubber ducky that we have that actually floats upright. So, increases safety, looks cute, floats. Who could ask for anything more?"

Pinch Not Door Bunny Finger Safety Guard (2 Pack), $7, Amazon

What parent doesn't fear their infant or toddler will get their fingers caught in a door — something that's even easy for adults to do? These adorable bunny finger safety guards and bumpers can be installed in 10 seconds without tools and protect against incidences by the handle side of doors. You can rotate the bunny so that the feature is "off" when you want to shut the door and "on" when you want to protect children.

One mom calls this a "genius" product and raves: "All of the other door stop products I've tried involve having to remove the stop when you wanted to actually shut the door (like the door to my daughter's nursery at bedtime) and the rotation feature on this makes it soooooo convenient!"

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