My Favorite “Must-Have” Tools for Moms

These are my favorite “must-have” tools for moms that save me time, money, or energy so I can put it towards the things that really matter in life.

I love finding products that make mom-ing a little easier so I can focus on what really counts – connecting, nurturing, and raising my little arrows (Psalm 127:4). 

Motherhood is wonderful, and I enjoy caring for my family. I love cooking wholesome foods that nourish our bodies, and I’ve even come to love taking care of the house and keeping it a tidy place to rest and recharge. 

But all the demands of motherhood can be tough, and most of us keep our plates pretty full. It can be difficult to take care of everyone (and ourselves!) and do everything we need to do.

That’s why I’ve put together this list of my favorite “must-have” tools for moms. These are all my favorite things that I have personally used and loved and that help me do what I need to do!

They help me save time, money, and/or energy, and allow me to focus on the minds, hearts, and bodies that God has entrusted into my care. 

Take a peek, enjoy the list, and let me know if you have any further questions! 

**Links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you click that link and purchase the product, I may receive a small compensation. I am, however, committed to honestly assessing the products mentioned. Please read my disclosure policy for more details. **

Kitchen

• Food Processor

  I have the Ninja Mega Kitchen System and absolutely love it. It’s a blender, food processor, and personal smoothie maker all-in-one.

  I use the food processor for sooooo many things – pureeing, chopping, slicing, shredding, dressings, sauces, nut butter, dough, bread crumbs, and much more. If nothing else, the shredder attachment is worth its weight in gold for a busy mom who likes to cook from scratch.

• Instant Pot

  Oh, Instant Pot, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Ladies, it is so much more than a fad gadget. I don’t regret buying it for a second!

  I use it several times a week. Hard-boiled eggs, Beans, Oatmeal, Rice, Meat, Casseroles, Breakfast, Vegetables, Chicken stock … you name it, it does it (almost)!

  Read my Instant Pot guide for more information and all my best tips and secrets!

• Programmable Slow Cooker

  If you’re not on board with the Instant Pot, at least get yourself a programmable slow cooker. Being able to set a time and have it automatically switch to the warm setting is wonderful!
  

• Bread Machine

  I make all our bread, buns, and rolls from scratch, so my bread machine is a godsend. I use it to make the dough (with first rise), then shape and bake the items in the oven. Doing it this way produces bread that is nearly as good as doing it by hand, but MUCH more convenient.

• Stand Mixer

  A stand mixer is a hefty investment, not gonna lie, but so worth it. It makes mixing up dough and batter a breeze. It’s also awesome for beating egg whites for meringues.

  I use my stand mixer for cookies, quick breads & muffins, shredding chicken, meatballs & meatloaf, mashed potatoes, frosting, and more!

• OXO Mandoline

  If you’ve never used a mandoline before, you won’t believe how easy it makes slicing and julienning. In just a few seconds you can have a pile of evenly-sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, potatoes, apples, peppers, or anything else you need to slice. I especially love it during pickling season!

• USA Pans

  These pans are magic. They don’t require any liners, grease, or spray, and they slide right out of the pan. I have the muffin pan, and it is hands-down one of the BEST purchases I have ever made.
  

For more of my favorite kitchen tools & gadgets, check out this post!

Baby

• Halo SleepSack

  These are miracle blankets, I tell you! They are the only thing that got us through the newborn phase with any shred of sanity left. Read more about them HERE.

• Ergobaby Carrier

  You will definitely want some kind of baby carrier to allow you to carry baby hands-free. We went with an Ergobaby and a Baby K’tan and have gotten our money’s worth out of them! We use them for grocery shopping, walks, parties and gatherings, and all kinds of outings.

  Related Post: Best Babywearing: Baby Carrier vs. Baby Wrap

• Baby Bullet

  I make all my own baby food, and this allows me to do it without spending a ton of time or energy.

  I really do recommend it if you’re wanting to make your own baby food. Its size is much better suited for batches of baby food than a regular blender, and the bullet containers, freezer tray, and nutritional guide are extremely helpful. 

• 4-in-1 high chair

  This high chair has worked very well for us because it provides so many options and flexibility. The high chair has several different positions and heights, and the removable booster seat adds a second seating option.

  I LOVE multi-use convertible products, and this chair will provide seating from infancy up through preschool age.

• Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat

  We got a Bumbo when our first baby was born, and neither of our boys liked it. When our second was just a few months old, we got one of these floor seats for Christmas, and it was a much better solution.

  There’s more support, they seem more comfortable, and it accommodates a larger range of sizes.

  Related Post: Bumbo vs. Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat: Which One is Better?

Kids

• Toy Organizer

  This shelving unit has worked great for corralling the boy’s toys in the living room. Now the toys are in a convenient location for playing together as a family, but they still have a tidy appearance that makes me a much calmer momma. 🙂

  Using bins and baskets makes picking up even easier for my toddler, which means less nagging for me!

• Kinetic Sand

  This is the only item on this list that I don’t personally own, but my mom has it at her house, and my boys LOVE playing with it when they’re there (which he is often). I love it because it uses their imagination and creativity, and she loves it because it is mess-free. Win-win-win!

• Building Toys

  Of allllll the thousands of toys that are available for kids these days, my favorites are the good old fashioned low-tech building toys. I love them so much, I wrote an entire post about why I think they make the best toys. Learn about my reasoning and check out a few of our favorite ones!

Health & Fitness

• 100 Days of Real Food cookbooks

  I have been learning a lot lately about the ugliness of processed food and how to switch to a whole-food lifestyle. These cookbooks from Lisa Leake of 100 Days of Real Food have been so helpful as I figure out this new way of cooking and eating.

• At-home workouts

  Who has the time or inclination to drive to a gym every day to work out? I know ladies who love it, but I am not one of them! I’m much more likely to work out in the convenience, comfort, and privacy of my own home. Check out this post for my all-time favorite workouts for busy moms!  

  Related Post: 7 Ways to Exercise as a Mom With Small Kids

• MUTU System

  If you have had diastasis recti after the birth of your babies, you know how frustrating it can be. Not only is your core a wreck, but it’s impossible to not look pregnant even with diet and exercise.

  I developed a slight diastasis recti after my first baby that I then (unintentionally) made worse during my second pregnancy. But I was able to significantly narrow the gap with MUTU System.

  For more about my experience and how it can help you strengthen and restore your body after pregnancy, read my full review.

Homemaking

• Meal Planning

  I know, meal planning is a four-letter word to some people, but it absolutely saves my behind. It is the ONLY way this busy momma of three can feed her family well without going crazy or spending a fortune on food.

  If you need help with meal planning (or just want to pick up a few new tricks), check out my book The Every Mom’s Meal Solution Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Feeding Your Family Well In Any Season, Budget, or Lifestyle!

  (By the way, if meal planning has not worked for you in the past, this might be why!)

  

• Roomba

  This thing, hands down, is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was so sick and tired of feeling crumbs and dirt under my feet, and my husband didn’t enjoy coming home to dirty floors, but I just couldn’t keep up with the vacuuming! 

  The Roomba has been a total game-changer for our house. We have clean floors every single day, and I don’t have to be the one to clean them. Score!

  Read my full review, as well as some helpful tips, HERE.

• Stick Vacuum

  Yes, my Roomba is AWESOME, but there are times when I just want to vacuum a small section of floor (like under my kids’ chairs at the table #somanycrumbs) or around all the toys (just being real). My Dyson V8 stick vacuum is PERFECT for that. And the handheld part is super handy for the vehicle.

• Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products

  I love Mrs. Meyers cleaning products. They’re made of plant-derived ingredients and essential oils, so they’re better for your family and the environment. Plus they smell Ah-MAZING!

• E-Cloth Cleaning Cloths

  As much as I love my Mrs. Meyers products, they’re made almost unnecessary with e-cloth cleaning cloths. They pick up everything, remove stuck-on and set-in spots like you wouldn’t believe, and don’t require the use of any cleaning products.

  I know! I was skeptical at first, too, but it’s the real deal, and I love it. I have several general purpose cloths, the glass cloth, the range & stovetop cloth, and the stainless steel cleaner cloth. Basically … this entire set. They’re awesome!  

Family

• Shutterfly photo books

  I am NOT a scrapbooker by any means (tried it, got the materials, have a bin of unused supplies under the bed), but I’m totally in love with the idea of them. They’re a wonderful way to preserve memories, and I’m always in awe of people’s finished products. I just haven’t ever been able to create them. 

  Until I discovered Shutterfly photo books.

  Shutterfly makes it easy to design attractive meaningful scrapbooks. No papers, stickers, or stamps needed, and the templates enable even the most hopeless scrapbooking-wannabes (like me) produce beautiful treasured keepsakes. I’ve made one for both they boys’ first years that has all my favorite pictures and important milestones in it.

  Nowadays, when all our pictures are stored on computers and phones, and no one prints pictures anymore, these photo books offer a fun, effortless alternative to the old photo albums and scrapbooks.