Independent • Expert • Unbiased
Hand-picked product recommendations for families
The Best Nursery
Changing Pads, Humidifiers, Baby Dressers or see all in Best Nursery
The Best Convertible Car Seat 2021
After researching and reviewing 50+ different convertible car seats, we pick the Britax Boulevard ClickTight as the Best Convertible Car Seat 2021.
Best Infant Car Seat
What’s the best infant car seat? Yes, shopping for a car seat can be confusing. So many seats, so many features to consider! We compared and rated 34 different infant car seats and picked these seats as best. Key metrics we looked at included safety crash test ratings and overall excellent ease of use.
Best Front Facing Car Seat
What’s the best front-facing car seat? We surveyed parent readers, tried out seats first-hand with actual toddlers and interviewed car seat safety techs to find the best bets. Which were easiest to install? Easiest for a toddler to use? Most comfortable? Here are the ones we’d recommend.
High Chairs
For Small Spaces, For Toddlers, Hook-On Chairs, Camping or see all in Best High Chairs
Baby Bottles
Bottle Brushes,Bottle Drying Rack or see all in Baby Bottles
Best Baby Bottle
We tested a dozen baby bottles and interviewed lactation consultants to come up with the best baby bottle. Yes, we tried out those new trendy bottles with fancy shapes and materials. In the end, we decided the tried and true were the best bets: here are the winners.
FYI: We are Baby Bargains, the #1 online resource for honest and independent baby gear reviews. Good news: we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review. Baby Bargains is 100% reader-supported. After talking to lactation consultants, surveying more than a thousand Baby Bargains readers and researching dozens of baby bottles, we’ve chosen the Avent as the Best Baby Bottle.
Best Bottle Sterilizer
Who makes the best baby bottle sterilizer? And which of the three types of sterilizers work best: microwave sterilizers, electric sterilizers or multi-tasking sterilizers that also dry bottles? We tested 10 of the most popular bottle sterilizers to find out.
Best Bottle Warmer
What are the best bottle warmers? To find out, we tested nine of the top baby bottle warmers on the market today and found large differences in performance—some overheated bottles, others under-heated. After putting these warmers through their paces, we pick these best bets.
Feeding Essentials
Breast Pumps
Medela Pump Parts, Spectra Pump Parts, Pump Bags or see all in Best Breast Pumps
Best Breast Pump
What’s the best breast pump? We surveyed our parent readers and interviewed 5 lactation consultants to find the best bets. Which was easiest to use? Easy to clean? Lightweight? Here are the ones we’d recommend.
Best Manual Breast Pump
What’s the best manual breast pump? We asked the moms who read our baby gear book (2 million copies in print!) for their favorites. Then we interviewed a half dozen lactation consultants for their picks. Here are the ones we’d recommend.
Best Breast Milk Storing Bags
If you’re planning to breastfeed your baby, storing expressed breast milk is mission critical. We tested several milk storage options, checking for leaks and ease of use. Then we interviewed seven lactation consultants about their top picks. Here are the best bets for breastmilk storage bags.
Nursing Necessities
Pumping Bra, Nursing Bra, Nipple Shield or see all in Nursing Necessities
Baby Food & Formula
Baby Food Storage, Mini Food Processor, Formula Dispenser or see all in Best Baby Food & Formula
Best Organic Baby Food
Organic baby food can be pricey, so we tested 14 different organic baby food brands with actual babies to see which ones were the best. We judged on taste, ingredients and value. Here are the winners!
FYI: We are Baby Bargains, the #1 online resource for honest and independent baby gear reviews. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review—instead we use our own money to buy items we test. Baby Bargains is 100% reader supported! Thanks for reading this article.
Best Baby Formula
All baby formula has to have the same basic ingredients for infant nutrition, so how do you figure out which one to buy? After comparing and testing over 15 baby formulas and consulting with pediatricians, here are the best bets. A word of caution: it is always best to talk with your baby’s doctor before selecting a formula. These recommendations are for healthy babies—if your infant has any health concerns, a more specialized formula may be necessary.
Best Baby Food Processor
Making healthy baby food isn’t that hard . . . and these baby food processors make the process even easier. The big question: should you go for a multi-purpose food processor or a specialized baby food maker? There are pros and cons to each approach. We tested 11 different baby food makers and processors, judging on ease of use, cleaning and bang for the buck. Here are the winners!
Baby Bedding & Clothes
Milestone Blankets, Weighted Blankets or see all in Best Baby Bedding & Clothes.
Best Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
What’s the best baby shampoo and body wash? We tried out 11 different brands of baby shampoo to find the best bets. We then surveyed our parent readers to find their favorites. What was easiest to rinse? Had a gentle formula? Here are the ones we recommend.
Best Baby Teething Toys
What are the best teething toys for baby? To find out, we took several popular brands and tested them with actual babies. We also asked our parent readers for their favorites. Which ones do babies like best? Easy to hold? Easy to clean? Here are the ones we thought were best.
Best Baby Scale
Watching your baby’s weight is an important part of a newborn’s growth and development. We tested 9 baby scales, checking for ease of use, accuracy and affordability. Looking for an app-enabled baby scale? Or one that converts to use for older kiddos and adults? Here are the winners.
Baby Carriers
Best Baby Carrier
For this round-up, we personally tested 17 popular baby carriers before picking these models as the best of the best. We were looking for ease of use, overall quality and function. Here are the best bets. We are Baby Bargains—we rate and review baby gear, without taking money from brands we recommend.
FYI And pay for items we review with our own money—that way we remain new parents most trusted source for reviews.
The Best Backpack Baby Carrier 2021
Love to hike? A frame carrier is the best option for hikers—these carriers have more support for parents and comfort features for babies than typical baby carriers. After comparing and testing nearly a dozen backpack carriers, we picked the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro as our choice for best backpack carrier.
The Best Sling Carrier 2021
Best Baby Monitor Audio Only
What is the best audio only baby monitor? To find out, we tried out the latest models from five major brands. We checked for range, audio clarity and battery life. We also surveyed the parent readers of our baby gear books (over 1 million copies in print).
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating baby gear like audio baby monitors since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from brands we review—that keeps our work independent! Our reviews are 100% reader-supported . . . so we thank you for reading this article!
Best Baby Monitor With 2 Cameras
What’s the best baby monitor with dual cameras? We tested 17 different baby monitors with two cameras to find the one with the best picture quality, ease of use and overall value. We compared both night vision and daytime viewing, plus measured battery life. Here are the winners.
FYI: We are Baby Bargains, the #1 online resource for honest and independent baby gear reviews. We don’t take money from the brands we review! “The Bible for New Parents to Be!” ~ New York Times.
Best Cabinet Locks Child Safety
We tested and researched a dozen different ways to child-proof cabinets and drawers, a common need for parents when baby proofing home. After trying out several of these in person and consulting with baby proofing experts about what works best, we picked these solutions as the best cabinet locks for child safety.
FYI: We are Baby Bargains, the #1 online resource for honest and independent baby gear reviews. We don’t take money from brands we review and are 100% reader supported!
Best Baby Gates
What are the best baby gates? To find out, we took 17 baby and safety gates and installed them in various places: stairs, doorways and laundry rooms. We asked our parent testers to rate the gates on ease of installation and use. Here are the winners!
FYI: We are Baby Bargains—we’ve been reviewing and rating gates since 1994. Yes, that long! We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Baby Bargains is 100% reader-supported!
Best Extra Large Baby Playpen
What’s the best extra large baby playpen? Sure, playpens have been around for forever . . . but new to the market are extra large models that offer up to 27 square feet of play space. No, these playpens aren’t for sleeping—but they are great to give baby more space to roam, while keeping them in a safe environment. After inspecting several models, comparing features and ease of use, here are the extra large baby playpens we’d recommend.
Best Bouncer for Babies
What is the best baby bouncer? To find out, we tried out several top brands with actual babies. Which ones were easiest to assemble? Best at soothing? Best for travel? Here are the ones we recommend.
Best Baby Swing
The best baby swing depends on your needs—do you live in a smaller home and need a swing with a compact footprint? Or do you have the space for a bigger model? For road trips, a portable swing is great. We tested 17 baby swings to find the best bets for each of those situations. We looked for soothing capability, quality and affordability. Here are the winners!
FYI: We are Baby Bargains, the #1 online resource for honest and independent baby gear reviews. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Since 1994, Baby Bargains is 100% reader-supported. Thanks for reading this article!
Best Baby Snowsuit
The best baby snowsuit has to be warm, easy to put on (and take off) and cost less than a mortgage payment . . . plus being super cute doesn’t hurt either. We tested 13 different snowsuit options—from lighter-weight fleece bunting to more serious puffer snowsuits—to come up with these winners.
FYI: We are Baby Bargains: we test, review and rate baby gear with 20+ years of experience. And we don’t take money from the brands we review!
Best Hot Chocolate Bomb Mold
What’s the best mold for hot chocolate bombs? Yes, these bombs are the current hot cocoa craze thanks to social media. Hot chocolate bombs are a ball of chocolate (with marshmallows) designed to melt in a mug of hot milk. And creating the bomb is half the fun—a great craft for kids and a neat gift for friends and relatives. We tried out a dozen silicone molds to find the best ones for hot chocolate bombs. Here are the winners.
Best Heated Socks
What are the best heated socks? Here in Colorado, we know cold. So when we tested heated socks, we tried them out in various outdoor activities in single digit winter temperatures. Which were toastiest? Most comfortable? Washed well? Here are the heated socks we’d recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Activity Books For Kids Ages 4-8
What are the best activity books for kids aged 4 to 8? We had actual kiddos try out a bushel of activity books—mazes, puzzles, coloring and more. The best ones were challenging enough to hold a preschooler to second grader’s interest . . . without being too hard! Here are the winners!
FYI: We rate and review products for families, since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review . . . our aim is a honest and independent review! Our work is 100% reader-supported.
Best Clear Backpacks For School
What are the best clear backpacks for school? To find out, we asked our parent readers for their top favorites—which worked best in the real world? Most durable? Best suited for school stuff? Here are the ones that came out on top.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Mesh Backpack
What’s the best mesh backpack? To find out, we tried out 9 different brands, comparing weight, comfort and ease of use. Which is best for a kid at school? A day at the beach? Here are the ones we recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Preschool Workbooks
What are the best preschool workbooks? We surveyed the readers of our parenting books to find their favorites. Then we asked a group of preschool teachers for their picks. And finally, we ordered in the most suggested workbooks and gave them to actual preschoolers to try! Here are the ones we recommend to you.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for kids and families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from brands we review—that keeps our work independent! Our reviews are 100% reader-supported!
Outdoor Fun
Bicycle Seat, Trampoline, Outdoor Ping Pong Table or see all in Outdoor Fun.
Best Balance Bike for 3 Year Old
We tested 9 different balance bikes designed for 3 year olds. These pedal-free bike are best at teaching kids balance, self-confidence and riding skills. When researching balance bikes, we quickly realized that some balance bikes are aimed at younger kids (1 or 2 year olds). We found 3 year olds need bikes that are somewhat bigger and heavier than those choices. Here are the winners of our tests with actual kiddos.
Best Trampoline
Last Updated: . Check on Amazon Best 12-Foot...
Best Outdoor Pizza Oven
Last Updated: . Check on Amazon Best Budget-Friendly...
Best Kids Headlamp
Last Updated: . Check on Amazon Best Headlamp For...
Baking With Kids
Best Brown Sugar
What’s the best brown sugar? We tried 9 brands of brown sugar and started baking cookies! Which worked the best? Organic? Here are the brands we liked the best.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Food Coloring For Kids
What’s the best food coloring for kids’ baking projects? We whipped up cupcakes and cookies to test 9 different food coloring brands. Then we tried the colors in craft and science projects like slime. Which brands make the best pastels? Brighter colors? What about natural food coloring? Here are the winners of our bake off!
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for children and families since 1994. To keep our reviews independent, we don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported! Thanks in advance for reading this article.
Best Rainbow Sprinkles
What are the best rainbow sprinkles? To find the best bets, we baked up some cupcakes and then did blind taste tests. Which sprinkles tasted the best? Looked the best? Here are the ones we’d recommend!
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Ice Cream
Ice Cream Container, Ice Cream Bowls or see all in Ice Cream.
Best Ice Cream Maker For Kids
What’s more fun than making ice cream? Making ice cream with kids! You’ve never seen such pure, unfiltered happiness! We went on a quest to find the best ice cream makers for kids—yes, we drafted actual kiddos to see which machines were the most fun. Which were easiest to use? For parties? For soft serve? Here are the winners.
Best Popsicle Molds
Last Updated: . Check on Amazon Best Silicone...
Best Ice Cream Bowls
Last Updated: . Check on Amazon Best For Large...
Cooking With Kids
Learning Tower, Dutch Oven, Pizza Peel or see all in Cooking With Kids.
Best Bottle Blender
What’s the best bottle to blend protein shakes and smoothies? To find out, we tried out 8 bottles from different brands. Which did the best blending? Was easiest to use? Sturdy? Here are the ones we recommend.
FYI: We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. To keep our work independent, we don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our reviews are 100% reader-supported—so we thank you for reading this article!
Best Electric Kettle
What’s the best electric kettle? To find out, we surveyed the readers of our parenting books to find their favorites. Then we narrowed down the field with more research, comparing features/value and testing out models here at our home office. Here are the best bets!
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review—to keep it real! Our reviews are 100% reader-supported. So we thank you for reading this article!
Best Non Stick Pots and Pans Set
What’s the best set for non-stick pots and pans? To find out, we first surveyed our parent readers for what works best in the real world. Then we tried out several brands our selves. Which was easiest to clean? Held heat evenly? Here are the ones we recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Sous Vide
What’s the best sous vide cooker? To find out, we tried out 7 brands in different price ranges. Which was quickest? Most precise and consistent? Most affordable? Here are the ones we recommend.
FYI: We’ve been writing and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review—that keeps our work independent! Our reviews are 100% reader-supported!
Healthy Snacking
Peanut Butter Powder, Freeze-Dried Strawberries, Toddler Snacks or see all in Healthy Snacking.
Best Toddler Snacks
Picky eaters! Temper tantrums! Toddlers can be a hard crowd to please. We rounded up a half dozen toddlers to test the best snacks for toddlers. Looking for healthy snacks, we judged the snacks on taste, nutrition and value. Our toddler testers turned up their collective noses at many good-for-you snacks, so these winners had a tough bar to reach! Here are the best bets.
FYI: We are Baby Bargains, the #1 online resource for honest and independent reviews of baby and toddler gear, food and more. After 25+ years of research, we are proud to say we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review. That means we purchase products we test with our own money! Baby Bargains is 100% reader-supported, so we appreciate you considering these recommendations!
Best Organic Fruit Snacks
Last Updated: . Check on Amazon Best Soft and Chewy:...
Pumpkin Spice
Pumpkin Spice Syrup, Candles, K Cups or see all in Pumpkin Spice.
Best Pumpkin Spice Coffee
What’s the best pumpkin spice coffee? We gathered a panel of our parent readers who love pumpkin spice coffee and had them do a blind taste test of 10 brands. Which was their favorite? More pumpkin-like? More spice-like? Here are the winners!
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for parents and families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from brands we review—that keeps our work independent! Our reviews are 100% reader-supported!
Best Sugar Free Pumpkin Spice Syrup
What’s the best sugar-free pumpkin spice syrup? We gathered a panel of our readers who are pumpkin spice coffee enthusiasts to do a blind taste test. We mixed in several top brands of sugar-free pumpkin spice syrup into coffee. Which tasted the best? Here are the choices that won the taste test.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for families and parents since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from brands we review—that keeps us independent! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Pumpkin Spice K Cups
There’s nothing that feels like fall more than a hot cup of pumpkin spice coffee! Who makes the best pumpkin spice K cups? We ordered 10 of the top brands and had a blind taste test with pumpkin spice coffee enthusiasts. Here are the winners!
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for parents and families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from brands we review—that keeps our work independent! Our reviews are 100% reader-supported!
Best Pumpkin Spice Candle
What’s the best pumpkin spice candle? We asked the pumpkin spice enthusiasts among our parent readers to try out a dozen candles that promise that famous scent. Which had the best aroma? Burned evenly? Here are the ones that topped our tests.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Flower Press
What’s the best flower press? Should you go with a traditional design? Or one of those new microwavable flower presses? We tried out several to see what worked best. Here are the ones we thought were easiest to use . . . and produced the best results.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Pottery Wheel For Kids
What’s the best pottery wheel for kids? To find out, we turned to the experts: kids themselves! We tried out several pottery kits with kids and then asked our parent readers for their favorites. Which were fun for a rainy afternoon? Easiest to use? Here are the ones we’d recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Alcohol Markers
What are the best alcohol makers? To find out, we asked our the drawing enthusiasts among our parent readers for their favorites. Then we tried several brands for ourselves. Which were best for beginners? Best variety of colors? Here are the ones we’d recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Toys, Fun & Party Favors
Air Hockey Table, Baby Yoda Toys & Gifts, Freeze Dried Ice Cream or see all in Toys, Fun and Party Favors.
Best Ping Pong Balls
What are the best ping pong balls? To find out, we tried out several popular brands. Then we interviewed a dozen ping pong enthusiasts among our readers to get their insights. Which are best for beginners? For more advanced players? And which ping pong balls also double as great pet toys? Here are our recommendations.
FYI: We’ve been rating and reviewing products for families, children and the home since 1994. To keep our reviews independent, we don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader supported!
Best Dinosaur Toys
Last...
Best Small American Flag
Last Updated: . Check on Amazon Best For Flag...
Best Cabin Air Filter
What’s the best cabin air filter for your vehicle? If you park your vehicle outside or live in an area with air quality issues (think wildfire smoke), you may want to replace your cabin air filter on a frequent basis. We ask our parent readers for their experiences with cabin air filters to find which ones were the best bets. We also tried out a couple brands ourselves, replacing the filters in our own vehicles. Here are the ones we recommend.
Best Mini Screwdriver Set
What’s the best mini screwdriver set? To find out, we tried out several different brands. Which was best for eyeglass repair? What about a gooseneck feature to reach tight spots? Here are the ones we liked the best.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Pellet Smoker
What’s the best pellet smoker? To find out, we surveyed BBQ enthusiasts among our readers (2.1 million strong) to find their top favorites for pellet smokers. We took those suggestions and then did 13 more hours of research, comparing features, performance and prices. Finally, we interviewed three pit masters from Texas (brisket!) and North Carolina (pulled pork!) to get their insights. After all that work—drum roll—we present the best pellet smokers!
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep our work independent, we don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our reviews are 100% reader-supported!
Best Gel Nail Strips
What are the best gel nail strips? If you like the look of a gel manicure but not all the fuss, gel nail strips are a clever way to get the same look—without all the time, expense and UV light exposure. We tried out several brands to find the best bets. Here are the ones we recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Clear Backpack
What’s the best clear backpack? We tried out 9 top brands to see what worked the best. Then we surveyed our parent readers for their favorites. Which bags worked best for kids for school? For adults at the office? Here are the ones we think are best.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Shower Caddy
What’s the best shower caddy? To find out, we purchased a dozen top brands and put them to the test. What was most convenient? Sturdiest? What would work best for a college dorm? Here are the winners.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported . . . so we thank you in advance for reading this article! We appreciate it.
Best Manuka Honey Cream
What’s the best manuka honey cream for your skin or face? And what is manuka honey anyway? Join us as we take a deep dive into the world of this funky New Zealand honey. We tried out a half dozen skin creams with manuka honey to find the best bets. Here are the ones we recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Tea, Prenatal Vitamins, Pregnancy Tea or see all in Pregnancy
Best Belly Band for Pregnancy
What are the best belly bands for pregnancy? We asked a panel of pregnant women to try out 10 of the most popular belly bands. Which offered the most support? Easiest to put on? Most comfortable? Here are the winners.
FYI: We are Baby Bargains! Since 1994, we’ve been rating and reviewing products for expecting parents, babies and toddlers. Unlike others, we don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Baby Bargains is 100% reader supported.
Best Pregnancy Journal
Last Updated: . Check on Amazon Best Pregnancy...
Best Air Quality Monitor
What is the best air quality monitor? To find out, we tried out several top brands. Which were easiest to use? Most accurate? Here are the ones we think are best.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Humidifiers for Large Rooms
If you’ve got a large space to humidify, you need a humidifier with both the capacity and output to handle the job. We torture tested humidifiers in the most severe environment we could find—Colorado in the winter. High-altitude cold temperatures with single digit humidity puts even the best humidifier to the test.
FYI: We don’t take money from the brands we review. For 20+ years, we’ve done honest and independent reviews of products that have appeared in numerous publications and online.
Best Dehumidifier For Home
What are the best dehumidifiers for the home? We surveyed the parent readers of our books (2.1 million strong!) to find what works best in the real world. Then we did another 15 hours of additional research to compare models, features and reliability. Here are the ones we’d recommend!
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home, parents and families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review—that keeps our work independent! Our reviews are 100% reader-supported . . . so we appreciate you reading this article!
Best Portable Generator
Going on a road trip and need to charge phones, tablets, laptops or small electronics? A portable generator is great for road tripping and also camping/RV’ing or as backup power in an outage. We asked the camping/RV enthusiasts among our parent readers for their favorite portable generator brands, to find what worked well in the real world. Then we did 8 hours of additional research, pouring over lab tests on durability and performance. After all that work, we narrowed down the best bets to these choices.
FYI: We’ve been rating and reviewing products for families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported.
Home Makeovers
Farmhouse Chandelier, LED Garage Light, Solar Lights Outdoor or see all in Home Makeovers.
Best Floor Lamp For Bedroom
What’s the best floor lamp for a bedroom? Whether you want a simple LED, industrial-style, modern or basic floor lamp with shelves, we’ve found affordable answers to your floor lamp dilemma. How? We surveyed our extensive parent readership to find their favorites. Then we poured over third-party tests to find the lamps that performed the best. Here are our best bets.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Kids Couch
Last Updated: . Check on Amazon Check on Amazon Best...
Health & Safety
Alkaline Water, Dog Gate or see all in Health & Safety.
Best Acupressure Body Mat
What’s the best acupressure body mat? To find out, we tried out several brands ourselves. Which were best designed? Here are the ones we’d recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Indoor Safety Gates
What are the best indoor safety gates? To find out, we tested gates from 9 major brands. Which were easiest to install? Easiest to use? Here are the ones we’d recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Electrolyte Powders and Drinks
Electrolyte powders, drinks and solutions are effective at battling dehydration. How do they work? Electrolyte solutions help rebalance sugar and sodium in your system, which gets out of whack when you are dehydrated. That’s the science behind rehydration. We surveyed our readers to find the best electrolyte products to help rehydrate. Here are the winners.
FYI: We are Baby Bargains, the #1 online resource for honest and independent product recommendations. We don’t take money from the brand we review. Baby Bargains is 100% reader supported!
Gardening
Plant Humidifier Indoor, Rain Gauge, Rake or see all in Gardening.
Best Kids Gardening Sets and Tools
What are the best gardening sets or tools for kids? Gardening is a great family activity—teaching planning, science and environmental lessons. Plus it’s outdoors! We took actual kids and several different sets of gardening tools to see which worked best in the real world. Here are the ones we’d recommend.
FYI: Since 1994, we’ve been rating and reviewing products for families and kids. Nope, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review. Yep, we are 100% reader-supported. We greatly appreciate you reading this article!
Best Garden Flag
What are the best garden flags? We surveyed gardeners and looked at a dozen different flag options—from single welcome flags to flag sets you can change by the month. Here are the ones we think are best.
FYI: Since 1994, we’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and family. Good news: we don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our reviews are 100% reader-supported.
Best Oriole Bird Feeder
What’s the best oriole bird feeder? To find out, we asked the oriole birding enthusiasts among our parent readers for their favorite feeders—and their tips and advice on attracting these beautiful birds. Here are the ones we’d recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Hummingbird Feeder
What’s the best hummingbird feeder? To find out, we asked the hummingbird enthusiasts among our parent readers for their favorites. We took these suggestions and then did four more hours of research, comparing quality and durability. Here are the ones we’d recommend!
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Camping & RV’ing
RV Toilet Paper, Waterproof Matches or see all in Camping & RV’ing.
Best Solar Generator, Panel
What’s the best solar generator for camping, RV’ing or emergency power? A solar-ready generator is a great way to charge small electronics (phones, tablets, laptops, etc). Bigger units can also power a CPAP or other small appliances.
FYI: Solar-ready generators are often sold WITHOUT solar panels. This article looks at the best solar generators AND their companion panels. After all, if you want a solar generator, you probably want the solar panels necessary to charge it! After extensively researching 14 different generators—comparing performance, quality and capacity—here are the ones we’d recommend. FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for families and parents since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Plastic Sheeting
What’s the best plastic sheeting? We asked our parent readers for their favorites . . . for building a homemade slip and slide, covering plants or home renovations. Here are the ones that came out on top.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for families since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from brands we review—that keeps our work independent! Our reviews are 100% reader-supported!
Best Quiet Generator
What’s the best quiet generator? If you are camping, RV’ing or just looking for backup power for your home, a quiet generator is a must. And your neighbors will thank you as well. We poured over field test data of 15 brands of generators, looking at decibel levels at 20 and 50 feet. Then we interviewed contractors to find the most reliable brands. Finally, we asked the readers of our parenting books who are camping enthusiasts for their favorites. Here are the ones we’d recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Fall
Scary Decor, Pumpkin Decor or see all in Fall.
Best Pumpkin Lights
What are the best pumpkin lights? We tried out a dozen options to find the best bets. What’s best to put inside a pumpkin? Or to decorate inside as a string of lights? Here are the ones we’d recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Pumpkin Spice Coffee
Last Updated: . Check on Amazon Check on Amazon Best...
Summer
Splash Pad For Toddlers, Trampoline Sprinkler, Unicorn Pool Float or see all in Summer.
Best Kids Swim Goggles
What are the best kids swim goggles? To find out, we enlisted a half dozen kids to try out several of the most popular goggles. Which ones fit the best? Were easiest to get on/off? To adjust? Here are the winners.
FYI: We are Baby Bargains, the #1 online resource for honest and independent reviews of baby, toddler and kid gear. We don’t take money from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported! We appreciate you reading this article!
Best Water Slide
What are the best water slides? Which are easiest to set up? Best for parties? We surveyed the readers of our parenting books (2.1 million copies in print!) to find the answers. We took their favorites and then did nine more hours of research, comparing different models. Here’s what we’d recommend to you! Why trust us? We’ve been reviewing and rating products for families, children and the home since 1994! We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported! Thanks for reading this article.
Best Pool Vacuum
What’s the best vacuum for your pool? To find out, we first asked our parent readers for their real world experiences—and recommendations for their favorite pool vacuums. Then we interviewed two industry veterans who’ve been in the pool business for years. We narrowed down the best pool vacuum recommendations to two general categories: manual and robot models. Here are the best bets.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Gift Ideas
Baby Yoda Toys, Jellyfish Lamp, Temperature Control Mug or see all in Gift Ideas..
Best Dutch Oven Gifts
Want to splurge on a premium Dutch oven? We tried out several fancy (and pricey) Dutch ovens to find the best bets. What do you get when you spend more money on a Dutch oven? Which ones are truly splurge worthy? Here are the ones we recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Macarons
What are the best macarons? To find out, we ordered in macarons from several brands and then did a blind taste test. We looked for overall flavor and freshness. Since these are often given as a gift, also consider the box presentation. What if you want to bake your own macarons? We’ll also recommend a mix for you to try at home.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Pocket Knife
What’s the best pocket knife? A great gift idea, pocket knives are great for opening packages, working in the yard (cutting sprinkler tubing, for example) as well as camping and hiking. We asked our parent readers for their favorites. Then we interviewed pocket knife enthusiasts for more insight. Which ones are lightweight but sturdy? Fast release? Well balanced? Here are the ones we’d recommend.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Coin Gifts
A collectible coin makes the perfect gift for a celebration—graduation, birth, grandchild and more! We interviewed three coin collectors and got their best recommendations. After looking at a dozen possible choices, we recommend these uncirculated coins are great gifts to commemorate the occasion. Here are the best bets!
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Popcorn
Best Popcorn Butter
What’s the best butter for popcorn? To find out, we gathered popcorn enthusiasts among our staff and did a blind taste test. We took 8 brands of popcorn butter topping and slathered them on batches of popcorn. Which ones were best? Read on to find out.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Popcorn Salt
What’s the best salt for popcorn? We tried out 8 brands of popcorn salt in a blind taste test. Which was closest to theater popcorn? Which salt also adds butterly flavor? Here are our favorites.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Best Popcorn Kernels
What are the best popcorn kernels? We gathered popcorn enthusiasts among our staff and did a blind taste test with 7 brands. Which was most tasty? Here are the winners.
FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
BabyBargains.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and its related sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
We obsess over gear for families and the home . . . so you don’t have to. Baby Bargains has one mission: help you find the best gear for your family with unbiased reviews by experts with 20 years of experience. At prices that don’t break the bank. When you purchase a product from links on this site, we make a small affiliate commission. Learn more 
