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Parenting

These are the best parenting and kids products of 2022

Reviewed's 2022 Best of Year awards

The UppaBaby Cruz and the Yoto Player. Credit: Reviewed / UppaBaby / Yoto

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Whether 2022 was the year that you became a parent for the first time, or it saw you sending your firstborn off to college, there’s no question that it was a unique time of adjusting back to (mostly) normal life for kids and parents alike.

No matter how young—or old—your children happen to be, having the right gear for whichever stage of life they’re in makes a world of difference. That’s why we spent the last 12 months testing a huge variety of products to determine which ones really are worth investing in.

Here are our favorite parenting products, or jump to all the 2022 Best of Year awards.

Person crouched near a baby in a car seat in the back of a cat
Credit: UppaBaby
Best Car Seats
UppaBaby Mesa

Besting our tests, the UppaBaby Mesa V2 is a high-quality, easy-to-use car seat. It also happens to be one of the lightest seats on the market at just 10 pounds. It’s easy to tighten or loosen the harness as needed with just a push of a button, and the slim profile of the UppaBaby Mesa V2 keeps it from taking up too much room in the backseat of a car. The best feature of this winning car seat, however, is that it’s easy to install thanks to its retractable strap-based system. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Lightweight

  • Easy to install

  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Not compatible with other stroller brands

An Uppababy Cruz stroller.
Credit: Reviewed / UppaBaby
Best Stroller
Uppababy Cruz V2

The UppaBaby Cruz V2 has one of the smoothest rides of all the strollers we’ve tested. With a comfortable, reversible seat, and outstanding build quality, this is a stroller that can withstand heavy-duty use over multiple years and children, which is why it tops our best strollers list. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Huge storage basket

  • Smooth ride

  • Adjusts for big and small riders

  • Canopy has excellent coverage

Cons

  • Handlebar only has three settings

A woman pushing a jogging stroller with a child riding inside.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Best Jogging Stroller
BOB Gear Alterrain Pro

BOB jogging strollers are known for being the strongest and most durable on the market. The Alterrain Pro was a pleasure to use with its mountain bike-style suspension and air-filled tires that provide an ultra-smooth ride on any type of terrain from sidewalks to hiking trails. It also has an adjustable nine-position handlebar, six storage pockets, and an extra large cargo basket to store your gear. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Smooth ride

  • Large canopy

  • Great suspension

Cons

  • Heavy

  • Not compact

A Zoe The Twin Luxe stroller.
Credit: Reviewed / Zoe
Best Double Stroller
Zoe The Twin+ Luxe

Zoe The Twin+ Luxe is a fantastic option for those looking for an everyday double stroller that’s easy to set up, lightweight (weighing in at just 19 pounds), and compact. Plus, it's a dream to travel with because it fits in the overhead compartment of an airplane. There's plenty of storage, the footrests are adjustable for both kids, and there's even a cupholder for parents. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Lightweight

  • Stylish

  • Compact

Cons

  • Not made for all-terrain use

Our favorite stroller wagon on a yellow background
Credit: Reviewed / Gladly
Best Stroller Wagon
Gladly Family Anthem 4

During testing, we were impressed with how well the Gladly Family Anthem4 stroller wagon handled all kinds of terrain, including loose gravel, sand, and uneven ground. It also has a great turning radius, ample cup holders, and kid-friendly pockets, and it’s available in colors that look sleek and stylish. This stroller wagon is low-profile enough that kids can climb in and out on their own, making it the best stroller wagon we’ve tested. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Easy to clean

  • Fashionable design

  • Ample storage

  • Great canopy coverage

Cons

  • No accordion fold

  • Takes up space

A toddler standing on the base of the Skip Hop Sit-to-Step high chair playing in the kitchen sink.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Best Highchairs
Skip Hop Sit-to-Step

Skip Hop’s Sit-To-Step high chair transforms from infant chair to step stool with just a few simple adjustments. With a five-point harness and a machine-washable infant insert, as well as three reclined positions, this high chair seamlessly takes you from the baby stage to the big kid years—and it folds neatly for easy storage to boot. No wonder it ranks at the top of our best high chairs list. Read the full review.

Pros

  • One-handed operation

  • Converts to step stool

  • Adjustable height

  • Folds for storage

Cons

  • None that we could find

A Beaba baby food maker sits on a white counter.
Credit: Beaba
Best Baby Food Maker
Beaba Babycook 4-in-1

The Beaba Babycook 4-in-1 is a compact all-in-one option that both steams and purées your food. It features a straightforward design that makes it very easy to use and was by far the quietest of the bunch when it came to the blending portion of the food making. It steams in minutes and, with a touch of a button, creates smooth and creamy purées in under one minute. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Very easy to use

  • Compact and has a sleek look

  • Purees are consistently smooth

Cons

  • You can’t see the water reservoir

  • Difficult to clean

  • The manual is vague

The Graco DuetSooth is our pick for Best Baby Swing.
Credit: Reviewed / Jenni Gritters
Best Baby Swing
Graco Duetsoothe Swing + Rocker

Because every baby has a different preference when it comes to swings, the Graco Duetsoothe Swing + Rocker’s variable swing directions are key. You can spin the seat 180 degrees, meaning your baby can swing from side-to-side facing either direction, or from front-to-back. Overall, we think this swing is likely to soothe your baby, no matter their swinging preferences. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Variable swing directions

  • Comfortable

  • High quality materials

  • Can also be used as a rocker

Cons

  • Tough to build

  • Not portable

  • Large size

The Sleepea Swaddles took top marks in our testing.
Credit: Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence
Best Swaddles
Happiest Baby Sleepea 5-second Baby Swaddle

This swaddle touts itself as the world’s first 5-second swaddle. With its double zipper that can open from top or bottom, inner arm wrap with extra-quiet Velcro, and breathable cotton and mesh to reduce overheating, this swaddle consistently takes the top spot on our list of best swaddles. Read the full review.

Pros

  • 100% organic cotton

  • Extra-quiet velcro

  • Double zipper

Cons

  • None that we could find

The Contours Journey GO is our favorite Baby Carrier.
Credit: Contours
Best Baby Carrier
Contours Journey GO

The lightweight Contours Journey Go features breathable 3-D mesh and moisture-wicking fabric with five different carrying options, making it perfect for your journeys on the go. The 5-in-1 design is easy to set up and allows you to wear it for newborns, facing in, facing out, on your hip, and on your back. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Can be used from infancy to 45 ounds

  • Many carry positions

  • Breastfeeding friendly

  • Includes sunshade and pockets.

Cons

  • Cannot use until baby is 8lbs or heavier

The Guava Lotus Bassinet is effective and portable.
Credit: Guava Family
Best Bassinet
Guava Family Lotus Bassinet

There’s a lot to love about the Guava Family Lotus Bassinet. Not only is the Lotus great at being a bassinet, but it can transform into a pack and play as well. In addition, the Lotus has the best and most compact fold of any product we tested. It even folds up into a backpack, which is also included. While portability isn’t important to everyone (and not all bassinets we tested even had a way to fold up) the compact design is easy to move and great for traveling with your newborn or your toddler—or even just for setting up in the living room. It’s also quite convenient for when it’s not in use, as it makes storing it especially easy in even the smallest apartments. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Can transform into a pack and play

  • Compact

Cons

  • Expensive

Cubo Ai Plus
Credit: Cubo
Best Video Baby Monitor
Cubo Ai Plus

The Cubo Ai Plus baby monitor offers practically every feature a tired new parent could want, including sleep analytics, temperature and humidity alert, and a built-in nightlight and lullabies. Plus the adorable owl design means it looks less like a piece of technology and more like a charming design choice in your baby’s nursery. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Multiple stand options for easy mounting

  • Auto-capture of baby photos

  • Flawless video quality

Cons

  • Expensive

  • No handheld unit

A child reading Binder of Doom on an Amazon Fire 10
Credit: Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence
Best Tablet for Kids
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition (11th Gen)

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids is easy to use, easy to hold and transport, and it comes preloaded with oodles of games to keep your little ones occupied. We like that the settings can be adjusted based on the age of the child using the tablet, and that the sound and picture quality are excellent for both reading and watching videos. It’s why we named it the best. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Large screen

  • Colorful protective case

  • Charges quickly

Cons

  • Too big for little kids

On a red background: A grey L.L. Bean Deluxe Book Pack backpack sitting next to a stack of books.
Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi
Best School Backpack
L.L. Bean Deluxe Book Pack

The LL Bean Deluxe Book Pack is a durable, flexible, weatherproof backpack that’s comfortable for all-day wear, and large enough to hold every single thing that students from middle school on up need to carry. The just-for-a-laptop storage pocket, as well as the reflective trim, set this backpack apart from, well, the pack. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Sturdy construction

  • Machine-washable

  • Ergonomic design

Cons

  • Few design choices

A child inserts a content card into a Yoto Player
Credit: Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence
Best Audio Players
Yoto Player

Our best audio player, the Yoto Player is a multitasking kid’s music player, podcast player, mini-radio, and storybook reader that is bursting with kid-friendly features. The Yoto Player also functions as a Bluetooth speaker that you can connect to your phone to play any kid-friendly content you own. Extras, like a nightlight function, as well as a big, bold digital clock face that transforms into a pixel display screen, elevates it from a static speaker to a mini entertainment system for kids. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Cool night light feature

  • Doubles as a clock

  • Excellent exclusive content

  • Inexpensive blank content cards

Cons

  • Confusing controls

Two Kidamento Model K cameras
Credit: Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence
Best Digital Camera for Kids
Kidamento Model K

The Kidamento Model K is a terrific little camera that takes better-than-expected photos, is small enough to fit in a kid's hand, and is super durable. We like that the camera is intuitive to use, has a large viewing screen, as well as a built-in “selfie cam.” Plus, it produces high-quality photos that belie its just-for-kids image, and that’s why we named it our favorite digital camera for kids. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Excellent photo quality

  • Intuitive features

  • Large viewing screen

Cons

  • Photo download app can be glitchy

An REI Kindercone sleeping bag.
Credit: Reviewed / REI
Best Kids Sleeping Bags
REI Co-op Kindercone 25

Warm and durable, the REI Co-op Kindercore 25 comes with a ton of features that make it a standout sleeping bag for kids—at least among its competitors on our list of best kids sleeping bags. A drawstring footbed is part of an ingenious design that allows this backpack to be custom-sized to your child—and it lets it grow with them at a perfect fit for all sizes up to 5 feet tall. This perfect-fit feature ensures the Kindercone keeps even the tiniest campers warm on nights that dip just below freezing temps, too. Read the full review.

Pros

  • Attached stuff sack

  • Cinch chord for customized sizing

  • Cute designs

Cons

  • Zipper can be challenging

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