At What to Expect, our editors and creators are always on the lookout for new items to enhance life. While parents and parents-to-be are our primary focus when testing products, we also consider goods that could benefit anyone at various stages of life. So, why not share these discoveries with you?
This month, we’re launching our inaugural Editors’ Picks series, where we’ll showcase the products we’ve been using and loving lately. Expect to find plenty of sworn-by baby gear, pregnancy staples, clever gadgets to keep your home in order and some little luxuries to indulge yourself.
If you're curious about what essential finds the WTE team has been adding to their carts lately, then read on to shop our May favorites.
A cute maternity jumpsuit you’ll wear again and again
I'm pregnant and when my belly popped at around 15 weeks, I needed to quickly find clothing that was a nice go-between my pre-pregnancy (and my husband's clothing, to be honest!) and maternity clothing. I found this Amazon jumpsuit on a What to Expect roundup and bought it on a whim; it's now my favorite maternity outfit by far! It's so comfy and doesn't restrict my movement. Plus, it’s super easy to get in and out of, which will be great as my bump continues to grow. It's also super cute and I actually get excited whenever it comes out of the laundry because I get to wear it again! I have it in black and I'm currently looking at other colors because I love it so much! — Karla Martin, Senior Photo Manager
A small but mighty vacuum for crumb-filled crevices
This BISSELL handheld vacuum is a must-have for all parents. Because of its small yet powerful design, it can clean even the tiniest and hardest-to-reach places. I use it for so many different purposes like cleaning crumbs out of the nooks and crannies of car seats and highchairs, as well as getting in the corners of bins, drawers and cabinets. I honestly use it every single day! It’s so much different than a traditional handheld vacuum cleaner because it’s compact and designed for even smaller crevices. I love it so much that I’ve been turning friends and family onto it for the past four years; my mom even just got one! — Olivia DeLong, Senior Health Editor
A clean way to enhance your pregnancy glow
Although I've always been a clean beauty enthusiast, my obsession with au natural products has only increased since becoming pregnant. After discovering that the legendary "pregnancy glow" everyone raves about isn't a universal rite of passage, I was determined to find a product that would make me look luminously lit from within. Thanks to some well-targeted Instagram ads, and good word of mouth, I landed on the Miracle Balm by Jones Road Beauty.
There are a lot of things I’ve come to love about the balm. It can be used all over, from cheeks to lips and lids, and is a major moisturizer. A little goes a long way, too, and the product is generously sized. It also comes in 12 different shades, each crafted from clean cruelty-free ingredients — antioxidant-rich jojoba seed oil being the star. I love it so much, I bought three hues: Flushed (pinky), Miami Beach (peachier), and Dusty Rose (rosy). The first two give me a noticeable pop of dewy color while the latter is my holy grail go-to for that all-over luminous look. I've had multiple friends and family members compliment me on my "glow" while wearing the stuff. I've only let a select few in on my secret. — Elizabeth Buxton, Commerce Content Strategy Director
Safe entertainment for long car rides
Ahead of a family road trip, I was searching for activities to entertain my 2-year-old during the eight-hour car ride. And, of course, I had a criteria. The activity had to be soft, so as not to pose a risk if we were in any sort of accident, and large enough I could easily pick it up if dropped. My search led me to this fabric activity book, which wound up being the MVP of the trip.
The activities were challenging enough to keep her entertained and engaged, but not so challenging that she needed my help. I also appreciated that the activities built on skills she was learning at school, like matching pictures or operating zippers, through things she loved, such as colors, numbers and animals. The Velcro adhesion was also strong enough to keep the items in place; the last thing I wanted was for the ride to turn into a game of “Mommy Pick It Up!”
She didn’t play with it the entire drive — that’s a lot to ask of any toy — but she played with it for 20 minutes every few hours, giving my husband and me enough of a reprieve. And because it’s relatively compact, we slipped into our diaper bag and brought it to restaurants in case she got antsy. — Leah Rocketto, Associate Commerce Director
An under-$10 coffee upgrade
Though I bought this milk frother last month, it was a repurchase of the same one I bought in 2020. It was the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, so I was no longer able to go to my local coffee shop for a morning latte. I missed that small, daily pleasure and decided I could easily recreate it at home. I bought this $10 frother, thinking if it didn’t work I wouldn’t have lost a ton of money. But that mighty appliance lasted me almost four years of daily use. — Kat Griffin, Director of Social Content
A super smooth mineral sunscreen
I go to Disney World about twice a year and, after reapplying face sunscreen throughout the day, I wind up breaking out. I’ve been hesitant to try mineral sunscreen because it often leaves a white cast behind and is hard to apply. For my most recent visit, I took a chance on this Cetaphil sunscreen because of its low price (compared to many other mineral face sunscreens) and compact size — perfect for tossing into a small bag. It turns out that it applies so smoothly, just like chemical sunscreen. And, it blended in immediately, leaving no trace of a white cast behind. The best part? My face remained blemish-free the entire week even after three to four reapplications a day. It also stood up to 90-degree heat and plenty of sweating after 30,000 steps a day! — Erin Cavoto, Associate Commerce Editor
A quick trick for undoing car seat buckles
My kindergartener is still in a five-point harness combination car seat, and his hands aren't strong enough to unbuckle it himself when we're doing school drop-off in the morning. The staff are always rushing us and I'm not supposed to get out of the car to help him, so it's been challenging. The UnbuckleMe has been a game-changer! It’s basically a clip that presses down on the buckle and releases it instantly. Now, I don't have to contort my body around to try and unbuckle him from the front seat, and he loves the independence of doing it himself. Plus, I could see this being a great tool for grandparents who struggle with undoing car seat buckles, too! — Stephanie Fisher, Senior Director, Multi-Platform Content Strategy
An easy curly hair styling tool
I am expecting my second baby next month and remember how hard it was to find time to style my very curly hair when I had my son. Plus, whenever I throw my hair up in a bun to avoid grabby hands, it’s impossible to style it afterward. Not to mention that my flyaways were particularly crazy from postpartum hair loss. To prepare this time around, I figured I would try this styling tool out: Turns out it really does help straighten my hair in less than 20 minutes! It works like a flat iron and comb in one, both straightening and even providing some volume thanks to the ceramic heating plates. It’s also so easy to use because I can just run it through my hair without any particular skill needed. — Melissa Bykofsky, Executive Editor Strategy & Growth
Relief for round ligament and lower back pain
I'm 24 weeks pregnant and the round ligament pain that pops up from time to time has been terrible. I'm also starting to get lower back pains! Finally, I bought this Keababies Maternity Belly Band to help on days when the round ligament pain and lower back pain get really bad! When I know I'll be standing and walking around a lot, I wear it to help support my belly which is getting heavier and it helps relieve some of the pain. I also wear it during my walks for some extra support. — Karla Martin, Senior Photo Manager
A portable diaper mat that lasts hundreds of changes
This came with a diaper bag I got when my first daughter was born four years ago, and I've used the changing pad through hundreds of diaper changes over the years. It has pockets for diapers and wipes and can easily fit a tube of diaper cream, too. The fabric is sturdy and the inside surface is easy to clean. I love that I can fold up the pad with everything inside and carry it easily with the attached hand strap. It’s been such a convenient item to keep on hand for quick changes no matter where we are! — Jamison Hermann, Senior Producer
A really good color corrector
I’d been searching for something to reduce the redness on my face, especially since I’m in video meetings all day. A friend recommended Erborian Women's CC Red Correct after she noticed an improvement in herself, and I’m happy to say it’s worked for me too! I really love that you don’t need to cake it on; a little smidge tones down the redness. This also means I don’t need to put on additional makeup. And my sensitive skin has had ZERO reactions so far! — Kat Griffin, Director of Social Content
Simple, spacious storage
My kids are 2 and 5 years old, so they have a lot of toys. I realized we needed a large basket to store stuffed animals in their cozy reading corner on the upstairs landing. I wanted something that had a lot of room but without an overly childlike aesthetic. This cotton basket checked all the boxes. It’s SO roomy and can hold a ton of stuffed animals. It looks great anywhere in our house, and reasonably priced in case we want more. Plus, there are four different color options for versatility. — Shelley Gingrich, Executive Director, Brand Solutions
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