If you’ve been anywhere near a Target or big box store lately, you know the back-to-school season is again upon us. And while it’s often a hectic time of year, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite “say it isn’t so!” back-to-school year items to make our lives a little easier.
Stasher Bags
20 million plastic sandwich bags end up in landfills every day in the US alone—but thanks to Stasher, you can pass on the plastic, but not on the convenience. These bags make it super easy to pack school lunches and snacks; they’re made from 100% pure platinum silicone and contain no PVC, latex, fillers, or byproducts, and you can toss them in the dishwasher to clean. Available in sandwich and now new snack size, Stasher is good for your kids and the environment.
Skip Hop Zoo Backpacks
Nothing is as exciting as shopping for all new school supplies, except finding the perfect backpack to carry them in. Skip Hop Zoo Backpacks come in 25 different animals to suit everyone’s preference, have a large, roomy main pocket, a side pouch for a water bottle, and padded straps for comfy carrying to and from school. They’re also easy to clean, and, if you’re so inclined, offer coordinating lunch boxes, too.
Kinsa Smart Thermometer
A thermometer might not be at the top of your back-to-school shopping list, but with the return to the classroom comes the return of the sniffles, coughs, colds and fevers. Kinsa Smart Thermometers wirelessly sync to the app on your smartphone or tablet (iOS and Android compatible), allowing you to easily track temps, medications and other symptoms for every family member. And their ear thermometer takes accurate readings within one second (really!) so you can focus on more important things, like taking care of your little ones.
S’well Bottles
This is one of our favorites for Mom and Dad this back-to-school season. Whether you’re wanting to stay hydrated or caffeinated throughout your day, S’well has you covered. Made of non-toxic and non-leaching 18/8 stainless steel, these colorfully designed bottles will keep cold beverages cold for 24 hours and hot beverages hot for 12. And with a variety of sizes to choose from, you can nab yourself your bottle of choice and pick up another (or two) to send with the kids’ lunches, too.