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Things I recommend

The fidgets, calm-down gear and feelings tools from my sessions, with how I actually use each one.

Buying guides

Not sure where to start? These are the sets I’d put together for you.

For bedtime

9 picks I reach for. Show everything

I don't earn anything from these links. They're just things I'd recommend anyway.

Gentle bubble bath pods

Routines & everyday wins

  • Transitions
  • Bedtime
  • Ages 3+

Why I recommend it

Dr. Hayley Crain, child psychologist

If bath time is a battle, a little fizz can change the mood. These pods are gentle and tear-free, and watching them fizz gives kids something to look forward to. A repeat buy for me.

How to use it

  1. Let your child drop the pod in once the water is ready.
  2. Use it as the first step of your bath routine so it feels predictable.
  3. Keep the pods up high between baths.

Try saying

“Want to drop in the fizz and watch it go?”

Good to know

Store out of reach so pods are not mistaken for candy. Always supervise bath time.

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Soft bunny plush

Bedtime & wind-down

  • Bedtime
  • Transitions
  • Waiting & outings
  • Ages 3+

Why I recommend it

Dr. Hayley Crain, child psychologist

A soft comfort buddy can make hard moments feel smaller. This bunny comes along to bedtime, transitions and tough appointments. I keep a few, so one is always in the bag and a spare is ready if one goes missing.

How to use it

  1. Let your child give it a name and make it theirs.
  2. Bring it to new places, appointments and sleepovers.
  3. Buy a spare and rotate them so both smell and feel familiar.

Try saying

“Bunny can come with you. Give bunny a squeeze if you feel worried.”

Good to know

Follow safe sleep guidance for babies. Soft toys are not recommended in the crib for infants.

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Rainbow canopy nook

Calm-down corner

  • Meltdowns
  • Bedtime
  • Connection
  • Ages 3+

Why I recommend it

Dr. Hayley Crain, child psychologist

Some kids settle faster in a small, enclosed space. This canopy makes a cozy spot that can become a calm-down or reading corner. Add a few pillows and a soft light and it becomes a place they choose to go.

How to use it

  1. Hang it in a quiet corner, away from the busiest part of the room.
  2. Add a cushion, a few books and one or two calming tools.
  3. Spend calm time there together first, so it feels safe, not like a time-out.

Try saying

“Want to take a break in your cozy spot?”

Good to know

Follow the hanging instructions and keep cords and fabric out of reach of babies and toddlers.

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A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

Feelings & connection

  • Connection
  • Bedtime
  • Ages 5+

Why I recommend it

Dr. Hayley Crain, child psychologist

This book gives kid-friendly words for how brains can work in different ways. It helps kids understand themselves and the people around them. It is a good way to start a conversation without it feeling like a big talk.

How to use it

  1. Read it together at a calm time, not right after a hard moment.
  2. Pause and ask what parts sound like them or someone they know.
  3. Leave it on the shelf so they can come back to it.

Try saying

“Everyone's brain works a little differently. What is yours good at?”

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A Bug and a Wish

Feelings & connection

  • Connection
  • Bedtime
  • Ages 4+

Why I recommend it

Dr. Hayley Crain, child psychologist

A gentle story about hurtful words and how they feel. It opens up talks about teasing, kindness and what to do when someone says something unkind. Kids can see themselves in it without feeling singled out.

How to use it

  1. Read it at a quiet time, like bedtime.
  2. Ask how the characters might be feeling at different parts.
  3. Talk about what your child could say or do if it happened to them.

Try saying

“Has anyone ever said something that felt like that to you?”

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Bath bombs with a toy inside

Routines & everyday wins

  • Transitions
  • Bedtime
  • Ages 3+

Why I recommend it

Dr. Hayley Crain, child psychologist

Getting into the tub can be the hardest part. A bath bomb with a surprise toy inside gives kids a reason to hop in, which makes the move from play to bath easier.

How to use it

  1. Give a heads-up before bath time so the change is not a surprise.
  2. Let your child carry the bath bomb to the tub and drop it in.
  3. Wait for it to fizz before fishing out the toy.

Try saying

“Let's go see what's hiding in the bath bomb.”

Good to know

The toys are small. Supervise younger kids, and keep bath bombs out of reach so they are not eaten.

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Gentle detangling brush

Routines & everyday wins

  • Transitions
  • Bedtime
  • Ages 3+

Why I recommend it

Dr. Hayley Crain, child psychologist

Hair brushing can be a daily struggle, especially for kids who notice every tug. Wide teeth mean less pulling, so it hurts less and goes faster. Fewer battles in the morning.

How to use it

  1. Start at the ends and work up toward the scalp.
  2. Hold the hair above the knot so the pull is not on the head.
  3. Let your child brush their own hair first, then you finish.

Try saying

“Tell me if it pulls and I'll go slower.”

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Bunny star projector night light

Bedtime & wind-down

  • Bedtime
  • Ages 3+

Why I recommend it

Dr. Hayley Crain, child psychologist

Lights-out can be the hardest part of bedtime for some kids. Soft stars across the ceiling help the room feel safe and calm. The auto shut-off means it fades once they are asleep.

How to use it

  1. Turn it on as part of the last step of your bedtime routine.
  2. Look at the stars together for a minute and talk quietly.
  3. Set the timer so it turns off on its own.

Try saying

“Let's find the brightest star before we close our eyes.”

Good to know

Keep cords out of reach of the bed and young children.

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Story projector and nightlight

Bedtime & wind-down

  • Bedtime
  • Transitions
  • Ages 3+

Why I recommend it

Dr. Hayley Crain, child psychologist

Projected, narrated stories make a wind-down routine kids can run themselves. That gives them some control over bedtime, which can mean fewer stalls. It also gives you a few quiet minutes.

How to use it

  1. Pick the story together before lights-out.
  2. Let your child start it themselves once they are in bed.
  3. Keep it to one or two stories so the routine stays the same.

Try saying

“One story, then it's time to sleep.”

Good to know

Keep cords tidy and the device out of reach of babies and toddlers.

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