Product of the Year Canada awards 2017: Family-friendly picks

Now in its eighth year, Product of the Year Canada is an award that celebrates new products and innovation. Products are put before a jury of industry experts and members of the media who ensure they meet the Product of the Year criteria, and then Canadian consumers evaluate the products in a survey. Here are our favourite family-friendly picks from this year’s winners. 

Let’s be real here: Every shower is a quick shower for parents of young kids. Busy moms know the trick to a quick lather is a two-in-one shampoo. Count on Head & Shoulders Instant Cooling Relief 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner to help you zip through shower time without drying out your scalp and hair like other two-in-ones. Cool bursts of menthol and peppermint provide cooling relief, while the active ingredient ZPT rids you of dandruff for visibly flake-free hair that looks and feels healthy and beautiful. $6

If you almost never bother wearing mascara for fear that it’ll just smudge off after a day of wrangling kids, cooking dinner and handling whatever else comes your way, you’re not alone. But for the days when you’re feeling a little fancy, Rimmel London Scandaleyes Reloaded Mascara delivers sweat-proof, smudge-proof, humidity-proof wear that can handle every aspect of your nonstop life. Best of all, it’s super easy to remove with just warm water. $9 

The reality of life with a wee one is that you still need to get stuff done around the house while baby is sleeping. And yes, that includes making baby’s food! Keep the blending noise low-key with the Hamilton Beach Professional Quiet Blender. Blast through tough veggies and fruit with stainless steel blades that rotate at speeds over 105 m.p.h. and make use of all five program settings: smoothie, ice, crush, puree and clean. It also includes a 32–oz. dishwasher-safe jar, quiet enclosure and tamper. $200 

Ease your picky eater into exploring new flavours with the new line of cooking sauces from Great Value. With flavours like Kung Pao, Pad Thai, Jerk BBQ, Butter Chicken, Tikka Masala and Tandoori, they’re sure to add some extra pizazz to any homemade dish. $4

Everyone loves a nice smelling conditioner and if you’d rather buy one bottle for the whole family, Garnier’s Whole Blends Honey Treasure Conditioner is a scent everyone can agree on. Not only is this hair care product paraben-free, but with royal jelly, honey and propolis extract, it also strengthens hair and helps prevent split ends and breakage. $6 

IÖGO’s large-format pouches are a great value—perfect for big families! The resealable cap is easy for little hands to get a grip on, and the pouch is easy to store anywhere in your fridge. This pouch is also great for recipes that require lots of yogurt. $6

Treat yourself and your family to a little dessert with Fontaine Santé’s line of delicious sorbets. Made with five organic ingredients, each tub is perfectly creamy with a smooth texture. Rest easy knowing you’re giving your kids a treat that is 100 percent organic with no added sugar or preservatives, and fat-, lactose-, and gluten-free. $6 each 

You already spend hours in the kitchen cooking for your family—don’t let washing dishes eat up any more of your precious time. The new KitchenAid 44 dBA dishwasher uses a breakthrough Clean Water Wash system that uses less water than competitor brands and continually cleans the water for superior performance even with the heaviest loads. The new design—a window with an LED lighting system—lets you peer in to see when your dishes are done, too. Choose between classic stainless steel or black stainless steel for a dishwasher that’ll suit your kitchen perfectly. $1,850

Are you a weekend laundry warrior? Then get a load of this big guy: the Maytag Extra-Large Capacity Dryer with Extra Moisture Sensor. Not only does it have the power to take on even the largest family’s laundry loads in one go, the PowerDry system and Advanced Moisture Sensing work together to maximize the heat and dry all your clothes evenly without ruining them. The extra interior fin also keeps your clothes moving freely and prevents them from tangling. $1,500 

Keep yourself looking fresh-faced with Aveeno’s overnight cream that is clinically proven to reduce the appearanc of fine lines and wrinkles in just one week! Apply it after putting the kids to bed and leave it on while you snooze. When you wake up, your face will be softer and smoother. Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Restorative Night Cream helps improve the skin’s elasticity and strengthens its natural moister barrier to maintain healthy skin over time. Prone to breakouts? No worries. This cream is hypoallergenic and non-greasy so it won’t clog pores. $25 

Skip the takeout and have burger night at home with a side of Cavendish Farms Restaurant Style gourmet frites. They’re extra thin, low in saturated fat and lightly seasoned with cracked pepper, and are guaranteed to please your picky eater (obviously). $4 

Moms: Have you mastered the art of shoving dirty hair up into a bun when you’re on the go? With a good dry shampoo like the Nexxus Dry Shampoo Refreshing Mist, you can kick the habit. The lightweight formula lets your hair retain natural movement while also cleansing your hair without having to step foot in the shower. Because clearly, ain’t nobody got time for that when you’ve got a newborn on your hands. $18 

Keep your hair looking its best with a lightweight mist made to control frizz, detangle and repair hair from the seven types of styling damage: brushing, braiding, blow drying, curling, flat ironing, bleaching and colouring. Just one use will improve the condition of your hair. $7

Being a parent means having a million things to worry about all at once. Take a few things off your list when you install Rogers Smart Home Monitoring. It lets you secure your home, protect your family and mange door locks, video surveillance, lighting, the thermostat and more—all on your smartphone. Starting at $20/month

For those times when baby drops her food on the floor (again and again), there’s the Vim Power and Shine wet wipes. They’re safe to use on surfaces like ceramic, chrome, enamel, plastic and stainless steel, making them a great cleaner for every room. One swipe leaves behind a pleasant ocean-fresh scent, too! $5 

Life with little kids = MESS. Make cleaning up spills less of a chore with a spray that can truly tackle grime. The Vim Power and Shine Antibacterial spray is multipurpose so you can use it anywhere, from the bathroom to the kitchen. The spray ensures 99.9 percent bacteria elimination so you know your kid will be OK after eating those Cheetos he knocked all over the counter. $5 

Small but mighty, this mini mixer can make up to five dozen cookies in just one batch! Not only does it offer the same power as its larger sibling, the KitchenAid Classic stand mixer, but it also features a function that avoids ingredient splashing, and it can be transformed into a culinary centre with added attachments. Its small size is perfect for little bakers-in-training. $550 

What if we told you there was a way to check on that chicken in the oven while you’re in the other room doing laundry? This Jenn-Air appliance comes with a WiFi-connected wall oven that lets you preheat, check the cooking status, and monitor oven temperatures all through an app that can be downloaded to both iOS and Android devices. Finally—a way to do everything around the house at once. $7,650 

Who’s got time to get their nails done in a salon? Essie’s Gel Couture line is perfect for moms on the go. With 42 brand-new colours with staying power that can last through even the heftiest of dish duties, this polish will keep your fingertips looking like you have all the time in the world. $14 

There’s no reason why celiac and gluten-intolerant kids should miss out on the deliciousness that is macaroni. Not only is Gabriella’s Kitchen skinnypasta gluten-free, it’s also packed with a superfood grain called teff, which can be a great source of fibre, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and vitamin C. These pastas are available in penne and macaroni, and are ready in two minutes! $6

Refrigerators are one of the most energy-hungry appliances in your home. Cut back on the energy loss with this innovative new refrigerator from LG. The InstaView Door-in-Door panel lets you easily peek through the door without having to open it. But if you do want to grab something, it lets you get in without opening both doors. The ColdSaver technology will keep your food fresh, too, by reducing cold-air loss by 47 percent. $5,200 

A reliable hair product is key to a busy mom’s lifestyle. Keep hair healthy and strong with this super lightweight formula that contains biotin and a Pro-Repair complex that helps repair internal hair damage. $7

There’s a reason French women swear by all-in-one cleansing water—it works! This stuff is like magic: It removes makeup and cleanses skin, eyes and lips without rubbing or rinsing. It’ll leave you feeling clean, refreshed and ready to tackle anything that comes your way. $10 

“Beet” your picky eater to the punch and sneak some veggies into his snack with this bright and delicious hummus. $7 

The most kid-friendly way to prep veggies is to zoodle them up or make them curly. But this spiralizer can tackle more than just zucchinis—peel, core and slice to your heart’s desire with its premium metal attachments that are dishwasher-safe and made to last. $250 

The secret to perfecting your favourite pastry? This range! The baking drawer adds more options to the oven, while the separate compartment allows you to bake at different temperatures to achieve flawless cooking results thanks to its Even-Heat True Convection technology. Hello, bake sale! $4,200

Cut back your family’s sugar intake by going about it the natural way with Lantic and Rogers’ Organic Coconut Sugar. Made from the nectar of organically grown, tropical coconut palm tree flowers, it’s 100 percent natural, free of preservatives and will satisfy any sweet tooth. $6 

Find your zen among the kid chaos with Lipton’s Magnificent Matcha tea. This tea comes in pyramid tea bags so they’re perfect to take with you when you’re on the go. $6 

Keep those postpartum girls in place and murder your workout in this super-cute sports bra by Anita Active. The “Easy On and Off” design makes this high-impact, racer-back bra truly perfect for woman of all bust sizes (A-G 32-40). $105

Nobody wants to spend more time doing laundry than necessary. With this Whirpool washer, you can skip adding detergent to every load by using the innovative Load & Go system. It uses a bulk detergent dispenser to hold enough detergent to wash up to 12 loads without refilling it. If that’s not exciting enough, you can also wash AND dry your outfits right in the washer with a function called the Wash and Dry cycle. Amazing. $1,700 

New parents can attest to the sleep deprivation that happens once you have a baby. There is hope, though: Dream Water Snoozeberry is a drink that helps you fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up feeling refreshed. Deemed safe by Health Canada, Dream Water contains three ingredients—melatonin, GABA and 5-HTP—that will help you sneak in some quality zzzs when you need them. $4 

Read more: Check out our 2017 TPA winners! Product of the Year Canada awards 2016: Family-friendly picks 9 best deals at Costco for families this February