What We're Shopping for in August

The editors at Today's Parent are parents, too. We're dealing with tantrums, meal planning and keeping our kids happy and safe—just like you are. So check out what's in our shopping carts this month. You just might find something you've been looking for.

*While we would genuinely buy every item on this list, some were gifted. 

Affordable sneakers

Where I live, we're less than two weeks until the start of school and I still haven't done any back-to-school shopping. First on my list is sneakers. My nine-year-old absolutely destroys every pair of shoes he wears so I don't want to spend too much, but I also want his feet to be supported. Decathlon is a great destination for sportswear. We love their kids' swim goggles, quick-dry towels and my older son has a great pair of indoor soccer shoes from the brand.

These tennis sneakers are perfect gym class. I love that they have a wide velcro closure for kids who haven't mastered shoe-tying—or (ahem) kids who are always in a rush because they're too busy chatting with their friends when they should be changing their shoes.

Durable lunchboxes

b.box is an Australian brand that makes kid essentials like lunchboxes, water bottles, cutlery and dishes. My kids recently tried their lunchboxes at day camp and they were a huge hit. You can fit a whole banana in this bento-style box and there's a section at the front of the box that has a stretchy silicone layer above it so you can pack a whole apple. The silicone also seals the front sections for yogurt or apple sauce without spills. Best of all, all the internal sections have curved corners so the box is easy to clean!

Big kid backpack

Once kids reach grade five or six, they often have to carry a school-provided laptop—or at least significantly more stuff. This compact backpack offers a large main compartment for a lunchbox and books. It also has a dedicated compartment for a laptop up to 16 inches. You can slide a water bottle into one of the side pockets and a front compartment holds smaller stuff like a tablet, wallet and phone. The backpack's support system is certified by The American Chiropractic Association and offers articulated shoulder straps and a rounded back panel to make it comfortable even on a heavy homework night.

Cozy blankets

With cooler temperatures on the horizon, the beach blanket you've been toting to the park might not cut it anymore. I love Rumpl's quilted, water-resistant blankets. Sit on them in the park or wrap yourself up with one at an autumn soccer practice. One of the best parts is the hands-free cape clips that let you wear the blanket. I can also see these as being great for sleepovers and they pack up into a small, convenient carrying case.

Greens supplements

Since working on our back-to-school guide, I've been thinking a lot about what my kids eat. As we move into the school year, I want to make sure that they get the nutrients they need—even when they come home with a full lunch box. So we're trying Hiya Kids Daily Greens + Superfoods supplement. This powder is chocolate-flavoured and is added to milk (or a milk alternative). It blends best if you shake it, use a milk frother or even throw it in the blender.

Hiya products are subscription-based and come every thirty days. The nice thing about the subscription model is that there's less waste. You're not always buying a big canister. You get the canister with the first delivery then receive a refill package after that.

A bike rack

After a summer of trying to stand our bikes up in our backyard only to have them topple over with chains and handlebars tangled up, it's time to invest in a bike rack. And probably time to take our bikes' security a bit more seriously. This 16-gauge steel bike rack with one-inch tubing can fit up to six bikes. It's durable, waterproof and has a small footprint, making it perfect for small city backyards.

Everything ointment—discount code below

We often think of the summer as a time when bug bites, scrapes and rashes mean kids' skin needs extra care, but cooler temperatures also require special skin care. Tubby Todd's All Over Ointment is soothing and protective for all skin types, including those with allergic rashes or eczema. Plus, use code TODAYSPARENT10 for 10 percent off your whole Tubby Todd order (one use per customer).