12 Favorite Finds For Kids: Smart Parenting Awards 2025

One might ask: why make sure our kids get only the best?

It matters because childhood is a time of rapid growth—every product we give them, from what touches their skin to what supports their learning and safety, plays a role in shaping their well-being. High-quality, well-loved and parent-approved items help protect them from harm, nurture healthy habits, and give them the comfort and confidence they need to explore their world.

As parents, we are undeniably their strongest advocates. By choosing the best, we’re not just buying products—we’re investing in their health, wellness, and future.

That’s why in this year’s Best for Kids roundup, Smart Parenting editors, with the help of experts and Smart Parenting Village, carefully evaluated and handpicked top products across categories like hygiene and personal care, educational support, and safety gadget. Each winner reflects innovation, safety, effectiveness, and the real-life needs of parents and kids today. Whether you're looking to upgrade your child’s hygiene routine, boost their outdoor protection, support their learning journey, or ensure their safety wherever they go, this year’s awardees represent simply the best of the best.

Now, let’s dive into the kid-approved, parent-trusted products that earned a spot on the Smart Parenting Awards 2025 list.

This year we’re bringing you the best shampoo, best anti-bacterial skin cleanser, best outdoor essential, best sunblock, best hand sanitizer, best sanitizing wipes, best haircare, best toothpaste, best portable fan, best care for sensitive skin, best educational support, and best tracking device.

Worried about your kids’ body odor but too young for them to try a deodorant?

Try Povidone-Iodine (BETADINE) Skin Cleanser. It is a powerful 7.5% antiseptic formula designed to thoroughly cleanse and disinfect the skin by eliminating a wide range of harmful microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and spores which helps eliminate bad odors. This versatile cleanser also relieves minor itching and prevents the spread of common fungi infections.

Many moms in the Smart Parenting Village recommend this product. Margaux Hermady talks about how Betadine Skin Cleanser fits into her son’s daily routine, saying, “We’ve been using Betadine Skin Cleanser since my son started his football journey two years ago. I read before that it’s good for body odor. My son didn’t have it then, but I still used it as a preventive measure, especially since he’s an athlete and almost a teenager. So far, so good. I’m happy with the results since I haven’t dealt with any body odor.”

One of the most prescribed skincare brands by dermatologists, Cetaphil makes the cut with its broad-spectrum sun protection against UVA/UVB rays for both the face and body. It is lightweight, water-resistant, and suitable for sensitive skin.

“I discovered the Cetaphil Sun Light Gel when another parent recommended it during my youngest’s end-of-year swimming party,” shares Em Cruz, mother of two and Assistant Managing Editor. “We asked her about it because her daughter looked totally unbothered even after hours in the pool. So I bought one and tried it on our family beach trip—and it was so good. The kids didn’t get sunburned or develop dry flakes even after spending the whole day under the sun. Hindi rin mahapdi or makati. I used it on my face, too. We grew a couple of shades darker, but it was even, and none of us experienced peeling afterward.”

Green Cross Sanitizing Gel has a Triple Acting System that instantly kills 99.9% of disease-causing germs, provides antibacterial protection for hours, and nurtures skin with its moisture-lock formula. Thanks to its non-sticky and lightweight formula, cleaning your kids’ hands is no sweat at all!

It also comes in travel-size bottles that are easy to slide into your kids’ bags for a quick hand cleansing before eating or after toilet-use.

“I really like the Green Cross Sanitizing Gel because it’s gentle on the hands and doesn’t leave a sticky feeling, which helps a lot since I use it throughout the day. It smells clean without being too strong. For our family, it’s especially helpful with kids. It gives me peace of mind knowing they’re using something effective and safe for their skin. It’s become a staple in our bags whenever we go out,” says Cyril Manalo.

Mae Panoringan, mother of one, says: “There’s no sting on the hands; it feels really gentle on sensitive skin. It’s comfortable to use even when I reapply often.”

Well, hygiene never goes out of style and you can simply never have enough wipes!

Our pick for best sanitizing wipes for kids is Sanicare Mini wipes. They’re small and handy; they could fit in pockets or even your kids’ mini-bags. These wipes are formulated with skin-loving ingredients like Vitamin E and Aloe Vera so your kids’ skin remains nourished while being cleansed. And guess what, parents? It is hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested safe for kids, too!

Personally, I put these mini wipes in my kids’ school bags and lunchboxes for a quick cleansing routine after eating or playing outside.

Whether your kids have long or short, straight or curly, strong or fragile hair, Buds & Blooms Anti-Hair Fall brush is just the right hairbrush for their locks and tresses! It is made from a patented eco-friendly straw material with a double-curved design that is gentle to your little ones’ hair, roots, and scalp.

Yela Lao, mom of one and Senior Art Director, shares her first impression of the hairbrush: “Super gentle on the scalp. It feels like a mini scalp massage, so relaxing for both mom and kids.”

JisuLife has quickly become every parent’s go-to portable fan thanks to its smart design, powerful breeze, and surprisingly long battery life—all packed into a compact, kid-friendly size. My kids love to bring it to school, sports practice, church, and literally, everywhere.

Unlike typical mini fans that die halfway through the day, JisuLife keeps up whether you’re outdoors with the kids, stuck in traffic, or just surviving a power outage. In a world full of portable fans, JisuLife stands out because it simply works—trendy, lightweight, and reliable.

If you’re looking for the best sensitive-skin care for kids, Mustela Stelatopia–a trusted brand in baby and maternity care–stands out because it’s specially formulated for super-dry and eczema-prone skin, using natural-origin ingredients like sunflower oil distillate to gently soothe, hydrate, and restore the skin barrier. All in all, it’s a well-rounded line designed to comfort and care for your kids’ most sensitive skin.

Parents rave about how Mustela Stelatopia helps care for their kids’ sensitive and eczema-prone skin.

Francene Tee shares her thoughts on how it helped her toddler, saying, “We’ve used Stelatopia since our toddler was six months. It really helped with managing her eczema. It’s really moisturizing without the lagkit feeling. We love the Stelatopia cleansing oil for bath time too! Super soft ng skin ni baby after bath.”

For Karen Dela Cruz, it’s more on the pricey side but worth it: “’Yung isang bottle mo, nagla-last naman ’yan ng two to three months. Sulit na sulit! Iba ’yung softness sa skin ng baby,” she adds.

BrainMaster Camp BrainRx conducts one on one brain training to enhance cognitive skills which are essential for learning, problem-solving, decision-making, and overall cognitive functioning. The BrainRx program developed by LearningRx in Colorado, USA, has been proven effective through research by helping improve learning and thinking skills, such as memory and attention, in both kids and adults.

Brain Training helps students needing learning support, students who are preparing for high school, university & graduate studies, those high achievers with masked weaknesses or those with memory concerns, decreasing mental sharpness, victims of stroke and brain injury, as well as those with speech and language disorders.

“It helped me understand my kids' unique strengths and improvement areas with real data—I did not have to guess based on what they seemed to excel at or struggle with,” says Ronna Capili Bonifacio, mom of three kids and Editor-in-Chief. “I've come to learn that the brain can be trained, just like muscles. And witnessing brain training has also encouraged me to believe that brain growth and development continue into adulthood.”

Visit brainmastercamp.com to know more.

Back from last year’s win, Off! is definitely a brand trusted by most moms when it comes to protecting their kids from mosquito bites.

This is a gentle, kid-friendly lotion that keeps mosquitoes away without the strong smell or sticky feel. With tropical fresh fragrance that kids love, this goes on smoothly and feels light on the skin. Just apply it on exposed skin for steady, reliable protection—around three hours of zero-bite protection from mosquitoes which is absolutely perfect for both kids and adults.

“Hindi matapang ang amoy, at kahit pawisin, nag-i-stick pa rin sa balat,” shares Mae.

Back from last year’s win, this shampoo is mild and enriched with Aloe Vera extract to keep your children’s hair beautiful and healthy. It gives your kids a soft, soothing cleanse that helps keep hair manageable and smooth, as well as asim-free—perfect for a child’s delicate scalp and everyday use! Eskulin Shampoo is a certified Smart Parenting Village recommendation.

Elyn Rabino Topasi, Smart Parenting Village member, shares why she recommends Eskulin: “Super bango niya, ’di mag-aamoy maasim ang ulo ni baby.”

“Ang bango at malambot rin sa buhok. Umaga ko pa siya napaliguan, pero gabi na, [ang] bango-bango pa rin ang buhok niya kahit napawisan na,” adds Presh Jimenez.

Happee Kiddie Toothpaste is made specifically for Filipino families—particularly formulated for young children —and is high–quality, safe, affordable, trusted, and easily accessible nationwide. This gentle toothpaste that is heavily-recommend by Smart Parenting Village is a back-to-back awardee.

Mommy Trisha Marie Ocampo says, “My daughter has been using Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste for a year now. It has many flavors to choose from and is a lot cheaper than highly advertised brands.” She notes, though, that a downside is that not all big supermarkets carry it, so they either buy it online or visit a specific supermarket that does.

Ever wondered if there’s a smartwatch that combines serious safety with everyday fun: real-time GPS tracking (using GPS + Glonass + Wi-Fi + AI) which helps parents know where their child is, while video calling and voice messaging let kids stay connected without needing a phone?

Yes, that’s right, this year’s winner for best tracking device for kids is still Xiaomi Kids Smart Watch! Fresh from last year’s win, this watch is an absolute game-changer: it’s the kind of gadget that gives parents peace of mind and gives kids something fun to wear!

“Got this one too, based on another parent-friend’s recommendation—she first saw it on her daughter’s classmate,” shared Em. “My daughter’s school doesn’t allow parents or guardians to join field trips, so last time, I used an AirTag-type device to track her. Unfortunately, it didn’t work well and wasn’t accurate. That’s when my friend suggested the Xiaomi Kids Smart Watch.”

“The tracking on this one is accurate, and I get notifications whenever she enters or leaves a designated ‘safe space’ like school or home. The OS is easy to navigate—for both adults and kids—and she has fun taking photos and sending us selfies and emojis. The only downside is that it’s a bit big for her wrist, but she loves it so much that she’s the one who reminds us to put it on her every day.”

Produced by the Smart Parenting Team

Editor-in-Chief: Ronna Capili Bonifacio

Asst. Managing Editor/Co-Producer: Em Cruz

Videographer and video editor: Rolando Pingco Jr.

Art Director: Mariella Lao

Associate Publisher: Bettina Santos

Photographs by Ronan Capili

Shot on location at The Brewman Cafe, Cubao Expo 3, Quezon City

See last year’s winners here!