21 Must-Have Parenting Products Worth Every Penny

A Maxi Cosi Kiskadee high chair so freaking fancy, all your friends will be like, "Woah, where'd you get such a pretty high chair?" It has a 360-degree rotation, so you can swivel your little bundle of joy in any direction needed.
A playpen, you will be thanking your lucky stars you had the foresight to buy when your little one starts rolling. And this way, you won't have to live in fear about baby-proofing literally every corner of your home when your baby starts crawling — you can just plop them down here! And while you're at it, scoop up a mat so your baby can be as comfy as possible.
And a travel crib and play yard so your baby can relax, no matter where you visit. Don't spend the entire time at your friend's home watching your crawling/rolling baby in fear of them going somewhere they're not supposed to, touching things they shouldn't, or putting something in their mouth. This playpen is easy to fold, easy to carry, and easy to pop open.
A Woddle smart changing pad because anything that helps make those middle-of-the-night changes easier is a blessing straight from a wishing star. This baby does it all: tracks their weight (!!!), has a night-light with customizable colors, a warmer to keep them toasty, a noise machine to lull them to sleep, it records their diapers and feedings, AND has an app that can control it all! Woah, it's almost too useful.
A Baby Breeza all-in-one food maker and steamer to save you literally hours of your time and hundreds of dollars over the course of your baby's feeding journey. Just chop up some fruits or veggies, toss 'em in here, and with the click of ONE button, this machine will steam, blend, and puree your little one's food to the proper consistency. It even comes with a recipe book that'll let you know which veggies you should prepare at each month's milestone.
A Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced that automatically mixes, heats up, and dispenses baby formula so you're not stumbling through the kitchen in the middle of the night trying to remember if it was 2 or 3 ounces of water per scoop of formula.
A Munchkin bottle warmer so you don't have to play the guessing game of trying to figure out, "How hot is too hot?" It is compatible with most bottle brands, so this will not only get their milk/formula to the ideal temperature but is also perfect for warming up some baby food once your little one starts eating solids.
A Baby Buddha sterilizer to stop you from having to juggle a tea kettle full of boiling water. This will save PLENTY of time as it sterilizes AND dries your bottles or breast pump parts — meaning you no longer have to wait for the water to boil, sit around at least 10 minutes, and then take them out to air dry (which takes foreverrr). In just 30 minutes, you can have perfectly clean pump parts and bottles all ready for your little one's next feeding.
A folding indoor playset with a slide (that you can convert into a climber), and a baby swing (you can convert into an infant one)! This playset is so much fun, and will have your kids running around and burning all that energy without having to actually trek outside to a playground. Plus, when the guests are due to arrive, you can simply fold this up and put it away.
And a Little Big Playroom ball pit because your kiddo deserves to feel like they basically live at Chuck E. Cheese every day of their life. This comes with 200 colorful, uncrushable balls and a soft-sided "pool." It's super lightweight, which makes it easy to move around, but it is sturdy, so you don't have to worry about any of your bigger kids crushing it as they happily thrash around in it. AND it's lowkey aesthetic?? L.O.V.E.
An Ingenuity swing that is sure to be your saving grace, as it gives some semblance of peace to all you tired parents who desperately want some time to themselves. It has five speeds, two reclining positions, and soothing melodies with a light show!
A Fisher-Price kick-and-play piano to entertain your baby for months and make tummy time a lot more bearable. They'll love all the bright colors as they have fun kicking the little piano and playing with all the dangling toys — giving you plenty of time to finish up that meal you've been cooking without worrying about your baby needing your immediate attention.
A baby monitor and camera so you can keep an eye on your little one snoozing away while you and your partner enjoy date night (until their cries ultimately interrupt a few hours in). With night vision, two-way talk, and 355-degree camera movement, this is the perfect camera to be able to monitor everything that goes on in your nursery.
Or an Owlet Dream Sock Duo because you deserve to have peace of mind while you fall asleep — without waking up every other hour to check and make sure your baby is still safe and breathing. This comes with four socks you can charge and use throughout the night to track and monitor your baby's sleep patterns, oxygen levels, and heartbeat through the Owlet app. It also comes with a camera so you can monitor your baby soundly asleep in their crib.
The all-too-famous Diaper Genie to protect your nostrils from the whiff of your kiddo's diaper during changing time. Just toss the dirty diaper into the pail, and you'll be amazed at how quickly the odor gets under control, so your whole house doesn't smell like the product of your little one's blowout.
An Ayla & Co diaper bag that can hold everything you need for your baby in absolute style! This makes an amazing addition to your registry since not only is it practical, it's incredibly fashionable, so you won't feel like your diaper bag is clashing with your perfect outfit.
Or a tote diaper bag, basically no one will think is secretly stuffed with diapers, burp clothes, onesies, and bottles. It's cute, has many compartments so you can keep your baby's things organized, and even has a removable pouch. Plus, it has two insulated pockets for bottles, a detachable pacifier holder, a cushioned changing pad, *and* a padded shoulder strap.
A Momcozy wearable breast pump to free up your hands while you get your kiddo's next meal ready. Now you can finally cook dinner, clean up, rock your baby to sleep, or even lounge around to watch TV without worrying about holding up a manual pump.
A famous, luxurious Cybex Priam stroller that's basically the Rolls-Royce of strollers. It's spacious, it's super comfy, it's freaking gorgeous, it fully reclines, *and* you can face it backwards or forwards. Get ready to get stopped by parents everywhere just so they can ask, "Where did you get such a pretty stroller?"
And a Cybex Coya travel stroller so your stroller doesn't get damaged or — heavens forbid — lost when tossed around in your airport's baggage claim. This is the perfect travel stroller to have once your little one is able to hold themselves up since it can easily be compacted, has a built-in carrying handle, can fit in a plane's overhead compartment, AND is customizable. Luxury meets convenience.
A Nex Playground — you don't have to actually exit the home to make sure your kids are burning all the energy they need to. This console (which is fully controlled by motion play rather than a remote) is toddler-friendly and comes with five super fun starter games, with more than 20+ games in the library available if you get their Play Pass. The Nex is great at tracking, no matter how tiny the player is, and has so many fun AND educational games!

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Buzz Feed

05-06-2025

• Buzz Feed

21 Must-Have Parenting Products Worth Every Penny

A Maxi Cosi Kiskadee high chair so freaking fancy, all your friends will be like, "Woah, where'd you get such a pretty high chair?" It has a 360-degree rotation, so you can swivel your little bundle of joy in any direction needed. A playpen, you will be thanking your lucky stars you had the foresight to buy when your little one starts rolling. And this way, you won't have to live in fear about baby-proofing literally every corner of your home when your baby starts crawling — you can just plop them down here! And while you're at it, scoop up a mat so your baby can be as comfy as possible. And a travel crib and play yard so your baby can relax, no matter where you visit. Don't spend the entire time at your friend's home watching your crawling/rolling baby in fear of them going somewhere they're not supposed to, touching things they shouldn't, or putting something in their mouth. This playpen is easy to fold, easy to carry, and easy to pop open. A Woddle smart changing pad because anything that helps make those middle-of-the-night changes easier is a blessing straight from a wishing star. This baby does it all: tracks their weight (!!!), has a night-light with customizable colors, a warmer to keep them toasty, a noise machine to lull them to sleep, it records their diapers and feedings, AND has an app that can control it all! Woah, it's almost too useful. A Baby Breeza all-in-one food maker and steamer to save you literally hours of your time and hundreds of dollars over the course of your baby's feeding journey. Just chop up some fruits or veggies, toss 'em in here, and with the click of ONE button, this machine will steam, blend, and puree your little one's food to the proper consistency. It even comes with a recipe book that'll let you know which veggies you should prepare at each month's milestone. A Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced that automatically mixes, heats up, and dispenses baby formula so you're not stumbling through the kitchen in the middle of the night trying to remember if it was 2 or 3 ounces of water per scoop of formula. A Munchkin bottle warmer so you don't have to play the guessing game of trying to figure out, "How hot is too hot?" It is compatible with most bottle brands, so this will not only get their milk/formula to the ideal temperature but is also perfect for warming up some baby food once your little one starts eating solids. A Baby Buddha sterilizer to stop you from having to juggle a tea kettle full of boiling water. This will save PLENTY of time as it sterilizes AND dries your bottles or breast pump parts — meaning you no longer have to wait for the water to boil, sit around at least 10 minutes, and then take them out to air dry (which takes foreverrr). In just 30 minutes, you can have perfectly clean pump parts and bottles all ready for your little one's next feeding. A folding indoor playset with a slide (that you can convert into a climber), and a baby swing (you can convert into an infant one)! This playset is so much fun, and will have your kids running around and burning all that energy without having to actually trek outside to a playground. Plus, when the guests are due to arrive, you can simply fold this up and put it away. And a Little Big Playroom ball pit because your kiddo deserves to feel like they basically live at Chuck E. Cheese every day of their life. This comes with 200 colorful, uncrushable balls and a soft-sided "pool." It's super lightweight, which makes it easy to move around, but it is sturdy, so you don't have to worry about any of your bigger kids crushing it as they happily thrash around in it. AND it's lowkey aesthetic?? L.O.V.E. An Ingenuity swing that is sure to be your saving grace, as it gives some semblance of peace to all you tired parents who desperately want some time to themselves. It has five speeds, two reclining positions, and soothing melodies with a light show! A Fisher-Price kick-and-play piano to entertain your baby for months and make tummy time a lot more bearable. They'll love all the bright colors as they have fun kicking the little piano and playing with all the dangling toys — giving you plenty of time to finish up that meal you've been cooking without worrying about your baby needing your immediate attention. A baby monitor and camera so you can keep an eye on your little one snoozing away while you and your partner enjoy date night (until their cries ultimately interrupt a few hours in). With night vision, two-way talk, and 355-degree camera movement, this is the perfect camera to be able to monitor everything that goes on in your nursery. Or an Owlet Dream Sock Duo because you deserve to have peace of mind while you fall asleep — without waking up every other hour to check and make sure your baby is still safe and breathing. This comes with four socks you can charge and use throughout the night to track and monitor your baby's sleep patterns, oxygen levels, and heartbeat through the Owlet app. It also comes with a camera so you can monitor your baby soundly asleep in their crib. The all-too-famous Diaper Genie to protect your nostrils from the whiff of your kiddo's diaper during changing time. Just toss the dirty diaper into the pail, and you'll be amazed at how quickly the odor gets under control, so your whole house doesn't smell like the product of your little one's blowout. An Ayla & Co diaper bag that can hold everything you need for your baby in absolute style! This makes an amazing addition to your registry since not only is it practical, it's incredibly fashionable, so you won't feel like your diaper bag is clashing with your perfect outfit. Or a tote diaper bag, basically no one will think is secretly stuffed with diapers, burp clothes, onesies, and bottles. It's cute, has many compartments so you can keep your baby's things organized, and even has a removable pouch. Plus, it has two insulated pockets for bottles, a detachable pacifier holder, a cushioned changing pad, *and* a padded shoulder strap. A Momcozy wearable breast pump to free up your hands while you get your kiddo's next meal ready. Now you can finally cook dinner, clean up, rock your baby to sleep, or even lounge around to watch TV without worrying about holding up a manual pump. A famous, luxurious Cybex Priam stroller that's basically the Rolls-Royce of strollers. It's spacious, it's super comfy, it's freaking gorgeous, it fully reclines, *and* you can face it backwards or forwards. Get ready to get stopped by parents everywhere just so they can ask, "Where did you get such a pretty stroller?" And a Cybex Coya travel stroller so your stroller doesn't get damaged or — heavens forbid — lost when tossed around in your airport's baggage claim. This is the perfect travel stroller to have once your little one is able to hold themselves up since it can easily be compacted, has a built-in carrying handle, can fit in a plane's overhead compartment, AND is customizable. Luxury meets convenience. A Nex Playground — you don't have to actually exit the home to make sure your kids are burning all the energy they need to. This console (which is fully controlled by motion play rather than a remote) is toddler-friendly and comes with five super fun starter games, with more than 20+ games in the library available if you get their Play Pass. The Nex is great at tracking, no matter how tiny the player is, and has so many fun AND educational games!

Buzz Feed

04-06-2025

• Buzz Feed

25 Target Must-Haves For Busy Parents

A positively ingenious set of Infantino wrist rattles that'll save you from picking up that rattle yet again for your baby who hasn't *grasped* grasping yet. Just attach the rattles around the wrist or the ankles like a bracelet and let your baby discover the magic of their rattling hands and feet while you take that well-earned deep breath. Promising review: "Super cute multi-functional baby toy with soft colors and teething accessories." —Brittany bPrice: $6.99 for two rattles A lightweight and sturdy step stool that is 1,000 times better than lifting your kid to help them wash their hands. Unlike wooden ones, this step won't hurt them if they trip onto it, and it's light enough to move it around when they get older — saving you time and energy. I have this stool and love it. When my oldest started standing independently, I got a decorative, oh-so-cute wooden one. I underestimated how clumsy toddlers are and how often they fall. She'd trip over her feet in the bathroom and get a huge bruise or scrape herself on my adorable footstool. Finally, I said "NEVER AGAIN" and bought this one. What was I waiting for?? This one is higher, lighter, and easier to clean and I do not miss the princess ballerina footstool. Plus, my kids easily grab it when they need to reach something, and I only need to involve myself if I hear a crash. Glorious. Promising review: "My 3-year-old uses this stepping stool constantly. It's great for when he wants to wash his hands, get something from the fridge, turn on/off the light switch, or use the toilet. It's very handy." —Love FPPrice: $15 And a pair of Munchkin faucet extenders to help your toddler feel a taste of independence and help save your hands from quadrupling the washing. These sink extenders help your little one easily reach the water without needing to be hoisted up like a sack of potatoes. BuzzFeed editor and mom-of-two Heather Braga has this for her 3-year-old. She said, "We're working on potty training my toddler, which comes with the added routine of constant handwashing. He's itching to be independent in all ways (yay) so I knew it was time to add these to my cart. They slip over the two very different faucets in my bathrooms and have truly made it easier than ever for my son to wash his hands."Promising review: "I have two toddlers who are potty training. This has been a wonderful addition to our sinks! Don't have to juggle between carrying your little one and washing their hands at the same time!" —K1525Price: $10.99 for a two-pack A compact, portable Jool Baby travel potty seat that can make an adult seat the perfect size for little potty trainers. Save your back from holding them up onto the seat in public restrooms so they don't fall in because the bare minimum here means no peeing toddler clinging to you and bringing your face inches from a public toilet. This amazing potty seat comes with a travel bag and can be quickly and easily wiped clean with an antibacterial wipe. It suctions onto the toilet, keeping your kid both physically and mentally secure. Promising review: "This product has been a game changer for getting my toddler to use the potty in public. He is smaller, so normal potties are intimidating to him. I highly recommend this seat for any little kids!!! So easy to attach and fold up. Each to clean after, too. Such a brilliant product." —KatePrice: $14.99 (available in three colors) A bottle of detangling spray for turning morning cryfests into a quick and easy process. This leave-in conditioner is hypoallergenic, all-natural, and gentle — plus it smells amazing. I recently switched my fine-haired daughter over to this leave-in conditioner, and we both love it! The citrus vanilla scent is SO good, and it actually works. I can spray this on wet hair after a shower or on a knot in dry hair, and it's equally great. Promising review: "This stuff smells fantastic and works like magic! My kids have long, wavy hair, and this has become a part of their hair care routine because it's so amazing. It detangles, and the good smell lasts in their hair." —Mama KesPrice: $7.79 A formula-mixing pitcher, aka an absolute game changer for avoiding gas and getting formula ready, like, ~yesterday.~ Not having premade formula while you have a hangry baby should be low on your list of effort you want to use. And there's nothing like making an entire batch before bed and easily pouring a bottle when you're still half asleep. The formula comes out clump-free, can be made up to 24 hours in advance, and has no bubbles, which can lead to gas. If you're a nursing mama, it can also re-mix breast milk. Promising review: "I love this pitcher; it is the perfect size. Easy to use so that you can store formula for the whole day, and it removes air bubbles in the milk. If you have a baby registry, make sure to add this gift." —RhondaPrice: $10.49 (available in three colors) A cool mist humidifier that'll help soothe when your kiddo comes down with a cold and hopefully get them back up and running sooner. I don't know about you, but I have precisely zero minutes to waste on yet another virus my kids bring home. So many people swear by humidifiers, but I had never used one before having a baby. If you're a skeptic like I was, I can verify that getting a humidifier has been so helpful, especially now that my kids are a bit older. Whenever I see the first sign of a sniffle, I pull the humidifier out and see dramatic improvement when I try to grit my teeth and hold on until it passes. Promising review: "This humidifier has been a blessing! Our other one got wet so we ordered this. I was skeptical because of the size, but it actually works great!! I love the different selections you get for what type of speed you want for your humidity and light." —JayPrice: $39.99 (available in two colors) A super convenient Ubbi grape cutter to take all of the work out of minimizing choking hazards. Quickly insert the grape or tomato and slice it into a safer size — especially when you have several young kids or are prepping for a party or play date. One less thing to worry about! Price: $9.99 A snack storage solution so they can quickly grab their treats with zero fuss and zero wasted time. Promising review: "I have type 1 diabetes, and I use this as my snack tray when my blood sugar drops. So now I can easily see what I have, and my family can get something quickly for me. This could be used for so many different things. Great product!" —mzmullisPrice: $19.99 And a set of clear fridge organizers that'll make preparing meals and snacks easy and efficient rather than chaotic and frustrating. Keep your essentials at the ready and just watch how easy you'll make it look. Promising review: "Great addition to our fridge! Helps keep our fridge more organized and makes it look better, too! Great thick material. Very easy to clean, too!" —SamyasPrice: $25 for a four-piece set A touchscreen toaster so they can ~independently~ figure out exactly how they want their toast without figuring out what the number dial actually means (I mean — do any of us REALLY?). Just touch the image of what you're toasting, touch the image of how dark you want it, and enjoy the benefits of a morning that doesn't include scraping char off of toast. Promising review: "This toaster is amazing. The countdown clock and toast color options are so handy. Makes perfect toast every time!" —Oswald LuciusPrice: $59.99 (originally $299.99) A Shark handheld vacuum to quickly pick up crumbs under the table or high chair without getting on your hands and knees with the dustbin. Save yourself time, energy, and effort by quickly sucking up crumbs and enjoying the feeling of walking near the table without Cheerios sticking to your feet. For the longest time, I used a dustpan and broom to get my kids' crumbs after meals. It wasn't that big of a deal, but it was annoying. I finally decided to treat myself to a handheld vacuum, and I do not regret anything except for waiting so long to get one. It's one of those really small things that really did make one part of parenting so much less work. Now that my baby is a big kid, she happily vacuums up after meals that are still messy years later. Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this little vacuum! It's so easy to use — my 2-year-old, who likes to help, can even use this vacuum. It's powerful and the attachments are easy to exchange. It is bagless and easy to empty; you can charge it easily from any outlet. I have a long-haired cat who sheds a lot and this vacuum works well for pet hair." —StruPrice: $69.99 (originally $99.99) A fan-favorite Skylight calendar for keeping all of your family appointments in plain sight. Not only does it automatically sync to your calendars, you can set up chore charts for your family members and keep lists all in one place. This calendar does use a subscription for a wider range of functions, but the calendar, chore chart, and lists (aka the most important) don't require anything extra. That being said, it's a huge time saver since it connects to Google Calendar, iCloud Calendar, and Outlook Calendar to keep everyone's schedule in one place. Promising review: "This literally does it all! There is also an app that goes along with it so you can see your calendar on the go & it can be separately accessed by your spouse or kids as well! The chore charts and reward stars are great for kids. The meal planning calendar is such a great tool. Being able to have everyone's schedule all in one place is just great. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️" —ADPrice: $279.99 (originally $319.99) A shoe organizer to keep footwear front and center rather than *maybe-possibly-under-the-bed-will-you-just-find-it??*. This low-profile storage solution can keep things organized and out of the way and shave off precious minutes from getting out of the house. Promising review: "No more messy entryway whenever we have guests. This is a very nice piece. Sturdy and easy to assemble. Happy with this purchase." —ken210Price: $102.99 A document holder AND backpack station that can hold documents, backpacks, and a sweater without completely gunking up your entryway. Each kid can have a station because you do NOT need to search for the backpack and homework folder as you're trying to get everyone out for school. Each organizer can hold up to 25 pounds, so if you have middle or high-school-aged kids, it might not work if they keep heavy textbooks in their backpacks. Try something more heavy-duty to clean up the entryway and keep things organized. Promising review: "This was perfect for our preschool homework station! Kept homework in the pocket and hung backpacks on the hooks! So functional yet still very modern and sleek." —JosiPrice: $24 An easy-to-use toy storage solution if the very idea of packing up a vast array of toys is exhausting in and of itself. Simply pile toys into the mat, gather them, and collect up to nine pounds in one beautiful scoop. Even the youngest toddlers can scoop and dump — because you have no time to waste picking up hundreds of tiny toys. Price: $53.99 (originally $83.99) A Bissell vacuum/mop combo that'll make your old bucket and mop system completely obsolete. This machine will vacuum and mop at the same time, keeping your floors squeaky clean and allowing you to forget there was ever a time when you would wipe the crumbs off your feet on your pant leg. Promising review: "It is a great product, especially for people who don't have time to waste. The product is easy to use, it cleans and mops simultaneously, you don't have to switch from vacuum to mop, and it sanitizes. The first time I used it, I could see the difference on my floors." —SashaPrice: $179 (originally $229.99) A gentle alarm clock for your older kids that doubles as a night-light and an OK-to-wake clock for your youngins'. The light gradually gets brighter to help wake them up more peacefully than you in a "GET UP OR WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE" panic. Promising review: "I use this as my alarm clock. The light feature that turns on 15 minutes prior to my set alarm time is wonderful! It slowly gets brighter, and I am always awake before the alarm sounds. It's nice to not wake up the whole house. The night-light feature options are very pretty and nice to have just before going to sleep." —JBPrice: $30 A magnetic responsibility chart so the ~responsibility~ of getting ready in the morning doesn't land fully on your busy shoulders. This chart comes with 92 magnets for personal, communal, and social skills and a dry-erase marker for any goal that might not be included in the provided magnets. If you have a non-reader, check out this simplified version for the morning and evening routines!Promising review: "A probably one of my favorite purchases from target. Really helps my toddler to understand responsibilities and keeps us on track for the day!" —JessicadrakePrice: $25.49 An electric toothbrush because absolutely no one has any time for cavities. This toothbrush comes with an app to help ensure your kids are brushing those mouthbones rather than taking a swipe and calling it a day. Promising review: "Daughter loved that she could choose the design on her toothbrush. Cleans teeth very well. The app helps her stay constant with brushing for the full length of time. Really happy with the product. Works better than other electric toothbrushes we have tried in the past." —TargetMomPrice: $34.99 (available in pink and blue) A car seat buckle release tool that'll protect your nails *and* your patience from how surprisingly difficult unbuckling is. Plus — when they're older — they can learn to unbuckle themselves, ensuring that you are not burying your face in the drop-off line as you get out of the car to unbuckle your kid. The car seat buckle desperately needs to be one less thing you fight with. Promising review: "Liked the colors. Bought one for each car. My daughter can now unbuckle herself with this which helps speed up the drop off line at school." —EricaPrice: $28.99 for a two-pack (available in two color combos) A backseat storage bag to store toys, snacks, or whatever else they need as you're chauffeuring them to all of their practices. If you're on the go often, having some snacks always at the ready is going to save a lot of energy. If you're keeping this in your car full-time, only pack snacks that won't melt. Promising review: "Love how this can fit on the seat of my car or on the floor. Love the pockets on the sides that allow me to put items that I need but don't want my twins getting into. Fits so much stuff and perfect for a road trip." —TwinmamaPrice: $15 And a portable trash bin that'll help keep tissues, snack wrappers, and other garbage from filling up the backseat. Just stash the trash, empty it, and enjoy the freedom of not having to chase down snack wrappers that fall out when you open the car door. I keep a small trash can with me, and I am always surprised at how quickly it fills up. Luckily, the trash can fills up instead of my backseat. It's so easy to empty while I'm at a gas station or quickly before I head out with the kids, and it's saved so much mess. Promising review: "I love this trash can for my car. I have one in each vehicle. Its small and can easily be squished out of the way if needed. This is the first trash can my kids use in the car." —ChrisPrice: $10 A visual timer to help make transitions easier for everyone. Since kids can't tell time, "five more minutes" doesn't mean much. With this handy timer, they can watch the colored portion get smaller and be less shocked when time is up. If you have a kid who struggles with transitions (like mine!) or doesn't understand any time but NOW, this timer is for you because no one has time for a meltdown. Price: $35.04 And a foot massager because at the end of the day, you deserve a little relaxation too, darn it. You might as well give those dogs a little rest — because tomorrow's busy day is already calling. Price: $109.99

Yahoo

31-05-2025

• Yahoo

Loblaw apologizes after charging customers a charity donation without consent

Kirk Bennett had just finished shopping at a grocery store in an on-island Montreal suburb when he noticed something off on his receipt. He had a 62-cent charge for "PC CHARITY" from the Maxi grocery store in Dorval, Que., and he said the cashier never asked him if he wanted to make a donation. "We were kind of dismayed at that," he said. "We thought at least they should ask." It's not a lot of money, he acknowledged, but it's the principle. CBC News spoke to a dozen Maxi shoppers on Friday in the Montreal borough of LaSalle. Only one said their bill had been rounded up for a charity donation. In this case, it was six cents. The rest said it has never happened without asking. But CBC has spoken to other shoppers who had the same experience as Bennett at Dorval's Maxi in recent weeks. Several people have taken to social media to complain about small charges that they didn't agree to, often a dollar or less. People tend to agree it's not about the amount but the principle and, they say, it could add up over time. In a statement, Maxi's parent company Loblaw admitted there have been reports about unauthorized donations on some customers' bills during their current fundraising campaign for President's Choice Children's Charity. However, the company calls these cases isolated incidents as its standard practice is to ask customers if they'd like to donate. "We learned early in the campaign there was a system issue and potential for human error, where some customers were automatically charged," the company says in an emailed statement. "We immediately fixed the issue, retrained our store teams and corrected the process." Expressing regret, Loblaw says customers who were charged without permission can contact the service team for a refund if one wasn't automatically issued. Option consommateurs, a non-profit consumer advocacy group, advises people who have been charged to head back to the store and ask for a refund and that people could even go as far as opening a file in small claims court, assuming the charge is worth the trouble. Sylvie de Bellefeuille, a lawyer with the organization, said a retailer cannot charge more than the advertised price. To charge someone like this, it would need to be very clear when customers enter the store that they should expect an extra charge. "The first thing to do would be talk to the grocery manager," said de Bellefeuille, noting the next step is to contact the Office de la protection du consommateur, which is responsible for enforcing these laws in Quebec. Taking a retailer to court may be considered if there's evidence overcharging has been a regular practice for some time, she said. "It really depends on the situation," she said. As for Bennett, he's keeping an eye on his receipts and even considering shopping elsewhere. "We will always watch our bill very closely at Maxi," he said.