Parents have never had more products to choose from. While innovation continues to bring exciting new options for families, it also makes it harder than ever to know which ones are truly worth the investment. That’s why the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute spend months reviewing hundreds of parenting products through rigorous lab evaluations and real-world consumer tests, helping families make more confident, informed purchasing decisions.
For Good Housekeeping’s 2026 Parenting Awards, experts across the GH Institute Labs evaluated products and reviewed feedback from more than 330 parent testers who used them in their everyday lives. The winners featured here consistently impressed both our experts and parent testers, standing out for their performance, thoughtful design, and real-world usability. They were selected based on a combination of expert evaluation, lab testing, and consumer feedback, with careful consideration given to quality, safety, ease of use, innovation, and overall value.
Meet the Winners
How We Test
Every product considered for a Good Housekeeping Parenting Award is evaluated through multiple stages of review. The process begins with our subject-matter and parenting experts, who review product information, certifications, and supporting documentation. Products then undergo hands-on evaluation in the Good Housekeeping Institute Labs while also being tested by families in their everyday lives. Our experts use standardized testing protocols, specialized equipment, and detailed consumer feedback to evaluate each product from multiple perspectives. This combination of controlled performance data and real-world experiences helps determine which products stand out as winners.
☑ Submission Review
Before we even see a product in person, our experts thoroughly review information provided by the brand. We evaluate what makes the product unique, how useful it is for parents, and what documentation is available to support its claims. We also consider factors such as safety and overall value for families.
Our team reviews materials such as certifications and product specifications and follows up with brands when additional information is needed for our assessments. We also identify claims that may require additional scrutiny during testing, particularly those related to safety, health, performance, and applicable regulations.
☑ Expert Lab Testing
Products are tested by experts relevant to each category, including chemists, registered dietitians, engineers, fiber scientists, and tech analysts. Testing in the Good Housekeeping Institute Labs allows our experts to evaluate products in a controlled, comparative setting.
Testing protocols vary by category. For example, our analysts measure diaper absorbency, install car seats on a Honda vehicle seat to evaluate fit and ease of use, and navigate strollers through obstacle courses across a variety of surfaces. We also review ingredients, evaluate connected technology, and assess product construction based on category.
Ultimately, our goal is to evaluate products side by side using objective testing methods and measurable performance data, helping ensure that winners are selected based on how they perform.
Performance
We want to make sure products actually work when tested in a controlled, comparative setting. Using specialized equipment and standardized protocols, analysts evaluate products side by side to capture objective performance data. Shown here is a 45-degree runoff test from our Textiles Lab's diaper evaluations, which measures how well a diaper absorbs fluid when held at an angle. Other tests assess how quickly fluid is absorbed, how well the diaper retains moisture under pressure and how much liquid it can hold during a high-volume pooling test.
Ease of Use
A product can only perform well if parents can use it confidently and correctly. To objectively evaluate ease of use, our experts follow standardized testing protocols that compare products. In our Tech & Engineering Lab, for example, every car seat is installed on an actual vehicle seat equipped with both LATCH anchors and a seat belt system, shown here. We also use lifelike infant and toddler dolls to evaluate installation, harnessing, key features like 360-degree rotation and portability, including how easy the seat is to carry or transfer to a compatible stroller.
Safety
No matter how innovative or high-performing a parenting product may be, we always evaluate it through a safety-first lens. In our Tech & Engineering Lab, for example, stroller testing includes measuring the amount of force required to tip a stroller backward by pulling on the handlebars (shown here), as well as how well the brakes hold by measuring the force needed to move the stroller across grit sandpaper with the brakes engaged. Analysts also maneuver each stroller through an obstacle course, strap in a lifelike testing doll and evaluate how safely and easily each model opens and closes.
☑Parent Testing
We recruit parents with children of varying ages and at various stages to test products in their everyday routines. Before testing begins, participants complete an in-depth survey about their families and product preferences. Our analysts then carefully match products with the families best suited to evaluate them.
Families typically spend about a month using products before completing detailed surveys with both quantitative ratings and open-ended feedback. They also compare products to similar ones they’ve used, giving our experts valuable context. These responses provide insight into ease of use, comfort, fit, overall satisfaction, and which types of families are most likely to benefit from each product. Combined with our lab evaluations, this real-world feedback helps us identify the products that truly stand out.
Meet the Experts
Photo credits: Mike Garten. Prop Styling by Lis Engelhart. Hair and makeup by Deepti Sadhwani.
Testing photos: Mike Garten.
Meet the Experts (headshots): Mike Garten.
