They say your heart expands when you have a kid. What they don’t tell you is that the same goes for your purse. And while you likely already have all the basic mom essentials in your bag (tissues, snacks, band-aids, more snacks), there’s always room for another gadget, tool or accessory to make parenting just a little bit easier. Here are 11 random-but-useful items you should seriously consider adding to your purse.
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11 Random-but-Useful Things Moms Love to Keep in Their Purse
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1. A Portable Phone Charger
So your kid zapped your battery streaming Paw Patrol/playing Candy Crush/learning a TikTok dance. No problem—this clever device is compatible with iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and Motorola phones to quickly and easily charge on-the-go. Plus, it comes in a pack of two so you can toss one in your purse and keep the other one in the car.
2. A Tube For Quarters
You say it’s for the parking meter. Your kid says it’s for the gumball machine at the grocery store. Either way, this money organizer has you covered.
3. A Spare Shirt That Doesn’t Scream “mom”
Elegant, flattering and—most importantly—washable. (No wonder it’s a PureWow reader favorite.)
4. Bug Bite Suction Tool
Mosquitoes, bees, wasps and more don’t stand a chance against this genius little tool that quickly and effectively removes insect venom and saliva to eliminate itching and swelling. It’s a no-brainer for camping and hiking adventures, but you’re sure to get good use out of it whatever you do this summer.
5. Crayola Crayons
Bored at a restaurant? Waiting at the doctor’s office? Stuck in traffic? Crayons to the rescue. (With a small notebook to doodle on, of course.)
6. A Small Sewing Kit
Uh oh, a button came off Lucy’s dress on the ride to school…and it’s Picture Day. Super mom to the rescue with this miniature sewing kit that has everything you need to repair snags, rips, holes and, of course, loose buttons.
7. Neosporin To Go
For boo boos big and small.
8. Stain Remover
Damnit, you accidentally spilled coffee down your shirt while racing out the door. First, change into the spare shirt you always keep in your bag (see above). Then, treat the stain with this remover pen so that it doesn’t set. Disaster averted.
9. Portable Urinal
Your kid was sure they didn’t need to go before leaving the house. Your kid lied. Fortunately, you always keep a disposable urinal in your bag. (And yes, having a bag of pee in your car is a little gross but trust us, it’s better than the alternative.)
10. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under-eye Concealer
This concealer went viral on TikTok for a reason—it really works! And nobody needs to cover up those under-eye bags and dark circles more than a sleep-deprived mom.
11. Hand Sanitizer Wipes
Fact: Kids are gross. And here’s another fact: If you toss a miniature bottle of hand sanitizer into your bag, it will spill everywhere—leaving your purse smelling like a bar in the process. Save yourself the hassle with these easy-to-use and lightly-scented wipes instead.
Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.