5 Smart Ways Stay-at-Home Moms Are Simplifying Their Lives

This cooking range is straight from the future. It looks just like any traditional stove-top, but it's actually every stay-at-home mom's best friend. It has voice control capabilities, scan-to-cook technology that can send directions, temperature, and cook time settings straight to the appliance, and a remote start functionality. The best part? The range integrates with the Yummly recipe app and Instacart, so you can send recipe instructions straight to the appliance and have ingredients delivered in an hour.

Now you can clean without lifting a finger. With voice control, you can ask the Roomba to start cleaning your home with a quick "Hey, Alexa" or "OK, Google" while you head out the door to run errands, pick up a kid from a play date, or even while you're sitting on the couch. The iRobot HOME App will also send you push notifications when Roomba has finished cleaning and docked itself to charge. Roomba also allows customers to further automate their daily cleaning needs alongside hundreds of web-based apps and smart devices.

Not all of us are lucky enough to have a big yard for our little ones to play in, but those that do have big jobs on their hands — making sure the sprinkler system is maintained all year round, keeping an eye on those obnoxious weeds, and trying to keep that pesky garden thriving. SkyDrop syncs with your WiFi so that not only is your sprinkler system automated, but it's daily weather reports ensure that you are never over — or under — watering.

Whether you rent or own, the idea of researching and installing a home security system can be daunting. Put that panic aside and meet SimpliSafe, total home protection built for the unexpected. SimpliSafe prepares for worst-case scenarios with an impressive array of backups like cellular and WiFi connections that run in parallel to make sure you're connected even if the internet is down. SmashSafe technology also makes sure your signal reaches the police even if an intruder destroys a piece of the system.

PureSwitch is a smart plug that lets you switch on/off electronics and other household appliances (e.g., lamps, space heater, fan) from anywhere with iPhone, iPad, or the new Apple HomePod. It's perfect for when you need to turn off the lamp in baby's room without doing the dreaded crawl back in (which wakes them up anyway), or when you arrive home to a dark house with your arms full of grocery bags, sports gear, or your baby. Just tell HomePod or Siri to turn on your lights or an AC unit. You can even do this from your phone before you get home.