2017 Was Full of Inventions That Make Parenting Easier — Thank Goodness!

This smart security system ($499) makes it easier to safely grant visitors (like babysitters, the in-laws, or your teenage kids) access to your home through an app, then check in to monitor what's happening around the house. It's a game changer for parents on the go!

This affordable baby temperature monitor is already changing lives around the world! "Hypothermia and infection are among the top causes of newborn deaths. Regular temperature monitoring can enable early intervention. However, seemingly simple temperature monitoring often goes overlooked in areas where nurses are few and parents are uneducated," describes the company website. "At Bempu, we have developed a novel bracelet for hypothermia which empowers a mother to better manage her newborn's health and prevent such death and illness."

This surprisingly stylish household device ($799) uses groundbreaking smart technology to filter allergens and pollutants out of your home's air, creating a healthier and happier place for your family to thrive.

Since we heard about the first wearable smart breast pump, we've known that it was going to be a nursing game changer. Willow ($480) allows breastfeeding parents to pump discreetly while on the go, and we predict that it'll be on every baby shower wish list extremely soon.

It's a common parenting struggle to return to a lukewarm cup of coffee after helping get the kids ready for the day, but Ember's smart mug ($80) is going to change that. Using an app that connects to your mug, you can set it to maintain a specific temperature and even save presets based on which beverage you're drinking. Bye-bye, cold coffee!

OK, OK . . . so this robot isn't a parenting invention, per se. But home robot Jibo ($899) can help do everything from snap family photos to dance with your toddler, so we consider it a good find for families!