Practical and cool new tech products for parents

Here are some of our favorite new tech products for parents:

Tablet Computer

With the "battle of the tablets" already underway and everyone from Toshiba and Dell to Motorola trying to catch up to Apple's super-successful iPad, you need to quickly jump on board. Whether it's for business, travel or home use, grab a tablet and start using some of the coolest applications on the market:

• iBooks – Catch up on that latest Tom Clancy thriller
• Game of Life – Your tween will love you
• Epicurean – Get some of those awesome recipes
• Angry Birds – Not playing yet? Then it's definitely time to start!

Touchscreen Easy Share Camera from Kodak

If you're like most parents, a lot of your memories are still trapped on either your camera or your computer, however, today's camera technology allows you to easily share your photos directly from your camera at the moment you take them.

Our pick here is also slim, easy to carry and will record HD video clips for those extra special moments.

iRobot Rumba

This friendly robot is going to save you time and a lot of effort when it comes to the not-so-pleasant but necessary task of vacuuming. Available from iRobot and other manufacturers. Check out this demo.

Don't miss these time-saving cleaning tips >>

Smartphone

Whether you are a fan of Apple's iPhone or Android phones, every parent needs a smartphone to stay up to date and communicate with their kids. In a pinch, this device is also an excellent babysitting tool, potentially keeping your child entertained for hours.

There are a lot of great apps to add to your smartphone, which will determine how cool or uncool you are! Make sure you have some games, some augmented reality apps and definitely good music!

Smart Washer/Dryer

Next to your refrigerator, the right smart washer/dryer could deliver a lot of extra quality time to your day. The new LG Washer promises to have school uniforms washed and dried by morning with the touch of one button. And all of them are energy efficient: they search and self-start during ideal times of day when the rates are lowest and make good use of precious water resources.

Here's what you need to know about buying eco-friendly appliances >>

The Zeo Personal Sleep Coach

Finally a gadget to help parents sleep -- another rare commodity! This gadget helps you understand the quality and quantity of your current sleep pattern so you can take corrective action.

You wear a wireless headband that measures electrical patterns generated by your brain as you sleep. Zeo then takes that information and creates easy-to-read online graphs that show you exactly when you were experiencing REM, light and deep sleep patterns.

More tech tips for parents

Web in the kitchen? Why it might make sense to add a connection
Tools to help manage your kids' screen time
How to view your photos on your TV