For those of you who are Game of Thrones fans… Winter has come. And left us. And now it’s hot. Soon, it will be brutally hot.
And with that heat, we need to protect ourselves and our little ones.
There are so many things out on the market nowadays and so many reports on what you should get, what you shouldn’t get, what is safe for baby and what isn’t, it can get really overwhelming and confusing quickly.
So to help try to cut through all of that, I’ve paired it down to the 10 must-have products to survive summer.
Tubby Todd Sunscreen and Sunscreen Stick
Sunsticks are becoming increasingly popular on the market. They are easy to keep on you, small enough for little hands to use, and won’t become messy or melt. I recommend having several – one to have in the diaper bag, one in the car, and one in a swim bag. That way, no matter where you go, you’ll be prepared.
When it comes to which sunscreen and sunscreen stick, there is nothing on the market that compares to Tubby Todd’s products. It goes on smoothly, an issue I’ve had with other sunscreen sticks that are hard to apply, and rubs into the skin easily. Many other popular sunscreen sticks on the market have a waxy feel and are difficult to rub in – you almost feel like you might bruise your little one from trying to apply and blend! Tubby Todd’s Play Mineral Stick is so soft and smooth, blends easily, and yet is still made with all natural products and zinc oxide so that it creates an actual barrier of protection from the sun.
Seriously, don’t waste your money trying other products hoping they will be as good. I’ve tried several and will never go back after trying Tubby Todd’s Play Mineral Sunscreen and Sunscreen Stick.
Mesh Baby Carrier
There are three main mesh baby carriers on the market that I think are worth looking into if you plan to babywear this summer.
Ergobaby Cool Air Mesh
Ergobaby has taken three of their most popular carriers – the Omni 360, the 360 All Positions, and the Adapt – and made the material a lightweight, breathable mesh. This material helps to keep both you and baby cooler during the hot days.
Tula Coast Carriers
Tula created their coast carriers using the original framed panel design, but included a panel made of breathable mesh to help with air flow. This helps to keep you and baby cool while still using the fun and interesting designs that Tula is best known for. They have coast versions of all of their carriers – Explore, Free-to-Grow, Standard, and Toddler.
Lillebaby Airflow and All Seasons Carriers
Lillebaby has two types of carriers that provide breathable mesh as part of the material used. The All Seasons carrier has a zip-down panel that allows you to quickly reveal a breathable mesh that will cool off baby. This is a great all-around carrier option if you want to be able to also keep the panel zipped for the cooler months.
The Airflow carrier is made completely of the breathable mesh, allowing for maximum comfort of you and baby.
Noggle
Funny name but a clever product.
I love my Honda CR-V. I love the space. I love the size. I love almost everything about it. What I don’t love is that there aren’t vents in the second row for the A/C. Even with vents, my rear-facing babies would struggle to get air and that can lead to very hot children in the summer months.
Enter the Noggle.
The Noggle extends from your vent in the front to the back seat, allowing the air to travel the distance and cool your little ones. They can hold onto it and direct it or you can hang it so that it will cool them without any maneuvering. The tubing is covered in fun prints. This product really can be a lifesaver when it comes to quickly cooling off your children after a day in the heat.
Swim Diaper
Did you know that babies can start swimming at 2 months? We even took Little Miss in the water just a little before that. Little Mister started swim lessons when he was only 2 months old. Water is such an integral part of summer, from pools to the beach to lakes and more, a good swim diaper is super important.
Much like anything swim related, there are a ton of options on the market, but my favorites are the swim diapers by Best Bottom and Thirsties. The difference in these swim diapers from all the others on the market is that they have adjustable snaps on both sides.
Why is this important?
- If you have adjustable snaps, the diaper will grow with the baby and last longer than just one size. We have been able to use the same swim diaper for three summers now because it was able to grow with Little Mister.
- If you have snaps on both sides, should you little one poop in their swim diaper, it’s the same as changing a regular diaper! You won’t be dragging poop down one of their legs, creating an even BIGGER mess.
So save yourself the hassle of multiple-sized diapers and a poopy mess. Purchase a Thirsties or Best Bottom swim diaper.
Bug Repellent
With summer comes mosquitos, ticks, and other nasty bugs that you don’t want anywhere near your little ones. Without question, products with DEET or Picaridin will work best at repelling insects and keep your kiddo from becoming dinner. So if you plan any hikes in wooded areas or places with any kind of standing water, I highly recommend investing in a product that has DEET or Picaridin, such as the Avon Skin-So-Soft towelettes.
For times when I’m not as concerned about a ton of insects, mainly just mosquitos, I will use repellents such as the Badger Anti-Bug Balm or the Mosquitno Bands and Stickers. My husband and I will wear the bands and put the stickers on our little ones’ backs (that way they can’t reach the sticker to pull it off). Most of these products contain some kind of citronella or other essential oils to repel the bugs.
The last option that I especially like for myself and my little ones to reinforce everything above is a product called Bug Bouncer. It is a Dallas-based company that has provided three different essential oil blends that act as repellents for every kind of bug that might see you as a snack. I like to put a little on each of my inner wrists, my ankles, and my temples. For my kids, I rub some in their hair. These stuff truly works. We went to the Heard Museum last September and I wasn’t expecting the massive amount of mosquitos on the trails. Immediately we began to be eaten alive – I spent more time swatting away mosquitos than I did enjoying the dinosaurs! I quickly grabbed the small bottle of Bug Bouncer from my bag and applied it to the three of us and we made it through without anymore mosquitos attacking us. I was truly amazed.
Babiators Sunglasses
Babiator brand sunglasses are known for their sunglasses for babies and young kids. These stylish sunglasses are all of the things you would hope for with sunglasses for children – impact and shatter resistant, flexible, soft, and have UV protection – but they also have one feature that makes them stand out from other companies. Should you lose a pair or your pair break, Babiators will replace them at no charge! That’s HUGE because, let’s be honest, kids are likely to lose their sunglasses.
We own several pairs and one of Little Mister’s pairs got pretty scratched up one day when he fell and slid on the sidewalk. I just filled out the quick online form and a few days later, new sunglasses were in our mailbox! It’s very easy and Little Miss and Little Mister LOVE their pairs.
If you’re worried about your kiddos keeping the sunglasses on, they also sell a soft strap that wraps around the back of their head/neck to help keep them secured.
They have their traditional Navigator and Aviator styles, but for the summer they just released several new styles that I’m a little bit a lot in love with. Be sure to check out the Sweetheart, Keyhole, and other new styles for your little one!
Sun Hat from Twinklebelle
There are a ton of sun hats on the market for little ones, but here is why I think the hats from Twinklebelle are the absolute best. Not only are the patterns adorable for both boys and girls without being cartoony or kitschy, but the piece around the crown of the head is adjustable, so it can grow with baby. I also love that the chin strap is breakaway. To me, that is an important safety feature, especially for babies that can’t figure out how to get a hat off.
Jefferson Shoes by Native
These shoes are an absolute must in our family for the summer. They have all the important features that you would need for sweaty, stinky feet during the summer- they are odor-resistant, water-friendly, and completely washable.
Our kiddos wear their Jeffersons everywhere from the splash pad to the zoo. They are easy to get on, which is really nice for toddlers and preschoolers who are learning to dress themselves, and if they get dirty, you can just hose them off or stick them under a faucet and then let air dry.
They come in a million different colors (only a slight exaggeration) including glitter, iridescent, and patterns. You are certain to find a color your kiddo will love. Honestly, I even think, when clean, they can be nice enough to wear to church. These are the most versatile shoes we have found yet and the exact reason why my kids have had one in every size.
Stroller Fan
If you plan to spend any time outside with baby in the stroller, whether it’s at the lake, the zoo, or Disney World, find a solid stroller fan. Stroller fans are small, battery-operated fans that will clip onto the shade part of the stroller. Many of them will have bendable arms so that you can point them in the direction you choose.
There are two main types of stroller fans:
- Fans where the blades are made of plastic and so the casing around the blades has slats that are small enough that fingers cannot get through.
- Fans where the blades are foam so that, should a tiny finger poke at it, it will not be injured.
When we bought our stroller fans last year for our Disney World trip, we chose one with plastic blades. We found that the plastic blades provided better circulation than the foam blades and thus cooled the kiddos off better. Whatever you choose, make sure that it fits with your lifestyle and the curiosity level of your kiddos.
Monkey Mat
From picnics to time at the beach, one of my favorite items to take with me is my Monkey Mat. These mats were featured on Shark Tank and are a mom’s best friend. They fold up into a tiny pouch, making them easy to keep in your car or diaper bag. The mat is made of ripstop nylon, making it durable and lightweight as well as easy to clean. When I take mine to the beach, it’s easy to just brush off the sand and pack it back up.
What makes the Monkey Mat even better is that it’s machine washable and water repellent. For everything that you can’t just brush off, toss it in the washing machine to make it good as new!
They also have new quilted and plush styles to choose from. Pair any of these with a pop-up tent and you’ll have the perfect set-up for viewing fireworks, enjoying the beach, or just relaxing at the park.
I couldn’t survive summer without these 10 items. They are my absolute must-haves. Did I miss something that is a must-have for your summer fun?