Summer time is not all beaches and margaritas, especially when you have a baby.
This is our second summer with our little one. It only gets unbearably hot for about a month where we live but nonetheless, it can be difficult. Luckily, I discovered some must-have products for getting through summer with your baby.
I feel like babies/toddlers are even more difficult sometimes because they don’t exactly “entertain themselves”. There’s no, “go outside and play” and you have to make sure they don’t overheat. It was really difficult traveling to Texas last year when my husband graduated BMT. I remember having to keep wet washcloths in a cooler with ice so that I could periodically cool down my newborn.
The fires of hell make Texas in August seem like a cake walk. I really hope we never get stationed there… *knocks on wood*
Our son is one now, so he is always on the move and wanting to be entertained. So these products have been a huge life saver for me!
SwimWays Baby Spring Float
Okay, this is my absolute favorite thing this summer. We use this exact one (click here to get your own!) and it is perfect. I love that it sits low so he is mostly in the water, he can kick his feet, and the mesh between the two tubes allows him to splash (which he loves to do).
The canopy that is included keeps the sun off his head and keeps him cool. I like that he
is safe without having to be choked by his infant life vest (he hates that thing).
As long as I’m in the pool with him while he’s using it, I don’t worry. It is so much fun to swim around the pool with him, we use it every weekend! That’s a picture of my little man enjoying his float with his cousins!
Babyganics Natural Insect Repellent
I love this stuff! I even use it on myself. It is made of 100% natural essential oils, it’s DEET-free and baby safe. It doesn’t smell like chemicals (since there are none) and is so easy to use.
The spray is on the thicker side so it doesn’t really distribute evenly. I usually spray a few times in my hands, and then rub it all over my baby. You also can not beat the price. I thought it would cost more because of the essential oils but you can get it as low as $4.76 and a little goes a long way!
It is absolutely my go-to bug spray and it really works great. I can count on one hand how many times my son has gotten bit this year. (Click here to check it out!)
Clip-on Stroller Fan
This thing was a life saver in Texas!! I would literally clip it to the strap on my Baby Bjorn carrier so that it would blow directly on my son. It was 106 degrees and we were outside for the graduation ceremonies. I would wet him down with ice-water soaked towels and let the fan blow on him.
It is still great a year later.
I use it on the car seat more than I do for the stroller. Rear-facing always seems to be a challenge when trying to keep him cool, I feel like the air doesn’t circulate well and he can’t feel the car vents. He’s always sweaty, even if the rest of the car feels cool, so this fan is a big help! (Click here to get one!)
Baby-safe Sunscreen
We don’t go anywhere without sunscreening-up. This is the kind I use and I have never had a problem with it. I even think it smells pretty good, plus he has never had a sunburn so I think it’s safe to say that it works pretty well! If you are looking for a natural option, check this sunscreen out (it’s made by the same company that makes the natural insect repellant) it is still SPF 50, but it is also mineral based and fragrance-free. What a good option for kiddos with sensitive skin!
Baby pool
I love these little baby pools for a few reasons (like this one!). First, it is such an easy activity that keeps the little ones busy for awhile. You can throw in some toys (like the ones you use for tubby time!) and they are happy. Second, you can easily take it to the beach.
Fill it with a few inches of ocean water and position the beach umbrella over it so they can “play in the ocean” while staying cool and safe! Third, it is very inexpensive and you can use it over and over again. For less than 10 dollars you have a go-to summer activity. BONUS: you can set up a beach chair next to it and put your feet in it to keep yourself cool while the babies play.
Baby Powder
Speaking of beach-hacks. You will definitely want to keep baby powder handy when you go to the beach or lake this summer. Rub a little bit on your babies hands and feet to remove the sand easily while simultaneously drying them. Using water to remove sand works for a second but as soon as you set them down, they just get sandy again. The baby powder fixes that!
Floppy Hat WITH Tie Strap
Notice how I emphasized that it must have a tie strap (like this one)! Your kid may be different, but mine just will NOT keep a sun hat on unless it has a strap.
For whatever reason, if I can manage to get the tie secured, he will leave it alone and I don’t have to worry about his bald head. If it has no tie, forget about it. He will rip it off in .3 seconds. Since my kiddo has no hair, I like for him to use a hat (although his head is slathered with sunscreen just in case). It’s hard to see the strap in the picture but it has one that velcros! 🙂
Baby Sized Popsicle Molds
Check these things out, how cool?! The possibilities are endless! Plus, it’s the perfect size and while they might be a little sticky after, it won’t make a HUGE mess.
If your baby is really little you can even freeze breastmilk or formula. Other options include juice (watered down) or you can get really creative with DIY healthy pops with crushed fruit in coconut water. BONUS: Keep ’em cool while soothing those teething gums! I will probably use these things all year long.Summer a Bug-Out Bag
Summer Adventure Bug-Out Bag
So it’s not like an actual bug out bag, with tactical gear and everything. But I did get the idea from my husband (he has a bag for everything). Anyway, essentially it is a little bag full of extra stuff for when we go on day trips and adventures that we keep in our car.
We never really know where we are going to end up so it is helpful to have stuff like extra swimsuits, travel sized sunscreen, towels, bug spray, extra clothes, baby powder, diapers/swim diapers, etc. One day we were driving around and we ended up at a local lake. We let him play even though he didn’t have a swimsuit and then he had to be half naked for the drive home because he was all wet and sandy. So that’s how our adventure bag was born. (Get a personalized military camo bag here! Use coupon code Momsdontsleep for 5% off!)
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links but does NOT contain anything that I don’t own and LOVE. Links included are for your convenience and do not add any extra cost to you.
