It’s that time of year again and that means tons of summer fun with the kiddos! It also often means toting a lot more stuff around with you where ever you go. So, let’s keep your (and the kiddos’) extra stuff to a minimum, shall we? Keep it simple with our Editor’s Picks for the top summer must haves, whether you’re home chilling out on the patio or packing up for a trip to the beach.
- Frogglez Goggles
We’ve all been there. Ill fitting, difficult to put on swimming goggles. The WORST. We’ve tried so many pairs and I’ve never been happy. Plus, my daughters have long hair and the rubber straps are constantly getting tangled up in it. And, since my four year old can barely stand having her hair brushed on a good day, tangled, wet hair getting caught in her goggles is nearly a federal incident. Don’t get me started on how to adjust the straps without losing your mind. Then we found the Frogglez goggles and our lives changed. The strap isn’t rubber! It’s soft, colorful neoprene that doesn’t get tangled in even the craziest, wettest hair. And the straps adjust with velcro. Also, they float. They’re a revelation. We’ll never use another brand of swimming goggles again, I assure you. Stop messing around and get these goggles today!
- ACURE Organic’s “Baby’s Day Out” 3 Pack
One of my biggest annoyances about the summer season is how much more stuff I end up carrying around. Sunscreen, bug repellant, change of clothes, water bottles (ok, that’s year round), snacks, towels (because, spray grounds!), oh my. The extra stuff seems to just multiply in my bag. Sigh. So, in the interests of streamlining everything, I picked up ACURE Organics’ “Baby’s Day Out” 3 Pack. And I am in love. Sunscreen stick, a boo boo balm, and a bug repellant stick in one convenient little box. Each stick is 5 oz, easy to apply (especially when you’re trying to get sunscreen on those squirmy little babies) and so compact you can carry all three in a little clutch if you’re one of those mamas who like to throw caution to the wind and not carry a diaper bag on an outing with the kiddos. Plus, the ingredients are all natural without any of those pesky chemicals that you find in most other products like this on the market, all of which make for a very happy mama.
- Hard Cover, Spiral Bound Sketchbooks and Kid Made Modern Mini Colored Pencils
Sometimes getting to the summer fun isn’t really all that much fun, right? Whether you’re taking the train and ferry to Fire Island, flying to sunny California or driving to the Jersey Shore, there can be some down time for the kids. My recommendation? Skip the screen time as much as possible. To get us through our downtime in any summer travel situation, I keep a hardcover sketchbook and some mini colored pencils in my bag or the kids’ summer backpacks. I encourage you to put this into your regular repertoire all year long; it’s the perfect, creative distraction for the kids when you’re out to dinner or killing time in a doctor’s office, too! We recommend Kid Made Modern‘s mini pencils because they come in a handy, compact, cardboard case and ProArt’s hardcover spiral bound sketchpads because the paper is sturdy, they come in multiple sizes and they’re easiest to use on car or train rides for lap drawing!
- Saltwater Sandals
Ok, I admit it. I have a little bit of a sandal problem. I LOVE little kid feet clad in super comfortable and functional sandals. And, my kids are gleefully excited when I put on a pair of shoes that matches the ones they’re wearing. That’s where Saltwater sandals come in. They look awesome on little boy OR little girl feet, mamas love them AND they’re comfortable, sturdy, functional and downright adorable. The price point is totally reasonable, too. I’ve actually been able to pass down a couple of pairs from my older daughter to my younger daughter because they wear so well. Plus, they’re true to size and ridiculously easy to find online everywhere from EBay to Amazon, so you won’t pull your hair out trying to locate just the right pair.
- Zoku Quick Pop Maker
Ok, ok, we reviewed the Quick Pop Maker last summer. But it really is good enough to list here again. There are so many “instant gratification” and gimmicky things on the market that when a mama finds something she loves, she is loyal to the finish. In short, the Quick Pop Maker really does make popsicles in a few minutes out of any kind of juice or smoothie you want. It’s worth the money, stores easily, and helps you avoid those crappy grocery store chemical-filled and artificially colored popsicles. Read my full review from last summer for more details on this truly fab product.
- Pottery Barn Kids Wet/Dry Bag
How many times have you been out and about with the kids and ended up making an unplanned stop at a spray ground? Not only do you not have a towel, you don’t have a change of clothes, or, if you DO have a change of clothes, you don’t have any place to put the wet clothes other than shoved in the bottom of your already overfilled stroller or in your own purse to dampen everything you own. I’m thoroughly obsessed with Pottery Barn Kids‘ wet/dry bags, because they solve this problem! They’re not too big, but can handle a change of clothes (if, unlike me, you’re organized and think ahead about these things) and are the perfect, water-resistant spot for the wet clothes or bathing suit that you’ve just stripped off of your wee one after that impromptu runner through the sprinklers at the park. They also come in thoroughly adorable patterns and can be personalized, too, and this mama is nothing if not a slave to cute kid prints!
Disclaimer: I received free samples of a few of the products included in this round up, but this is an honest, unbiased list of my top summer favorites.
Mollie Michel is a South Philly resident and a Philadelphia public school parent. A recovering non-profit professional, Mollie is also an experienced birth doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, and the mom of two awesome girls and a sweet pit bull named Princess Cleopatra. In her spare time, she is usually trying to figure out how Pinterest works, training for a(nother) half-marathon with her dog at her side, or simply trying to keep up with her increasingly wily daughters.