Summer is officially here! And I am already wishing it to be over. I'm so not a fan. When I was a kid, I couldn't WAIT for Summer. But that's probably because it meant we didn't need to go to school for a whole 3 months. Which also meant we could go to the beach every single day. Because we lived like 5 minutes away from the nearest one. But that's just it, if you don't live near the beach, it's no fun. And I currently live far, far away from the nearest beach. So trips to the beach requires planning.
And driving.
In traffic.
And then fighting for parking once we get there.
*sigh*
You'd think I'd be used to the heat since I grew up in Hawaii and all... but nope. The humidity in Hawaii makes it worse. I'm more of a 70-degree weather kinda gal. Occasional 60's is fine. But I don't do well with freezing temps for long periods of time. Lately, we've been experiencing temps in the 90s and it's just going to get hotter. Triple digit kind of hot. And because we hate being cooped up indoors for long periods of time (cabin fever is real!), avoiding the outdoors at all cost is not an option. And yes I'm fully aware that being out and about when the temperatures are extremely high can be dangerous. So on those days, mama's got some arts & crafts and indoor games planned. If they babes are not interested in that then we'll try to get our outdoor fix in the mornings and/evenings when the sun isn't so blazing hot.
So to kick off this Summer season, I wanted to share my 5 Must Have items to help endure hot weather in general... since we experience heat waves pretty much year round in Southern California. While it doesn't reduce the miserable heat, it does make life a little bit (just a smidge) easier to have these items on hand when you need to go outside with the kiddos.
Must Have #1: A Water Table
We live in an apartment complex and don't have a backyard for Ella to play in. We have access to a pool but I don't trust myself taking 2 babies to the pool without another adult around to help me out. So I figure the next best thing is a water table. We have a kiddie pool too but filling that thing up without a hose is a lot of work and I'm not tryin' to sweat more than I have to when it's hot. In case you were wondering how I filled this thing up with water... let's just say it took a huge stock pot and 3 trips to/from my kitchen sink. Anyway, my kid loves Paw Patrol so when I saw this, I just had to get it for her. There are many different options to choose from - some with all the bells and whistles. This one is a fairly simple one... it came with just the right amount of accessories and it kept Ella occupied for hours once I set it all up for her.
Must Have #2: Stroller Fan
My babes and I go to the park/playground 2-3x a week for exercise (mama), play (Ella) and naptime (Everly). These fans are the best. They are flexible, can clip onto the stroller, are battery operated and the blades are made of foam so it's safe for babies/children. Especially the curious ones who like to touch everything in front of them. It keeps the babes cool, it serves its purpose...AND it's not that expensive. They also come in a variety of colors and prints. I'd say that's winning ALL across the board, no?
Must Have #3: A Hydro Flask
We've been using this one since Ella started drinking regular milk. It keeps the beverage of choice cold until you need to refill their sippy cup or if they know how to drink with a straw, that's always an option, too. And they come in various colors and sizes!
Must Have #4: Sunscreen
This one is definitely a necessity year round. Gotta protect these babies' skin and keep it nice and soft for as long as we can! There's so many different kinds of sun block lotions and potions out there to choose from.
I'm not going to preach which ones to use because I'm no expert but right now we are using Baby Bum. My only advice is to look for one that suits the needs of you and your baby. I like this one because it doesn't smell like or isn't greasy like all the other ones out there. On the plus side, it's contains safe minerals, doesn't have all the yucky chemicals and it's plant based.
Must Have #5: A Cute Hat
This one's actually for me. It can't always be about the babies, right? It's both fashionable and functional. Perfect for when I'm lounging outside while the babies play, or going to the farmer's market, or to the beach, or going for a walk.... you really can't go wrong with having a nice floppy sun hat as part of your wardrobe.
Items mentioned in this post can be shopped in the links below
What are YOUR Must Haves for this summer? Comment below! I would love to hear all about them!
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