Allison Vorcheimer Having toddlers in tow always means carrying more to keep them safe and entertained. Being prepared helps so that we can keep our sanity and enjoy the summer’s activities! Here are some of our summertime toddler favorite picks for at-home and on-the-go.
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Fun
Waterfall discovery wall – It is hot out! So, water play is a must! My son loves this water wall. This is great because it takes less room than a standard water table but still has all the fun. If you don’t have a pool, this can help your kids keep cool in the backyard and if you do, put this by the pool for some extra fun!
Sprinkler Toy – My son loves this toy. He runs though the water with a huge smile on his face! This is a great way to keep your kids cool if you don’t have a pool and is still loads of fun if you do have a pool!
Bubble gun – If you don’t feel like getting wet, these bubble guns are a ton of fun to play with! For toddlers, shoot the bubbles and let them run around and enjoy. Older kids will benefit from this 2 pack and can have bubble fights!
Bubble Refills – Obviously if we’re having a bubble party, we’re going to need to reload!
Kick board – Teaching little ones to swim can be challenging. Having a little kick board has been helpful to work on getting my son to start learning how to swim independently.
Inflatable Pool – No pool, no problem! Get an inflatable pool and have just as much fun! And, just as tired of a toddler!
Fashion
Styles to keep your toddlers look and feeling cool no matter what activity you’re doing!
Swimwear
Cute swimwear is a must for summer! And, with so much sun, a rash guard for extra protection is always good to have. These are some of our favorites:
Clothing
Even when we’re not in the water, keeping cool is a must! These dry-fit outfits look cute and help my son stay cool.
These adorable outfits will keep your girls comfy and cool!
Footwear & Accessories
Flip flops are another summer must! The back strap helps these stay on and keep your toddler from falling. They also come in a few different colors! I bought this quicksilver style for my son and and this unicorn style is adorable!
Water shoes are another South Florida essential. Whether you’re running around the yard and splashing through the sprinklers or jumping off the boat to enjoy a sandbar, these Mary Jane water shoes or Octopus Aqua Socks will keep your toddlers’ feet safe and comfortable.
Under Armour Performance Hat – Lately my son has been loving wearing his little baseball hats (which is much better than the constant ripping off and yelling no!) so, I wanted to find him a cute performance hat and this one is perfect! I love putting my toddler in “grown up” looking clothes and accessories because I can’t get over how cute he looks.
Flexible Polarized Sunglasses – These sunglasses are great, they are flexible so they won’t break when your toddler pulls at them and it comes with a small rubber strap for smaller children 2-3 and a string strap to fit kids up to 7. The rubber straps can also be used as an accent if you want. Cute sporty style and my son actually likes wearing them!
Sun/Safety
A USCG Approved Life Jacket for boat and ocean activities. The most important thing when selecting a life jacket is that it is the right size for your child (follows weight recommendations). Infant styles will have the head piece (pictured) and as your child grows they will be able to switch to toddler/child size without the head rest.
**Ours is actually from Costco but since you can hardly find the same thing twice, I linked a similar style here from Amazon.It is available in infant, child and youth sizes.
Fabric Covered Water Wings – These have made a huge difference in my sons swimming confidence and ability over the last couple months! He loves the independence in the water and we love the safety and ease of these. The fabric cover makes it more comfortable for them and easier to put on for you. Plus, they have dual sections for added safety.
Life Jacket Swim Floaties – If you think your toddler isn’t quite ready for the separate water wings, this is a good place to start. Combines extra chest support to help keep your toddler safely afloat.
Splasher Goggles 2pk – Your toddler can keep their eyes open and see under water as they learn to hold their breath.
Aveeno Baby Sunscreen – Last year, this was the only sunscreen I used on my sun. The thick layer of sun protection is just what he needed to keep him from burning up in the hot Florida summer. Now that he is a much more mobile toddler, I use this as our base layer before we head out to the beach!
Banana Boat Simply Protect Kids Spray – This sunscreen has been great. Once were at the beach and my sun is covered in sand and having fun, it is much harder to get the thicker baby sunscreen on (I did try using my own dry-touch sunscreen, and while it is great for adults, a toddler rubbing sunscreen in his eyes from the backs of his hands was VERY unhappy with this!) This has 2 great things going for it. 1. Tear-free! So, now when he rubs his eyes from being tired or uncomfortable he is not hurting his eyes. 2. Spray-On! It is much quicker to get him to pause and be sprayed than to wrestle another layer of lotion on him.
Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Moisturizer – As good as we are about sunscreen application, sometimes, I wait a little too long to reapply or we miss a spot (yea, I left that off the mom of the year application) In any case, this soothes the skin and makes sure that a little redness doesn’t turn into dry/peeling skin. Also, unlike most aloe gels, this is a lotion so it will not leave the skin feeling sticky but soft and moisturized instead.
Any summer time toddler essentials we missed? Let us know your favorites in the comments!
