Parenting Life

The Best 5 Baby & Toddler Summer Essentials

Inside: Looking for safe baby and toddler summer essentials to keep your little one happy & healthy?? Keep reading for 5 of the best must-haves!

I was in big trouble…

It felt like it was a million degrees outside and the car AC wasn’t working. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a park with gushing sprinklers and then it hit me—I didn’t have any sunscreen or water clothes for my daughter…

Praying that she didn’t see the park, I tried to speed up.

But she saw it. And then the tantrum started.

I couldn’t blame her- it was REALLY hot!

So, I let her run in through the sprinklers a couple of times, just long enough for her to get cooled off but short enough where she wouldn’t get sunburned.

And I was kicking myself the entire time!

How could I forget the basic summer essentials?!

From that day on, I now carry all the baby and toddler summer essentials with me so I’m always prepared.

If you’re looking for the best baby and toddler summer essentials and must-haves, you’ve come to the right place!

I’ll share with you all of my favorite summer products for kids PLUS my essentials checklist so you can always be prepared too. If you’re looking for the best, all-natural, baby-safe products to help you glide through the summer, I’m so glad you’re here!

Let’s get down to it!

The Best Baby & Toddler Summer Essentials

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1. Sunscreen

My little girl is extremely fair-skinned…like Elsa’s ice transparent.

Because her skin is so fair, she’s extremely sensitive to the sun.

So I had to really do my research and step up my sunscreen and sunblock game.

I not only needed something that was strong enough and water-resistant, but I also needed something that was as natural as possible without the sneaky chemicals that most sunscreens have these days.

After 2 long summers of figuring out which product is best, we finally found our golden ticket!

Here are my 2 favorite baby and toddler sunscreens:

2. Hat

The next baby and toddler summer essential is a good sun hat. I prefer the ones that are also water-resistant so Baby L can run through the sprinklers at the park.

But any brimmed hat will work!

Check out this related post!

3. Bug Repellant

Bugs are not only a nuisance, but they can also be very dangerous. Especially if your child is allergic to mosquitos or bees.

That’s why bug repellent is a baby and toddler summer essential!

My daughter has an allergy to mosquito bites- I’m talking hives, fever, red knot, blisters and all. It breaks my heart to see her like that.

So, I use a special combination of 2 different products and it turned out to be a game-changer.

The first product is Johnson & Johnson Baby Oil Lotion. This stuff is seriously gold. You just slather it on your child and the bugs stay awaaaayyyy. You can also find it at Target (which is awesome for curbside pick up!)

Always look for the green bottle when shopping for it.

I also use a liquid organic bug repellant to spray on her clothes so it’s double the power.

4. Bathing suit

Never underestimate a good bathing suit! I’m always inclined to purchase a cheaper bathing suit because let’s face it, not everyone can afford a $50 baby bathing suit that your child is going to grow out of in 2.5 seconds.

But I’ve learned the hard way that not all bathing suits are created equal. A $5 swimsuit just doesn’t fit and protect as well as one of a higher quality.

The great news is, you don’t have to choose between quality and affordability- you can have both!

I’ve found some really great bathing suits that are not only great on toddler wear and tear but also really affordable.

These are my favorite:

5. Sunglasses

If your little one is old enough to keep sunglasses on, then this is a summer must-have to keep in your bag.

I found that Baby L won’t wear her hat but she’ll wear her sunglasses and then some days she’ll wear her hat and then refuse to wear her sunglasses.

Having both options is essential for any day out in the sun!

Keeping Sanitized: Baby & Toddler Summer Essentials

Another major part of my baby and toddler summer essentials is a list of products to help keep my family healthy and germ-free (ultimately keeping away sickness too!)

These are the products I always have on hand whenever we go shopping, out to eat, or pretty much anywhere that’s a public area.

We live in New York City- so that’s pretty much everywhere!

I also included my favorite house products that are not only disinfecting but totally safe to use around little ones.

Favorite Sanitizing Products

Travel Lysol Spray

Whenever I need to quickly clean a large surface that I can’t wipe down, I spray it down for 2 seconds with this disinfectant spray and I’m good to go.

This works especially well when you need to quickly clean down a shopping cart where your little one needs to sit in.

Travel Clorox Wipes

These travel wipes are super handy when you need to wipe down surfaces such as public tables, handles, bars, and chairs. One quick wipe and you’re all set!

Non-Bleach Antibacterial wipes

These wipes are awesome for cleaning any surface that your little one is going to directly touch, such as shopping cart bars. These wipes contain no bleach and are baby safe so they are great to always have on hand.

Lysol Laundry Sanitizer

I can talk about this stuff all day! This laundry sanitizer is great for when you want to make extra sure your clothes are disinfectant and properly sanitized. I add a cap full to any load where we sat in a public place for a long time or visited a high traffic area, such as a park or restaurant.

This laundry sanitizer has been gold during this pandemic too!

Seventh Generation Disinfectant Spray

I love this disinfectant spray because it is 100% baby and toddler safe for your home! It’s completely natural made with essential oils s you can spray until your heart is content, even with the little ones around!

I always spray down the diaper bag whenever we get home with this disinfectant spray so I get rid of all the germs.

Works like a charm!

It also gives you great peace of mind knowing everything is clean and sanitized so your family can stay safe & healthy.

There you have it!

Here are all of my favorite baby and toddler summer essentials that help me always feel prepared.

With these essentials, you’ll always have what you need so you never feel like you have to pull your hair out!

So now, if you ever find yourself in a pickle and your little one wants to run into the sprinklers, you won’t be like me running around trying to find sunblock– you’ll be totally prepared!

Happy Summer!

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Tips to Prepare for Your Child’s Surgery

Parenting Life

Finding out your baby needs surgery is one of the hardest things you will ever hear. A million different questions and worst-case scenarios go flashing in your mind and you wonder how your child will recover. But knowing the best tips to help you prepare for your child’s surgery will give you peace of mind and help you through this difficult time.

No matter how big or small the procedure is, or how young or old your child is, knowing that your child will have to have surgery isn’t easy.

One of the best things you can do to help you prepare for your child’s surgery is to actually do just that- prepare. And to help you take any added stress out of an already stressful situation, I’ll give you all of my tips that were a lifesaver when my baby had surgery!

First things first: Print a Checklist

To really help you prepare for your child’s surgery, you want to make a master checklist of everything you need and everything you need to get done. You’ll want to think of all thing things you need to bring to the hospital for your and for your child. I created this Preparing for a Child’s Surgery Master Checklist. It includes a Hospital checklist and a Checklist template for you to have a place to write down everything you want to do and don’t want to forget.

Get the Master Checklist for FREE Now!

So let’s get down to the awesome tips!

Tips to Prepare For Your Child’s Surgery

Get support!
One of the number one things you want to do is get support. You will need support and your baby will need support. Tell your family and your friends of the situation, the diagnosis, and the procedure. Surround yourself with support and encouragement. Trust me, you are going to need it!

Now is the time to get on the same page with your spouse and immediate family. Have as many people praying for you and giving you support.

Even invite people to come to the hospital to wait with you during the surgery and even let them bring you food and take care of you.

Make a packing list

Whether your child will be in the hospital for 1 day, 1 night or 1 week and 5 nights, you’re going to want to have a packing list. There is so much that your mind is trying to retain that the last thing you want to do is forget important items at home.

Take 5 minutes to clear your head and think of things that your child will need in the hospital and be sure to write it down.

That’s why I made a Master Hospital Checklist for you! It includes everything that you’ll need to pack and even optional items that most people forget!

Download it now!

Bring a notebook and pen

One thing in the hospital I couldn’t live without was a notebook and pen. I wrote down all the different nurses and doctors that I would talk to and documented what they said and at what time. I even tracked my child’s activities in the hospital, such as her mood, feedings, and naps.

Because your mind is so drained and stressed, you don’t have to leave any room for you to forget anything important.

Even write down any medication that they gave your child and at what times. You’ll be so grateful that you’re keeping track because it’ll be easier for you to remember what certain doctors and nurses said once you get home.

Take off of work

Not all parents have the luxury to take off of work easily but I strongly suggest that you let your job know the situation and take a time of leave. My husband was able to take off of work for a full week while our daughter had surgery and recovered. That time was so special to us because my daughter craved our presence in this time of pain and recovery.

Smooth out insurance dilemmas

One of the worst things in the world to me is calling the health insurance company. No one ever seems to know any solid information and I’m constantly put on hold. But when you find out that your child needs surgery, most of the time the insurance company needs to approve any overnight hospital stays and the procedure itself. Don’t leave this call for the last minute. Call your insurance company as soon as possible so they are on the same page as the doctors and insurance coordinators at the hospital.

Take a breath

Make sure you are taking care of yourself. It’s so easy to prepare for tour child’s surgery and get wrapped up in your baby that you forget about yourself and your health. Be sure to eat regularly, take vitamins, and stay hydrated. You’re going to be put in some tough situations and you want to make sure your body doesn’t fail you!

Talk to your child about the procedure

If your child is old enough to comprehend what is about to happen, then be sure to take a few minutes to talk to them about the procedure. Let them know what to expect, what not to be afraid of, and that you are going to be there every step of the way! This will bring them so much comfort at a time of fear and uncertainty.

Ask a lot of questions

I cannot stress this enough- DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK YOUR DOCTORS QUESTIONS! Even if you don’t have a question, ask them what is the easiest way to contact them when you do have a question. And remember, no question is stupid. This is your child. This is your family. This is your life. You have a right to ask as many questions as you need to help you get through this time. You want to make sure you know all of the details of everything that is happening so you never feel confused.

Make your child as comfortable as possible

No matter what age your child is, you want to do everything you can to make them comfortable. Whether that means bringing their favorite toy or blanket. Or downloading their favorite show or movies on an iPad or laptop. Make them feel as comfortable as possible, at all times. Your child will be going through so many new things that they will need a constant that will bring them comfort.

Make sure your home is clean and everything in place before you leave to prepare for recovery

One of the best things I did was make sure my house was clean before we left for the hospital. You want to leave everything in tip top shape so when you come home after a long, hard couple of days your home is inviting and in order. The last thing you want to do when you get home is clean dirty dishes that have been there for a week.

If you have family that helps you, maybe ask them to straighten up your house before you get home so it’s one less thing you have to do. Make sure your child bed is comfortable and has fresh sheets and pillows so they have a comforting and clean recovery space!

Pediatrician and pharmacy info

You’ll need to give the hospital your child’s pediatrician information and contact information for the pharmacy of your choice in case your child needs to be sent home with medication. I find it best to have this information ready and available, either as a note on my phone, or I write it in the first page of the notebook that I am bringing with me. Several doctors will be asking you for this information so it’s smart to have it on hand!

Make sure to have the pediatrician’s name, address, phone number and fax number. And the same for the pharmacy!

I also created an “Important Information” template in the Hospital Master Checklist Bundle for you to print and use to save and store all of your important phone numbers and addresses! Get it below!

Research the facility

If you’ve never been the hospital or the pediatric floor on the hospital where your child is having their surgery, then I always research the facility so I’m prepared. I find out if I can stay with my child bedside at all times, even through the night. I also find out if my husband can stay with us at all times, or does he have to go to another room for the night. I find out what I can bring and what is not allowed, and any other details that are on my mind!

Don’t forget to download the Free Preparing for Your Child’s Surgery Master Checklist!

Take the stress off of thinking about everything you need to do and bring by getting my free Hospital Master Checklist now!

What the checklist includes:

A master checklist of everything you need for the hospital
A checklist template for you to create your own list
A “To-Do” template for you to track everything you need to get done in prioritized sections

I created the Master Checklist to take stress off of you during this difficult time! Download the checklist now!

Well that’s it! I know that preparing for your child’s surgery is not an easy thing to do, but hopefully, I was able to take some weight off of you by giving you tips to get through it!

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions! Or if you have any other tips to help other families, please share them in the comments below!

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