30 Tips to Survive Summer with Little Kids
Snacks
4. The tabs on juice boxes are there for a reason! Pop them up before passing them off so kids can use them as handles and not squeeze the juice out.
5. Freeze fruit in small bags and toss in your cooler – it will serve as an ice pack and then a super hydrating snack for littles once it melts a bit.
6. Freeze yogurt tubes and call them “popsicles”
7. I’m a big fan of the “snack tray” for meals and snacks – it’s the perfect way to clean out the fridge, get kids to try new foods and to save yourself from cooking.
Use a muffin tin and fill each cup with a small servings of snacks, fruits, deli meat, cheese, veggies, whatever you have on hand and call it done!
8. Cut yogurt tubes in half (use super sharp scissors and make one swift cut) for smaller portions for little kids.
You can also pop a straw into a yogurt tube so no one has to squeeze anything!
Sunscreen
9. Apply sunscreen to little faces with a beauty blender! It’s softer than fingers and allows you to get into little spaces easily
10. Use a powder sunscreen with built in brush on baby’s head – the brush is soft and it won’t make their hair all sticky
11. Leave a large sunscreen with pump by the door so that it’s the last thing you see as a reminder to apply
12. Sunscreen babies and little kids before putting on their suits – that way you won’t miss a spot!
Sand
13. Baby powder removes sand like a dream
14. Keep a spray bottle with clean water in the car to spray sand off feet just before loading kids in
15. Don’t forget that sand + moisture can lead to chaffing in little leg and arm rolls. Keep a chafe prevention stick in your bag.
Supplies
16. A small plastic bin or cheap baby tub keeps littles entertained on the beach while keeping them away from the real waves
17. Pack all water toys in a mesh bag so that they can air dry and sand can shake out
18. Keep a “Summer Kit” in your trunk with a travel size sunscreen, back up goggles, a few swim diapers, a towel and hats.
19. Turkish towels are thinner and fold down smaller so they take up less room in your bag!
20. Keep a small pack of baby wipes in your cooler – if littles look like they’re getting too hot, let them play with the cold wipes, wiping down their face and neck in the process.
21. Instead of letting the hose run in the water table all day, fill up a big plastic bin with water that kids can use for refills.
22. Goggles with fabric straps keep hair from getting tangled, and don’t forget to pack an extra pair in case of broken straps or lost goggles.
23. Spray leave in conditioner and brush out hair with a wide tooth comb before leaving the pool – it will make shampooing so much easier!
We love the Aussie Hair care spray leave in deep conditioner for my daughter’s super tangle prone hair.
24. A small, under $15 air pump will change your life. Truly, I just purchased one myself and don’t know why I waited so long.
Blow up pool floats, backyard baby pools, sports balls, whatever you need without having to huff and puff and do it yourself.
25. Water tables can get super gross over the course of the summer – make a solution of water, white vinegar and blue dawn in a spray bottle and keep it on hand.
After you drain the table for the day, spray the mixture into the table and spray it down quickly with a hose. Let it dry overnight and it will be ready to go the next day!
Hydrate
26. Freeze bottled waters and toss into your snack bag. They’ll act as ice packs but when they melt you’ll have extra water bottles on hand.
27. Create a self serve water station outside – use a cheap beverage dispenser with spout and a cup for each kid. Remind them to fill up their cups often!
28. Add fruit to water in ice cube trays (have littles help!) and toss into their drinks to add a little fun
29. Double down on packing beverages!
Pack twice as many juice boxes and water bottles than you think you’ll need – something will spill, someone will want something completely different than what they wanted at home and everyone will be hot. hot. hot.
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