Must-Have Summer Essentials for Parents, as Recommended by the Mom of a 2-Year-Old

If you’re an active parent who easily gets cabin fever, a jogging stroller is a great way to get out of the house with your toddler. The Guava Roam Stroller is a jogging stroller on the smaller side, and according to the website, it’s 50% smaller than other jogging strollers. It folds up easily, so it works if you have limited space in your home. I’ve been using this stroller for part of the summer and love how it’s made it easier for me to go out for a run while also bringing my toddler along with me. The Guava is sturdy and can hold a 6-month-old infant up to a 60-pound child. 

It has airless rubber bike tires that always run smoothly and can handle all terrains. I’ve pushed it through pavement, grass, even trails with rocky areas. You can adjust the handles based on your preferred height, which is a plus if caretakers of different heights will be using it. My alternative stroller is the UPPAbaby Vista V3, and it’s noticeable how much smoother the Guava is in comparison, even when I load up the stroller with my toddler’s diaper bag and other accessories. Storing it is even easier; all you have to do is lock the stroller, adjust the handle to the lowest setting and pull the handle under the seat to fold it in half. 

A stainless steel water bottle is important to keep your kids hydrated and for easy transportation. I like the Yeti Rambler Jr. bottles because at 12 ounces, they’re not too big and perfect for little hands to hold onto. This bottle keeps your water cold all day long, so you don’t have to worry about your toddlers complaining about lukewarm water. Stainless steel bottles are also easy to wash, and they ease any microplastic consumption worries you may have. 

If you’re a seasoned parent, you know what it’s like to have a child who is potty training or a toddler who needs an outfit change at the most inopportune time. A pop-up changing tent like Change Up Kids is designed for your toddler’s size and is ideal if you’re at the beach and need to change them into or out of their swimsuit with no nearby bathroom. Or, you’re on a road trip and your toddler suddenly needs to use the potty, and they need some privacy while they go. 

I like that the Change Up Kids pop-up changing tent has an open top so you can assist your child. Because it has a double-sided zipper, your child can easily walk in and out of the tent. It’s also waterproof and folds down into a small size that fits into its own bag — complete with straps — for easy carrying.  

It’s inevitable that your toddler will get cuts, scrapes, scratches and other boo-boos while at the park, beach and during other summer activities. Having a first-aid kit handy, such as the KeepGoing Travel First Aid Kit for Kids, will help you treat any minor injuries in a pinch. This is compact (perfect to throw in a diaper bag or carry-on) and looks like a clutch, complete with a wrist strap. The kit includes everything from bandages, antibiotic ointment, tick removers, cleansing wipes and even stickers with their favorite animals. You’ll be covered all summer and year-round with this first-aid kit.

Having sunscreen on hand is a must for your kids. Although you may have a preferred sunscreen brand, I’ve found success with the Mustela Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 Broad Spectrum. My son has eczema, so I try to stick with skincare that’s unscented and ideal for sensitive skin. This sunscreen has worked out well for us and it can be used on both their face and body. 

You know that applying sunscreen on your toddler can sometimes lead to a wrestling match. A sunscreen applicator like the Solar Buddies sunscreen applicator is a lifesaver. You fill up the cap part of the applicator with your sunscreen lotion of choice, screw the cap back on and then roll the applicator on their skin. It looks like a rollerball found on some deodorant bottles. My son loves it and thinks he’s getting pampered when I use it on him, so it saves us time before we head out the door. Another plus is that these applicators are inexpensive and under $20 on Amazon.

Between trips to the beach, pool and even splash pads in the park, it’s important to have a pair of water shoes handy during the summer. FEETCITY is Amazon’s best-selling water shoes because they’re inexpensive, come in various colors and patterns and are breathable with a non-slip EVA sole. A sturdy sole is important, especially for new-ish walkers who need extra stability. There are shoe sizes available from 0-6 months through 2.5-3 years Toddler, so you can replace your child’s shoes as they grow.

A hat with UPF is important in the summer when taking toddlers outside. Even if your child is wearing sunscreen, it doesn’t hurt for them to wear extra sun protection in the form of clothing. The MaxNova Baby Sun Hat Smile Face is made of sun-protective fabric and offers a UPF of 50-plus. It has adjustable straps and comes in a variety of colors, and you have the option to buy an individual hat or a set of two. Sizing ranges from 0-6 months, 2-7 years and 6-24 months.

It’s important to have a rashguard swimsuit on hand for your summer adventures so your children are always ready for the beach, water park or splash pad. Hanna Anderson’s Baby Rashguard Swimsuit is a favorite because it helps protect your child from sun exposure and also has an OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 label, which means it’s certified safe from harsh chemicals. The great thing about Hanna Anderson is that once your child outgrows a piece of the brand’s clothing, you can resell it as a hand-me-down on the site under the preloved section.

After all the water activities, you’ll want a place to store the wet clothes and swimsuits so they don’t soak your car or diaper bag before you make it back home. Bumkins Wet Bags are a great option. These reusable, waterproof bags are versatile and perfect for carrying items such as dirty gym clothes, electronics, diapers and more. They’re also great for travel, easily fitting into a carry-on or suitcase.

As a parent, you know that even if your child won’t sit down for a full meal, they’ll still want snacks. A GoBe Kids Small Snack Spinner will make it easy to transport snacks while you’re out and about, and the design is fun and appealing to kids. This snack spinner contains five compartments meant to fit snacks like cut-up fruit and veggies, pretzels and more. It has an interactive button in the middle, which causes the snack spinner to spin when pressed. The GoBe Snack Spinner comes in two different sizes: small and large.

Going out to eat with a toddler can be a hassle if the restaurant doesn’t have a high chair available. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep a travel high chair in your car. The Hiccapop OmniBoost Travel Booster Seat is a favorite of mine because it’s small enough to fold up into its own bag and can be stored easily when not in use. It also secures easily to most chairs and can be used as a beach chair or while camping. It has a 250-pound weight capacity, so it’ll grow with your child. The chair has a machine-washable cover, and the swivel tray is removable and dishwasher safe. 

A stroller organizer like the MomCozy stroller organizer will make your life easier while you’re out and about with your kids this summer. This organizer has adjustable velcro handles, which makes it a universal organizer that can fit just about any stroller. The organizer has room to fit your phone, two insulated cup holders, wallet pockets and much more to keep your essentials together while you’re out with your toddler(s).

If you’re a germaphobe or need a quick way to clean your toddler’s hands, a pack of hand wipes makes all the difference. I swear by Wet Ones Sensitive Skin Hand Wipes to get my child’s hands cleaned, whether he just ate at a restaurant or has touched everything within his reach while out in public. I buy the wipes in individual packets, so they’re always moist and easy to throw in my purse, diaper bag or glove compartment in the car.

If you’re frequently going to the beach or sand pit in the park with your kids, then you know how messy things get fast. Cleaning sand is also irritating because you can still find it weeks later in your car, so anything to help minimize it is a great help. That’s where the Pilotfish Beach Essentials Sand Remover Bag comes in handy. This small and round reusable sand remover easily helps you wipe off sand from your body. The sand remover also incorporates aloe vera, vitamin C and coconut, so it’s safe for adults and children alike.

With all the sweet and sticky treats kids enjoy during the summer, their clothes are bound to get stained. I use Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater to get even the toughest stains off my son’s clothing, including tomato sauce, ice cream and even gravy. You just spray it on the stained clothing and rub it in before throwing it in the wash. Plus, it can even work on carpet and furniture stains.

If your toddler isn’t potty trained yet, you’ll definitely need to have some swim diapers handy. Swim diapers don’t swell up with water when they get wet like regular diapers and have double leak guards to keep your baby or toddler contained. Huggies Little Swimmers come in a variety of sizes that can accommodate children weighing 16 to 32 pounds or more. They’re disposable diapers, so you can toss them out after a day at the pool or beach.