There were too many times as a new mom I found myself staying in my rigid comfort zone of the indoors when the weather warms up. For me, it’s easier to keep up naps, it’s less fuss, and I can stay within wifi distance while inside my home… but there’s a reason that doctors, parenting books, and mom forums encourage going outside for fresh air. It feels so good once you get over the hurdle of getting ready to enjoy the summer with your baby!
This week I headed into buybuy BABY in West Edmonton Mall (there is another Edmonton location on the South side) to get inspired for Spring and Summer, so I can feel prepared to be outside with my children.
There is nothing worse (in my mom brain) than being under-prepared! Whether it’s caused by lack of snacks, water cups, sunscreen, towels, toys, or forgotten baby gear – it causes a scramble that either means we adapt and overcome, or we have to leave prematurely. And trust me, I’ve forgotten all these things many times before and the mom guilt is real.
I found 5 ways, to not only be prepared to be outside but, to enjoy summer with your baby more!
- Pack a picnic! Snacks are fun – but more snacks are even better! The girls were eager to pick out their own SkipHop Zoo Backpacks and even more eager to help pack a picnic, how cute are they that they picked out matching lunch bags without me telling them too! I love using the Munchkin Miracle 360 cups because they don’t spill, they are BPA-free, and they are able to go into the dishwasher (a must in my home!). I also adore snack bowls that don’t spill all their snacks into the grass where they proceed to accidentally step on them… if you can tell I’ve experienced this a few times as well. My go-to for all my kids (especially little Adeline) is the Oxo Tot Flippy Snack Cup With Travel Cover – because it not only avoids spills but it helps them have a healthy pace of eating, opposed to shoving handfuls of Cheerios into their mouths until it’s all gone.
- Always carry sunscreen! I have honestly forgotten sunscreen or bug repellant so many times I have multiples everywhere – we are huge with sun safety in our family! But better yet, I am a passionate advocate for using safer beauty products and that goes all the way to my kids. buybuy BABY has an amazing selection of baby safe sunscreen options like thinkbaby Safe Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ (it comes in a stick applicator, which is awesome for kids who hate sunscreen!). and Sun Bum Baby Bum Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30.
- Protect your baby and yourself from bug bites! Then there is the very real issue of mosquitoes and ticks in Alberta! It doesn’t matter what age my children are, they are always rolling around in the grass or running through the trees discovering new places – so I’m excited to try out the Care Plus Insect Repellant Spray which contains no chemicals or DEET. Last year I always sprayed the girls with the Trek Take A Hike Outdoor Spray before they went outside, which is a combination of essential oils to keep mosquitoes away. Plus, you can use on children 1 years old and up. Both are wonderful options for new moms who need that extra protection from bug bites for their babies!
- Free up your hands! I love baby wearing! I like having my baby snuggled up to me so my hands are free to help with putting on shoes, or applying sunscreen, or filling up water bottles. But this time I needed assistance from the knowledgeable staff at buybuy BABY for a summer baby carrier, because the first thing I noticed was there are 5x more options available than 5 years ago when I bought my first baby carrier! I was able to try on all the baby carriers, wraps, ans slings that caught my eye – and the buybuy BABY staff made helpful suggestions while keeping in mind my budget (which I always appreciate!). My top favourite summer baby carriers are the: boba Kahla Wrap Baby Carrier, LÍLLÉbaby Eternal Love Ring Sling, Ergobaby Four-Position 360 Cool Air Baby Carrier. All three were very different in design but these were the best fits for my body, so I highly recommend stopping into buybuy BABY for a baby carrier try-on and consult with their staff on all your options before you commit to one.
- Dress For The Weather! Am I the only one who has taken their babies to the spray park or beach only to see that we were ill-prepared for the weather? This year I picked up everything we will need to keep them comfortable while playing outside (more for my comfort than theirs, they would play outside rain or shine). From the essentials like long sleeve rash guard 50+ SPF shirts, swim shoes, swim diapers, hooded towels and – the most embarrassing but safe sun hat (I call it the mullet hat) – the baby sun flap hat.
The trick is to saving a little bit of your sanity this summer is to wash everything as soon as possible and then put it all back into your designated water resistant diaper bag or waterproof large wet bag so everyone’s swim/sun items are ready to go on another outdoor adventure!
Are you ready to spend quality time with your baby outside this summer?
If you like this post, check out my The Secret To Finding The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift post before you go!
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This post is sponsored by buybuy BABY. All opinions are 100% my own.
