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Grab a hat, open an umbrella, put up a playhouse, and find shade any way you can.
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1.
A stroller fan — aka an absolute *must-have* for hotter months (or warmer climates) to keep your kiddos from overheating. Pro-tip: Get two so you can face one toward you during particularly steamy, humid walks.
Walmart
Promising review: “Bought this item expecting it not to work the way the packaging stated, boy was I wrong. This little fan is beyond amazing. The amount of power and battery life is beyond anything I was expecting. My baby loves it, and I personally love it as well. You can wrap it around anything. I highly recommend this product!!” —Elvia
Price: $19.94+ (also available in a three-pack)
2.
A set of dino ice pop molds that’ll help your toddler cool down during breaks from the backyard splash pad. Plus, you can hide some veggie puree in your blends if they’re too ~scared~ of them during mealtimes.
3.
A portable beach sunshade so you’re not constantly moving an umbrella around to make sure your little one and her sandcastle stay cool in the shade.
Walmart
4.
An Igloo cooler bag because fussy usually = *hungry* (at least in my house). Pack your favorite pouches, fruits, juices, and more for long park hangs or trips to the splash pad/pool.
5.
A three-pack of kids’ sunglasses so you can keep one at home, one in the car, and one in the diaper bag — ensuring sure your little one’s eyes are always protected.
6.
A ducky float for the kid who no longer wants to be held, and wants more independence in the water but needs a little ~assistance~ (with your supervision, too, of course). This duck float even makes sounds and will keep everyone having fun for longer.
7.
A dino sun hat if you want to win more “you have to wear your hat if you want to play outside” debates. What toddler wouldn’t want to cosplay as the playground’s ferocious (but friendly) dinosaur?
8.
Or another wide-brim bucket hat option if you want a little less whimsy (but still fun)! This foldable hat also has coverage for your little one’s neck, plus a mesh lining so things don’t get too sweaty.
9.
A pair of Crocs we use for when our toddler absolutely must put her shoes on herself. They’re especially great for hot pool decks or driveways, as your little one can slip these on as they transition in and out of barefoot water activities.
10.
A rechargeable and portable camping shower to make it a comfortable ride home after extended trips outdoors. Wash away sand and sweat after a beach day, and you might just get a nice car nap from your worn-out kiddo.
Walmart
11.
Or a pack of sand removers for a drier way to keep sand from living in your car until the end of time. Wipe your kids down with these for a clean and tantrum-free ride home.
Walmart
Price: $7.74+ (available in two colors)
12.
A cottage playhouse for when you all need a bit of fresh air, but your little one wants to stay inside. Bring (some of) the comfort of home into the outdoors, with a roof for shade, plus a pan and some play food.
Walmart
Price: $260 (originally $299.99)
13.
A water table that can turn even the smallest outdoor space into an oasis for your water-obsessed toddler. This is the most-used part of our backyard, and you can move it into the shade to make sure your little one stays cool, calm, and entertained.
14.
An outdoor misting system that will bring down the temperature wherever you’re hanging out or playing outside.
15.
An inflatable dinosaur-themed pool so your kids can lounge comfortably in *prehistor-chic* style. The sides are also lined with sprinklers for constant cooling.
Walmart
Promising review: “Easy setup, the sprinklers are the best, and it’s bigger than I thought it would be.” —Shondrikus
Price: $39.99 (originally $55.99)
16.
A frozen drink maker that will make sure everyone in the family is beating the heat with a fancy umbrella drink in their hand. Your kids will love hanging outside with their favorite smoothies, frozen lemonades, and more.
Walmart
Promising review: “The Beautiful blender works great. I was nervous that smoothies wouldn’t turn out as well as frozen cocktails, but everything has turned out perfectly with the correct consistency. I especially like that each setting has a built-in timer, so when you choose ‘smoothie,’ for example, you don’t have to watch it and turn it off when you think it is done. The internal timer turns off the blender when it’s done.” —Alex
Price: $98.84 (available in five colors)
17.
A standing cooler on wheels so the minute you see a meltdown coming, you can grab water, pouches, fruit, or whatever your little one needs, all without having to corral everyone for a run to the refrigerator.
18.
A sunscreen applicator tool you fill with your favorite sunscreen and then apply without getting it all over your hands. My toddler loves ours so much she reminds *us* we have to put sunscreen on before running out the door.
19.
And for their face, a Banana Boat Kids Sport sunscreen stick. With just a couple of swipes, your little one is ready to hit the field, jump in the pool, or just lie next to you to read their book (or maybe that’s just my dream).
Walmart
Promising review: “I love this sunscreen option for face application! It’s easy, convenient, and it works! My kids actually stay still to have it applied, and sometimes take the lead and apply it themselves. :)” —mariposa76
Price: $5.97
20.
An above-ground pool, because who wouldn’t be more comfortable in their own private backyard pool? Your kids won’t have to fight over public pool toys, and you can supervise with your own music, snacks, and favorite drink.
Walmart
Promising review: “This is a very good quality pool, especially for the low price. The only heads up I want to give, if this is your first time setting up a pool as well, make sure that the ground you are putting it on is smooth and even!! We are about to set our pool up for the second time because I was too impatient to keep leveling out the ground. So we ended up with the deep end and a shallow end lol.” —Nicole
Price: $123.99+ (originally $199.99; available in eight sizes and two styles)
21.
An adjustable offset umbrella for those of us who need shade any way we can get it, and the minute we get outside. If your kids are prone to sunburns (or just hate being hot), this large umbrella can be tilted to block the moving sun as the day goes on.
Walmart
Promising review: “Great umbrella! Great quality and thick fabric! I bought two umbrellas from two different brands. I returned the other brand because the quality of this was 100 times better. I ordered another one of these! So happy with this purchase! Easy to assemble and sturdy metal.” —Gina
Price: $74.99+ (originally $209; available in three colors)
22.
A tree swing, so you don’t have to stand and push your kiddo for hours. AND it can be placed under the shade of a tree. A win for all!
Walmart
Promising review: “Got this for my grandsons. They are energy-packed whirlwinds, but this swing is very durable and has a nice thickness. It does not rip or break at all. They are having a lot of fun on it this summer. Not sure how it will hold up through winter snow, but it holds up through all the summer storms. We had this summer, and the best part is that you can just unhook it easily from the straps and store it if needed. Thanks, Walmart.” —melissa
Price: $39.99+ (available in nine colors)
23.
An outdoor playpen so you can bring tummy time outside. The canopy will keep things shady for your baby and their favorite buddies, plus it’s big enough for mom to crawl inside, too. It also comes with a travel case, so you can bring this to grandma’s house, the beach, or your favorite park.
Walmart
Promising review: “I love how when I opened the box, the playpen was in the carrying bag and all I had to do was take it out and pop it up! I was also surprised at how big it was. It can fit my 7-month-old, my two-year-old, and me inside. Also, the top that comes with it does a really great job at shading from the sun. I’m so glad I bought this and I can’t wait to use it the rest of this summer!☀️” —Ashley
Price: $99.99 (originally $159.99; available in two colors)
24.
A water bottle, because we’re not above using the power of Bluey (or whatever character is big in your house) to encourage our kids to drink more water this summer. The straw pops down so it’s easy to drop in a diaper or beach bag for on-the-go adventures.
25.
Or, if you have older kids, this eight-pack of color-changing tumbler cups, which make for a more ~grown-up~ but still fun hydrating accessory.
Walmart
Just FYI: these are handwash only.
Price: $12.88 for a pack of eight
26.
A pack of mosquito repellent patches for those of us who feel like we’re the main course every time we do an outdoor activity (especially around water)! These go on your clothes (or strollers!) to prevent tantrums over endless scratching, and you don’t have to spray anything on your kids’ skin!
Walmart
27.
A splash pad you can pop right on your lawn, so you no longer have to drive a wet kiddo home from the neighborhood park. The modern-day version of running through a sprinkler, this will keep your kids cool on even the hottest days. Plus, it comes with cute little ducky toys!
Walmart
Promising review: “We have bought this several years in a row. It lasts all summer, but we toss it at the end of the season to avoid mold/freezing/etc issues. (We do save the ducks, though.) Out of all the splash pads we have tried, the kids love this one the most year after year. Great price, too!!” —Dc2019
Price: $11.98
28.
An insulated jar so you can be at the ready to battle any hunger-related meltdowns with their favorite fruit or other treats. We won’t judge if you sneak a blueberry or three, too.
Walmart
These jars are leak-proof, BPA-free, AND dishwasher safe.
Price: $18.98+ for an 11-ounce jar (available in five designs)
29.
A six-pack of reusable water balloons that pop together with a magnet and are a current favorite in our house for long backyard hangs with our toddler. She uses these to water our plants, throw on the ground to make puddles, and break over her head to cool off.
Walmart
Promising review: “Definitely going to be purchasing more because we have a lot of summer babies in our circle, and we always have water days. Having reusable water balloons will come in handy. I like how they close magnetically, and in my opinion, it’s easier to fill up than any other one. Get you a bucket or water, snap them closed under the water, and let the fun begin.” —BKsBabiigurl
Price: $10.97
30.
A detangling and conditioning spray for when the sweaty, sandy, summer outdoor fun is over and you have the hard, teary task of brushing your child’s tangled hair.
Walmart
Promising review: “My husband always does my older girl’s hair when he drops her off at daycare. She has tangly, curly hair — really difficult to manage. Doing her hair was the most stressful part of the day, he used to say. With this product, he loves doing her hair. It made it so, so manageable. He keeps telling me to order more and more of this product!” —budds
Price: $3.97
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.