Parent Pro-Tips for the Hottest Months of the Year
It may be back-to-school season, but we are still in the thick of summer. And if you’ve ever tried to put sunscreen on a toddler who is suddenly squirming at the speed of light, you do have to wonder what happened to your simple season in the sun. Don’t despair, LIV fam: We’ve got some great ideas, hot tips and quick hacks that will up your parenting game while the heat rages on.
###Better Beach Bums (And Toes, Too)
They love playing in the sand, but it doesn’t take long before kids start looking like breaded chicken cutlets, desperate to get the sand off their bodies. Toweling off can be rough and irritate soft skin, so instead try this: Sprinkle baby powder liberally to any sandy areas—feet, toes, and bum. Let it sit for a few seconds, then gently wipe away.
###Fix Crabs in a Pinch
There’s an old parenting adage for dealing with a cranky babe: If your child is acting “crabby,” put them in water, baths fix all. Not just wading in water...drinking it too!
In these triple digit temps, kids can lose track of how much they have (or haven’t) hydrated; lack of hydration can potentially make them more prone to irritability and exhaustion. Enter: Hydration Multiplier For Kids. Available in kid-friendly favorites like Crisp Apple, Concord Grape, Tropical Punch, Cotton Candy, and limited-time-only Banana, these crowd-pleasing flavors offer faster hydration than just water alone (just like their adult counterparts). Each stick has 3x the electrolytes and 50% less sugar of the leading sports drink* and are an excellent source of essential vitamins like B3, B5, B6, B12 and Vitamin C. They have no artificial sweeteners, and are gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free. It’s the ideal, delicious upgrade to their hydration routine during those long, sweaty days at camp, after-school care, soccer games, recess, and beyond.
This hack is common sense; keeping kids drinking frequently is easier when they love what’s in their water bottle. And, for extra hot days, put their hydration-gone-yum in a popsicle mold for an extra enticing, heat-beating treat.
###SPF Made Simple
Who among us hasn’t winced at the sight of a fellow parent trying their best to slather sunscreen on the face of a wriggling child at the park, knowing your own moment of reapplication was quickly approaching? Here’s a secret: to make sun protection easier, get a sunscreen that’s actually easy to apply. We love this glide-on stick because its design makes for quick and mess-free application, creating less of a chore for kids and their grownups. Plus, one tube will last for many trips outside. For below the neck, try a quick and easy spray to make reapplying faster. And always remember to reapply every hour and whenever they dry off from the water.
###Swipe Right on the Right Wipe
Here’s a parenting secret: there’s no aging out of baby wipes. Once you have these on-hand for your infant, you see just how much easier they can make life. Whether it’s wiping up sticky hands, spot-cleaning ice cream stains, or even offering a quick cool down at the park, they become essential. Keep a pack ready in your go-bag, along with Hydration Multiplier sticks in their favorite flavors for a fuss-free day.
###The Travel Cube Rule
When it comes to packing up for an adventure, make it easy by stocking and storing packing cubes ahead of time. Keep one for camp essentials that you can pop into their bag, one for everything you’ll use for the pool, one for the beach, and one for your hikes. Then, depending on your agenda, grab your pre-packed cube, add it to your tote, and off you go.
###Kit Your Car
Building a car kit for these sweltering months is so simple and so smart because trust us—you’re bound to use it. To create yours, get a simple box that will fit in your glove compartment or car console. Add essential items into it: A sunscreen stick, bug spray, band aids, individually wrapped hand wipes, hand sanitizer, breath mints, and some sticks of Hydration Multiplier in your favorite—and the kids’ favorite—flavors. Then simply wait until the day when you need it, and you’ll be so glad you thought ahead.
###Gamify Your Getaway
Before the chill of fall creeps in the air, squeeze in a road trip if you can. But with kiddos in the back, there needs to be strategy so everyone enjoys them instead of counting down the miles. Keep little ones from instinctively grabbing their devices with a simple game of travel bingo. It’s the perfect way to have them looking out the windows and improving observation skills over getting sucked into screen time. Trust us: these games are seriously addictive, and they won’t run out of battery just when you get to the good part.
###Make It Memorable
Ditch your dry erase board for something a bit more tech savvy with The Skylight Calendar. Kids can easily access it and review what’s in store for the coming days, keeping them aware and excited. Then, upload pictures from your adventures with a few taps of your phone to create a timely slideshow that plays when the calendar isn’t in use. No matter the season, the summer memories live on.
###SHOP NEW! HYDRATION MULTIPLIER FOR KIDS NOW
*Per 8 fl oz, Hydration Multiplier for Kids has 6g of sugar; the leading sports drink has 14g of sugar.