Making sure my kids get time outdoors is important to me, so I try my best to make it an easy and happy experience for all three of us!
Getting outside can be daunting, even without kids, especially if you didn’t grow up being “outdoorsy”. Add young kids into the mix and it can feel downright impossible. I grew up in a fairly outdoorsy family, but I’ve still struggled to get outside with my kids as much as I’d like.
Often, just getting out the door is the hardest part. Once you’re out there, I’ve found my kids will find ways to entertain themselves and things will fall into a flow and a rhythm. I have a few things that I keep on hand and easy to access to make the process of just getting out the door as quick and simple as possible.
SUNSCREEN
Colter is pretty light and I am extremely fair-skinned, so wearing sunscreen is a must for me and my kiddos. My personal favorite brand is SuperGoop. I use the Unseen sunscreen for myself on my face every day when I’m getting ready. Then I use their Play sunscreen for me and the kids whenever we are getting outside and the UV index is a 3 or higher. They have a 100% mineral sunscreen line, if that is more your stride, but the ingredient list on the regular makes me comfortable putting it on my kids once they turn 6 months old.
The sunscreens from this line are made with clean ingredients and there are over 40 different options depending on your skin type, tone, and routine. It also smells great when compared to a lot of other SPF options.
SUN PROTECTANT CLOTHING
Even though the sunscreen I use is made with clean ingredients, I still like to use UPF clothing when we’re going to be spending a lot of time in the sun (while hiking or camping, for example). So far, my favorite sun protectant clothes for myself and for the kids are merino wool baselayers from Iksplor.
Iksplor is a mom-owned company based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Merino wool is lightweight and breathable, moisture-wicking, and naturally UPF 50. They have sets for infants, toddlers and kids, and women. My kids wear it year round due to its magical temperature regulating ability.
BUG REPELLENT STICKERS
This is the first year that I have used a bug repellent sticker for the kids instead of spraying their clothing and blankets with traditional deet bug repellent. We used them for an overnight trip in our tent next to a pond. I kept one Natural Patch BuzzPatch Mosquito Repellant Sticker on each kid 24/7 during our trip and neither of them got a single bug bite. However, when we went to an amusement part a couple of days later, I only stuck one on Della (not Calvin) and while she stayed bite-free, Calvin got two mosquito bites.
I haven’t used them in a super buggy area yet, and we don’t live in a tick-heavy area, but they’re working great for mosquitos so far!
SUNGLASSES
When my babies are about six to eight months old, I start having them wear sunglasses when we go out on bright, sunny days. Starting them so young means that they get accustomed to wearing them early on and it isn’t such a big fight once the toddler years hit. I’ve had these sunglasses from Amazon for about two years and so far they are working great for us! I can size them to fit Della or Calvin and Cal won’t grow out of them for at least another year. They’re also very durable. I’ve stepped on them on my kitchen floor with shoes on and they’re completely fine.
SUNHAT
Now that Della is six months old, I can use sunscreen on her, but I still try to give her as much sun protection with clothing as I can, and that includes a nice, wide brimmed hat. My favorite sunhat for her is her sunbonnet from Briar Baby.
Her sunbonnet is made from breathable, beautiful linen material, it has a tie that goes under her chin and keeps it from falling off, and it has a huge brim that completely covers her head, face, and shoulders. I especially love having her wear it while she’s in a baby carrier because she’s shaded from the sun, but still has the freedom to look around. I highly recommend it.
E-READER
I am a book worm. I always have been and I always will be. I had e-readers when I was growing up, but always preferred a physical book with pages that I could turn. That changed when I became a mom.
Now, I use an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature almost exclusively for reading and I’m completely in love with it. I can read it in direct sunlight without glare, the battery lasts for a very long time, it’s backlit so I can read at night while camping without a flashlight, I can carry basically my entire library in my diaper bag, it’s water resistant, and my kids can’t rip my pages or lose my bookmark or destroy it with a tipped over water bottle. I also prefer reading on my Kindle rather than my phone because I don’t get so distracted with notifications and social media. I really love mine and I almost always bring it outside with us, even if I only get to read a page or two.
SHADE TENT
I have two shade tents that I use for the kids in different scenarios. If I want an enclosed space for just Della to lie in while I’m helping Calvin on a playground or setting up camp or something similar, then I use one of our KidCo PeaPod pop-up tents (read my full review here). It’s a great size to lay my baby in, it zips up completely to keep her protected from bugs, dirt, or rolling away, and it doubles as a great bed when we are tent camping.
If I want something primarily for shade and that I can sit under as well, I use our iCorer Beach Sun Tent. It’s larger than the PeaPod and it has loops to stake it down. However, the PeaPod is much easier for me to fold back down and put into its storage bag.
BACKPACKING CHAIR
I love having a really lightweight chair to use when I take the kids outside. It makes it so easy to carry around the yard as I follow Calvin around on his little adventures. I have one from Kilos Gear that I really like, but you can find them from most outdoor gear retailers.
BABY CARRIER
I’m huge into baby wearing. In fact, I wrote a post called My Thoughts on Seven Different Baby Carriers. I use one almost every time I take both kids outside because it makes playing with and supervising Calvin so much easier when Della is just snuggled into my chest or riding on my back, enjoying the view. I like all of my carriers for different reasons, but the ones I use outside the most are my Happy Baby Original and my ring sling, simply for the ease of use and the speed that I can get Della into them.
I thought I loved baby wearing with my first, but it’s been a literal life saver while having two kids just twenty-two months apart in age.
If you’re looking for more tips and ideas on getting outside with your babies and toddlers, I highly recommend checking out Hailey Outside, Brighton Peachy, Hey Erika Norton, Born a Backpacker, WildKind, and 1000 Hours Outside on Instagram! They all have amazing information and experience.
Always remember that you’re being a great parent so long as you’re doing your best to show up for your kids.
BARREL OF MERRELL'S 
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