8 Warm Weather Essentials for Baby

With four kids, I really look forward to spending time outdoors with my kids. It’s nice to have a chance to get them out of the house and let some steam off. We spend long days on the beach or by the river.

Babies and heat don’t always mix too well, so it’s important to make sure that I’m prepared and have all the necessary warm-weather essentials to keep them safe. There are so many baby items in the shops that it can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out just what it is you actually need.

After having four babies, here is my list of outdoor must-haves for babies. Check them out in the slideshow.

What products couldn’t you manage without in the heat?

More Must-Have Gear for Babies:

Outdoor Essentials That Keep My Babies Happy

Outdoor Essentials That Keep My Babies Happy #1

My kids staying safe in the sun. Keep going for my 8 sun-safe essentials...
Anti-UV Tent

I love this Anti-UV Tent from Babymoov, as it pops up in three seconds, making it easy to put up even when your arms are full of a wriggly baby! It offers protection against up to 99% of the harmful UVA and UVB rays, sand, and wind. We take ours everywhere we go; with tent pegs to hold it down, it's perfect for in the park or on the beach and gives your baby (and older kids) a safe place to play out of the glare of the sun.
Organic Sun Cream

While I prefer to keep my babies out of direct sun, if that's not possible or for a little extra protection, I always choose a good organic sun cream. My favourite is this one by Green People---with an SPF of 25 and offering 96% UVB protection, it is a great choice to protect your little one whilst also being suitable for sensitive skin and free of parabens and other nasties I avoid putting on my children's skin.
Insulated Sippy Cup

When it's hot it's important to keep little ones properly hydrated, and for babies under six months this means extra nursing sessions or more bottles. When my babies are big enough to drink water, I like to use this Thermos cup. It keeps their water cold for up to six hours, and I usually throw a couple of ice cubes in there to keep it extra cool if we're out all day long.
Muslin Squares

These are pretty indispensable year-round when you have small babies. Come the heat, I keep one tucked under the pushchair all the time. They make great impromptu-picnic blankets, sun shades, changing mats, and blankets if it suddenly gets cool or the AC is too high. These ones from Aden + Anais look pretty stylish too.
Ice Lolly Set

I love these lollies for my babies once they've started weaning! It's a great way to encourage them to try new flavours and also great for them to chomp on if they are teething. I use the NUK Mini Ice Lolly Set, add diluted fruit juice, pureed fruit & veggies, or even breast milk for a healthy ice lolly to cool down older babies on hot days.
Pushchair Sunshade

I have this Snoozeshade for Vega's pushchair. We spend a lot of time walking outdoors in the summer, and he hates getting the sun in his eyes. This not only shades his eyes but also filters up to 80% of UV rays, keeping his delicate skin protected from the sun whilst we're walking around. It also has a flap down "snooze panel" that is great for on-the-go naps.
Sun-Safe Swimwear

Even little babies like splashing about in the water on a hot summer's day. I like to keep my babies covered up in sun-safe swimwear such as this three piece set. Long sleeves and legs keep plenty of skin covered from the sun, and the trapper hat protects little necks.
Buggy Fan

This is a must-have when we go anywhere on a hot day in the pushchair. We use this Kel Gar Pinwheel Buggy Fan, and I love that it is battery operated and clips to the side of the pram. It offers a cooling breeze on hot days, helping to keep your little ones cool. It even has a built-in safety guard to stop little fingers getting caught. It also clips to the side of the cot, making it great for hot nights, too.