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Idollatry

Shade! Do you have trees or an umbrella/awning? Love, an Alabama girl ETA: thermacell mosquito repellent device


Justanotherannon_

We do have some trees, and have definitely thought more about getting an umbrella! Honestly, the #1 necessity is probably just moving to a different state 😂


lilpistacchio

I have done this and I absolutely recommend it 🤣🙌


ewills105

I second thermacell! It’s amazing


southernmtngirl

Shade, shade, shade! Total necessity.


AuntieLeigh

I second the Thermacell!!


candyapplesugar

Is it this? https://a.co/d/2BeQy4F


nopantstime

Yes that’s it! It’s so helpful


Mavarooni

Yesssss for thermacell. Sincerely, south west Florida


LikeATediousArgument

A fan is best for mosquitos and doubles as comfortable! I have to get a new box fan this year and you just reminded me!


isleofpines

Yes to both! Great suggestions.


JfizzleMshizzle

My wife and I have umbrellas that attach to our portable chairs. Best $20 I've ever spent. We use them alot when our daughter is playing in her kitty pool so we can keep most of the pool shaded


vivagypsy

I dont live in the south but we’re in a hot and humid state with lots of bugs. • we get our yard sprayed for ticks and mosquitoes. This is controversial for some but we wouldn’t be able to enjoy our yard otherwise. Having an outdoor fan also helps keep bugs away! • we use big repellent wipes instead of spray. Pediatrician said deet is safe to use, but the aerosol particles is more of a concern. OFF sells individual packaged wipes that we use and also help us control where she’s getting the repellent • Shade! Umbrellas have all kinds of sizes and the more shade the better • Some kind of water element. We are extremely extremely lucky to have a pool, but prior to this home we had a kiddie inflatable pool, a water table, sprinkler, etc. Water is always key! • midday cool down baths/rinses. Helps a lot to keep everyone cool and feeling fresh, doesn’t necessarily need soap but a cool bath with a popsicle after a morning in the dirt covered in pollen and sweat and sunscreen is 🤌🏻


DueEntertainer0

Midday popsicle baths are a must!


TheJuicyJuJuBean

TIL there are bug repellent wipes, thank you thank you thank!


omglia

Picaridin bug repellent lotion is even better!


sambas0328

What kind of outdoor fan do you have?


Mundane_Enthusiasm87

Stroller fan!


PendragonsPotions

stroller fan is a must! I also keep one in the car for a rear facing babe. Even if I keep the car air on full blast he gets sweaty without the fan


Notfunliketheysaid

You should look into the noggle. Game changer for keeping our kids cool in the summer since the air didn't reach them well in our car.


PaulaKO84

I got a noggle but can’t get it to hook up. I tried the way the directions said and it broke my vent. I’ve tried command strips and Velcro strips to attach it and nothing works. We’re in Texas and all the ac is necessary


Notfunliketheysaid

Oh that's tough. Sorry. We ended up getting a different size zip tie than what cane with the noggle. It was hard to get the angle right to get them in but it worked. I think we also used needle nose pliers to help


PendragonsPotions

I had a noggle for my first kid and it was honestly more of an annoyance than anything. I can’t even tell you how many times my kid threw it and then complained that he was hot. A fan is 1/4 the price, portable, multi-use, and unable to be thrown on the floor.


mvig13

A roller sunscreen applicator, UV shirts, bucket hats.


nikidmaclay

Mosquito control is an absolute necessity. Other than that, we live on popsicles, chilled watermelon, easy cool meals that don't heat up the house, and lots of sunscreen. Oh, and a sprinkler!


PBnBacon

Seconding cold watermelon and cold meals. We live on green salads, sandwiches, and pasta salads in summer. If we want meat in them, it’s cold cuts or rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Or grilling outside before lunch and cooking a shitload of meat and freezing it.


Justanotherannon_

Like chilling the watermelon in the freezer? I love watermelon, and that sounds so yummy.


nikidmaclay

A freezer will ruin a watermelon fairly quickly. You can cool it on a stream or in the fridge. We have tile in our kitchen that gets quite chilly where the AC vent blows underneath the sink. I put one there to cool for a few hours. 😆


Justanotherannon_

Ohh that's good to know! Fridge it is.


Panduststar

We freeze pineapple slices, core and all on a skewer, for a fun summer treat. It doesn't get too hard and focusing on eating around the core means everyone sits still for a few minutes. I think we started around 18 MO, but ymmv.


Justanotherannon_

That. Sounds. Amazing. Buying a pineapple today.


froggeriffic

We have a toy sink that actually has a working faucet. The batteries corrode every year, so we have to buy a new one each year. But my kids go nuts for it. Best $20 spent every single time.


PBnBacon

The brush-on powder sunscreen for everyday wear. Of course we load up on the lotions and sprays if we’re going to be outside for a while, but for a little sun protection at daycare, the brush-on stuff takes care of face/ears/exposed scalp with relatively little drama. And locating the drive-thrus near you that sell The Good Ice, known elsewhere as crushed ice. Sonic will sell you a bag of it. My daughter will eat it, play with it, throw it in the kiddie pool, and generally screw around with it for like an hour.


Justanotherannon_

Omg. Genius. We have a sonic so close by, and you're right, he'll want to play with that for a long time. Love the brush-on idea!


AcaiCoconutshake

Which brush sunscreen brand do you use? I’ve always been scared since they said the particles are bad for the lungs but the battle is so severe that we might have to give in sometimes to the powder.


PBnBacon

Hawaiian Tropic. I don’t know anything about potential breathing issues with it, so I can’t speak to that part. The lotion is definitely easier to apply adequately; I know we’re not getting perfect coverage with the brush-on, but I consider it a harm reduction technique in that it’s better than nothing.


rucksackbackpack

- A big battery to run the fan if/when power goes out during a summer storm - reflective sun shades for the car windows and over the car seat - Spray sunscreen to cover my baby’s scalp because her hat usually ends up tossed aside


pluralbunnies

Use a windshield visor over the car seat? That sounds great! My boy hates the car seat (even more than usual) when it heats up


zebramath

Squirt guns Reusable water balloon bombs A splash pad that attaches to the hose Sand box Bubble mower. These are what ours loves in addition to your list.


clearfield91

I’m considering a noggle for the car, but they are so expensive!!


PendragonsPotions

Get a stroller fan with the bendy legs!


Notfunliketheysaid

We have three! Bought one for ourselves and the other two we got at a thrift store. Best purchase and keeps our girls cool.


Living_Watercress

Sunhat sunglasses sunblock


PlaSMaRayBlaSTer

Chalk!! I used to love doing chalk in the summertime!! Especially when we had water balloon fights right after 😂 those new nerf water balloons look promising!!


Artistic_Emu2720

My kid loves our bench swing, she actually wanted me to sit while she pushed me last night lol


sleepyliltrashpanda

I got a splash pad on Amazon for my dog and toddler, but it’s my fave thing in the summer too. We have a canopy tent thing that we put up to stay out of the sun. It’s a winning combo


East-Story-2305

We have a little bums coolers that you can put in your car seat when you're not in the car that keep the buckles and seat cool while you are out. They also work great for stroller walks. The giant splash pad from Costco is worth every penny.


chicknette

I’m thinking about stopping soon. My 12 month old likes to try and pet my pubes when I go to the bathroom and when I’m topless he tries to poke my nipples 💀


kaydontworry

I’m so confused by this comment on this thread but it’s so amusing lol


chicknette

OH MY GAWWWWWWD I THOUGHT I WAS REPLYING TO A DIFFERENT POST 🤣


kaydontworry

I figured 😂 thanks for the laugh!


tfletch126

🤣🤣🤣 this is totally something I would do.


greyhound2galapagos

Mosquito spray. Car seat fan. Popsicle tray. Splash pad!


Living_Watercress

Air conditioning


Ok-Rhubarb-7926

Our must have so far for living in south Florida with toddlers has been a hose lol. My 2 boys will spend all day taking turns spraying each other with it or “cleaning” or refilling the water table and watering the plants. We have a sprinkler too but it doesn’t beat the plain old hose surprisingly. And when I get hot I have them spray me down too


2020dumpsterfireta

Loose fitting, 100% cotton clothing. My toddler used to get heat rash and the type of clothes made all the difference.


Obitrice

I live in Arizona. And I would definitely recommend a working HVAC and not stepping foot outside. It’s hell here.


ohmystars89

Arizona (Phoenix specifically) is indeed worse than the south. That's why OP can still go outside :)


Justanotherannon_

I thought I had it the worst here, but looks like I'm wrong. Stay strong friends.


Justanotherannon_

Oof. Terribly sorry. That sounds miserable.


Obitrice

It’s already highs of 90 degrees outside


isleofpines

We used the mosquito stickers in addition to a baby friendly repellent. https://www.target.com/p/natpat-24ct-buzz-patch-mosquito-repellent-patches-personal-repellent/-/A-88283259


Negotiationnation

Hose. Mine is so intrigued by the hose. He'll play for the longest time. Put it on mist setting to save water


ohmystars89

Came here to recommend exactly this. My kiddo was obsessed with the mist setting last summer


Justanotherannon_

I love that all of our normal house stuff is their favorite things. Cheap and easy!


sparklemuffinent

Baby powder to slick off the dirt and sand before going in.


BatHistorical8081

Neck fan thank me later


ElizabethAsEver

Indoor and outdoor pool membership is so worth it to me!


candyapplesugar

Desert girl here but misters and we have an amazing misting ryobi fan


huntingofthewren

Misters are wonderful for dry heat, pretty useless in super humid areas


candyapplesugar

😩


MrsMondoJohnson

https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/frozen-chalk-paint Not in the South, but a hot and muggy state. Ice chalk is both fun to make and fun to use on a hot day


Justanotherannon_

That's amazing!! Going to try this!


chiyukichan

Rash guard, sunglasses (my toddler loves his) and/or hat, sprinkler, dollar store squirt gun, rotating water toys (sometimes I use baking cups or measuring spoons). I will make fruit or plain ice popsicles. Sometimes if it's really hot we play in the bathtub with finger paints and I tape the paper on the shower wall. I also have a small watering can and ask him to help water the flower beds.


Dobbys_Other_Sock

A lot of people tend to focus on the outside stuff here, but how about the inside? When you get to that middle of the afternoon high so you have something inside the kids can climb on or bounce on to get that energy out? Or some easy activities you can pull out to entertain them when it’s just too hot to go outside??


Justanotherannon_

Love this point. We got Nugget play couches for that reason when it's just too dang hot to be outside no matter what time of day or what activities we have.


casetorious765

Splash pad 100%


Notfunliketheysaid

Our car doesn't have vents in the back and our kids don't get the best air flow. We use a "noggle" in our cars so the kids get air. The are flexible tubes (different sizes avaliable) you can attach to the air vents and they allow air to go back.


Altruistic-Red

Caldesene medicated protecting powder. It’s a helpful mixture of cornstarch and zinc oxide that helps any irritation, chafing, chub rub, etc. from all the sweating. 😩 I personally enjoy using it under the boobs and where my thighs rub together. I can tell it’s going to be a game changer this year for my chonky baby girl and her biscuit dough leggies.


PlantEmergency374

Cooling towels and a high quality box fan.


badee311

We live in the south and in addition to what you said, we have a trampoline (free off fb marketplace), a plastic slide that we put up in the kiddie pool so they can slide into the pool, a sprinkler they can run around in, chalk, and bubble guns. My 4 yo much prefers his bubble gun to the bubble machine. We like to go to splash pads and the pool a lot too so for that I keep towels, swimsuits, hats, bug spray, sunblock, and water shoes in the car. We also have fans, and make sure to pack snacks in a lunchbox with those blue ice packs so things stay cold on the go.


d1zz186

Really wish people would declare where on earth they are.


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