25 Things To Keep Your Fussy Kids Comfy This Summer

Buzz Feed

a day ago

A Dash deluxe shaved ice and slushy maker for the kiddos that keep begging for sweet cold treats but you don't want to blow all the summer funds on leaving your house to buy them. Andddd this handy gadget is a parents' best dream ~after bedtime~ all year round, because nothing is stopping you from opening the alcohol cabinet and going to town.
Promising review: "The 1-liter pitcher is the ideal size for my kitchen. This device itself is about the size of a basic coffee maker, and the light cream color is a nice neutral off-white shade that looks good on my counter. I have been wanting a slushy machine, but most of the ones that I saw were much too big for my needs. This one is perfectly sized and very easy to use. I put in about six or seven ice cubes and it is very easy to stop and add more. I have been using this device for a week now and I am delighted with it. I can quickly make slushies and boozy snow cones. It's perfect for making quick and delicious icy treats." —Bichon MomGet it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in two colors).
A glow-in-the-dark football set because there are only so many times you can go out at muggy summer dusk to dig around in bushes and beneath "scary" lawn furniture to find the ball that rolled away. Again. Save them (and yourself!) the whining and get them a ball they'll have just as much playing with as they will hunting down when they kick it into the neighbor's yard. Again.
My son would want me to mention it comes with a kickoff tee and my husband would want me to mention it comes with an air pump so *you* don't have to go to the scary shadow part of the garage to find your old one. Get it from Amazon for $34.95.
A b.box lunchbox perfectly suited for long car rides, swimming lessons, and other summer adventures where small humans need to eat their foods on the go. Kiss the "I'm hungryyy" chorus from the backseat goodbye for good! (Or at least be able to stop it REALLY fast.)
B.box is an Australian brand (tell your kids Bluey says hi!) with a whole line of durable, easily washable kids' utensils, including sippy cups, baby food containers, and snack boxes designed to make your life so much easier. Like yes, these are obviously a godsend for lunch-packing during the school year, but I feel like I've leveled up at parenting when I pack one of these to bring along with me on long summer days, too. My son also LARGELY prefers these to generic brand boxes I've purchased in the past because he can easily undo the latches himself. Bless. Promising review: "So easy got my toddler to open at school, love the way you can put an ice pack under. Also, it's super cute and the quality is amazing." —Anil D. Get it from b.box for $28.95 (available in seven colors).
A can of OFF! non-greasy insect repellent that is also BLESSEDLY fragrance free, so there won't be any whinging about bad smells or sticky arms and legs ringing in your ears for the rest of the mosquito season.
Literally the ONLY spray my picky kid has allowed this summer, and I love using it, too!Promising review: "I hate all bug sprays and refuse to use them, until this. Honestly way impressed. I love that it doesn't smell and it actually left my skin so soft." —Brinley WilcoxenGet it from Amazon for $7.99 (also available in a two-pack).
A splurge-worthy Coddle Switch sectional sofa designed for the ULTIMATE summer fam movie nights and to keep everyone's stretched out limbs disentangled. No more, "She's touching me!" or, "I can't see the TV!" This handy dandy sectional was obviously designed by a parent who just wanted to convert their sofa into a supreme lounging spot so everyone can watch Disney+ in summertime PEACE.
I actually have this on order because I simply ~cannot deal~ with any more SWEATY LITTLE KID LIMBS touching me while we pile onto the sofa for Friday movie nights. And it has a phone charging station built into the side of it, so I don't have to do acrobatics to check text messages, too. Oh, and the extra STORAGE. Need I say more?Promising reviews: "I've received so many compliments on my sectional! Highly recommend for anyone looking for a stylish and well-designed piece. 5 stars all the way!" —Elaine M."This sectional exceeded my expectations! The design is absolutely beautiful, making it a perfect statement piece for any living space. The quality is top-notch—durable, sturdy, and built to last. Not only is it stylish, but it's also incredibly comfortable. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for both elegance and functionality in their furniture. My daughter will also purchase this item for her new home." —Elizabeth G.Get it from Coddle for $2,499 (originally $3,699; available in two orientations and three colors).
A portable sound machine and nightlight for summer "oops" naps, whether they be in the stroller, the car, or under an umbrella and towel by the pool. It is made to be clipped on a bag or a purse, too, so no matter where your kid decides to catch some warm-weather zzzs, you'll be more than ready to help them get the most out of their snooze.
Get it from Amazon for $59.95.
A Yoto mini that can literally do it all: It plays music, stories, educational activities, podcasts, soundscapes, timers, and can even be used to have beloved fam members and friends record stories for your littles to enjoy on the go! Plus, it has a headphone jack so they can listen in their own little happy Yoto world all summer long without disturbing the peace of the restaurant, the plane, or the other car passengers.
Promising reviews: "Well, I guess this has replaced our Tonie boxes! The convenience of the Yoto Mini can't be beat. It's small and easily able to be taken on the go. The battery life is fantastic, and we can get a couple of days' worth of listening on one charge! The cards are not paper cards like I initially thought. They are a durable plastic card. It's easy for my 2-year-old and 3-year-old to use. The variety of cards is fantastic as well! I was so happy they have Disney and Paw Patrol options! I highly recommend this little audio player!" —Morgan"I cannot express enough how awesome Yoto Mini is. I bought it for my 4-year-old son. I was skeptical because he loves TV. It is incredible! He can listen to his favorite stuff like Paw Patrol, but can also listen to music, audiobooks, fall asleep to calming music, etc. I just discovered it has a daily free podcast, which is now part of our breakfast routine. And I love that it doesn't have a screen. I have found him asking for it when I least expect it (instead of the iPad or my phone!), and it's been particularly amazing in the car and when we go out to a restaurant." —MeghanGet it from Amazon for $69.99.
A John Deere Gator if they've grown out of their push-cars in both size and interest. Give them the ultimate summer vroom-vroom toy and let them outrun the heat on their own. (While you watch from the porch with a cool drink, of course.)
I was sold when I saw two kids on this in my neighborhood driving around while their dad biked behind them. They had a STROLLER FAN attached to each side, so these kids were literally living their very best summer lives. Promising reviews: "This was my son's favorite birthday gift! It has a long-lasting battery. The seatbelts are great for little ones riding in them. The tilt bed was fun to empty dirt when helping in the yard. Easy-to-follow instructions for assembly. No weather fading. It's still running strong." —DCasey655"It is a good resistant car for kids. My 2 boys use it outdoors to pick things up from the yard or build things. Their tires have a good grip on the grass, but on the floor, they slide a bit when they go fast. The battery lasts a good amount. My boys are 5 and 8, and they both use it. I added the hutch from John D and it's useful when they have a friend over." —juliekGet it from Amazon for $429.99.
A Lalo table and chair set because sometimes the key to less fussy kids is giving them their very own kid-sized space over which they may reign. Whether they're coloring, zooming cars, or making up stories with their Calico Critters, they'll be so happy to spend their time whiling away those long summer hours in a spot made JUST for them.
Psst. And if your kiddo is not quite in table and chair territory yet, their high chair is equally functional and chic for smaller kids!Promising review: "This is probably one of my favorite purchases for my almost 3-year-old daughter. We've had this table and chairs for over a year now, and it's still in such great condition. She's had hundreds of meals on it, it's been colored on with crayons and markers, and just used and abused in general. We have both the chairs and table in the color Coconut, which is basically white, and I haven't had any issues with staining from spaghetti sauce, markers, crayons, etc. Very happy with the quality of this set, not to mention it looks great too! The fact that it matches so well in my living room is a big plus!" —yukiii55Get it from Amazon for $295 (available in four colors).
A Mila mini air purifier so you can cross off "air allergens" from their list of rude summer things that upset your kids. If they're sneezin' and wheezin' from all the outdoor plant activity and dust, put this CUTE lil' mini in their room to help clear out the gunk.
We have gone through a LOT of air purifiers in my son's room because he is ~simply not about~ being able to hear it working. The quiet mode on this is STUNNING, and the adorable little messages on the top display don't hurt, either. Get it from Amazon for $249.99 or from Mila for $199 (available in five colors).
A two-pack of Haaka reusable baby food pouches that reviewers swear will save you a bundle on the premade pouches. These are perfect for on the go too, because if your new-to-solids baby's most fave form of nutrition is the squeeze-and-feed variety, you could bring along their preferred jarred baby food to make your life easier on all manner of planes, trains, and automobiles. No messy spoons this summer with these, er, babies!
Promising review: "This product is a baby/toddler must-have and one of my absolute favorites! Save money by using the reusable pouch instead of buying from the store. I've put baby purée, yogurt, applesauce, smoothies, and baby cereal in these! Very easy to clean! Baby is not able to squeeze them everywhere like the store-bought pouches. My son loves pouches, and this is so easy to pre-fill, store in the fridge, and take on the go! Thank you for this product!!!!!!" —Amazon CustomerGet a two-pack or four-pack from Amazon for $24.99 (available in three colors).
A Strider balance bike because this is my favorite summery-kid thing we own — inside OR out! It is light (only about 6 pounds) and can maneuver in even the smallest places. My 4-going-on-5-year-old LOVES his "motorcycle" and we've gotten hours of fun out of this thing with so many more to come. Especially lovely in the summer as a way to get out some physical energy but it's just too dang hot to go outside.
Psst. If your kids are younger, you can get this same bike with a rocking base so that your baby can rock as young as 6-MONTHS-OLD and keep on rockin' until they're ready to remove the base and scoot on their way! There is also a 14-inch version that can be upgraded with a kit to attach pedals when your kiddo is ready for some big-kid zoomies! Basically this company will grow with you (and the products are strong enough to get handed down to siblings/cousins/friends). I've already committed to buying the 14-inch when my kid outgrows this one, and my sister has called STRONG dibs on the 12-inch for my niece when the time comes. 😂Promising review: "I don't know what I did without this bike. I have six children, and I bought this bike for my youngest son. I wish I had gotten one earlier. I'd seen them before but dismissed them and thought, 'Oh, they cost a lot, and would they really use them?' Well, I have gone through useless tricycles and push riders, and nothing compares to this little bike. My 3-year-old (who is a small 3-year-old) never gets off it. He loves this bike. Inside and outside! He could balance himself by lifting his feet within a week and cruising down hills like nobody's business. I think I love this bike as much as he does. Best buy of the summer!!" —Mother of 6Get it from Amazon for $129.99 (available in seven colors).
A Fisher-Price portable bassinet that can double as a safe place for your baby to play while you enjoy the great outdoors, the great indoors, and everything in between.
Promising reviews: "I CANNOT write enough good things about this baby dome. It's super cute, the size is perfect for sitting outside and inside, and it folds up so easily to make it easy for traveling. The inside is big enough for a Boppy Pillow, plus my baby (he is 23 inches; he's long and still had tons of room). The netting all the way around makes it so they can still get air plus stay cool on warm days. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this item for all mommas." —Anissa R Summers"Lightweight and very easy to travel with. It's great for play dates or bringing your baby to the beach. I even used this in my backyard, and it came in very handy." —Jacqueline's Amazon Finds Get it from Amazon for $89.99.
A waterproof car seat liner I'll yell about forever because WHY NOT protect your car seat and/or stroller seat from spills, accidents, and spit-up this summer? We've had one of these since my kid's car seat spit-up days, and we *still* have it for messy car meals and longer summer trips ~just in case.~
Promising review: "These are wonderful. I only wish I had bought them sooner and saved myself the frustration of taking apart the car seat more than necessary. These hold up in the washing machine and come clean easily. They are pretty absorbent and soft." —Alison R. Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three colors and two-packs).
A Welly First Aid Kit to give you peace of mind for any bumps and ouchies that your kids might get on the go this summer. The colorful (and secure!) bandages are so cute that you should be prepared for your kiddo to request more than one for ~aesthetic~ reasons.
These are my family's go-to bandages because they *actually* stick and the tins are so convenient to throw in bags and car gloveboxes. Promising review: "This is such a cute and compact first aid kit. There are a TON of bandages inside. The styles are great, something for even the pickiest kids (like mine) haha. Great quality bandages, they stay on great, they are flexible, and just so darn cute. It also includes lots of other great things to have when you are traveling, like ibuprofen, ointment, alcohol, and cleansing wipes." —Bunny2012Get it from Amazon for $24.94.
A bathtub filter if summertime can cause extra skin irritation flareups for your littles. Help their skin barrier out by attaching this tool-free filter and let the multi-stage filtration rid their bathwater of chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals so they can rub-a-dub-dub in clean water.
Promising reviews: "We were able to use this product the last couple months and it's been incredible. My little one suffers from eczema pretty bad from food allergies so everything irritates his skin but this has made such a big difference." —Shayna P."My toddler struggles with super dry skin, along with bumpy texture on her thighs, upper arms, and cheeks. After using the tub filter for over a month, her thighs are consistently smooth and feel less dry, even if it's been almost a week between baths! We did not change any other factors (soap, lotion, laundry detergent, etc) during this time. Her legs showed by far the best improvement, which proves this works because that is the only affected area that is completely submerged!" —HannahGet it from Canopy for $89 (available in four colors).
An ultra-compact stroller that can fit in tight trunk spaces and overhead plane bins, so you don't have to haul your kid from the gate to baggage claim in the too-hot heat.
Or a Liki Trike if your baby is approaching toddlerhood and wants to be a part of the action. It also fits in overhead bins and gives your little one some more hands-on action so they can be happier on long walking adventures, summer trips to the aquarium, and all the adventures in-between.
Promising review: "This trike stroller is so very practical and fun for my grandson and now my granddaughter! It is built very well and folds up so compactly that it can be taken easily into a restaurant or for travel. It is pricey, but it takes the place of three different items: a tricycle, a stroller, and a push cart! It was such a great purchase for my grandson that I bought one for my granddaughter!!" —Ghostrider 68Get it from Amazon for $280 (available in four colors).
A pair of noise reduction ear muffs that'll cut back on the noise in your little's ears by 23 decibels and help muffle loud sounds whether they're awake or asleep. Perfect for fireworks, loud plane sounds, and just to ignore that summer construction happening outside your apartment.
Promising review: "10/10 recommend this for baby ear protection! We took our baby on his first flight at 4.5 months, and he slept the entire 4-hour flight!! I'm thoroughly convinced it is because of the noise-canceling ability of this product. The only downside is they do look a little ridiculous (in an absolutely hilarious and 'omg, I want to squish those baby cheeks' kind of way). Everyone on the plane said our kid looked like a little linebacker, but everyone was so impressed that he didn't cry once or even wake up during take-off or landing! If you're a new parent or a seasoned parent traveling with a little one, do yourself a favor and buy these!" —MandyGet them from Amazon for $29.99 (available in five colors).
A lightweight baby carrier for land and water so you and your mini humans can live that amphibian life all summer long in maximum comfort no matter where your adventures take you. No more thrashing around in your arms while you're trying to enjoy the pool: You can both glide around like effortless summer mermaids.
Promising review: "WaterLand carrier made our cruise with our 8-month-old so much easier! The carrier kept our baby safe and comfortable as we explored the ship and went ashore. It was perfect for the pool and ocean, too. We loved how stylish and practical it was, and it really added to our vacation." —IdanGet it from Amazon for $89.55+ (available in seven colors).
A pack of quality Coterie swim diapers that the King of Fashion, Tan France, himself swears by with his own kiddos, so you know your baby is gonna look stylish and be swim-ready, comfy! If they keep throwing a fit from literal soggy bottoms (not the Great British Bakeoff kind), then give them and yourself the gift of ultra-comfy swimming.
Seriously, the reviews on these are so good. Their regular non-swim diapers are cult faves, too!Promising reviews: "So happy that Coterie has made The Swimsuit diaper. I couldn't wait to put my little ones in them and, in true Coterie fashion, they are hands down the best swim diaper I've used. So much easier to put on, so much softer than any other swim diaper, and gets the job done. Never going back to any other brand." —Andrea L. "Absolutely LOVE the swim diapers. From the design to the durability to hold without sagging to the ground! So glad there is a swim diaper that uses cleaner ingredients." —Estefania C. Get them from Coterie for $20 per pack (available in S—L).
A folding pop 'n' sit booster chair because nobody has time to worry about sunburns and sand/asphalt/concrete burns. It comes with a detachable easy-to-clean snack tray and can be used pretty much anywhere you can think of to keep your kiddo safe and off the hot, hot ground. NO TEARS ABOUT BURNED BUMS, HERE!
Y'all, I'm not making it up when I say I see these EVERYWHERE in hotter-than-heck Texas. Lifesavers. Promising review: "This chair is perfect for traveling! It folds very easily and comes with a bag with mesh at the bottom, so sand will fall out if you take it to the beach! It also comes with straps so you can wrap it around a chair and use it as a high chair! Very convenient, compact, and versatile! If you're looking for a chair for your little one this summer, this is the one!" —LindsayGet it from Amazon for $24.98+ (available in 12 colors).
A cup holder snack tray converter so you can spend fewer summer road trips straining your arm while contorting it to hand individual Goldfish crackers from the front seat to the grabby hands in the back.
Promising review: "I bought these for our road trip, and they worked very well. They come with additional cups and rubber bands in order to help fit them to different size car seats. My kids loved them, and it helped keep their food in one spot, providing easy access and cleanup! Would buy again." —AdinaGet it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in five colors).
A butterfly medicine dispenser if the summer cold ends up catching up with your fam and they hate taking their medicine. Game-ify ensuring they get every last drop (and avoid a tantrum or two!) with this cute gadget that is sure to have them asking for their next dose. (Or at least not pulling out their latent martial arts skills on you.)
Playhouse MD was born when two sisters, a doctor and an award-winning toy creator, Kaitlin and Sydney Wiseman, came together to transform kids' healthcare with a dose of play. (Psst. Sydney Wiseman created the uber popular Fingerlings toys!)Promising review: "Before I used this product, I described giving my 2.5-year-old medicine as 'wrestling an alligator on drugs.' She saw both the butterfly and rocketship dispensers and was immediately thrilled, of course. I used the butterfly to give her the same exact medicine from the 'alligator wrestling' incident (one day later) and with the butterfly, she was a perfect angel. If you think I am exaggerating even 1%, you need to try it for yourself!!" —JDGet it from Playhouse MD for $16.99 (also available as a rocket).
An adorable Hugimals weighted emotional support animal friend because whether you're 5 or 105, your babies are gonna love the feeling of snuggling up all summer long with this comforting, hefty little sidekick. Plus, the 4.5 pounds of inner nontoxic glass beads are removable, so they can be machine washed!
Promising reviews: "This weighted sloth is adorable and just the right amount of weight for me. The quality is fantastic. Super soft. I'm currently being comforted by the 'hug' of this cutie while recovering from bronchitis. I'm a 50+-year-old female, and this is age-appropriate, in my opinion! So glad I purchased!" —Amazon Customer"First of all, she is one of the cutest pig plushies I have ever seen! Second, if you like the color pink and cute things, get Harper! Third, after a hard day of work, she is just what I need to relax. Hugimals are well worth the money or as a great gift! I'm NOT a child, and I love the brand and my Harper! Oink! Bravo!" —Music and Anime Fan 12Get it from Amazon for $68 (available in seven styles).