Summer break is jam packed with fun, but it can easily be just as jam packed with stress. Kids require a lot of things. Depending on which of these things you forget, your summer outing can quickly turn into a disaster. That’s why we could use all of the summertime tips for busy moms that we can get!
I work, and I am in school, so my free time feels rare and my brain doesn’t always operate at maximum capacity. Over the years, I have discovered a few ways to make summer go much smoother for our gang.
7 Sanity Saving Summertime Tips for Busy Moms
1. Keep a beach or pool bag packed.
During the summer, you never know when you will get a phone call from a friend asking you to join them at the pool. Plus, during summer, you tend to schedule activities on a whim rather than strategically planning them like during the school year.
Keeping a bag packed with sunscreen, extra sunglasses, swimmies, goggles, hats, or anything that your kiddos typically need for a water excursion helps cut down the stress of looking for each item when you are trying to walk out the door. It also prevents you from forgetting something you need.
Now, you can throw in a few towels and be on your way!
2. Baby powder.
Keeping baby powder in your beach bag can be a real lifesaver, especially for kids who swim in the sand.
Sprinkle some baby powder (talcum powder) on your kiddos and brush around a bit. The sand will fall right off!
This saves everyone from being uncomfortable.
3. Buy them some flip flops.
The last thing my boys do when we are trying to get out of the door is put on shoes. They have to look everywhere for them and most of the time fuss because they cannot get them on quick enough.
It’s summertime! Buy them some flip flops to throw on. These are perfect for running errands, meeting friends for ice cream, or a day at the beach.
I typically buy my guys two pairs… it never fails that one lone flip flop will be hidden under a sofa or bed when it’s time to put them on. So, having a back up pair saves the day.
4. Sunglasses and hats.
It is always a good idea to keep sunglasses or hats in the car. These two things are often forgotten even though they are much needed.
William has bright blue eyes that are super sensitive to the sun. He can barely see outside without squinting to the point that his eyes look closed on a bright sunny day.
Having sunglasses or a hat (sometimes both) in the car means I don’t have to worry about remembering them before I leave home. It also means the poor kid can see without being all squinty.
5. Bug spray.
I am not sure where you are, but in south Alabama we have bugs! We have lots of bugs. On a hot, humid night, you might be bitten by a misquito within the first minute of stepping into our backyard. Keeping bug spray on hand is a must!
I don’t personally like bug spray. I cannot stand the smell! However, I found some by Cutter, Skinsations, that is definitely doable and works well. The kids don’t mind the smell. I could spray whatever I had on them. BUT… then I have to smell them. So, I try to pick bug spray I like rather than just buying any brand!
6. Keep water on hand.
Summer gets hot! Kids are always thirsty. For their health, and your sanity… keep bottled water at your house or purchase some sports bottles if you don’t have any already.
7. Invest in a small cooler.
This adds on to the fact that you need to keep water on hand, not just for the kiddos, but for yourself. We take a Yeti bag almost everywhere we go. Throw in some water, juice boxes, fruit, or whatever snacks your family enjoys.
Keeping a small cooler with us has really made a difference this summer! We don’t have to worry about whether drinks will be available wherever we go, and everyone stays hydrated. Any small cooler will do. I do prefer a bag type, because it is easier to carry. Our Yet bag is the perfect size and super easy to carry… even when you’re carrying 100 other things.
Finding ways to make things easier is always a plus when you have kids. I hope these few tips can make your summer just a bit easier.
Have some more great tips? Drop them in the comments. The more ways we can help each other the better!
Have a great summer mamas!
If you enjoyed these summertime tips for busy moms, I know you’ll enjoy others! Check them out here.
Water and baby powder in the van are must haves! Such simple ways to save some stress.
These are easy suggestions for summer time.
Keeping a bag packed is genius!!
Thanks for these tips! I recently purchase a cooler/picnic bag from Skip Hop I love it!
These are such easy and helpful tips! I always keep the beach bag stocked and handy for the summer. This way we can head out for last minute beach trips quickly
I always try to keep things in my car so that when we are out and about I have access to what we need! Thanks for the tips!
I 100% feel you on the cooler! I used to carry one and it often saved the day for me and saved a lot of money too!
Keeping a beach bag packed and ready to go is definitely a time saver when you have small children!
This is so acurate! It’s pretty much the only way we survive, pre packing everything!
These are all great tips for the summer! I’m only a month in and I’m going crazy, I can’t wait for school to start back up again!
I agree on all of these tips, especially the bug spray because those mosquitoes aren’t playing this summer. My toddler’s legs are bitten up and down!
I wish I had read thos post on how to be prepared for the summer earlier. I received a surprise invite to the splash pad and had to scramble to get ready. I will be taking your advice for future opportunities.
Very essential list!! Our pool bag is always packed! Saves us so much time rather than running around looking for stuff all the time. We also bring a small cooler when we go. Cuts down on spending money on snacks.
Great tips! I’ve never heard of that baby powder hack but I’ll have to try it!