Skin Protector: Getting all the nooks and crannies of your infant’s skin covered with sunscreen can be a challenge. Baby Blanket’s Tender Scalp Sunblock Spray ($6.50) and SPF 45 Sunscreen Spray Lotion For Babies ($10) help make your job easier. Both products offer broad spectrum YVA/UVB protection, are hypoallergenic, non-stinging, water-resistant and are SPF 45. (Babyblanketsuncare.com)
Hat Heads: Finally, a kids’ sun protection hat that doesn’t make them look like tourists. Tuga Wear’s UV protective hats for kids come in cool styles for boys and girls that will leave them summering in style while protecting their skin. ($18; tugasunwear.com)
Beach Bake: The beachside answer to an Easy Bake oven is Melissa & Doug’s Seaside Sidekicks Sand Cookie Set. Budding mini-chefs will spend hours forming their own sand cookies while you kick back in your beach chair with a book. ($14.87; amazon.com)
Cool Treats: Nothing beats the heat like a cool treat. With the Zoku Quick Pop Maker you can make your own popsicles in as little as seven minutes. Choosing what flavor to make, however, might take you a bit longer. ($49.95; williams-sonoma.com)
Shady Days: Stay cool anytime, anywhere with the Portabrella portable folding beach umbrella. It weighs only six pounds, folds to just 24 inches, has a three-way tilting canopy and an SPF of 100. Equally as useful for the beach or an afternoon picnic in the park, it takes just a few minutes to set up and disassemble. (Starts at $29.95; shadeusa.com)
Little Feet: Even the tiniest family members can keep their toes cool in infant and toddler Havaianas. A miniaturized version of the popular Brazilian rubber thongs, kids’ Havaianas have the same cushioned rubber footbed as the adult ones but also have a removable soft elastic back strap to keep little feet in place. (Start at 16.95; us.havaianas.com)
Thirst Quencher: With BornFree’s new Twist’nPop toddler cup, your tot can stay hydrated without spills. The 14 oz. ergonomic design is easy to hold with a unique pop-up soft silicone straw that twists back into the cap when done. And like all BornFree products, the cup is BPA- and phthalate-free. ($8.99; toysrus.com)
Bag It: Skip Hop’s new Central Park Outdoor Blanket Cooler Bag makes everything from family picnics to beach outings convenient and stylish. It includes an insulated area to keep snacks and drinks cool. It also unfolds into a 5×5 water-resistant blanket (available in two designs). Or, detach the ice pack and it’s a compact messenger bag! ($45; skiphop.com)
Robin Saks Frankel is the founder of Crib Notes, a free monthly e-newsletter for parents of kids ages 0 to 3 and Facebook’s “The Greatest Friday Playgroup Ever!,” a weekly playgroup for uptown moms.
