by Ashleigh Evans posted in Parenting

Warm weather is finally here in the Midwest! Summer is such a fun time to spend with kids, but summer babies can be cranky if they're hot, sunburned, or have irritated skin. You can keep everybody in your family cool, happy, and safe by staying on top of the following 8 things.

Sun protection. Lots of it! We have an ?outdoor? basket in our bathroom that has sunscreen, sunglasses, and aloe. Since my older children spend most of their days outside in the summer, right after breakfast they apply their first layer of sunscreen. We re-apply every 2-3 hours, just to be on the safe side, and all wear sun hats. For little ones, sun care is especially important. I keep infant sunscreen in my purse, at the changing table, and in the bathroom. It can be hard to apply to a squirmy baby, but just take your time and don't forget their ears. If we're going swimming, I choose a rash guard/long-sleeve option whenever I can. Create safe outdoor areas. A play yard, especially with a canopy on it, is so handy to have when you?re outside. Your baby can play inside safely, yet still enjoy the weather and breeze. We have one that folds up into the size of a stadium chair and I can?t wait to use it for outdoor concerts or at the beach. If you?re going to be swimming a lot, a baby float with a sunshade on it is super handy.
Moisturize. Summer brings dry skin, so I swear by Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment. My three older kids apply it after their showers and ...