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I remember being in 4th grade when our family purchased a swimming pool. I have so many fond memories of playing mermaid and dolphin trainer in that pool. We would even hold Olympic events like water gymnastics and relay races, which of course my big brother always seemed to win. When my brother and I left the “nest,” my parents decided to sell their pool and add some beautiful landscaping, along with a waterfall to fill the open space in their backyard. I will admit though, once I became a mom, I missed our family pool – especially for the sake of my kids. I am happy to report, however, that our kids have had plenty of water-play experience nonetheless. If you are a family without a pool, don’t fret, you can still get outdoors and splash away with your little ones this summer. 

One of the most important parts of motherhood is finding your “tribe” – a group of fellow parents with kids close in age - this could be family and/or friends. It is because of my mom friends, that my kids have access to swimming pools each summer. My brother and sister-in-law have a beautiful pool and are kind enough to open it to us all summer long. We also live in a townhouse community and have the availability to utilize our community pool as well, which is a great option. In fact, as residents, we are allowed to invite a certain number of guests with us each summer. I would even consider the YMCA in the future, as their pool is indoors. Chat with your “tribe” and see who has a pool and if they are willing to open it up to your family for a pool day. Offer to supply the poolside food and beverages as a ‘thank you.’ That’s a win-win for everyone.  

Creativity is key when you are looking for ways to get your little ones splashing through the summer. As mentioned earlier, we live in a townhouse community, therefore we do not have yard space for even a water table in our backyard. We learned last summer that the kids absolutely love when we wash our vehicles in the driveway, so we put them in their swimwear and let them “help” wash the cars, then sprinkle them with water – they love it! We have spent plenty of days at my parents, and although they do not have a pool anymore, the kids really enjoy playing in their waterfall. They have set up a water table, a blow-up pool and even squirt guns, so there are always plenty of options. On special occasions, my aunt will even bring over water balloons and the kids go wild (and even some adults too)! I remember last summer; my mom filled a clear storage tote up with water and my son and daughter thought it was the best thing ever. I also learned that day to always pack a swim diaper and wet bag in my diaper bag because it’s usually the days you do not plan for the kids to be in the water, they end up soaked.

There are also plenty of local options to explore when it comes to kid’s water play. As a Pittsburgh native, I have plenty of friends who love our Children’s Museum because they have a whole floor in the museum dedicated to water fun. Not too far from us is a wonderful children’s theme park called ‘Idlewild & SoakZone’ that includes a children’s water park which has made our summer bucket list. Facebook can also be a useful tool; I just recently saw an advertisement for a nearby splash park in a neighboring town, I had no idea was there. Another great option is checking out your closest city for events in the summer. Pittsburgh has 3 rivers, so they always have water fountain shows when you go out to eat near the rivers – our kids always enjoy them!

My final recommendation is visiting a local beach, river or lake. We do not live near a beach but love taking the kids on vacation to the Outer Banks, which is a beautiful family-friendly environment. I have plenty of friends who take their little ones boating on the local rivers, I am hopeful to take our family on a boat in the next few years. I have also been told that a nice day-trip to Lake Erie can be an inexpensive way to enjoy the beach for a shorter period of time.

I hope these ideas inspire you to get out this summer and get your whole family splashing! I would have never known about all of our water play options, had we not been without a pool of our own. I am grateful that we have found ways to cool off in the summer heat while having a blast and making memories to cherish for years to come. 

~xo~

BBLittles

We have all been there, you receive the birthday or the baby shower invite to your close friend or family. You want to go, but it leaves you in that never-ending struggle of what gift to buy. You want the gift to be thoughtful, useful, and something that can be used more than just for a hot minute. After searching the toy aisle you soon realize that the little you are buying for will play with the toy maybe once unless you spend a fortune. You walk right by the clothing aisle that has tons of cute clothes, but let’s face it, littles grow out of clothes faster than you can change their diaper.

So what gift do you get? I want to suggest considering a reusable swim diaper. Bear with me for a minute as I think getting a reusable swim diaper just might make you the best gift giver at the party. 

Reusable Reusable Reusable! One of the best features of a swim diaper is that it is the gift that keeps on giving. Unlike cute outfits that a little can outgrow in less than a month, Beau & Belle Little swim diapers can be adjusted to last from ages 0 to 3 years. This kind of reusability can make mom and dad’s bank account very happy as disposable swim diapers can cost a small fortune over the years. Not only can swim diapers save from a shear reusable standpoint, but they can also save parents from having to buy a new swimsuit each year. Reusable swim diapers come in many fun designs, which allow them to be worn alone as a swim bottom.

It is clear that reusable swim diapers make great gifts, but they become even better gifts when paired with other fun water items. To get to that ultimate gift giver status here are a few suggestions on great gifts to pair that reusable swim diaper with.

1. Puddle Jumper/ Life Vest: With one in five children under the age of 14-year-old dying due to unintentional drowning. Buying a little one a puddle jumper/ life vest is a great way to ensure the little one is safe when enjoying many fun water activities. In addition, there is a great variety of colors and designs that you can match with the reusable swim diaper.

2. UV Protective Gear: Rash guard shirts are great and very functional when it comes to littles and the never-ending battle of sun exposure. With many health care professionals advising against the use of harsh sunscreens; UV protective rash guard shirts are a great way to keep little ones safe and comfortable from the relentless sun exposure.

3. Beach Towel: I know it may seem too simple, but beach towels are a wonderful gift to give. What is nice about a beach towel is you can easily find one with a specific character or cartoon figure that the little one is currently into to make the gift more personable. There are also unique towels such as those cute circular ones or even ones made to look like a mermaid tail. 

4. Water Toys: Anything from squirt guns, rubber duckies, to larger gifts like water tables. Nothing is a better combination in little one's eyes than toys and good old H2O.

5. Swim Lessons: My final gift pairing suggestion is to give the gift of swim lessons. Probably the most thoughtful gift you can give someone is an experience that will last a lifetime. A good place to start when thinking of gifting swim lessons is through the American Red Cross; they have certified swim instructors.

I hope the next time you receive that invite to that special little one's party you consider reusable swim diapers as the gift you will take along. You will sure to reach that ultimate gift giver status.    

~xo~

BBLittles

One of the best ways to beat the summer heat is to cool off with some water fun! My little ones (ages 2.5 and 4.5) are all about embracing water play –they love all things water in the summer: swimming in the pool, playing in the water table, squirting each other with super soakers, throwing water balloons, and even “washing” the car with Daddy. I love how much they enjoy cooling off, in fact, I will never complain if I get splashed during our hot and humid Pittsburgh summers; but as a Mom, I am continuously worrying that they will accidentally get hurt while running and playing in these conditions. You cannot prevent every injury that comes their way, but when it comes to good ol’ backyard water fun there are some necessities to keep in mind my kids stay happy and safe.

1.  Sun protection- I remember seeing our pediatrician when our son was just a baby, she informed us that the majority of sun damage occurs during childhood. She went on to warn us that sun exposure in early childhood increases the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. From that point on I realized it was my responsibility as a parent to do everything I could to provide our children with the best sun protection I could find, and thankfully there are several affordable ways to do so. First and foremost, utilizing a mineral-based sunscreen has been incredibly important to our family. I would encourage you to do some research on this topic and find the best sunscreen for your family and budget. Personally, our family has been using Young Living’s mineral sunscreen and ThinkBaby’s mineral sunscreen. Utilizing these phone apps have been wonderful in finding the right sunscreen for our family: Think Dirty and EWG.

 Another way to provide sun protection with your little ones is through layers. Hats, UV-protection clothing, and sunglasses. I have found with my son, if he refuses to wear sunglasses, I can usually get him to wear a hat – and vice-versa for my daughter. The earlier you start a good habit, the more likely that habit will stick. Some of our favorite brands for these layers include Beau & Belle Littles, Swim Zipper, and Babiators (I have even used plenty of Target Dollar Zone sunglasses when I am in a pinch). Again, do some research and find what is best for your family and budget. Remember, that UV-protection clothing should NOT be used in a dryer, as it will deteriorate the UV-protection over time.

2. Bug protection- I hesitate to mention this safety step, but living in Pennsylvania, we have some serious tick offenders in our backyard. Therefore, I always make sure to apply bug protection after sun protection on our littles. I personally swear by our Young Living Insect Repellent, but I would encourage you to find an all-natural deet-free insect repellent if you are worried about bugs when you are outside with your family.

3. Proper footwear- I believe whole-heartedly that running barefoot in the grass is one of the best parts of childhood (and adulthood). However, when my kids are running in wet grass, from water balloons or a sprinkler I quickly pull out some water shoes. If I foresee them running onto the hot sidewalk or steamy pool deck, I strap on their water shoes and breathe a sigh of relief. There are plenty of brands and types of swim footwear out there. Make sure you have something that protects your little one’s toes and stays on snuggly for all the running and water play they will be enjoying.

4. Hydration- Even as an adult, I am constantly trying to remind myself that I need to hydrate daily, but even more so during physical activity. I realized my son was dehydrated earlier this year when he described a runner’s cramp to me that he had formed throughout the day while being outside. Sometimes little ones are having so much fun running and playing outside that they do not stop to rehydrate. Ever since that day with my son, I have made sure I always have a full cup of water for both of my kids outside and in a visible spot for them to see as they are playing. If I notice they have not hydrated recently, I make them take a drink break or even a snack break – because who doesn’t love snacks?!

5. First-aid ready- Accidents happen and that’s okay (isn’t that what our friend Daniel Tiger always says)? Of course, there will be boo-boos along the way when your little ones are playing outside. The best advice I can offer is to be prepared for accidents. Always have a first-aid kit nearby, make sure you are familiar (if not already certified) in CPR, and pay attention to your little one’s behavior, because mom intuition is huge. If you suspect your little one is hurt, do not hesitate to get them into the pediatrician or call 911 for those worst-case scenarios. Stay calm in the moment. Children have an innate capability to pick-up on our emotions, so the calmer and more collected we can appear to them, the more likely they will mimic us and stay brave.

I hope these tips for safe backyard water play are helpful to you! Remember, do your research, be brave and most of all – do not be afraid to jump in the pool and have some fun with your kiddos along the way. Go make some fun memories!

~xo~

BBLittles