27 Items Every Parent Needs For The Best Summer Yet

May 24, 2023

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Just a few crucial things to keep the kids safe from the sun and bugs and ensure they're either wet or dry, hydrated, and entertained during the hot months.

BuzzFeed Contributor

Promising review: "We have had this cup for six months, and it has been dropped countless times and partially run over by my SUV. We popped it back into shape, and you can barely tell anything happened. We bought another for our youngest, and it's doing just as well." —TF

Get it from Target for $11.99 (originally $14.99; available in six styles).

I got a chance to test these out with my 4-year-old, and from the moment he opened the box, he loved them. These are a great next step for getting kids to put on their shoes on by themselves too. Pretty sure this will be the official "shoe-of-the-summer" around our home.

Promising review: "My son is almost 5, and he loves these shoes. He can wear them with socks or barefoot, and they stay on his feet. They're also easy to put on! He plays a lot of soccer in them 😂 and he says he loves them!" —Nadejda D.

Get it from Kane for $60 (available in eight colors and sizes C11—J2 following standard sizing for a running shoe).

Promising review: "There are few things in today's ever-changing society that you try once and make you never go back to the 'old way' of doing it again. This is one of them. Follow the directions given and you will have a bunch of well-filled balloons ready for fun times in under 60 seconds. Can you fill them up faster? Probably. But just do as the packaging says and take your time, you won't be disappointed." —Mr. H

Get it from Amazon for $37.99.

Promising reviews: "I bought this to have as a travel first aid kit. I do not check bags when flying, so I had this in my carry-on and had no issues going through any security while traveling internationally. This is small and does not take up much room, and has the essentials that you need. I have had to use this, and I am happy that I had it." —acemics niv

"I haven't used anything in this kit, but I bought it as a precaution for traveling. There's nothing worse than being on vacation and needing one Band-Aid and having to buy an entire box. It is small, so it's easy to toss in your travel bag and go! I sometimes keep it in my car even when I'm not traveling. I'm one of those people who are always cutting or nicking their fingers — very convenient to have around." —Amanda A

Get it from Amazon for $13.88.

Promising review: "I love this deck of cards! They can be washed, and you can have people touch them with drink residue or whatever else is on their hands and be okay; it won't ruin the cards, and that was my motivation behind buying these, and this was well worth it! And it even comes with a backpack clip to hold the cards in place and for you to clip onto anything! The only complaint guests have is how slick they feel, and they sometimes stick together, but I don't mind it!" —Shanice

Get it from Amazon for $10.99.

Promising review: "My little grandaughter loves her frilly new swimsuit. She is always the cutest swimmer in the pool because her suits are unique and adorable, thanks to Kidpik!" —Alene H.

Get the ombre- or multi-striped trunks for $16.88 (available in sizes 2T–XXL and the tankini swimsuit or the one-piece swimsuit (available in sizes 2T–XXL) for $18.76 from Kidpik.

Includes three disposable bags with absorbent pads and a travel bag.

Promising review: "OMG! A coworker told me about this when I was mentioning to her my apprehension about driving to our family reunion, being that my 3-year-old son had finally started adapting to not 'going potty' in his pull-ups. She immediately said this was a life-saver, and she takes it everywhere.

So I ordered it, not really having high hopes, but figuring I'd give it a try. OMG, OMG, OMG! Do you know the whole time we were driving, my son told me like four times that he had to "pee-pee" (four times is a lot because it was only a four-hour drive)...It is very easy to use; it folds in flat and comes in a thick, drawstring, durable plastic bag. It also comes with a few disposable bags that have an absorbent pad attached to the inside base to help retain the mess.

The reusable bags are designed to be pulled over the potty and dropped down inside to catch waste. This is great for road trips, as well as every day here and there. You can use it in a restaurant if your child needs to go, but you don't feel comfortable with them sitting on the public toilet seat or anywhere else at that because not only does this fold out as a standing potty, but the legs hyperextend out to create arms that allow it to balance across a toilet, (of course when you balance it on a toilet you won't need to use the bags.) I definitely recommend this if you are potty training your little one or even if you have a toddler and are a germaphobe about public bathrooms. Buy it! You won't regret it!" —Janeen A.

Get it from Amazon for $20.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "Bought this for a camping trip where we had a toddler and three 8-year-olds who ran in and out our tent leaving it, of course, open and let me tell you, I sprayed these kids up (neck, ankles, and arms) and had no bites all trip; even on myself! Definitely will be recommending!" —Justine Heads

Get it from Amazon for $9.69.

Promising review: "I’ve used this several times. My kids love popsicles, so I opt to make that at home when I can. The funnel is nice, but I can pour in the liquid just fine without making a mess, so I don't use it much. I like that it comes with plastic handles, but I choose to use the sticks because my toddlers would throw the handle in the garbage after they’re done, lol. The cover will securely hold the sticks in place, so there is no need to partially freeze before putting them in. The plastic bags are awesome; that way, once they’re frozen, you can take them out of the mold and save space in your freezer or make another batch. The frozen ice pops easily pop out of the mold; no need to leave them out or submerge them in water. Overall I’m very pleased with this product." —Ahlam

Get it from Amazon for $25.

Promising review: "Other than the kids trying to get on the unicorn to ride it, it was a huge hit! Inflated easily with a blow-up bed electric pump. Appreciated that it came with stakes and an extra hose attachment. Sprayed well and was worth the money!" —Brittany Utz

Get it from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "Worth it. I needed a fan that would cool my son at Disneyland without chopping his fingers and running out of batteries fast. Also, something that wouldn't be easily taken off of my stroller like the Disney fans that I always lose. This one holds a good battery, has a night light for all that foot traffic, straps to the stroller, and has a USB charger. It kept us cool." —cameron

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in three colors).

For ages 6+.

Promising reviews: "So many cool little features. And as a family of ham radio operators, we were all impressed with the quality, reception, and clarity." —AC

"I gave the walkie-talkies to my nephew for Christmas. It was his favorite present. He gave the other to the neighbor down the street, and the sound quality was spectacular. They could talk from inside their homes very clearly and with little feedback. He was so pumped." —KIKI

Get it from Amazon for $26.71+ (available in two camo-colors).

For ages 5+.

Promising review: "This is a great water toy. (Gun? It doesn't look like a gun!) But it is amazing and beats all of the water toys that I’ve purchased! I’m a diehard Super Soaker fan, and nothing on the market even comes close to what we used to get in the '90s EXCEPT this thing!!! I’m so excited for camping and our first water fight; the kids are GOING DOWN! The capacity is decent, and the water pressure is amazing." —Jessica D.

Get it from Amazon for $24 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "Bought these for my kids for our Hawaii trip. Been using them ever since. Great quality! Awesome facial coverage for extra UV protection for my little ones! They're comfortable. And come with an adjustable strap to ensure it won't fall off in the wind. And the pattern is an extra cute bonus! Would definitely repurchase!" —Kaity Miller

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 22 patterns and colors).

Wait, why so pricey? Well, do you know of any other bags that can survive the fridge, freezer, microwave, dishwasher, and boiling water? We'll wait.

Promising review: "I'm one of those people who washes plastic bags and reuses them to 1). attempt to cut back on plastic headed to the landfill, and 2). to save a little money. I purchased these silicone bags after seeing a co-worker using them. These have worked out great, and I got a lot of questions about them. I've referred other environmentally-conscious friends, and they love them too! Easy to love these things; they provide secure seals, are very durable, and are easy to clean. Perfect for lunches, snacks, or other small storage needs. I'm sure you can put them in the dishwasher, but I generally wash by hand." —Molly

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 12 sizes and 23 color options).

Promising review: "I didn't have to wash them 100 times to get the fuzz out; these things washed and dried extremely well and kept their softness. The kids love these, I was worried the colors would run, but they did not. Excellent quality for the cost." —frank johnson

Get it from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in quantities of 6, 12, and 36).

For ages 9+.

Promising review: "I bought these not expecting much from them. I thought they'd just be some cheap rings that I'd have to throw after a single use...quite the contrary...these are awesome. The material is very strong, and the rings [are] big enough for an adult. Easy to inflate and very strong. The colors and patterns are vibrant as well. No complaints. I would purchase them again! Definitely!" —Joshua

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in fruit, tropical, and donut designs).

For ages 3+.

Promising review: "I bought these for my five-year-old because I was sick of filling and tying millions of water balloons...then picking up the teeny tiny pieces of those million water balloons, lol. They are very durable. We have had them for about four months now and love them. They are easy to fill, just open them up and put them in water. They self-seal with the magnets that hold them together. I was skeptical and figured they would leak, but they have held up so much better than I would have thought. If you are sick of filling up water balloons for kids, I would definitely recommend these!!! Will be purchasing more!" —Cassie

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in five different pack sizes).

For ages 2+. Note: Mounting hardware not included. Wiwiurka is a Mexican woman-owned business located in Tepoztlan, Mexico, that creates sustainable children's toys using water-based paints and nontoxic materials that are inspired by Pikler, Montessori, and Waldorf's educational standards.

Promising review: "We surprised our girls, 5, 3, and 2-years-old, with this climber! Their reactions were so fun! They literally climb on it all day long!! Great quality and simple to install! We went ahead and ordered the outdoor version, too!" —Monica Z.

Get it from Wiwiurka for $185+ (available in two sizes and four colors).

Promising review: "We bought this after the frustration of using a stroller with a diaper bag attached, and it ALWAYS falls over if our son wasn't in the stroller. We LOVE this thing so much!! We have used it at the beach, park, zoo, etc. We are having another baby here soon, and we will be buying the car seat adapter. We have been stopped so many times since getting it and asked if it's worth it (it is). Seriously, I will never regret buying this wagon!! Buy it; you won't regret it!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $319.99 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "Bought the duo pack with the straps for my 9-month-old twin girls, and they fit perfectly, and the strap keeps them in their heads! Perfect for our upcoming beach trip and spending time outside in this sunny and warm weather!" —Haley

Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in four color combos).

Promising review: "Perfect size to hang on your bag for those trips to the store. I bought this pack to hang on my son's backpack, my husband's work bag, and my purse. Would recommend it for people on the go! You could always refill them once you're done so that's a plus as well." —Erika F

Get it from Amazon for $17.51.

Promising review: "I had been looking for a sturdy nonplastic sand toy set, and I'm so glad I found this one by Blue Ginkgo. Plastic tends to get brittle and usually breaks over time. I wanted something that would grow with my toddler for longer than a year. Ordered the yellow bucket, shovel, pastel molds, and blue carry-tote set a few weeks ago, and it's gotten daily use every day! My 2.5-year-old loves loves, LOVES it all. In the sand pit, in the wood chip playground, and at the beach. It's light enough for him to carry to the park. Very easy to clean with soap and water and towel dry for more pretend-to-play indoors. The durability so far has been fantastic. The bucket and shovel are light enough for easy carry, but sturdy enough to keep up with my toddler. Highly recommend." —Cydney M Elliott

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in six colors).

Promising review: "I put two of these in my daughter's lunchbox (I’ve used several soft-sided ones this year), and they’re still cold at the end of the day. Easy to clean and put back in the freezer. They still look new after seven months of using them three times a week! Plus, she thinks they’re cute and fun!" —CeeMarie

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 10 styles).

Promising review: "The batteries last forever, even when my toddler had it by his side making bubbles all day long. I came back to write a review because I cannot believe how tough this toy is!! My toddler has chucked this bubble-maker across the yard many many times, yet it still works. Last week we had a rainstorm, and it rained for a week straight with cold weather. We did not know it was left outside. Well, when we found it leaking water, and in the mud, I tried, and it did not work. I took out the rusted batteries and let it air dry for a few hours. I popped new batteries in, and guess what? It works again! Highly recommend." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $21.99.

Promising review: "I've bought two of these so far as my kid has gotten older and will likely continue to buy a new one annually. My toddler wears his every day to the beach; no sunburns yet! The zipper is essential — it makes it so easy to take it on and off when wet. The fit is fairly true to size, but you may as well size up so it'll fit for longer (you can always roll up the sleeves). I've also tried hooded sun shirts but have found the hood to be too much trouble when wet; this version paired with a sun hat and some sun leggings is a good compromise." —Tulip

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in sizes 0 months–14 years and 22 colors and patterns).

For ages 3+ (and only with the supervision of an adult). Holds two adults and three to five kids).

Promising review: "I originally purchased this pool for a backyard birthday party, and it worked out great. It held up to a bunch of kids climbing in and out all day.

Now that the kids are back in school, I decided to reinflate it to use myself. It's a perfect size to lounge in with my favorite spring float. I love how easily it sets up! I just held the basic hose on our shop vac over the valves, and it went right up. I left it for about an hour with the hose, and it was a little overfull. I let a bit of the water out after I took these photos. It's super easy just to reach in and pull the plug when it's time to drain. The bit of rigid tubing at one drain allows the water to run out." —Jennifer H

Get it from Amazon for $79.98.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.