Mom Tips and How to
Every mom knows – always pack snacks! But what else are our must haves? Especially in the summer, when the kids are out of school and we’re not sure where the day will take us? Here are my go to essentials to keep the fun going and kids happy!
Essentials to keep in the car
- Baby Wipes
- Extra bottles of water
- Swimsuits
- Sunscreen
- Bandaids, ointments and itch cream
- Sugar
- Face sunscreen for mom
Why You Can Trust My Recommendations
Hi! I’m Sara, a North Carolina mom of three boys who spends weekends exploring trails, parks, splash pads, and outdoor adventures with my family.
Everything I recommend is something I’ve personally used, thoroughly researched, or would confidently recommend to my own friends and family.
Always be prepared
Summer adventures can take outdoor moms anywhere!
After years of chasing three boys through North Carolina summers, I’ve learned that having a few outdoor mom essentials in the car can completely change the day. These are the things I never leave home without during summer outdoor adventures with kids.
- Baby Wipes (Even If Your Kids Are Way Past Diapers)
Listen — you still need baby wipes.
Sticky hands, muddy feet, melted popsicles, public bathrooms, playground grime, mystery park bench situations… baby wipes solve all of it.
I always keep an affordable pack of unscented wipes in the car, and honestly, I probably use them more now than I did when my kids were babies. - Extra Water Bottles
Nothing ends a fun summer day faster than realizing everyone is overheated and the park does not have a refill station.
I learned this lesson the hard way during a 90-degree North Carolina park day and now I never leave home without extra stainless steel water bottles already filled in the car.
Even if we forget ours, I have backups ready to go.
This is one of those simple outdoor mom hacks that makes a huge difference. - Backup Swimsuits and Towels
One of the best parts of summer with kids is how unpredictable it is.
You discover a splash pad.
Someone finds a creek.
A friend invites you to the pool.
The park suddenly has water features.
Having backup swimsuits and towels in the car means you can say YES to spontaneous fun without stressing about soaked clothes for the ride home.
And honestly? Wet kids are usually happier kids in July. - Sunscreen Everywhere
You need more sunscreen than you think you do.
I finally accepted that the easiest system is keeping sunscreen in multiple places:- one in the pool bag
- one in the car
- one in the everyday “mom bag”
- A Tiny Emergency Kit
Right now mine is literally an old Ipsy bag and it works perfectly. This tiny kit has saved us so many times.- scrapes
- bug bites
- mystery bruises
- random cuts
- playground injuries
- I keep a small zipper bag in my purse stocked with:
- assorted bandaids
- antibiotic ointment
- cortisone cream
- alcohol wipes
- Something Sugary for Emergency Meltdowns
I’m just being honest here.
After several hours outside in the heat, sometimes everyone needs a quick sugar boost before things completely fall apart.
Fruit snacks, granola bars, gummy candy, juice boxes — whatever works for your family.
I have yet to find a situation where a tired, overheated child became LESS emotional because I refused to pack snacks. - Face Sunscreen for Mom
Moms are usually great about protecting everyone else’s skin and terrible about protecting our own.
If we’re not specifically “at the beach” or “at the pool,” it is so easy to forget to reapply sunscreen on our face during everyday outdoor activities.
Right now I keep a few lightweight face sunscreen samples in my purse at all times so I can quickly reapply at parks, sports practices, splash pads, or while gardening.
Future me is very grateful.
The longer I parent, the more I realize that outdoor adventures with kids go smoother when I prepare for comfort instead of perfection.
A few simple outdoor essentials can turn a stressful, overheated day into a fun memory instead.
And honestly, anything that helps us stay outside longer without everyone melting down is worth packing.
Perfect for moms who love exploring with their kids and have kids who like to stay active!
They only get one childhood, and I only get one motherhood. That’s why you’ll usually find us outside chasing the next adventure.
– me 🙂
Mom Tip 💜
Here’s something I am always amazed by…
Repurpose crap from the house – kids always find the most mundane thing interesting when they get to use it outdoors in a new way.
Examples:
- Pack an extra towel for the car.
- Keep some of those pup pads or “chucks pads” in the car.
- Freeze water bottles the night before and pack extra jugs.
- Bring a small grocery bag for muddy shoes.
Before You Head Outside…
💜 I hope this guide helps make your next adventure just a little easier.
Whether you’re heading to a neighborhood park, a North Carolina trail, or your favorite splash pad, I hope you spend less time worrying about gear and more time making memories.
See you outside!
— Sara
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Affiliate Disclosure
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely believe are worth your money and that I’d recommend to my own friends and family.
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