*This post is sponsored by Chicco. All opinions are my own. Post contains affiliate links.*
Summer is finally here and I don't know about you, but this hot and humid weather has got me wanting to be anywhere but outside. My kids, however, are beyond bored of all the hundreds of toys and cartoons they have at their disposal, so outside we must go. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of great things about being outdoors, but summertime calls for a unique arsenal of equipment to get you through the sweaty season of swatting off bugs and chasing your toddler around a splash pad, so today I'm sharing my top 5 tips for not only surviving, but thriving with a baby and toddler this summer!
1.) Bring LOTS of snacks and drinks. It can be costly to pay for snacks at a vendor and sometimes there aren't any readily available. Keep something like juice boxes and fruit snacks on hand when you're in a pinch.
2.) Keep your necessities CLOSE. I don't always like to keep a large diaper bag or tote with me everywhere we go, so I toss a wet bag or diaper clutch underneath my stroller to keep diapers, wipes, spare outfits, and more right within reach...no digging around in deep diaper bag pockets necessary. Can't do without the kitchen sink? Try the Mommy Hook! It's perfect for hooking your shopping bags, diaper bags, beach tote, etc. (P.S. You don't have to splurge on the actual "Mommy Hook"....just head to your local hardware store and grab any jumbo aluminum hook. They're usually a fraction of the cost and more sturdy, too!)
3.) Bring a STROLLER. Even if you think you won't need it or your child is too big/needs to walk, going somewhere that includes lots of walking like the zoo or an amusement park can be exhausting on kids of all ages. The Chicco BravoFor2 has been a dream for our summer excursions and you can read lots more about my thoughts on it below!
4.) Don't forget MOM. Mom is already drained just thinking about all the prepping and packing and loading that goes into taking little kids, well, anywhere. Don't forget to pack something for yourself, even if it's just a bottled water and a granola bar for later. You can't pour from an empty cup!
5.) DON'T over do it. Fear of missing out can get the best of us, but don't freak out if you need a break but haven't even seen all of your first Disney park yet. Relax! Better to take a small break and then get down to business than to exhaust yourself trying to just push through it. Heat exhaustion is real and can be very dangerous for adults and kids alike.
Now about that stroller....
One of those key pieces of gear, at least for me as a mom of a baby & a toddler, is the Chicco BravoFor2 double stroller. I was so excited to team up with Chicco and share this stroller with you, and now that I've used it for a little while I can honestly say I am even more impressed! If you're going to survive this season of motherhood, you've got to have this stroller. It's so lightweight and compact, you can barely tell it's a double! But the little sit and stand area is positioned just right that it makes it possible for me to maneuver through those narrow playground aisles and not have to worry about losing my daughter from the sidelines. We can easily stroll right up to whatever slide she's about to conquer and cheer her on from the landing!
We've also taken our BravoFor2 to the St Louis Zoo a few times and I am always impressed with how easily I can navigate through bumpy terrain and winding, crowded pathways, all while pushing some 50+ lbs of squishy baby cuteness. That's not including the insane amount of storage this thing has. The bottom basket is accessible from the front and back making it a breeze to reach another juice box or pacifier in a pinch. I always strap on my trusty Mommy Hook for bags and totes to keep the weight off of me and everything still readily available.
The Chicco BravoFor2 is not just for toddlers, though! Our last zoo excursion included my 7 year old sister and she folded up the second seat to stand and take a break from walking for a while. The padded back rest and easy-to-reach handles made her feel comfortable standing up while still moving.
When you want to utilize the second seat, simply fold the seat down and strap your child in! It's so quick, we were easily able to let everyone take turns in the stroller!
Keeping track of two kids is hard enough on it's own, but in a crowd you really have to go hands-free. I love that my phone fits perfectly into this little zip pouch with plenty of room to spare for keys, cards, sunglasses, etc. all within reach for quick checks but still kept safe when I need to focus on what's going on around me.
When it's time to go, this double folds up with ONE hand and stays standing upright until I can hoist it into my car. It's a little hefty when folded up, but fits nicely in the back of my small Mazda Tribute and unfolds again in a pinch! I can't believe how much this stroller feels like a single but still seats both my babies like a breeze. It's quickly becoming my favorite baby accessory...so much so that I recently sold my other single stroller because I know I'll only use my BravoFor2, even if I only happen to have one child with me.
So what tips do you have for beating the heat and breaking out of the house with your littles? Share your favorite family activity that would be the perfect destination for your next trip in a Chicco BravoFor2 double stroller!
