Summer Essentials Guide for Families 2020

Summer is almost here and soon enough families everywhere in Melbourne will be hitting the beach or the pool, going away for the Summer holidays and in general spending lots of time outside. We have put together a list of our favourite Summer Essentials so you can be prepared for Summer 2020!

10 Things Your Family Needs This Summer

Find below 10 things you need to get ready for Summer! We love supporting local, so are happy to recommend products from many Australian owned companies.

1. Sunsafe Swimwear

If you are planning on spending your Summer days outdoors, at the beach or in the pool, you and your family will need some protective swimwear that is is going to last.

Sandy Feet have a fabulous and fun range of children’s swimwear which is UPF50+, Chlorine Proof, Quick Dry, and won’t fade or stretch over time. The range includes toddler suits, two-piece bathers, board shorts, rashies, hats, and towels. They also have a great range of rashies for adults too.

With protective sunhats and sand free beach towels, you can match up the whole family.
See more HERE.

2. Beach Tent

If you love the outdoors, whether it be out in the backyard for a picnic, or at the beach, a protective beach tent is a must have Summer accessory for the whole family.

We have the ForSunPlay pop up beach tent which can be set up and packed away in under a minute. Unlike many other beach tents which require time (and patience) to put together, my 8 year old can set this up by himself.

It is spacious enough for a family, and has it’s own backpack to carry in, which is especially convenient when you have little ones in tow. It is also Australian certified with a UPF50+ rating.
See our review HERE or check out their WEBSITE.

3. Sun Shade

A sunshade is an alternative option for those who don’t need a beach “tent” but still want to enjoy the outdoors being sun smart. We love the Amisoleil sunshade which is lightweight, easy to assemble, and ideal for lazy days at the beach.

The canvas is UPF 50+, and can be set up in multiple configurations depending on the sun and breeze. There is a handy carry bag so your hands are free to carry the rest of your beach gear. And it has a fantastic beach blanket to match!
See more HERE and use the code MLE10 for $10 off!

4. Large Beach Blanket

Summer means spending more time outdoors. It may be a simple backyard picnic, it could be heading to your local park, or even on a day trip. A picnic blanket will always come in handy and can easily be left in the boot of your car just in case you need it.

We use the Amisoleil picnic blanket. It’s great because it is huge, (5m x 2.5m) but is lightweight and folds up quite small. The best thing is that it is water resistant, so spillages aren’t a problem. And if it does get dirty it is machine washable.

5. Kids Hooded Towels

Keep the kids warm after coming out of the water with their very own hooded towel. Our kids have been using the hooded towels from Sammimis who have a beautiful range of kids towels made of Turkish cotton. Just slip them on after the kids get out from the beach or the pool to dry off and keep warm. They have various different colours and sizes from babies to older kids and even adults too. Short sleeve or long sleeve to match your needs.
Read our review here or see their WEBSITE.

6.  Sun and Swim Hats

Every child needs a good sun hat to keep their face out of the sun on those warm Summer days. Sandy feet have gorgeous bucket hats for kids of all ages in a range of colours and styles. With UPF 50+ protection, they are chlorine proof, quick drying, and guaranteed not to fade or lose shape. They are also made from retro Scandinavian designs and match the Sandy Feet Swimwear.
See the full range HERE

7. Beach Bag

Every family needs a large beach bag or carry bag to bring along all of the kid’s gear. They come in handy when packing towels and bathers for the beach or pool. And if you are heading out for a picnic, a stylish carry bag is great to hold the kid’s toys, games, extra clothes and snacks.

We use the Sammimis jumbo beach bag made of Turkish cotton which is perfect for all of our family outings. It has 3 large pockets which comfortably fits all of our towels and beach gear. These stylish beach bags are water repellent, and fully washable too which is convenient.

My fav though is the matching wet bag, which is perfect for bringing home the kid’s wet bathers after a day swimming at the pool or beach so nothing else gets all wet and soggy in the bag.
See the whole range HERE

8. Kid Proof Sunnies

Most adults own a pair of sunnies but parents often forget about their kids. Kids’ eyes are just as important and need protecting from the harmful sun rays. Flexi Sunnies are the perfect solution for young children, as their sunglasses are flexible and won’t break when kids bend them backwards.

Flexi Sunnies have a large range of styles from your classic sunglasses with the standard or mirrored lenses, aviators, and even heart and flowered shaped sunglasses too. We love the colour range, there is something for every boy girl and even for babies too!
Read our review here or see their Website.

9. Comfortable Footwear (For Kids & Parents)

Everyone needs a good pair of Summer sandals. For Kids we love Minnow Designs. They have a really cute range of Summer sandals which are super lightweight, waterproof, easy for little hands to put on and pull off, and machine washable! They also have water booties with a unique design, made to be completely swimmable and not add any drag to the water.
See the whole range HERE.

For parents the brand new Flipsides are fantastic! They are a natural rubber flip-flop slide with a similar feel to the Havaiianas, but are a little more “adult like” in their design with the double strap. The Flipsides are super comfortable and come in a range of colours and sizes.
See the range HERE.

10. Insulated Water bottles

Nobody likes to be drinking warm water in Summer time, so a good quality insulated water bottle is a must have. We love our B.box Insulated drink bottles which keep drinks cool for hours! There is also the matching food jar too which is perfect for fruit salads or yoghurts. They also double up for Winter essentials too because in the cooler weather they also keep things warm.
Read our review here.

Are You Ready for Summer?

Make sure you are ready for Summer with our list of Summer Essentials for 2020! It may be a different Summer this year than most of us are used to, but let’s make the most of it!

Looking for more things to do in Melbourne with kids? Check out our main page MELBOURNE WITH KIDS, follow us on FACEBOOK or join our FACEBOOK GROUP – Melbourne for Kids, What’s On!