I’m a Commerce Editor With Two Kids — Here Are My Summer Must-Haves

A pink Bluey and Bingo print on a Bentgo box? For real life?! I love Bentgo boxes for packing lunches and snacks for the pool (or for camp), and the brand’s collab with Bluey has me itching to add another to my collection. It’s so easy to pack — no plastic sandwich bags needed — and I can just toss it into the cooler for later. Since it seals shut, I don’t have to worry about melted ice making sandwiches or snacks soggy.

If you’re not into the pink print, there are two other fun prints to choose from, too. Also, Bentgo is expanding its product offerings with the Bluey prints later this month. In addition to this box, they’ll also offer a lunchbox, water bottle, and Bluey-shaped ice packs.

I don’t have data to prove this, but I’m fairly certain that my kids spend more time underwater at the pool than they do above it. And there is nothing they love more than dive toys. This set includes 60 gems in a variety of shapes and colors, a storage bag, a game guide, and game cards. Kids can either free-play with the gems or use the included game cards, which gives them a specific combination of gems to find per round of play.

I appreciate that there are so many gems in this set, because my kids are bound to lose a few over the course of the summer. And even if they lost half of the gems, there would still be more than enough for them to play with.

If you’re not familiar, Olipop is a brand of prebiotic soda available in a variety of flavors. I’m particularly interested in the Shirley Temple flavor, which combines vanilla, lemon, lime, and cherry flavors in a way that reminds me of the Shirley Temples I drank as a kid (just with much less sugar). While you can pop this in a fridge or pour it over ice for a chilled drink, I like that this flavor doesn’t need to be refrigerated, so I can safely put it into my cooler and not panic if the ice melts as the day goes on. I also like having these on hand as a fun treat option for pool days and cookouts.

Olipop is available at several retailers, but if you order through its official website, use the promo code HEALTH15 for 15% off your order.

We take sunscreen very seriously in my home, but since my youngest daughter has eczema, we have to be mindful about what brands and formulas we use to avoid irritating her skin. We’ve found Supergoop! Play to be a good fit for all of us. The chemical version offers SPF 50 protection, and while it works well for my daughter’s skin, it contains some extracts that may irritate very sensitive skin (but there is an even gentler mineral version available in SPF 30). I love that this is lightweight, water and sweat-resistant for 80 minutes, easy to rub in, and doesn’t leave skin feeling sticky.