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**Many thanks to JĀSÖN for sending this sunscreen and bug spray for me to test out, and for sponsoring this post! This blog post was written in partnership with JĀSÖN. As always, the thoughts and opinions expressed below are entirely my own.
Our first Winter in Connecticut was…rough. After the cuteness of a “White Christmas” had passed, the long weekends stuck inside with a toddler and a newborn really took their toll. Cabin Fever to the max! We would sit together and count the days until the sun was out, our pool was open for the season, and the weather was nice enough to do what we LOVE to do as a family– explore! All four of us can’t get enough of spending time outdoors. In fact, I will go so far as to say that spending weekly time outdoors really contributes to my own good mood and sense of mental wellbeing. Even Major loves taking walks in the stroller outside!
When spending time as a family outdoors, though, safety is key. It’s more important than ever to be wearing the right kind of SPF and even bug spray! Spring is a really gorgeous and uplifting season, but the sun can be searing one minute and fine the next– and the bugs are usually out in full force! With Zika exploding like wildfire across the world, you can never be too safe. I don’t mess with mosquitos at all anymore. Not to mention gnats, ticks, and fleas. Stay away from my babies!
For both Sunscreen and Bug Spray, I prefer to use products with minimal chemicals. It’s so important for the kids, and for Kyle and I as well! Plus it seems crazy to use one product on the kids and a different product on us– why not streamline? Right now, I’m loving the JĀSÖN line of sunscreen and “Quit Bugging Me” Insect Repellant spray. I really like the sunscreen because it’s split up in to two categories– one for face and one for the rest of the body. I love when brands do this, because as somebody who has had problem skin in the past, I’m always weary of a one-product-fits-every-body-part mentality. Who wants breakouts after a day in the sun? The JĀSÖN Sun facial sunscreen is non-greasy and doesn’t make me break out! Plus, it rubs in easily so I can apply makeup on top. The JĀSÖN Family Sunscreen is also awesome. It’s non-greasy and water resistant– and I love that it’s Broad Spectrum SPF 45. I always make sure to lather up all four of us right before going out and to reapply often while we explore.
“Quit Bugging Me” Insect Repellant spray (available at Whole Foods) definitely wins the award for cutest named bug spray. Ha! I really like the formula as well. It’s not overpowering for the kids, and keeps the pesky bugs at bay. It makes me feel good to know I’m spraying something on their skin that isn’t filled with harmful chemicals that Major (and Marlowe, to be honest) will inevitably lick off at some point in the day. I normally spray this on while we’re out and just reapply as needed. Even spraying the outside of your pants can help. I make sure to focus on the ankles and legs this time of year. Major is already crawling all over the place so it’s especially important for him being so close to the ground!
Whenever we hang outside for a few hours at a time, I make sure to bring a bag filled with my essentials. What do you pack when you venture outdoors with kiddos?
My Outdoor Adventuring Bag Must-Haves
- JĀSÖN Facial Sunscreen and JĀSÖN Family Sunscreen
- JĀSÖN “Quit Bugging Me” Insect Repellant spray
- Sunglasses for the whole family
- Water Bottles for Kyle and I and sippy cups filled with water and ice for the kids! TIP: I like to pep up my own water bottle with a couple drops of Lemon Essential oil.
- Sun Hats. I try to wear a hat of some kind when I’m in the sun for longer periods of time. If Marlowe won’t wear her sunglasses I plop a hat on her head, and Major with his fair and sensitive skin is pretty much guaranteed a nice little sun hat A burnt baby is not a good look!
- A blanket for the grass. It’s crucial to have someplace to rest!
- An ergonomic baby carrier.
- Snacks! Nothing uplifts a Toddler’s mood when it’s taken a nosedive than a yummy snack!
- A Puppet. My husband thinks I’m crazy, but if the kids are melting down, a simple little hand puppet always does the trick. I put on a funny voice and ask them lots of questions about what they’re seeing around them. It always puts them back in a good mood!
Great post!! I have 2 little ones and we live in Arizona so always thinking about protecting them from
The sun and bugs! Can you tell us where you got your dress and that adorable straw bag? Xx Robyn
Hi Robyn! My dress is by Vineyard Vines and the bag was a gift, so I’m not sure!
This is great I will have to try these products. I was pregnant last summer and terrified of all the zika stuff that was happening then so I was buying all kinds of Natural and synthetic stuff to keep bugs away. My kids got a taste of summer last week and now ask every day to go to the beach to play or go to the splash pad. Sunblock is a constant struggle but they are so fair skinned I don’t give them a choice.
Oooof I know me too with the Zika stuff. We actually cancelled a vacation last summer because of Zika while I was pregnant!
So here’s a tip that helps (because marlowe is not the best w sunblock either) with kids who fuss about Sunblock: I put it on first thing in the morning before I get them dressed, like a regular lotion. For some reason doing it like that instead of after putting the bathing suit on first then applying makes her less antsy and bothered by it. Of course reapplying in the middle of when they’re having fun outside is still a struggle but at least you get a little time out of it!
I love the hand puppet tip! What a great idea! My children are a little too old for puppets but I still find I can snap them out of a near miss meltdown or mood dip if I pull a silly face and say something in a daft voice (usually I sing a crazy made up song or start dancing – OMG Mum, in-the-street, people can actually see you! It ALWAYS works! I love the way my 12 year old daughter tries really hard to maintain her grumpiness and not crack and laugh – but Mumma always wins!
Ha! I love that!
Love your dress and earrings!
About the bug spray–I am always a bit concerned about ticks when using a DEET-free spray. While I want to keep chemicals to a minimum on my little guy, I live in the northeast like you, and lyme disease freaks me out! We always use something a little stronger for longer stretches outside and, according to AAP, less than 10% DEET in a spray is completely safe on infants over 2 months…