We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. An inflatable air mattress with built-in safety bumpers so now your little one can have sleepovers at Grandma's house this summer without worrying about rolling off the bed. Parents love this for traveling with their kids!
Promising review: "We bought this for my toddler to sleep in when we travel, because he is too big for the pack 'n' play, but he still sleeps in a crib at night. He did great in this, and didn't get up at night. I bought it because of the sides around the bed." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $89.39+ (available in two colors).
2. A grape cutter if grapes are your tot's fave summer snack but it takes you forever to cut them up by hand. This will quickly slice grapes into quarters so they're less of a hazard for your snacking tot. It's also safe enough for your tot to use (with your supervision, of course).
Promising review: "I wish I would’ve had this a LONG time ago. This little gadget has come in so handy. If you have a toddler or small child, you NEED this. It quarters grapes, cherry tomatoes, olives, etc. so they aren’t choking hazards for little ones. So much faster than slicing every tiny grape up yourself. 10/10 would recommend." —Sara Waits
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
3. A foldable Doona toddler tricycle stroller to help your kiddo gain confidence in their balancing act while you both navigate farmers' markets, amusement parks, and tourist attractions while on vacation.
Promising review: "We love our Doona Liki Trike, and since we purchased it, we’ve not taken the large stroller out a single time. It’s easy to unfold, a bit trickier to fold. It needs better storage. I wish it could recline for a nap. But my 10.5-month-old son has gone from hating strolling to giggling and squealing when he gets into his trike. He’s now completely a part of the action, and that definitely outweighs the few downsides of the trike. Also, we get stopped every single day to talk about it…if you live in NYC and you find that sort of thing annoying, don’t purchase LOL. We don’t mind the interaction and engagement at all, especially for building social skills." —DRMo
Get it from Amazon for $250.
4. A balance bike so they can feel the wind in their hair as they ride around your backyard (or inside if it's a rainy summer day)!
Promising review: "It’s the cutest little bike. Comes with the tool needed to assemble. Super easy to assemble. Took my husband five minutes. We got it for our grandbaby's first birthday. She can’t reach the ground yet nor is she walking but we just push her around and are excited that she’ll grow into it. Her first bike." —Lisa
Get it from Amazon for $54.99+ (available in eight colors).
5. A mom-invented bug bite suction tool from Shark Tank for mosquito bite relief. It pretty much sucks the irritant out from under skin so the whole family can live an itch-free life.
6. A pack of insect-repellent wipes that'll work for up to 12 hours! These DEET-free wipes are easy to travel with and safe to use on kids so they can keep playing outside without the threat of mosquitoes.
BuzzFeed editor Elizabeth Lilly is a fan of these wipes:
"When I was a kid, someone told me that mosquitoes love me because I'm so sweet. And I FULLY believe that as an adult because I still get eaten alive if I'm out for long periods of time without wearing some kind of repellent. I've used these wipes on several park days here in NYC (sitting on a picnic blanket drinking wine with friends is more or less screaming COME GET ME to skeeters). But I've really found success with them on a recent hot weekend trip to Savannah, Georgia. I don't notice any smell when using them and have found one wipe to have enough repellant for my arms and legs. So basically, a one and done. I don't think that I've gotten *any* bug bites on days I've used these wipes. Plus, I have extremely sensitive skin but haven't had any irritation from these seemingly powerful wipes!"
Promising review: "The wipes made it much easier to get coverage on my squirming toddler who hates being wiped with anything." —Rose
Get three packs of 12 wipes from Amazon for $25.47.
7. A curly hair children's leave-in detangling conditioner made with jojoba oil, vitamin B5, and plum seed oil to make wash day for your little one waaaay easier, especially on days when post-swimming tangles have taken over your kid's head.
Promising review: "This has been a lifesaver for thick, somewhat fine, curly hair that tangles and elicits the screams of a banshee when brushed with a wet brush and any other detangling product or oil. We've tried at least six different ones, including making our own with coconut oil/grapeseed oil/conditioner, which just resulted in oily tangles. This spray is now on our subscriptions and all our kids ask for me to use it." —happyshopper
Get it from Amazon for $9.34.
8. A kid's gardening tools set if they've been wanting to help you grow your vegetable patch but never had age-appropriate tools to use. Now they can plant their own seeds and watch them grow!
This set includes a tote, an apron, gloves, a rake, a shovel, a trowel, a butterfly net, a watering can, and a spray bottle.
Promising review: "My great grandson LOVED this gift. He's 4 years old. He put on all the gear and then gardened with his grandparents and had a wonderful experience." —Donna Larschan
Get it from Amazon for $32.95.
9. A flexible faucet extender so now you don't have to lift your little munchkin every time they need to wash their hands, which in the summer is a lot because they've taken to making lots of mud pies. And, it'll make them feel like a lil' grown up!
Promising review: “Before I knew a thing like this existed, I spent the time it took to wash my squirming kiddo's hands one at a time wondering how long it was going to take for his arms to grow enough to reach the faucet. I'm so glad I have this thing now! The setup is just taking it out of the box and stretching the rubber part around the faucet; it took two seconds plus some time to adjust to the best angle. Now I can wash my 15-month-old's hands at the same time and the whole process is much faster and easier. He liked it right away too!” —Michelle G
Get two from Amazon for $11.49.
10. A set of sand castle molds if your child is a burgeoning 11th-century architect who would love to build large castles fit for royalty.
Promising review: "So glad we bought these for our beach trip this year. My 5- and 2-year-olds had so much fun making multiple sandcastles using these. With the right amount of water and sand mixed, they were easy to use. Also great to use them as baskets!" —HS
Get a set of four from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in two styles).
11. A super long water slide to make those hot summer days a little bit cooler. It comes with a body board, so your kids can slip and slide safely. Just connect your hose to this inflatable plaything, and let the fun commence!
Promising review: "We played slip and slide kick ball with a group of teenagers by using four of these. The expectation was that they may get popped or damaged, but they looked nearly new even after our wild game. They were long enough to make a great infield and the red monsters on the end made clear bases." —M Mac
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
12. A 12-pack of acrylic paint pens so they can give faces to all the pet rocks they've been collecting on their journeys outside.
13. An outdoor mud kitchen because your kid's got mud pie recipes for daysss. This will help them explore the world outside while also giving them some of the tools one would need to cook in an actual kitchen. Let their imaginations run wild!
This set includes stainless-steel pans and a whisk.
Promising review: "We live in a desert, so anytime you can find something that supports water play without a bunch of repetitive setup, it is a win. The kiddos love 'cooking,' and a toy pot and pan set has made this the toy of choice on a hot day!" —Michael S Hines
Get it from Amazon for $153.01.
14. An inflatable unicorn sprinkler that'll spray water from its magical horn, turning your backyard into a fun and mystical playground.
It comes with four stakes (one for each leg), so you don't have to worry about this unicorn flying away.
Promising review: "Other than the kids trying to get on the unicorn to ride it, it was a huge hit! Inflated easily with a blow-up bed electric pump. Appreciated that it came with stakes and an extra hose attachment. Sprayed well and was worth the money!" —Brittany Utz
Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in two sizes).
15. A Step2 water table — build this educational water landscape for your little one in your backyard so they can splash around and learn about cause and effect through creating waterfalls.
Promising review: "Purchased for my grandson who loves to play in the water. Perfect height for a 2-year-old. Easy to put together, sturdy, and lots of different things to do. The top part is like a waterfall; it has lots of little holes for the water to come through." —dd
Get it from Amazon for $79.99.
16. An easy-to-pack, UPF 50+ wide-brim bucket hat so they can play at the park or beach all day since their precious faces will be protected from the sun. Pair with a great facial sunscreen lotion so they are doubly protected.
UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) is a measure of how much UV radiation reaches your skin through a fabric. UPF 50 means it's designed to block 98% of the sun's rays.
Promising review: "Bought these for my kids for our Hawaii trip. Been using them ever since. Great quality! Awesome facial coverage for extra UV protection for my little ones! They're comfortable. And come with an adjustable strap to ensure it won't fall off in the wind. And the pattern is an extra cute bonus! Would definitely repurchase!" —Kaity Miller
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 22 patterns and colors).
17. A pack of 420 self-sealing rapid-fill water balloons because what is summer without a water balloon fight?! No need to hand-tie each individual balloon. Just fill and throw!
Promising review: "There are few things in today's ever-changing society that you try once and make you never go back to the 'old way' of doing it again. This is one of them. Follow the directions given and you will have a bunch of well-filled balloons ready for fun times in under 60 seconds. Can you fill them up faster? Probably. But just do as the packaging says and take your time, you won't be disappointed." —Mr. H
Get it from Amazon for $43.32.
18. A traveling scavenger hunt card game perfect for having fun on the go AKA on your summer roadtrips! Keep your kids entertained by having them find any of 54 objects that can be spotted from the car.
Promising review: "I bought this for our road trip desperate for something to keep our kids entertained. This was super fun! My husband, I, and our 5-year-old had fun playing it together. My 3-year-old was trying but is a little bit too young for it. The pictures are fun and engaging. I honestly had a great time and would recommend this to other parents looking for something to keep their kids busy!" —Heather
Get it from Amazon for $9.94.
19. A set of four super cute dinosaur ice pop molds you can use to make your own ice pops out of fruit purée, yogurt, or juice! Because they're made from silicone, they're easy to use and clean. Your little one will ~roar~ with excitement!
Promising review: “These molds worked perfectly! I filled them with puréed berries and they took the shape of the mold excellently. It was very easy to peel off the silicone mold so the ice pop did not lose any shape or detail. I rinsed the mold with hot water and tossed in the top rack of the dishwasher to wash.” —Finest018
Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in three other fun shapes).
20. A pack of 24 potty seat covers so now your little one can do their ~business~ in public restrooms while you're out and about this summer without the fear of germs. These covers are also long enough that your kid's legs won't touch the toilet either.
Promising review: “We recently went on a day trip to Sea World, and these toilet seat covers were a lifesaver. We used these with the Gimars foldable potty seat, and the combo made potty time much easier. These covers have two small strips of adhesive that ensure the cover doesn't slide off the toilet seat, and they are actually pretty strong strips. The cover didn't move once adhered to the toilet seat. The cover has a plastic film on the bottom side, which ensures that 'liquids' on the toilet seat don't soak through. I love how my foldable potty seat never had to touch the nasty toilet seat. It also was long enough to drape over the front and sides of the toilet. My toddler has a habit of grabbing the sides of the toilet for stability, and the extra protection from these covers was nice. Plus, since the cover drapes over the front of the toilet, my daughter's pull-up and shorts don't touch the front of the toilet. Overall, great product! These are much thicker than those cheap tissue paper toilet seat covers. Will repurchase.” —Taryn
Get the pack of 24 from Amazon for $9.99.
21. A colorful DIY rock climbing wall set because your future mountain climber needs all the practice they can get. Not only can these mountable rock climbing grips hold up to 225 pounds each, but they can also be used indoors or outdoors.
The set includes 25 hand and foot grips, two climbing handles, and a knotted climbing rope.
Promising reviews: "Great for summer! Kids LOVE them!" —Ashley Skaggs
"My girls absolutely love this! We’ve been wanting to give them some things inside the house to climb and jump on since it’s cold here and we’re stuck in the house most days. We haven’t installed the rope yet but plan to do so soon. The climbing holds are very durable and seem pretty sturdy. They are also a good size, making it easy for my girls to hold on to. I would definitely recommend this to as it’s a lot of fun!" —KKL—L&L’s Little Shop of Goodies- Living Life RV Rentals
Get a set from Amazon for $46.99.
22. A too-cute bubble leaf blower if your little one wants to help with the curb appeal of your home. This comes with three bottles of bubble solution so they can spray bubbles every day this summer.
Promising review: "The batteries last forever, even when my toddler had it by his side making bubbles all day long. I came back to write a review because I cannot believe how tough this toy is!! My toddler has chucked this bubble-maker across the yard many many times, yet it still works. Last week we had a rainstorm, and it rained for a week straight with cold weather. We did not know it was left outside. Well, when we found it leaking water, and in the mud, I tried, and it did not work. I took out the rusted batteries and let it air dry for a few hours. I popped new batteries in, and guess what? It works again! Highly recommend." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $26.99.
23. Or a set of massive bubble wands that'll keep your kids entertained all summer long!
The set also comes with instructions on how to make the BIGGEST bubbles possible! It's great for kids of all ages.
Promising review: "The wand is awesome, but even MORE awesome is that I just used regular bubble solution (way cheaper, found anywhere) and it worked just as well." —Lauri
"Since my kids and I won't be going anywhere this summer, I was looking for things to keep them entertained in the backyard and came across this product. My kids loved making bubbles and it was easy for everyone to do." —Khadya
Get it from Amazon for $15.95.
24. A wind-proof kids bubble umbrella for summer's famous rain showers. Its clear canopy construction means your little one will still be able to see where they're going.
25. Small body bumpers so your little ones can literally bounce around all summer long!
Recommended for kids ages 4–12, these body bumpers measure 25 inches L x 25 inches W x 23 inches H.
PSA: Make sure helmets are worn during bump-offs.
Promising review: "Absolutely hilarious to watch! I got these for my kids (7 and 8) because i thought it would be a perfect way to blow off steam and get out some energy...it was great! They ran at each other pretty hard, but it didn't pop and no one got hurt! If your kids do a lot of bickering like mine do, get these! 😅" —Sky Moran
Get two from Amazon for $16.99.
26. A pair of polarized WeeFarers sunglasses to protect baby's eyes from the sun. Plus, they'll be the coolest kid on the playground sporting these.
BuzzFeed editor Heather Braga loves them:
"I 'splurged' on these for my little one and have zero regrets! He, shockingly, doesn't mind wearing them at all, and he looks so freakin' cute in them, I can't help but take a million photos anytime he has them on. I love that you can register them and if something happens to them within your first year of owning them, you'll be able to get a replacement. I even bought them as a gift for my friend's baby's first Christmas — I love them that much."
Promising review: "We love these! I can’t even believe my 3-month-old doesn’t try to pull them off, but apparently he finds them comfortable enough to just leave them. We get so many compliments when he has them on and people love the play on the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarers and the 'WeeFarer' name. Best of all, I can rest assured that his little eyes are protected. The little strap is great to keep them in place. We will definitely be buying the next size up when he grows out of these." —Sara
Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in 4 sizes and 12 styles).
27. A super cool Jeep Wrangler because they've got places to go and people to see. You can control how fast your little one goes so you don't have to worry about them getting involved in any high-speed crashes.
Promising review: “Got this for my 4-year-old son for his birthday and he is OBSESSED with it! The first thing he does in the morning is ask me if we can go outside to ride his Jeep. If you have a toddler who loves Jeeps/cars, you cannot go wrong with this!” —Danielle Comins
Get it from Amazon for $349.99.
28. A kids' bow and arrow with foam-tipped arrows so they can have fun with target practice in the backyard. They'll love staying active with this durable and easy-to-shoot toy, which definitely beats playing archery video games!
Marky Sparky is a small business crafting games you and your kid can play outside.
Promising review: "Our 5-year-old son loves to take this to the park with dad. Even dad loves to shoot the arrows! It attracts all of the other kids at the playground/ park so be prepared to share, haha." —J.
Get it from Marky Sparky on Amazon for $29.99.
29. A butterfly growing kit to teach them about the life cycle of a caterpillar with this ~transformative~ butterfly habitat.
Insect Lore is a parent-owned small biz wanting to share the magic of nature and science with you and your family.
Promising review: "We loved this thing. All the caterpillars turned into beautiful butterflies. I felt like a kid again and my daughter loved it and wanted to do it again." —Raquel Solis
Get it from Insect Lore on Amazon for $24.99.
30. Kid-sized binoculars if your little one is a burgeoning bird watcher. Support their self-propelled learning and curiosity with these!
31. A wooden swing set that'll turn your backyard into a playground with these fun and sturdy swings! You'll be able to keep a closer eye on your kid(s) and they won't have to venture too far for snack and bathroom breaks. Win-win!
The swing set has pinch-free coating on the chains, so no need to fret about those tiny fingers getting caught.
Promising review: "This swing set is a good value for the money. The instructions were clear and assembly was easy. The lumber was sanded and finished. The metal pieces were well coated and the hardware is stainless. The chains are rubber sleeved and the seats/bars are well made. This is not a heavy piece of playground equipment, but it is, I think, good for my kids. Anchoring it securely is an important part of the installation and since we have it down right, I don't see it moving around very much at all. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase and it surprises me how much my kids, who get way too much screen time, go out into the yard to use this." —tmkreutzer
Get it from Amazon for $299.95+ (available in two styles).
32. A pack of oversized sidewalk chalk they'll have so much fun drawing and writing colorful messages with! They're pretty unbreakable and roll-proof because of how chunky they are.
Urban Infant is a Chicago-based small business run by a brother/sister duo making unique and useful parenting products.
Promising review: "Our 1-year-old loves these. It was his first time using chalk and he had no trouble with them. They are pretty thick; doesn't matter how he holds them, there will be contact with the surface and there will be color!" —JW
Get it from Urban Infant on Amazon for $11.95 (also available in glitter chalk).
33. A mini digital camera perfect for exploring all kinds of portraits since it can also take selfies. You might just have a young Annie Leibovitz on your hands! They'll love snapping shots of all the fun places you take them this summer.
34. A cute playhouse if you have the yard space for this rather inexpensive home addition for your little ones (and their neighborhood friends) to play in.
Promising review: "I really liked that I was able to put this together within 30 minutes by myself. Everything was pre-drilled and the directions were extremely easy to follow. We have had some storms recently that have taken the cottage flying through the wind and landing upside down and it hasn’t broken anywhere! It’s very light to where I can pick it up and toss it if I needed to and big enough for my kids and their friends to play in. Overall a great buy!" —melinda
Get it from Amazon for $139.
35. A kids' picnic table with an adjustable umbrella so your little one can enjoy their snacks outside and still be protected from the sun's rays.
Promising review: "This picnic table is adorable. I can sit on it too with our granddaughters which makes it all the more fun. The umbrella is big enough to cover us from the sun's rays." —S. B. Mullens
Get it from Amazon for $139.99 (available in two colors).
36. A waterproof saucer swing your kids will beg to go outside this summer to play with/lounge on! It hangs in minutes and is super durable. And if you have a swing set, you can even add this to it.
Promising review: "My 7- and 4-year-old granddaughters love this swing! They don’t have to wait turns because both can sit or lay on the saucer at the same time! I used my swing hooks to attach the saucer swing. It worked perfectly. I just had to adjust the rope height so it was higher off the ground." —M K.
Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two sizes).
37. A set of silicone beach toys because now your kiddo can make fun shapes in the sand while at the beach! It even comes with a mesh bag, so they can carry their toys (or collect their favorite rocks and shells).
Promising review: "I had been looking for a sturdy nonplastic sand toy set, and I'm so glad I found this one by Blue Ginkgo. Plastic tends to get brittle and usually breaks over time. I wanted something that would grow with my toddler for longer than a year. Ordered the yellow bucket, shovel, pastel molds, and blue tote set a few weeks ago, and it's gotten daily use every day! My 2.5-year-old loves loves, LOVES it all. In the sand pit, in the wood chip playground, and at the beach. It's light enough for him to carry to the park. Very easy to clean with soap and water and towel dry for more pretend-to-play indoors. The durability so far has been fantastic. The bucket and shovel are light enough for easy carry, but sturdy enough to keep up with my toddler. Highly recommend." —Cydney M Elliott
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in six colors).
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.