Summer in the Mitten is pure magic—sunny lake days, road trips Up North, backyard cookouts, and plenty of sandy toes. But as every mom knows, the *right* gear makes all the difference. We’ve rounded up 38 summer must-haves from Amazon that make mommin’ easier, cleaner, safer, and a whole lot more fun.
These are the things we use, love, and can’t imagine Michigan summer without.
🛟 Safety First (But Make It Cute and Convenient)
- Infant & Toddler Life Jackets – Our favorite fits for lake days that keep the little ones comfy and safe.
- Solar Buddies Sunscreen Applicator – Goodbye, sunscreen meltdowns. This tool makes application fast and kid-friendly.
- Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen and Play Sunscreen – Non-greasy and mom-tested, perfect for both beach and playground, and the unseen, chefs kiss for moms face!
- Mosquito Repellent Bands and Thermacell Repeller – Keep the itch away in true Michigan style.
- Beach / Sun Shade – Honestly the greatest ever, weighs less than 4 lbs, storage bag fits in a backpack and unpacks/repacks in minutes!
🛝 Kid-Approved Fun (With Less Mess)
- Unicorn Water Table – Splash zone fun without the need for a pool.
- Slip N’ Slide – Need we say more?!
- Bucketgolf – A family favorite game that mixes golf and putt-putt in your own backyard or purchase one of these Franklin Sports Golf Set and a pack of practice balls to tee off with your mini athlete!
- Seascooter + Full Face Snorkel – Turn lake days into full-on underwater adventures.
- 8-Pack Clip Swim Goggles – Because extras are always needed.
- Seek & Splash Water Game – Dive games for all ages, includes sinking gems, numbers, or rings with matching waterproof cards. HOURS of independent fun (and hidden learning!)
🎨 Creative & Screen-Free Play
- Ooly Sparkle Gel Markers + Twist Stick Pastels – Arts and crafts made easy for rainy cabin days.
- Hoyle Waterproof Playing Cards + Waterproof Uno – Boat-proof, beach-proof games the whole family loves.
- Bubble Wands plus some Gazillion Bubble Mix – HOURS of driveway / yard fun!
🍉 Summer Hosting Made Easy
- Baskets + Parchment Liners – See ya paper plates, hello cost effective summer eating with clean-up made effortless.
- Wood Cutting Board + Electric Lighter – Prep, serve, and light the grill or fire pit in style.
- Solo Stove – Bonfire magic with way less smoke. A summer staple!
- JBL Mini Speaker – Tunes for lake days, pool hangs, or backyard dance parties.
🚲 Outdoor Adventures, Upgraded
- Rechargeable Bike Lights + Wheel Lights – Night rides just got safer and cooler.
- Portable Air Pump – Floaties, tires, you name it. This one’s a lifesaver especially when bringing floats out for a lake day… inflate on the spot!
- Weighted Vest – Add a little challenge to those stroller walks or solo hikes.
🏖️ Mom-Hacks for Travel + Beach Days
- Beach Mesh Bag – Sand falls out, and it holds all the things especially those coveted Petoskey Stones!
- Silicone Training Cup + Straw – Spill-resistant and picnic perfect for toddlers.
- Dock & Bay Quick-Dry Towels – Slim, soft, and dry in a flash. Perfect for travel, on the boat, etc. take up less rooms in bags!
- Rechargeable Misting Stroller Fan – Cool the kiddos (or parents) down anywhere, anytime.
- Tan-Luxe Illuminating Serum – Because your face deserves a glow-up too.
- Baby Sun Hat – Practical, protective, and ridiculously cute.
🧼 Clean & Calm the Chaos
- Miss Mouth’s Stain Spray – Ketchup? Popsicles? Mystery goo? Gone.
- Broom & Dustpan Set – Lightweight and perfect for porches or campers… and your house basically the greatest broom we’ve ever owned. That makes us old, right?
- Indoor Fruit Fly Trap – Because fruit flies always try to ruin the fun (see below).
- Jolie Filtering Shower Head – Keeps that blonde poppin’, your skin clear, and the brassiness and toxins out of your water!
- Citrus Disposal Cleaning Tablets – Seems like in the summer its all the things down the sink, removes the smell and the junk that attracts those darn little bugs!
✨ You can find all 38 summer favorites in one place on our Amazon Storefront!
Here’s to lake days, late sunsets, and less stress. These picks help you spend more time making memories—and less time searching for missing goggles or scrubbing popsicle stains.
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