Summer MVPs for Moms

Are you in the market for the hero products that can make your summer go that much more smoothly? Here are the products that I think are the summer MVPs for moms.

It’s halfway (ish) through the summer. Over the last few weeks, I’ve used a lot of products. Some old products, some new products. Some products that worked great, and some that left something to be desired. Using all these products has lead me to develop a list of products that I can’t do without during the summer. They are the summer MVPs for me, and I think would also be summer MVPs for moms in general.

Now, although I stand behind these summer MVPs for moms, I don’t want you to feel pressure to buy them. If you have items that work really well for your family, use what you have! These recommendations might be helpful to you if you’re looking for a particular item or if what you are using is driving you batty.

Pool bag

Perhaps my favorite new acquisition this summer has been my new pool bag. If you read my June Things 2025 post, you’ll know that I put off getting a new pool bag for a very long time. I got every bit of use out of a free beach bag gifted to us on our honeymoon that I possibly could. But when the bag broke early this summer, I was forced to make a change.

I don’t buy much without thoroughly researching my options, and that was surely the case with the pool bag (even though I didn’t buy it – this was my birthday gift from my parents). I wanted a bag that could hold everything we take to the pool – towels, toys, snacks, water bottles, clothes. It also had to be durable and easy to clean. If you have kids, you know why. All of this research made me land on the Simple Modern XL Getaway Bag. Y’all this bag did not disappoint.

Why does this bag make my list of summer MVPs for moms?

Size

First off, it’s huge. I used to haul at least two bags to the pool, but literally everything I need for my whole family for a day at the pool fits in this one bag. Mary Poppins might be behind this bag.

Durable

Second, it’s so sturdy. This bag has been abused in its short life thus far, and it has held up super well. It also stands up by itself, which is awesome because I don’t have to fight with the bag when I’m trying to dig something out of it to keep my kids from fighting. There is only so much fighting I can take.

Cute

And last, but not least, it’s cute! I love the bright colors that are available in this bag. Neutrals have their place, for sure, but not in the pool bag arena. I went with the supersonic blue color and I couldn’t be happier.

Sunscreen

I don’t know about you, but our sunscreen consumption in the summer months is mind boggling. We apply sunscreen multiple times each day. Going for a bike ride? Sunscreen! Playing in the yard? Sunscreen! Going to the pool? Sunscreen! Taking the dog for a walk? Sunscreen! You get the picture.

Because we use so much sunscreen during the summer, we have to have a sunscreen we all like – kids and parents alike. This means that it has to work really well, rub into the skin easily, and not cause a skin reaction on my eczema-prone skin or that of my kids. Surprisingly, we had a hard time finding a sunscreen that fit the bill. Now that we have found one, though, we have added it to the list of summer MVPs in our house, and we are never straying from it.

What is this magical sunscreen, you ask? Blue Lizard mineral sunscreen. We have used the baby and the sensitive with equal success. It rubs in well, doesn’t stick in the hairline, and doesn’t cause breakouts of acne or eczema on any of our skin. You can even apply it to the face without issue, and we often do just that. Especially when we are at the pool and the beach and we need something that’s water resistant.

If you’re looking for a face-specific sunscreen that works for the whole family, I have two to recommend. First up is a mineral sunscreen that’s easy to find in drugstores everywhere – Vanicream Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Mineral SPF 30. This is my beloved daily facial moisturizer with added zinc oxide for sun protection. It doesn’t leave much of a white cast on me, but I’m almost translucent, so your mileage may vary. If you want to ensure no white cast, you might want to consider a Korean sunscreen that uses chemical filters that aren’t in U.S. sunscreens. My family’s favorite of these is the Scinic Enjoy Super Mild Sun Essence. It applies like a dream, leaves no white cast, and is the only chemical sunscreen that has ever fully cooperated with my overdramatic skin.

Mom swimsuit

If you have young kids, you’re probably at the pool a whole lot in the summer. I know I am. We go at least a few times each week. A few years ago, that was scary to me, because I had not found a swimsuit that I felt comfortable wearing while chasing my kids around the kiddie pool at our local rec center. Over the last few years, I put a whole lot of concerted effort into finding the best one-piece swimsuits for moms, and I’m happy to say that I was successful.

I now have several really great choices available to me every time my kids ask to go to the pool. They’re all comfortable, supportive, and attractive. And although I’m lumping all of these mom-friendly swimsuits into one to add to my list of summer MVPs for moms, I do have a favorite (but don’t tell the others!). The Tommy Bahama Island Cays Colorblock Tie-Front One-Piece ticks all the boxes and then some. Is it more money than I usually spend on a swimsuit? Absolutely. But is it worth it? Absolutely!

Kid swimsuits

I was talking to a friend recently about the color explosion that has happened lately. Nowhere is this more apparent than in kids’ swimwear. When I had my first child 5.5 years ago, everything was available in drab colors only from the baby toys to the onesies to the swimwear. Recently, though, color has returned to kids’ products. Hallelujah!

Not only am I excited about color returning to kids’ swimsuits for aesthetic reasons, I’m also glad for safety reasons. It’s so much safer to put your kids in brightly colored swimsuits so you can keep track of them on land and under the water. I can always spot my kids, so I always know they’re being safe. Even when my 3-year-old runs toward the deep end. I can see her, so I can snatch her.

Although there are a ton of brightly colored kids’ swimwear available these days, here are some great options:

Ruffle Butts Rash Guard 2-Piece Swimsuit – Flamingo Frenzy (Ruffle Butts has lots of bright colored options, but my 3-year-old is flamingo-obsessed!)
Spider-Man Rashguard & Swim Trunk set
Old Navy Solid Swim Trunks
Mini Boden Gallie Frill Strap One-Piece Swimsuit

Sunglasses

Another sun protection item makes my list of summer MVPs for moms, and that’s sunglasses. I don’t go anywhere without my sunglasses in the summertime. They go in the car, to the pool, on a walk – wherever I go, they go. I have two pairs that I can’t live without.

I’m a glasses wearer 90% of the time, so I have a really nice pair of prescription RayBan New Wayfarer Classic sunglasses. These things have lasted for 10 years and are in impeccable shape. Sure, they’re expensive, but they’re worth it. When I’m wearing contacts, I have a much less expensive pair, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love them any less. The DUSHINE Polarized Sunglasses are basically dirt cheap, but they’re awesome. If you don’t need prescription lenses, give these a try!

Hooded towels

If you have kids (which I’m assuming you do if you’re reading a post about summer MVPs for moms), you need to get them hooded beach towels. This is especially true if you don’t want to carry a bunch of damp towels to the car with you after you’ve been to the pool or beach. A hooded towel makes it much easier for a kid to walk with a towel, increasing their independence and lightning your load.

Luckily, the stores have caught onto just how genius hooded towels are for kids, so you can find them pretty much anywhere. We splurged in this category (or should I say my mom, my mother-in-law, and my sister splurged) and got my kids Pottery Barn versions of hooded towels. The ones we have are from seasons past, so you can’t get the exact patterns anymore, but they’re all cute. If I was choosing towels to buy now, I would get the Mermaid Cove pattern for my daughter (growing up in Florida makes me a sucker for anything Lilly) and the Rainbow Shark pattern for my son. But seriously, you can’t go wrong. These things have lasted for years with no sign of deterioration.

Water bottles

Where I live, summer = hot. And when we’re hot, we need to hydrate. I’m full of tips for how to make it fun to stay hydrated, but my #1 tip is to get a cute water bottle that you love (and ones that your kids love too). In my family, we have all landed on Owala water bottles after trying lots and lots and lots and lots.

For me

My current favorite is the 32-ounce FreeSip. I have the 80s Ski Slopes colorway and it just makes my heart happy. It’s easy to drink from and it keeps water cold too, so it’s just an all-around great option.

For the kids

My kids’ favorite water bottle is the Owala Kids Flip. It looks like Owala is phasing this version out in favor of a smaller FreeSip marketed toward kids, which is a bummer. You can still find a few colors on Amazon. I actually might need to buy each kid a back-up while I still can.

Sandals

Any good list of summer MVPs for moms must contain a good sandal. Sandals are the quintessential summer footwear. They’re good for the pool or beach, running errands, or just showing off your fresh pedicure.

Of course, every person has a different preference when it comes to footwear. I like more substantial sandals that offer support. That’s why, for me, the classic Birkenstock Arizona is the way to go. Yes, they’re pricey, but your feet will thank you. They also look great with everything from a bathing suit to a sundress, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. I wear them basically every day in the summer. I like a metallic for a bit of fun and versatility, but they come in lots of color options that range from tame to look at me!

Gauze set

Although I’ve been wearing my go-to sandals for years, gauze clothing is a new obsession for me this summer, and I went in hard. Before this summer, I owned a single gauze dress. Now, half my wardrobe is gauze and I couldn’t be happier. Although I’d say that gauze clothing as a category should be on a list of summer MVPs for moms and I support any gauze clothing you love, I did land on a gauze set as the specific entry on this list. You can wear a gauze set so much in the summer. It’s great for a work from home day, running errands, or a trip to the pool or beach. Especially if you find a set in a neutral color.

My favorite gauze set that I found this year was shockingly from Walmart. It’s super comfortable, cool, and it washes and dries like a dream. The set is sold separately (shirt and shorts), so you can customize if you’re bigger on one half than the other. Inventory looks slim online, but I found mine in store, so you might want to check your local store before you give up on this amazing set.

Hair ties

When it’s hotter than the surface of the sun outside, I can’t bear to have my hair on my neck. PTSD from growing up in Florida? Maybe. Whatever the reason, my hair is basically up in a ponytail or bun from May through September. That means I go through a lot of hair ties, and I’ve tried basically every type they make. My favorite option for my medium length, medium density, curly, graying hair is the Invisibobble. They keep my hair secure when I want it up and off my neck, they don’t rip my hair out when I remove them, and they don’t completely destroy my curl pattern. I’m not sure I could do summer without these little things.

Camp chair

We spend a lot of time outside during the summer. We play outside on the driveway or in the yard, we have backyard get-togethers, we attend parades, we go to kids’ sporting events. Lots of the time we spend outside in the summer isn’t anywhere near a chair. Enter the last item on my list of summer MVPs for moms – a camp chair. With a camp chair, you can easily have a chair with you wherever you go.

For me

The camp chair that I have and love is the Kijaro Dual Lock chair. It’s perfect. It’s super sturdy, wide enough to accommodate you plus a child or two, and it comes with a carrying strap for easy toting.

For the kids

Although the kids can, of course, sit in a full-size camp chair, my kids love the kid-sized camp chair we got my daughter for her 3^rd birthday. It’s just the right size and as cute as a button! The specific chair we got from Sam’s Club is out of stock (womp womp!), but the DSG Junior Chair looks like a great alternative option, even though it’s not nearly as cute.

Summer MVPs for Moms