Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
I Finally Found Baby Cooling Gear That Survived a Full Summer Outside
28
items Walking around in 95-degree heat with a sweaty, screaming baby in a stroller is its own circle of parenting hell. If you've tried fanning your kid with a napkin at the zoo or draping a wet cloth over the canopy like some kind of pioneer parent, this ...
Sections
4
Clip-On Stroller Fans That Actually Move Air
Stroller Cooling Mats and Seat Liners
Sun Protection That Goes Beyond the Canopy
Hydration and Quick Cool-Down Gear for Babies
Clip-On Stroller Fans That Actually Move Air
Most clip fans are basically decorative at best. I returned three before landing on ones that actually push enough air to reach my baby's face from the canopy. These held up through parks, boardwalks, and a Disney trip in July.
Grab this if your stroller canopy is on the thicker side. The clip is strong enough to stay put over bumpy sidewalks, and the three speeds actually mean something. My daughter stopped getting those little heat rashes on her neck after I started using...
SkyGenius Battery Operated Clip on Mini Desk Fan, Blue
Use this for longer outings where you need the battery to last. I got about 8 hours on the low setting during a full day at the farmers market. Lightweight enough that it doesn't make the canopy sag, which was a problem with two other fans I tried.
FRIZCOL 12000mAh Portable Stroller Fan 65Hours As
Toss this in your diaper bag as a backup. It's small enough to forget it's there until you need it. My son's car seat gets brutally hot in parking lots, and I clip this on while we walk to wherever we're going.
SmartDevil Portable Clip on Stroller Fan
Switch to this one if you need a fan that rotates a full 360 degrees. I angled it down toward the seat and it kept air moving across my baby's whole body. Rechargeable via USB so I just plug it in at night like a phone.
Battery Operated Stroller Fans with Flexible Clip
Perfect for parents who are rough on gear. I dropped this twice on concrete and it still works fine. The flexible tripod legs wrap around stroller bars, cup holders, whatever. Took it camping and clipped it to the Pack 'n Play too.
Panergy Portable Battery Fan 5000mAh Rechargeable
Keep this one for evening walks. The built-in light is subtle enough that it doesn't wake the baby but bright enough to see the path. Battery lasts about 6 hours with both the fan and light running, which covers most summer evenings.
BESKAR USB Clip on Fan Portable Small Fan with Cord
Snag this if you want something quiet. My baby is a ridiculously light sleeper and this fan on low didn't wake her once during nap walks. It's not the most powerful, but for sleeping babies in mild heat, it's exactly right.
Gaiatop Mini Portable Clip-on Stroller Fan
Stroller Cooling Mats and Seat Liners
My kid's back was drenched every single time I pulled her out of the stroller. Like, soaking through her onesie. A cooling liner changed everything and now I feel stupid for not buying one sooner.
Try this before you buy anything else on this list. The mesh layer creates a gap between your baby's back and the stroller seat so air actually circulates. My daughter went from a sweat-soaked back to totally dry. Worth every penny.
Manito Clean Basic 3D Mesh Seat Pad/Cushion/Liner
Use this if your stroller seat is dark colored and absorbs heat like a frying pan. The padding is thin but the airflow it creates is noticeable. Fits most standard strollers and the straps thread through easily, took me about two minutes.
Little Fennec 3D Air Mesh Stroller Seat Liner
Pair this with a clip fan for maximum cooling. It's technically a car seat pad but fits perfectly in a stroller. Absorbs sweat so you're not peeling a soggy baby out of the seat at every stop.
Summer Infant Total Coverage Waterproof Piddlepad Liner
Grab this for double duty. I used it in the stroller during walks and then moved it to the high chair for meals on the patio. The gel layer stays cool for a surprisingly long time without needing to be refrigerated.
Customer reviews for Stroller Cooling Pad
For parents with Uppababy or Bugaboo strollers, this fits like it was made for them. The head support section is great for younger babies who slump. Washes well too, which matters when your kid spills yogurt on it weekly.
Agibaby Deluxe 3D Air Mesh Seat PadCushionLiner
Bring this along when shade is unpredictable. It doubles as a light cover and a cooling layer. Way better than draping a muslin blanket over the stroller, which I later learned actually traps heat inside. Wish someone told me that earlier.
J.L. Childress Cuddle 'N Cover Stroller Blanket, Large, Gray
Swap your old liner for this waterproof one if your baby sweats a lot or you deal with surprise rain. Keeps the actual stroller seat dry underneath, which means no mildew smell developing in storage. Learned that lesson the gross way.
Diono Ultra Dry Seat Deluxe, 2-Pack, Waterproof Baby Car
Sun Protection That Goes Beyond the Canopy
Stroller canopies block maybe 60% of the sun on a good day. The sides are wide open and the sun shifts angles constantly. I added a few things that closed the gaps without turning the stroller into a sauna.
Try this for nap walks when the sun keeps hitting your baby's face no matter which direction you walk. It blocks UV but still lets air through, unlike the towel I used to drape over the top. My pediatrician actually recommended something like this.
sleep & sun protection cover for all strollers & airline cots
Get this if your stroller canopy is too short. It clips onto the existing canopy and extends it by several inches. Took about 30 seconds to attach and suddenly the sun wasn't hitting my baby's legs anymore. Should come standard on every stroller hone...
Dreambaby Strollerbuddy Extenda-Shade
Use this for beach days or anywhere with no tree cover. It's basically a mini tent for your stroller. Looks a little ridiculous but my baby was completely shaded while every other kid at the boardwalk was squinting and fussy.
Summer Infant RayShade® UV Protective Stroller Shade
Bring this for summer evenings near water. Does double duty blocking UV during the day and mosquitoes at dusk. One less thing to carry in the diaper bag. I used to pack a separate bug net and a separate shade, now it's just this.
M Buder Baby Multifunction Stroller Universal Mosquito Net
Snag this stretchy cover for quick trips from car to store. The sun blasts through parking lots and this takes two seconds to throw over the car seat or stroller. Breathable fabric so it doesn't trap heat like heavier covers do.
Multi-use Carseat Canopy Cover
For babies who rip off regular sunglasses immediately, these wrap around and actually stay on. My 10-month-old couldn't pull them off, which felt like a parenting victory. The strap adjusts as their head grows so you get more than a few weeks of use.
Baby Banz-RBBPC Retro Sunglasses Pink Camo-Ages 0-2
Keep a tube in every bag you own. No weird chemicals, doesn't sting eyes, and goes on without that thick white paste look. I switched after my baby screamed when another brand got in his eyes during reapplication. This one has been tear-free since.
thinkbaby SPF 50 Sunscreen 6 oz HSA/FSA Eligible
Hydration and Quick Cool-Down Gear for Babies
Sometimes the fan isn't enough and you need to cool a baby down fast. Red cheeks, fussy crying, that panicky moment when you realize they're overheating. These are the things I started keeping in my bag after one scary afternoon at the park.
Use this for babies learning to drink water. It doesn't spill when it inevitably gets launched out of the stroller, which happens approximately 47 times per walk. Easy to clean, no hidden mold spots in weird valves like other sippy cups I've thrown a...
Miracle 360° Trainer Cup, 7oz
Toss this in cold water, wring it out, and drape it on your baby's legs. Stays cool for a surprisingly long time. I started carrying one after my son's cheeks turned tomato red at the zoo and I had nothing to cool him down with.
Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Sport Cooling Towel
Stick these in a cooler bag before you leave the house. Cold teething toy plus cooling relief in one. My daughter chewed on these for 20 minutes straight during a hot playground visit, which is basically a lifetime in baby attention span.
Nuby, Teether, IcyBite Keys, Textured and Soothing Baby Toy
Keep cold snacks and milk actually cold without a separate ice pack. The whole bag freezes and stays cool for hours. I stopped finding warm, questionable milk bottles in my diaper bag after switching to this system.
Freezable Lunch Bag
Grab this for keeping water cold on long outings. The insulation works well enough that water is still cool after two hours in direct sun. My toddler drinks way more water when it's cold, which is the whole point during heat waves.
Dr. Brown's Milestones Insulated Sippy Straw Cup
Wet a couple of these before you leave and put them in a zip bag. Instant cool wipes for necks, foreheads, and behind the ears. Softer than regular washcloths so they don't irritate sensitive skin. I go through about four per outing in peak summer.
Burt's Bees Baby, Washcloths, 6-Pack, organic cotton
Pair this with your own water bottle so you're both hydrating. The bite valve doesn't leak in the diaper bag, which I cannot say about the three other bottles currently stained with old juice in my kitchen. Dishwasher safe, which at this point is a n...
CamelBak Eddy+ Kids - Water bottle - 12 fl.oz