Best Summer Health and Safety Gear for Kids

7/5/11 - By Shari Simpson

It’s summer, and we all know what that means: barbecues, camp, parties, beaches—and sunburns, stings and sand in all your cracks.



To combat the season's little annoyances (bug bites) and major dangers (drowning), we've rounded up the best new health and safety products for your family. So have fun with abandon and leave your worry at home.

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Safety Turtle Child Immersion Alarm
There's nothing more frightening than the thought of your little one wandering off and falling into a pool or body of water. That’s why we really love the Safety Turtle Child Immersion Alarm. It's an ingenious wireless wristband that sounds an alarm at a wireless base-station receiver the instant a child falls or ventures into water. The receiver has a range of up to 200 feet. $235.

AquaJogger Junior
My son is 5 and doesn't know how to swim yet. (Because he's a city kid, maybe?) So I'm really excited about the AquaJogger Junior. It's a belt-like device that comfortably suspends a child at shoulder level in deep water. Unlike a life jacket or other floatation device, the AquaJogger is a "swimming helper" that allows your kid to move freely and keep his head literally above water while learning to swim. For older children and adults, there are AquaJogger exercise tools, like dumbbells and leg weights. All children's products come with a Splash Club Handbook featuring water games, swimming tips and safety information. For ages 3 and up. $24.95.

Sport-Brella XL
Mother Nature can be your best friend—or a real pain in the behind. If you want protection from the sun, wind and rain but don't want to hide in the house, try the Sport-Brella XL. This umbrella-like shelter pops open in three seconds (no lie) and with a width of nine feet it can accommodate the whole family. It's also got a UPF 50+ lining, top wind vents, side zippered windows for efficient airflow, internal pockets for valuables, a carry bag, and tethers and ground stakes for additional stability. $69.99.

Sport-Brella Chair
You want a seat? We've got a seat! The Sport-Brella Chair may look like a standard portable fold-up chair, but it also has a 360-degree swivel umbrella which can be attached on either side and swiveled at the press of a button for complete coverage from any angle. Nice, right? The umbrella opens up to 46-inches and has a UPF 50+ lining. The chair also has a built-in cup holder, bottle opener and a pouch, and it collapses quickly into a compact carry bag. $39.99.

ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent Lantern
For me, nothing ruins summer like mosquitoes, so this has to be my favorite item in the list. The ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent Lantern serves as an insect repellent and a long-lasting LED lantern. The lamp provides a 15x15 foot mosquito-free zone, and is 98% effective according to the Department of Defense and the U.S. Army. (They tested it!) And did we mention that it's also nontoxic, DEET-free, silent, portable, odorless and weighs just 13 ounces? We might have to marry it. $31.99.


The Peekaru Ozone
We all know how much fun it is applying sun block to a squirming, squealing baby. Not. The Peekaru Ozone is a sun cover that attaches securely over any soft baby carrier, standard car seat or stroller. Made of a super-soft, breathable and lightweight, moisture-wicking fabric that blocks 95% of the sun's UVA and UVB rays, the Peekaru has an adjustable bottom that easily cinches up for newborns and lets out to accommodate babies as they grow. $44.95.




Check out our Summer Fun Guide for additional seasonal tips.