*Thank you Graco for sponsoring this post. Regardless all thoughts and opinions are my own and I only recommend brands and products I truly love.
My kids live for being outside. Now that they are out for summer break and it’s warm out they are pretty much outside 24/7. And any time we are home they are out in our backyard or playing on our porch. I think it’s great and something I really want to encourage in them. I know I do not want them looking back on their summer breaks and realizing that all they did was watch TV or play on tablets.
The problem becomes figuring out how to also care for our 3 month old baby. She still spends a lot of the time sleeping, thank goodness, but between changing her diaper, getting her up and down for naps, and the fact the monitor doesn’t always work perfectly outside, I have had to get creative and figure out something else to ensure that baby is safe and close by, but that I can also supervise my older children playing outside.
The solution? Setting up a baby station on our screened in porch. Our porch isn’t huge so I knew I needed something that doesn’t take up a lot of room. Somewhere baby could sleep, play, and where I can easily change her diapers. But also something easy enough to take down so I can bring it in every night.
The perfect product for meeting all these needs turns out to be the Graco Pack N’ Play Day2Dream Playard and Bedside Sleeper. I keep the playard in the screened in porch, stocked with diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes just in case in the convenient organizer. The detachable changer is easy to wipe clean and remove so that baby can take a nap in the playard as well. There is also an attachable electronic module that plays music or can function as a night light. The bedside sleeper I can easily put on the patio with us as well if baby wants some outside time (or to look at the dangling toys on it) but because it’s easily portable I can also bring it inside while I get food ready, or even next to our bed for bedtime since Millie sleeps so well in it.
What are your favorite outdoor activities for kids in the summer? Would love to hear some more ideas!
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