I may be asking a really dumb question. Is there something already made (that I haven't found) to shade my daughter from the sun while I'm outside? We are in a new housing development and do not have any mature trees to shade her. I have a pack-n-play. Do I rig an umbrella to it? She is not sitting up unsupported yet but will be soon. The other day we had a hat on her, sunglasses, and sunblock then tried to use the umbrella from our patio table to shade her while she sat in her exersaucer. It worked okay, but I'm looking for something a little bit easier. Please help!
Thank you to all of you who gave great suggestions! It got me thinking past something for the here and now. I decided on a "Me Too Tent" from Target ($30). It is large enough for me to put her in with almost any baby gear (I'm even thinking the pack-n-play) and can be zipped up to prevent sun and BUGS (I had almost forgotten about skeeters!). I also like the fact that it has attachable tunnels (you have to buy separately) that we can add next summer. It should be here in the next day or two and I'm looking forward to getting back out in the sun!
I haven't read all of the responses so someone may have already mentioned this. Take a look at www.onestepahead.com I just got their paper catalog in the mail today and they have several umbrellas, canopies, and shades.
Do you have a closeline? You could always put the playpen under it and drape a big blanket over top. That's the cheapest fix I can come up with. Otherwise, I know they make "playyards" and you can get sunshades for them. I got a sunshade on ebay (thinking I was getting the playyard, too :D), and even though it's a little awkward, I do find a way to attach it my playpen.
I bought an umbrella made by Radio Flyer for my son when he was a baby. It is made to attach to a wagon but it works on anything. It is flexible & can be positioned all over (like one of those bendy straws). It has an incredibly strong gripper-type clip at the end that would attach to whatever your baby was sitting in. I used it all the time. I know you can order them online- maybe available at the store.
Keep in mind that a little sun is fine for her... however they make lawnchair umbrella's that connect onto the chairs and that would work for many things. Otherwise another idea would be to get a small popup canapy look in the camping section at the store.
One Step Ahead.com or request a magazine. They have a cute little tent type thing for shading baby in the outdoors.
Use sunscreen and avoid the times from about 12-2, they say that is when the sun is the hottest, therefore the most dangerous.
One Step Ahead sells a dome like tent that is UV protecting. It runs close to $80, I think, but my sister has one and loves it. Her son it 3 and she still uses it to eat lunch under or to take to the beach. There are two different sizes, she has the bigger one. It folds into a small circle, that comes with a nylon bag and easy to tote around. They also sell bathing suit, shirts, pants, outfits and hats with UV protection. The website is www.onestepahead.com
HI there- I know they sell things like Half tents out there- I dont know where you get them. But also check adds for the shades that are about 12x12 and they go over driveways or big areas to block the sun- I saw one at home depot the other day-
Other wise a blanket over the pack and play or tye the unbrella to the pack in play- good luck!
There are special baby tents that are sun-safe, but I thought that ours was very hot inside. we now use it in the playroom for "camping". I still use the pack-n-play with a big golf umbrella. It is pretty easy to slide the umbrella thru a gap in a corner and then secure it to the leg at the bottom either with a plastic wire tie or string. Enjoy your summer!
One step ahead has lots of options:
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/search.jsp?N=0&Nt...
(just go to onestepahead.com and search for "sun shade".)
Otherwise, if you're looking for something easy to leave in the yard, you might want to consider a free-standing, outdoor umbrella. You can take an inexpensive patio umbrella, and get a stand for it so that it can be upright without a table. If you keep it in a spot where you like to hang out, you'll be able to move/tilt it just enough to keep up with the sun.
I haven't used them myself, but I've been thinking of getting a play cabana like the one listed on the website given to you by Simone S. They have sun protection in them (UV 50 that one said), and they have flaps to allow air to come through. I was surprised to see them for sale at Target last week. Would love to avoid using too much sunblock on my 2 month old, also think she might heat up too much with hats, etc, but still need to get outside with my 3 year old...
Thanks for asking the question, and good luck!
T.
I know either LandsEnd or LLbean sell clothes that block the suns harmful rays, not sure which one it is but you could go on the website and call them.
Yes, there are things that you can buy that are play areas for outside and have built in "umbrellas." They also have covers for the pack and plays. Go to any Toys R Us or Babies R Us, and they will have plenty of options.
we recieved a baby tent for our baby shower called lil nursery. We absolutely love this!! it pack s up really small in a nylon bag and i can slip it into my diaper bag or throw it under the stroller. It can be put together in no time. We take it everywhere. It was awesome for our daughter at the beach when she was a baby and i still use it for both my girls now that there older!! http://www.target.com/Pacific-Playtents-Lil-Nursery-Tent/...
Hi J.,
Sunscreen is always the best. The sun can catch you no matter where you go.
Do you have an unbrella, one of those large ones that go into a picnic table?
Or you can go on-line and find one of those gazebos/canopys (from Home Depoet, Menards, Fleet N Farm) with the mesh siding for outside. Those are nice. We donated one of those to my MIL's place. She's in a nursing home and we thought it would be nice for the residence to get some shade, yet enjoy the outdoors.
Lots of ideas!
J.
Not a dumb question at all....sun protection is so important and can be difficult. You can actually purchase sun shelters at Eddie Bauer, REI etc. Just Google "Sun Shelter" and there are numberous options. We use one for camping...over the picnic table it acts as a sun and rain shelter....very nice. Here is a link that has many options: http://www.nextag.com/sun-shelter/search-html
good luck!
Hi, I have a 17 month old and we are very active with going on the river in the summer months, last year when he was younger I bought one of those giant umbrellas with us whenever we went on the river and it is such a great help. He never got a sunburn not even a tan. Also all the other couples that we meet up with out there all have them for there children too. Another good thing about it is it is a grest thing to take a nap under for them too!! Good luck.
J., I bought a beach tent a few years ago that I love. It is a two sided a-frame fold-up tent meant for shade. It's big enough for you and your baby to play under. We use ours at the beach, but it also has some simple stakes for use in the grass. Check the "pool toy" area at Target or Walmart. Although, I think mine was actually from Menards.. Its great!
I would like to know this also. With family members having babies, this would be great to know.
Keep up with the hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, even if they are in the shade.
The are little pod like things made for children who can't stand yet to shade them, they are generally expensive, but I found one on ebay that woks well. I would assume you could find them at babies-r-us
Could you put up a screen tent?? or one of those sun tents they advertise in one step ahead...?
I used a bouncy that enclosed. Half the top was material and the other half was netting. It was great! I think Fisher Price made it. I can't remember what exactly it is called. I passed it on to my sister-in-law, but if you are interested I can ask her to look at the brand and to email me a picture of it that I can then forward on to you. You can buy them on Craigslist as I have seen them advertised for sale there for around $20. Brand new they cost about $60 and I believe you can buy them at Babies R Us. Right Start also sells baby tents for outside.
M.
I would just like to say that you really want something that has a UV protector layer. I am very fair skinned and I burn even when I'm under normal picnic umbrellas. I can only imagine that baby skin would burn under them as well.. of course that depends on your complexion..
