Kid-friendly products to save our summer ! (review)

Somehow June has snuck up on us and that means that summer is well and truly on the way, so it's the perfect time to stock up on all the health and beauty essentials that will be needed to get the kids through the long summer holidays safe and sound. With all the outdoor playing that will be going on, I predict grazed knees, nettle rash, heat rash and insect bites, at the very least. Here are our top picks of the kid-friendly products to save our summer.

First of all, and this is a total no-brainer, sun cream. We've been trying out Solero Kids Ultra-Sensitive SPF50+ lotion and spray (£7 for 200ml, LloydsPharmacy). It offers UV-A and UV-B protection, is water-resistant and is designed for children with sensitive skin. It is available in SPF30 and SPF50+, as well as in pourable and spray form,so you're bound to find the product to suit your needs. The Madhouse kids always prefer a spray bottle because they like squirting each other with it (and I'm happy if it stops them grumbling when it's time to reapply some !). There is even a miniature version for on the move (£3, 50ml), perfect to pop in the school bag for top-ups. The kids range is paediatrician approved and fragrance free.

Whether they are covered in sand from the beach, grass stains from rolling down hills or just general sweat and grime, the Madhouse kids seem to spend half of their lives in the bath during the summer months ! Infacare Ultra Mild Baby Bath (£2.15 for 400ml / £3.19 for 750ml, available from all major supermarkets, as well as Lloyd’s Pharmacy and Boots) is formulated especially for babies' and children's sensitive skin. A baby’s skin is ten times more delicate than adult skin so InfaCare is formulated to be as natural and gentle as possible. Recommended by hospital midwives and healthcare professionals, the Infacare bubble baths have been clinically tested and developed to promote natural levels of acidity and alkalinity in skin and hair and prevent irritation. A little goes a long way, it makes lots of bubbles and it has a gentle, powdery fragrance designed to help children relax into bedtime, ready to dream about the next day's fun and games ! (for more info : www.infacare.co.uk)

Natrasan First Aid Spray (250ml for £10.00, £7.00 for 100ml, available at www.natrasanuk.com) was this year's winner of the Best Mother and Baby Product category at the recent Natural and Organic Europe Trade Show. It kills 99.9999% of germs, so it can be used to  disinfect wounds and grazes and sterilise toys, dummies, high chair tray tables and just about everything else, at home or when you're out and about. It's more than just a sanitiser though, as it relieves the sting of minor burns and insect bites too. As kids are always putting their hands in their mouths, it's great to know that it is safe if ingested, contains no alcohol, harmful chemicals, antibiotics or preservatives

and is skin friendly so there's no need to rinse off. It's a great multi-tasking product, as useful for dealing with grazed knees and elbows as it is for cleaning the kids' hands when they want an ice cream at the park after using the dubious public toilets with no soap !

When Sophie was younger, she used to get little flare-ups of eczema behind her knees and it was always much worse in the summer, probably because of the heat. Luckily, she's grown out of it, but if you or your little one has dry, sensitive or eczema prone skin, you might want to check out  leading North American skincare brand Skinfix which launched in the UK earlier in the year. The brand is ideal for newborns and young children as it’s steroid free and all natural, so it's perfect for gently nourishing your little one’s skin. The range has generated a revolution in the US markets across the last couple of years with their dry skin hand cream becoming a Cult Product without the price tag of some of the more premium brands but with twice the results, and the Eczema Balm being hailed a little miracle cream that’s not only ideal for dry skin patches but for all sorts of other uses, from scar healing through to lip balm and even cuticle cream. Next month, Skinfix will also be launching a baby range, so keep your eyes peeled for that too. Available exclusively in Boots.

Finally, a quirky product that is unlike anything else that I'm aware of on the market, Children's Alflorex, a daily supplement that comes in convenient pre-loaded straws to be used with cold water, squash or milk (not hot drinks or it will kill the active ingredient). That means less mess and no need to go looking for a spoon. The patented 35624 culture contained in Alforex has been well studied in high quality clinical studies and shown to reduce abdominal pain, gas and bloating in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) sufferers. It's a totally natural bacterial culture and is tasteless so there's no grumbling about taking it. The 35624 culture goes to work only where it is needed in the gut, has no side effects and is also safe to take with all other medication. Children’s Alflorex is available online at www.alflorexbiotics.com. RRP £29.95 per pack containing a four-week supply of 30 pre-filled straws.

Do you have any other summer essentials for your kids that you always like to stock up on?

Disclosure : We received the products in order to write an honest review.