If you’re a grandparent, the first part of this email is full of non-negotiables. Read every word.
If you’re an active ager focused on your own health — this advice is for you too.
Summer Safety Tips for Grandparents
Water Safety: It’s Not Just the Deep End
Every summer, children drown — and it happens faster and more quietly than most people expect. No splashing. No screaming. Just silence. As grandparents, we have to be vigilant in ways that feel almost extreme, because the stakes are that high.
A few things that don’t get said enough:
A small child can drown in inches of water. That includes a water table, a bucket, a cooler with standing water, or a decorative fountain in your backyard. Eyes on kids around water means eyes on them — not a glance every few minutes, not while you’re scrolling your phone. Constant, designated supervision.
And here’s my challenge to every grandparent reading this: when did you last take a CPR class? Not the one you took in 1987. A current, hands-on CPR certification that includes infant and child CPR. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association both offer courses, and I believe this should be an annual non-negotiable for every grandparent. Techniques are updated. Confidence fades. Retake it every year. It could save your grandchild’s life.
Picnic Foods That Are Choking Hazards
Summer cookouts are one of my favorite things about being a grandparent — but the picnic table can be a danger zone for little ones. These common foods are serious choking hazards for young children:
Grapes (always cut them lengthwise into quarters), hot dogs (slice them into thin strips, never rounds), popcorn, raw carrots, hard candies, chunks of cheese, and nuts. When in doubt, cut it smaller than you think you need to, and make sure young children are seated and supervised while eating.
Sunscreen: A Non-Negotiable for Every Age
Now — whether you’re watching grandchildren or enjoying the summer yourself — let’s talk about sunscreen, because this one applies to all of us.
For the grandkids: sunscreen is non-negotiable, full stop. I learned this the hard way — watching my own mother get lax with sunscreen on our son, who ended up with a horrible burn on her watch. Nobody felt good about it. She felt terrible. We felt terrible. And that little boy was miserable. Reapply every two hours, more often if they’re in the water. Don’t skip it on overcast days. The sun doesn’t care about clouds.
For you: tan skin is damaged skin. Burned skin is damaged skin. Full stop.
I say this with love and zero judgment — because I have the scar to prove I learned this lesson myself. I had a skin cancer that required Mohs surgery on the back of my right leg. It still looks gnarly. And I would do absolutely anything to go back and be more consistent about sun protection.
Don’t wait for your own wake-up call.
Sunscreen goes on your face, neck, and décolletage every single morning — before you leave the house, before you get in the car, and absolutely all over before you spend time at the pool or beach. And don’t forget your hands, legs, and chest. Those areas age fast and get skipped constantly.
My absolute favorite sunscreen — the one I use on my face, neck, and décolletage every single day — is Alchimie Forever. Because sunscreen IS skincare, and the products you choose should contain clean, effective ingredients that work with your other products.
Shop Alchimie Forever here
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The best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually use every day. Find one you love, make it part of your morning routine, and wear it like your skin depends on it. Because it does.
