Sophie has always been a little fish — she loves to be in any body of water so we knew that swim lessons were going to be a priority for keeping her safe! We tried group swim lessons last year, but Sophie wasn’t really into it and I don’t think that she learned much of anything. We were determined to make it happen this year because it’s just as much (if not more!) about water safety as it is about having fun. We enrolled her in private lessons and it’s a much better fit for our preschooler.
Now that we’re at the pool pretty regularly with Sophie’s lessons and the weather is becoming increasingly pool -friendly, I thought it would be advantageous to keep a bag ready to go! Since I’ve previously shared posts like “What’s in My Diaper Bag” and “What’s in My Hospital Bag” it felt like a natural progression to also show you what we pack for the pool:
TOTE BAG
I feel like I have a bag for everything these days (#momlife), and while it’s unnecessary, it sure does make life easier when you don’t have to fully swap the contents of your bag for every activity! I basically just need to grab my sunglasses, keys, wallet and phone, but otherwise keep each bag packed for its specific purpose.
This mesh pool tote is HUGE and incredibly roomy (measuring 15.3 inches x 7.87 inches x 17.3 inches) with exterior mesh pockets and a zippered, clear, waterproof interior pocket for important items. I also appreciate the long, sturdy handles and the double zipper top!
It’s spacious enough to fit multiple towels — it depends on what else you’re carrying, but with minimal other items inside I was able to fit 4 of our beach towels!
…
ORGANIZATION
The best thing about a large tote bag is also the worst thing: so much space! Not being able to quickly find what you need can be frustrating, so I have some organization suggestions:
SMALL ITEMS
This swim pouch is just the right size for wrangling the smaller items that would otherwise be floating around inside my bag.
We keep the following items in our bag for both recreational swimming as well as for swim class:
…
WET BAG
I pack Sophie’s dry clothes in this bag and then swap them for her wet swimsuit. I often dress her in her swimsuit with either a pair of shorts or a dress over it so I only have to bring a pair of undies, and possibly a shirt if she chose to wear shorts instead of a dress.
This bag is a good size; it isn’t HUGE, but it’s large enough to fit a wet swimsuit and one tightly rolled or folded [soggy] towel.
…
MISCELLANEOUS
A few other items that we pack for swim days that seem obvious, but are also easy to forget when you’re in a hurry.
Anything with a “~” next to it is something that we pack specifically for recreational swim days, but the rest are “always” items.
I hope this helps your summer go even smoother!!
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie