Everything You Need for a Pool Day with Kids

Stock your pool bag with all the essentials.

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these links.

July 03, 2020

By: Amanda Mushro

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Photo By: Vesnaandjic

Summer Essentials

Spending the day at the pool is a lot different when you have kids. Gone are the days of lounging in a chair and reading a great book. Now you are on duty and in charge of carrying the sunscreen and googles and making sure trips to the snack bar and the bathroom happen frequently. A parent's pool bag is key to a successful day of splishing and splashing. So, before you head out to the pool with your kids, here’s all the things you’ll want to toss in your (probably quite large) bag.

A Better Pool Towel

If you are packing towels for you and your kids, skip the big and bulky cloths and opt for a Turkish towel instead. These cotton towels are super absorbent, quick drying and can be folded up much smaller than traditional towels so you can fit more in your pool bag. You can even turn these towels into a wrap if you need a cover-up. But don’t be fooled by their lack of fluffiness—these will quickly become your favorite pool towels.

BUY IT: Amazon, $20

Sunscreen for YOUR Face

A mineral sunscreen that doesn’t contain harsh chemicals, is good for your skin, and won’t cause breakouts—yes please. Fans of Cerave already know the brand is a dermatologist favorite. This sunscreen provides broad spectrum protection that helps reflect the sun's damaging UVA/UVB rays and is formulated with three essential ceramides to lock-in moisture as you hang by the pool.

BUY IT: Target, $15

Sunscreen for Your Kiddos

Grab a bottle of Hello Bello Mineral sunscreen to protect your little one’s precious skin. It’s great for babies, kids and moms, too. It goes on easy, doesn’t feel greasy and, since it’s a mineral sunscreen, it doesn’t have any of those harsh chemicals we want to keep off our skin. It also contains tons of organic and natural moisturizers, so your skin is protected and feels smoother, too.

BUY IT: Walmart, $9

A Hat for Baby

If you are spending the day at the pool with your baby, you’ll want to make sure they are wearing a hat that protects them from the sun. This hat features two ties with a Velcro closure and an extended brim that covers the back of your baby's neck.

BUY IT: Pottery Barn Kids, $11-$17

Leave-in Conditioner

Keep your hair or your kiddo’s hair tangle-free after a day of swimming with Sum Bum leave-in conditioner. Just spray on before or after swimming to keep hair soft and tangle-free. This is also great for protecting your color from the sun’s rays.

BUY IT: Amazon, $15

Keep Bugs Away

If spending time near the pool means you’ll be closer to mosquitos, you’ll want this repellent clip on your pool bag. PARA'KITO clips are designed to keep mosquitos away for 15 days. Then simply replace the pellets that are made from natural essential oils and ingredients that are DEET-free. The pellets are easy to replace, the clips comes in a bunch of different colors and, when attached to your pool bag, you’ll be protected from mosquitos this summer.

BUY IT: Amazon, $20

A Better Bag

If you have to make a run to the snack bar or to the locker room to change your baby, leave your pool bag behind and just take the Kibou bag instead. This is where the fanny pack and the diaper bag meet, and we think it’s pretty genius. The bag is perfect for stashing in your pool bag because it holds everything in your wallet so you can be hands-free and, when you need to dash to the locker room to change your baby or toddler, it’s got a built-in changing pad and a waterproof pocket for wipes. So smart!

BUY IT: Kiboubag, $89

Pool Toys

Choose toys that are easy to toss in your bag and will dry quickly, like these HEVEA whale and turtle toys. They are made from natural rubber, so they are non-toxic and great for younger kids, and the toys have a closing mechanism that makes drying the inside easy.

BUY IT: Amazon, $28

Snacks!

Is it possible to head to the pool and not have snacks? No, it is not. So, before you dash out the door, toss a few This Bar Saves Lives into your bag so you and your kids have goodies. There are tons of yummy flavors and the bars are perfectly sized to fit in your bag. Plus, every time you buy a bar, you send life-saving food to a child in need.

BUY IT: Target, $5

Stay Hydrated

Make sure you stay hydrated on pool days with a great water bottle that makes sipping H2O simple. The highly rated Thermoflask keeps your water cold for 24 hours and comes with two different lids—one for a reusable straw and the other for regular drinking.

BUY IT: Amazon, $20