All things pool

[mapleme]

We've been going to the local pool for a swim class with M. I really love it and want to go more often (their hours are simply awful for us, so this is the first time we've been). One family had a little pop up tent that I thought was pretty awesome. The teachers supplied us with some diving toys, which M loved. But I'm wondering what other things and tips y'all would recommend for making trips to the pool more awesome.

[brandiewine11]

We keep it simple. We have a small laundry bag with a few floating toys, his swim aid (https://www.amazon.com/Instructional-Swim-Belt-Three-Module/dp/B0002H4NR2/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1499976300&sr=8-7&keywords=swim+bubble) - he just uses 1 bubble now, and our towels. I want to get R a small towel poncho/robe to put on out of the pool so his towel doesn't get soaked right away. Once we get into the locker room his towel is so wet and he's cold.

Too much crap is bad.

I keep our swim bag packed with all our things so it's always ready to go and we don't forget anything. It has our suits, towels, toys, etc and a wet bag for afterwards.

Ours is an indoor pool at the Y, so obviously you may need more things like hats/sunglasses/sunscreen if you're outdoors.

I do have one of those collapsible baby floats with a canopy for going to the neighbor's outdoor pool, the lake, etc. that I used when R was small.

[sak]

We bring a laundry bag with measuring cups, a strainer, and bowls. I also cut up 2 of those skinny $1 pool noodles in to about 9million 1" rings. They're all in a laundry bag that we just dump in to the baby pool at the local public pool. Its a bunch of stuff so there's always enough to share with kids that dont have any toys, but it's also random cheap crap that if it gets lost or taken by someone I could not care less.

Other than that, sunscreen and towels are all I bring. Less is always more. I would not bother with tents and food and fancy things to cool you off or any of that stuff. It's always more of a pain than it is worth.