Looking for the best pool gear for babies and toddlers? Maybe the must have items for a tear free, fun trip to the pool? Look no further! Summer is here and so is pool season. If you’re looking for the best way to cool off, the pool is the place to go. As a veteran pool mom, I thought I’d share some of the best pool gear for toddlers that will help you with an easy, chaos free trip to the pool.
Best Pool Gear for Babies and Toddlers
Sunscreen
The number one item you cannot forget when you head to the pool with your little ones is sunscreen! No one wants a sunburned toddler and protecting their skin is incredibly important at their age. Here are some of the best, highly recommended sunscreens for kids!
Sunbum
This is my personal favorite and go to. I love that I can get it from Target or Amazon and I feel good about putting it on my kids and myself!
Aveeno Baby or Kids
Baby Sensitive Lotion | Kids Zinc Lotion
Babyganics
This mineral based sunscreen is what I purchased after having my first baby. I love these products and continue to use them. The sunscreen lotion is quite thick and while it’s easier to run into a little baby, it’s a bit harder with a squirmy toddler that’s itching to get into the pool!
Goddess Garden Baby
Blue Lizard
Top recommended sunscreen from moms with kids that have sensitive skin or burn easily!
Related Post: The Ultimate Summer Bucket List
Pool Bag
Finding the right pool bag is all about personal preference. I’ve definitely had several different ones over the past couple of years, so I’ll share my favorites and the favorites of some of my friends.
Oversized Structured Utility Tote
These rectangular structured totes are awesome for hauling all of your pool gear especially if you have multiple kids! I like them because they’re spacious and I can see almost everything in my bag. It fits our toys, swim diapers, towels, snacks and more!
The best part is that when it isn’t swim season, these totes work great as car storage or for hauling in grocery bags. Plus how cute is this Lilly inspired print? There are several other Lilly inspo options via the link below. Also, if you love llamas, this llama tote is a must have. (It’s currently in my car!) Or check out any of the other 30 designs they have!
Cooler Beach Tote
Another great option is a tote bag that has a cooler base to store some drinks and snacks! The top of the bag is usually mesh with a couple of pockets and can store all of your pool gear. I have the one below and have even used it at the beach and zoo! It’s great for anywhere that you may need a few extra things and a lot of snacks.
Water Resistant Tote
Another option is to go with a super cute, but big beach tote. Canvas, vinyl or straw, whichever works best for you! The key is to make sure it’s big enough to carry all of your things. This gorgeous canvas tote is fashionable, has a zipper closure, several pockets and water bottle slots with plenty of room for all of your toddler’s pool gear.
Just for fun, here are several other options that I found on Amazon! Once I started looking I realize just how many adorable options there are out there.
Don’t forget to throw a wet bag in your tote to stick those wet bathing suits in before you head home!
Swim Diapers
Disposable
If you’re looking for a one time use swim diaper, go ahead and grab a pack of Pampers or Huggies. You can snag them from the links below, order them on Amazon or pick some up next time you’re at the grocery store, Target or Walmart! These are great to have on hand, just in case.
Reuseable
If you would like some swim diapers that can be used over and over again, look into some cute reusable diapers. These can be used as swim bottoms or you can put bottoms on top! There are tons of adorable options out there. I’m sharing a few of my favorites. I’ve used reusable swim diapers with both of my kids. They’re also really great for swim lessons! Here are some awesome options with great designs.
Construction Trucks | Safari Animals | Light Blue Bow | Floral 2 Pack | Primary.com Swim Diapers | Flamingos | Colored Stripes
Related Post: What to do at the Beach with Toddlers
Puddle Jumpers
As a safety precaution, I recommend having a Puddle Jumper or floaties for your toddler when you’re headed to the pool. With other people around, it can be distracting and harder to keep complete watch over your kids. Puddle jumpers will at least help keep them afloat should any incidents arise.
Whale Puddle Jumper | Octopus Puddle Jumper | Llama Puddle Jumper | Dinosaur Puddle Jumper
I also want to say that I am a huge advocate of water safety and swim lessons at a young age to help with water comfort and awareness. Puddle Jumpers are great to use, but it’s also so important to teach your kids how to swim and the dangers of water. If they get too comfortable with Puddle Jumpers or floaties, they cannot understand what will happen!
Pool Floats
It’s always a good idea to keep a pool float on hand especially for babies and younger toddlers! Most of these also provide shade to protect their sensitive skin. There are tons of options out there these days with different activities on them even to keep your little one busy and engaged. I personally think a pool float is a baby pool time must have!
Airplane Inflatable Pool Float | Car Inflatable Canopy Float | Frog Shaded Baby Float | Monster Pool Float | Sun Canopy Whale | Floating Octopus Activity Center | Flamingo Float | Sun Canopy Float with Straps
Pool Toys
You MUST bring pool toys when heading to the pool with your toddler. These will help keep them busy and their brains and imaginations engaged! We love to have cars, boats, squirt toys and mermaids when I head to the pool with my two little ones. Below are some of our favorites that you can find on Amazon for less than $20! In fact, most are less than $15.
Another absolute favorite, with the boys and girls, is our bathtime Water Baby! She comes with a diaper, towel and float! The kids are always wanting to play with this sweet toy in the water, and we love to gift it to our friends!
Snacks
As with any adventure with a toddler, snacks are a MUST HAVE. Load up your pool bag or cooler with lots of snacks to munch on while you’re at the pool. You know they’re going to want them during adult swim/safety breaks!
Some of our favorite pool snacks include:
- Goldfish or Cheez Its
- Fruit: Grapes, watermelon, cherries, oranges and apple slices are some of our faves.
- Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or grab some Uncrustables!
- Cheese sticks
- Applesauce pouches
- Juice boxes
Grab it all for a fun day at the pool.
Get that pool tote and load it up with all the essentials for a fun and hopefully tear free day at the pool! It’s amazing how much you need to pack when bringing a tiny human anywhere, so of course the pool is no different. With this ultimate pool gear for babies and toddlers list, you’re sure to have everything you need.
Don’t forget to pin this for reference later to make sure you’re ready to go for the rest of summer!
What’s do you this is the best pool gear for babies and toddlers? Any awesome must haves that I’m missing?
I completely agree with the utility tote, puddle jumpers, and snacks! The puddle jumpers were a lifesaver for me when I had 3 kids 3 and under. It’s hard to juggle that many young kids in the pool!
Right? You can only truly focus on one at a time and the puddle jumper is a wonderful safety net. I still try to hard to teach my kids the dangers of water and water safety for when they don’t have their jumpers on!
I think you got most of them! Def snacks and sunscreen and floaties
You can never forget snacks right?!
This is a really useful list of things to have for a day at the pool! I personally love the Charlie banana swim diapers, they are just so cute & so easy to use! The pool floats are now up on my wish list, thank you for the recommendation, Amy!
Aren’t they so cute? I love using reusable swim diapers because they last all summer and you aren’t wasting money or creating more actual waste with diapers! We loved our frog float and the octopus activity float for my littles!
My little ones are both big water bugs! I love the Aveeno Kids sunscreen (Mine are 5 and 3.5) Not too gross of a texture and seems to work.
Agreed! Some sunscreens are just too thick and impossible to get on them! Mine kids are 5 and 2 (so close to yours) and we need something that can rub in quick because they’re dying to get in the water!
These are great tips! My toddler loves the pool so we are there often . I need to stock up on some pool toys!
I learned to always have pool toys on hand because my kids would play with other kids stuff! While last summer that wasn’t a problem, I’m trying to stay away from that with COVID.
Great list! I always, always forget the sunscreen and have to borrow some! Thanks for sharing!
I’m usually the crazy mom with 5 different tubes and sprays!
This is such a great list! It’s hard to keep your eyes on so many kids so pool floaties are a great suggestion!
I completely agree! Safety is so important when water is involve, and you can never be too careful!
My Kids are all grown up now and we still pack most of the things list above on pool days, especially the snacks.
Love the selection of bags.
Snacks and toys are a must!