Taking Your Baby Swimming
This year we decided to get a membership to the community pool in our neighborhood. It was the best decision we could have made for the summer. Emily and I go almost every morning. She loves the water and watching all the other kids splashing around. I want her to be really comfortable around water so I’m glad she is getting used to it at an early age. We usually go to the pool around 10 and come back by lunchtime so when she goes down for her nap right after lunch, she sleeps hard! She is so tuckered out from the pool and the sunshine that she has been taking really great naps, which has been great for mama getting things done.
Austin and I took Emily to the pool together the first time, but the next time it was just her and I going. I was a little nervous to go with her by myself because I thought I would need the extra hands, but we’ve gotten so used to going just the two of us now. I thought I would share all of our pool necessities.
Here are a few things that I always bring with me when we go to the pool with our little one.
- Rash guard
Emily has two different swimsuits right now. One is a normal one piece suit and the other is a rashguard top with separate bottoms. While the one piece is absolutely adorable, I really like the rash guard because it protects her top half from the sun.
- Swim diapers
We use Pampers swim diapers and they’ve been great for us. The first time we went to the pool, I put Emily in her swimsuit and swim diaper before we walked down to the pool and learned that was not the best idea since swim diapers don’t absorb liquid. I knew this already, but still attempted to make it work. It didn’t. So now I put her swim top on and leave her normal diaper on until we get down to the pool. Then I just put her swim diaper on right before we get in the water.
- Sunscreen
I did a lot of researching before we got sunscreen for Emily. I decided to go with Think Baby Sunscreen and it’s been great. It goes on well and has a nice light scent and she hasn’t gotten burned at all even with her fair, Irish skin. I’ve been really happy with it so far.
- Hat
I always keep a hat on Emily while we’re in the sun. I have one that has a strap under her chin. She doesn’t always appreciate having it on, but she barely has any hair and I don’t want her head getting burned.
- Floaties
We ended up getting two different types of floaties for Emily this summer. We started with one that she could sit in and that had a shade that would protect her from the sun. She was too small at the beginning of summer for the floaties that she could wear, but by mid summer she was able to use these and loves them!
- Snacks/water
I always bring some kind of a snack in case Emily gets hungry. Usually we go between snack and lunch time so we haven’t needed one yet, but I’m sure we will at some point. I also always bring water for her. This we do always use. Even though it’s only the beginning of summer, it’s pretty hot out. I also bring water for myself.
I have loved our daily swims so much! I would love to hear what you bring to the pool with you! Any suggestions for pool toys for a one year old would be super helpful!