Hi friends, hope you all are having a good time! After a very long time I am writing a post on the 1st of the month and it feels so amazing. In this post I have shared the pool time must haves for babies and toddlers which one should definitely carry in their travel bag. But before that I want to ask you something…

Does your baby love playing in water?

Who doesn’t, right?

My son is crazy about water.

.

What about pool time excitement?

Nemit jumps in excitement every time we mention swimming pool to him.

This post may contain affiliate links which means that if you purchase through these links I may earn a small commission. This is at no cost to you but is an awesome way to help me keep this site going.

But the sad part is we don’t have a pool in our society and the one which is nearby our place don’t allow kids younger than 3 years. Nemit was around 5 months old when he started liking water and his bath time became a fun time for us. But then he was too young and couldn’t even sit properly, so we never bothered about taking him to a pool.

He was 7 months old when he first experienced his outside pool visit during our trip to Goa. And we got the hint that this boy is gonna love pool even more as he grows up.

Thankfully, we being pool freaks ourselves helped us to make Nemit’s first pool visit easy, safe and full of excitement. How?

So, a month before our Goa trip we decided to introduce Nemit to a swimming pool at home. Since, we have Nemit’s separate room, we placed a big size inflatable pool in his room only. Yes, parents do such crazy things too! wink* wink*

Inflatable Family Pool in Nemit’s room for some fun pool time

You can buy it here:

We also bought a baby float to see if he would like sitting in it or not. And then the time came to inflate the pool and fill it with water. And finally, to test the float and look for Nemit’s reaction.

Luckily, Nemit loved the whole experience and we felt relieved and ready to take the boy for his first pool and beach holiday. And Goa it was!

You can buy it here:

After that there was no stopping him from getting into the pool. He enjoyed his room pool time after coming back from the vacation and later in winters we converted the water pool into a play pen. This idea was actually taken from Pinterest and we loved it totally! We were able to use this pool till Nemit started crawling and standing with support.

You may also read: 5 quick tips when planning a vacation with kids and grandparents!

You can also buy such pool (small or big) and float (available in various shapes & designs) online through Amazon or any other e-commerce site. I have also shared the links above to make your search easy.

Nemit’s pool requirements changed once he graduated from babyhood to toddlerhood

Now he would not require a support float, he simply wanted to jump into the pool. He is 2.7 years old and doesn’t know how to swim but he has no fear at all.

We, ourselves are big pool freaks as I said earlier and during almost all our trips, we keep at least one whole day at leisure. So that we can enjoy our time at the resort and in the swimming pool. I guess Nemit inherited this craziness for pool from his parents only (as if it flows in the genes, lol). Jokes apart, it’s really important for parents to be highly vigilant with kids in pool specially infants and toddlers.

It’s been a week since we’ve returned back from our Pondicherry trip and I can’t wait to tell you how Nemit surprised us there with his crazy stunts in the pool. Watch this video and you will know!

“Don’t force your child to try anything which they are not comfortable with. We were present there the whole time while Nemit was trying all the crazy stunts.”

He was dancing in water, swimming and jumping, all in all he was having the best time. Whereas we were shocked and surprised to see him doing all this without any fear. It took us almost an hour to calm down and accept that there will be no stopping him now from enjoying his pool time.

We had a super fun holiday and now our pool times have turned more entertaining.

Also, it’s important that you plan ahead for pool time and pack the pool essentials for kids to make the pool time safe and fun for them. I can assure you that with these essentials you can have a worry free time and enjoy to the fullest. You will thank me later for this list.

Then what are you waiting for guys, come on, read ahead!

Pool Essentials for Kids to make their Pool Time fun & safe

If you are planning a vacation and looking forward to your time at swimming pool with your kids, do check out the below list of pool essentials to pack in your travel bag. These are the must haves for babies and toddlers.

Also, please note, while booking your hotel/resort, make sure to ask them about the pool accessories they provide for kids. However, it’s always better to have your own stuff to avoid any raw deal later on. These pool essentials won’t even take much space in your travel bag. I will also suggest to carry your own manual/electric air pump.

1- Inflatable float with sitting support

This is a must if you have a baby or young toddler who can not stand on its own but old enough to sit. You can just put your little one in the float and be worry free and almost hands free. They will be much safer sitting inside the float rather than without anything or even in your arms, since it’s easy to lose balance in pool. Always remember if you are not a good swimmer don’t take your baby in the adult pool.

You can buy similar one here:

2- Swim suit/ Swim trunk

It’s always better to make your child wear a good quality swim suit/bathing suit. For babies, consider buying a 2-piece swim wear as that’s easy to change in case of diaper checks. If you can get full length swim wear made of good quality material it’s a plus as that can help minimize the amount of UV rays that penetrate your child’s skin.

You can buy a similar one from here:

If the pool is covered one or you are planning not to stay for a long time in the pool, simply opt for swimming trunks.

You can buy a similar one from here :

3- Swim diapers/ Diaper covers

Swimming diapers are a must at least for babies and also toddlers who are not yet potty trained. There are a variety of diapers available to choose from, disposable or reusable, cloth diapers or just the diaper covers to be worn over the normal underpants.

You can buy disposable swim diapers here: 

You can buy reusable swim diapers here: 

4- Inflatable Ring Floats

For older toddlers, who are ready to explore more about the swimming pool and don’t feel comfortable sitting in the float, consider buying an age appropriate ring float for them. That will keep them up and safe and also provide the necessary support in the pool water.

You can buy similar one from here:

There is one more option which we checked and that’s the inflatable pool jacket. If your child doesn’t like the ring and wants to be left free, try making him wear this jacket. This will help keep your child floating.

You can buy it here:

While buying do check for the right size and before packing them in your travel bag, do check them once. Fill them with air, check for any leakage and also check their fit. It’s always better to be well prepared in case of children.

5- Sunscreen

Another important pool essential often neglected by many parents is a good sunscreen. To avoid sun burns, tanning, irritated skin do invest in a good sunscreen for kids. You can check out this post to know some of the best sunscreens for kids.

15 best sunscreens for kids in India

6- Others

Apart from the above mentioned must haves, don’t forget to keep separate towel for kids, hooded ones are the best. I also like kid’s bathrobes, keep them snugly while having out of pool fun. You can also add a few pool toys, they make the pool time even more wonderful. And lastly, always carry baby wash, so that you can give them a good bath once they are out of the pool & apply moisturizer.

So, that’s my list of pool essentials especially curated for my lovely readers. Hope this will help you pack better for your next vacation. And you will not worry about spending time at pool with your beautiful kids. Do share this post with your friends and family. And now tell me in the comments below when did you take your baby to the pool for the first time?

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The post 6 Pool Time Essentials to pack in travel bag for kids appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

What? A VACATION???

That was my dear hubby’s reaction when I shared my odd craving with him. I had already rehearsed the reply in my mind and while jumping in front of him to grab his attention, I said, “Yes, let’s plan a shorter one? It will be fun!”

“Baby, I also want a break but how can we plan a vacation when we have already exhausted all our yearly leaves?” came his sincere reply.

Oh yes! same story every year.

So, here is the reality check. We desperately need a break but we do not have enough leaves left for this year to go on a vacation.

 It’s Simple!!!

But I can definitely write about it. 

Well, I was thinking of writing about the trip which I wanted to take but then my mind took a swirl and I got the idea of writing about some travel accessories which we found to be really helpful during our previous International Trips. In fact, I call these accessories as must have things to carry when you are traveling with a baby or a toddler. I remember many of my friends asking this question, “Don’t you find traveling with a baby too difficult?” Well, with these must-have items our travels are all sorted.

So, here goes my list of Top 5 Travel Essentials that will make your travel with kids a lot more hassle free-

1. Kid’s Trolley Bag

Take a separate trolley bag to pack your kid’s stuff, from clothes to toys, everything which belongs to the kid goes into this bag. It makes packing and arranging things a little bit easier and also saves a lot of time finding and re-arranging things when it’s time to return back home.

This is the Mickey Mouse trolley bag from the ‘House of Disney‘ which we chose to buy for Nemit’s 1st International trip and it came out to be one of our best buys.

Features of this trolley bag –

• It is lightweight and can be easily dragged or pushed.
• It has four 360-degree rotating wheels for the smooth glide.
• The outer covering is hard and made up of polycarbonate covered with water and wear resistant transparent film.
• The inner compartment is quite spacious and zipper & straps keep things in place.
• It also has the TSA lock which is perfect for International travel.

Price – INR 4319/-

Available on Amazon.

This is one travel essential which can become kids favorite travel gear anytime. Toddlers love it when they know something belongs only to them and they are given responsibility to handle it. Nemit loves pushing and gliding the bag, this is one airport activity which he really likes to do. 

2. Carrier

I always suggest parents buy a lightweight umbrella stroller or an ergonomic baby carrier if they are fond of traveling or roaming around the city. Choose as per your requirement, if your baby is clingy and prefers to be carried most of the times, then babywearing is best for you. We carried our baby till he was 13 months old but he always liked to sit in the stroller. Still, we carry both these gears as they always come handy at the airport and at places that require us to wait for long hours.

You may also read – Explore the caves at Nainital with your toddler!

We have an ergonomic baby carrier from ‘R for Rabbit‘-

• It is made up of premium cotton for soft & cozy feeling. Breathable cotton gives baby cool, padded and comfortable ride.
• It is suitable to carry 6 to 24-month-old babies ( 6 to 18 Kgs), apt from infancy to toddlerhood.
• Babies can be carried in 3 different positions.
• Wide shoulder & lumbar strap provides proper support and evens out the weight.

Price – INR 2799/-

Available on Amazon

We found this carrier really useful during our trip to Malaysia when we decided to walk on the World’s longest canopy walkway in Taman Negara. It was the most thrilling experience we had while wearing our 1-year-old in a sling. We were able to do mountain trekking and night jungle safari all thanks to our ergonomic baby carrier.

3. Stroller

Nemit prefers to sit in a stroller rather being carried in a sling. I think he feels much comfortable sitting in the stroller as he can easily move his body, arms, and legs and can also have a nice view of the surroundings.

The stroller which we are using for Nemit is from ‘Nit n Kit‘-

• It makes traveling easy and fun for both baby and parents.
• This stroller has 8 wheels for proper balance, rear wheels have breaks.
• It is easily foldable and lightweight to carry.
• Perfect for babies aged between 6-24 months.
• It has a safety bar in front for keeping the child secure.

The best thing which I like about strollers is that you can carry your other accessories and bags easily, many times while shopping or traveling I have used the stroller handles to hang the bags so that I can be hands-free all the time. Another reason why I like stroller is the ease it provides when you have to walk with your toddler up to the plane entrance where you hand over the stroller to the aircraft staff and can collect it back while getting off the plane right at the exit. It just makes the whole process looks so easy and comfortable.

Price – INR 2500/-

You may also read – Plan a trip to Meghalaya with your toddler!

4. Diaper Bag

Alright, this is the most common travel accessory and anyone who has traveled with a baby will know its importance. So, if you are traveling with a baby or a toddler, carrying a diaper bag stuffed with all the baby essentials is a must. Now, here I want to suggest opting for a backpack rather than a handbag or a sling bag, simply because it’s easier to carry a backpack while traveling with kids. But if you are comfortable in carrying a normal diaper handbag or sling bag, then that is also fine. The choice is yours.

Now that we have a toddler and we are done with all the milk bottles and lots of stuff which we used to pack earlier for our infant, I chose a very trendy shoulder bag from ‘Baggit‘ which is not too big neither too small but just perfect to carry the stuff we need the most.

Things which I carry in this bag are-

• 2-3 diapers and a small packet of wipes
• 1 spare set of clothes
• 2-3 small containers of different snacks
• 1 small water bottle/sippy cup
• My wallet, keys, and sunglasses.

Price – INR 3750/-

Available on Amazon

So, instead of carrying a heavy stuffed diaper bag with all the baby or toddler stuff I prefer carrying this lightweight shoulder bag. Now you must be thinking I haven’t kept any toys in my bag then how did I manage my kid without any source of entertainment. Well, there is no way that I know of which can keep a child happily engaged except toys and books and for keeping Nemit happy during the long travels I always carry a separate kid’s bag which I call a ‘bag of toys‘. It is small in size but spacious enough to carry all his favorite toys and activity books.

I have already written a post on Bag of toys, which you can read >> Here <<

Coming back to the small diaper bag once again, this will not be enough if you are traveling with an infant which requires a lot more things to be packed, more clothes, bib, changing mat, rash cream, teethers, rattles, an extra pair of shoes, etc. There is no need to carry a separate toy bag as only a couple of their favorite toys can keep them busy for hours. You can check Smart organizer system backpack diaper bag from Graco too. It’s quite spacious with all the separate pockets to keep your stuff organized. It has a separate wipes dispenser pocket which I really liked.

Price – INR 4440/-

Available on Amazon

5. Passport Holder

Passport holder is something which often gets neglected by many people as they don’t really know whether the passport covers are necessary or beneficial in any way. I will tell you when traveling with kids, you do justice to your passport by covering it with a nice sturdy passport holder. I love it when my stuff is organized and safe especially the important ones. This year we took back to back International trips with Nemit and getting a nice passport holder was on my list since then. I really find it difficult holding the passport, boarding passes and other documents in hand when managing a hyperactive toddler while waiting at the airport or standing in the immigration check queue.

I got this elegant Passport holder from ‘URBY‘. They design and manufacture travel and lifestyle essentials using the premium materials. By selling directly to the customer, they offer high-quality luxury products at very reasonable prices.

And that is what I liked the most about this brand.

• This Passport Holder is handcrafted in premium quality real leather with the rich soft interior.
• It has an easy slide-in section for passport on the right and 3 card slots on the left.
• It also has an open section for travel documents.

Apart from these features, Urby also offers personalization options. This passport holder has my Name embossed on it which I found really cool and unique. They also provide Free Shipping anywhere in India and have a 15-day no-questions-asked Return Policy.

I am already liking my Passport holder and this is one more reason that I am craving for another vacation. I have also selected another passport holder with croc-embossed leather in Sapphire blue for my dear hubby, that will be a surprise gift to him before our next trip. Click on the below link to check their amazing collection.

Price – INR 1145/-

Available on URBY

The only thing which I didn’t like about Urby is the limited prints and designs in their Passport Holders, I would prefer more quirky and trendy prints while selecting one for Nemit.

I received this classy and elegant Wanderlust Passport Holder from >> Urby << to write my honest review of their product. However, the opinions and views shared are my own.

Use GWNEMIT17 to avail 10% off on your purchase!

This special offer is only for Growing with Nemit’s lovely readers.

I hope you liked this post and found it useful. Do share it with your friends and family. And now tell me are you also craving to go on a vacation? Do you want to add any other travel essentials to the above list? Share with me in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!

The post Traveling with Toddler – Top Five Travel Essentials appeared first on Growing With Nemit.