The Best Pool Time Accessories for the Whole Family

This post was sponsored by SwimWays as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Owning a pool is new to us this year, but having fun poolside all Summer isn't. The South is H-O-T HOT from Spring until Fall, and long ago I found that the key for all of us surviving those humidity filled scorchers is cooling off in a pool.

I was nervous as a new pool owner that we would feel overwhelmed with the maintenance or feel out of our element. I admit it does feel a little weird just walking out the back door and not carrying a large armload of stuff, a wagon packed with pool toys, and enough snacks to feed the entire neighborhood. But now a few months in all my worries were for nothing. It might actually be the easiest thing of 2020 so far.

I have a great list of pool must-haves (stay tuned!), but before I go on about my favorite sunscreen or the item that keeps my pool deck clean the most, there is one pool time accessory that stands above the rest. The whole family enjoys it. Any friends that come over enjoy it. There's even a good chance our dog even has enjoyed it a time or two. And it can be used in the lake, at the beach or even in your bathtub if it's big enough.

This magical, universal pool accessory is...a SwimWays pool float!

Okay before you laugh at my dramatics - it's true! When I was sitting down to write out a list of my "pool must-haves" for you (stay tuned), I realized there was one pool time accessory that everyone loves, the kids fight over the most, and we take with us even on vacation.

We're long time SwimWays fans, and think they are leaders when it comes to both swim safety and swim fun. As babies we let our kids splash in the Baby Spring Float and now they are a little older (insert big ugly mom tears) they are having a blast playing with the wide variety of fun floats offered by SwimWays. They are designed by water lovers, for water lovers and it's obvious when you come to our pool they help take the fun to the next level.

They don't look like they are having any fun at all, right?

Our love for the Original Spring Float goes way back. For years it is the float that we make sure to always bring with us. It's easy to pack, easy to set up, and is the ultimate game changer when it comes to floating in the water comfortably.

One of my biggest pet peeves about a float is that "stuck to it" feeling you get as your body leaves the rubber of some floats. The Original Spring Float is made of durable fabric and a soft cooling mesh bed that allows you to float in the water. No awful suction noise as you move on it (winning!), it's nice and cool since you can actually be in the water, and it has a soft pillow to rest your head back. In the off chance we get to actually close our eyes and relax on the water - it's like floating on heaven!

It's also the first float the kids steal from us.

They love lounging on it too. And playing on it. Making it a pretend pirate ship, a mermaid rock, a frog lilly pad, or their personal favorite - playing "mommy".

What can I say? Good moms set a good example. And that includes not bringing weak float game to the pool party.

In an effort to save my favorite pool floats for myself and my mom squad, I gave the kids these fun Papasan Floats and this Huggables Panda.

The Papasan Float is similar in make to the Original Spring Float. It has that same outer fabric and mesh center - just in a circular papasan style shape. We love packing it on the boat for the lake. It packs so small that it's easy to just throw in a pool bag or bring along for any water adventures. It's also super comfortable for adults and kids alike to enjoy.

These also last forever. Like we have a few that we've brought to the beach, the lake, and many a pool season and years later they are still going strong. The fabric has held up remarkably well for the amount of use and abuse it receives each season. Well worth the minimal investment just knowing I'm not buying new floats every single year.

The Huggables Panda is just plain FUN. In addition to the Panda, the SwimWays Huggables line has a Bear and a Sloth. If you polled any kids who are swimming in my pool currently what their favorite float would be - this is it. So much so that I had to go back and purchase back ups. We even brought it to the beach with us a few weeks ago.

I have yet to be given the opportunity to ride on it, but I love that it has a cup holder and looks super comfortable. It's the perfect size that the kids think it's "huge", but really it is just a fun slightly oversized huggable panda bear ready for fun.

And fun it has.

SwimWays and their pool floats will always be synonymous with pool time fun for us, and I promise they are the ultimate water time accessory to have on hand no matter where you plan on floating this Summer.

You can purchase SwimWays floats from Amazon, Target or Walmart. To learn more and see all their amazing float options you can visit Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. 

Happy Floating! 

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Tips for Handling Multiple Kids at the Pool

This post was sponsored by SwimWays as part of an Amabssador Program for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Summer time is here and we have parked ourselves at our home for the next three months - the pool! Sure we might take occasional breaks to do things like eat, go to the bathroom, or head to the beach. But otherwise, if you need us you can find us at the pool.

Every time we go to the pool I am outnumbered. Three kids, one mom. It seems like an overwhelming task - especially with younger kids. But for our sanity and the cleanliness of my home, I make sure we burn all of that kid energy off poolside. Plus during the heart of summer it's the best activity we can do to beat all that heat and humidity while still exercising and having fun.



And I do mean FUN! Yes, it takes a lot of work to get everyone to the pool, and it can be a nerve wracking experience to keep everyone alive, but I have just as much fun as the kids.

Maybe even more so because they aren't quite big enough to dunk me yet, and I have years of experience on them when it comes to the "Who can make the biggest splash?" contest.

Luckily, I have some serious water babies, and going to the pool everyday is an activity that more than satisfies them. We've been making our trek to the neighborhood pool since they were all infants and not once at the pool have I ever heard the words "I'm bored." uttered.

Once my children started multiplying it became a great way to entertain the older ones while I was keeping up with the babies needs. The moment those tiny tots were able to sit in their little SwimWays Baby Spring Float meant that we were all able to join in the fun. Then the day those tiny little ones started to swim on their own opened up a whole new world of pool time fun. The endless amounts of games to play, friends to swim with, and memories being made all makes up for the overwhelmingness of being one person trying to keep three tiny humans safe and happy at the pool.

With tons of advice from fellow moms, and a few years of experience under my belt here are my tips and tricks for easily handling multiple kids at the pool (while still having fun yourself!).

TIPS FOR HANDLING MULTIPLE KIDS AT THE POOL

Get Pre-Screened - Make sure you put your sunscreen on BEFORE you get to the pool. This tip is huge. Nothing is worse than trying to wrestle sunscreen on kids when they see the pool and their friends only two feet away. I don't care how fast you are with a spray can of SPF. The second those kids see that crystal blue water they are gone.

Pack Your Pantry - As in most situations where kids are involved, make sure you pack all the snacks. And I do mean all. All that splashing, swimming, running (even though they aren't supposed to), cannon balling, and 287 games of Marco Polo burns some serious calories. That makes kids even more ravenous than normal. Make sure you pack tons of snacks and drinks, and once you think you have enough - pack some more. (Note: When they come running for a snack is also when I like to reapply sunscreen. It happens often enough and their mouths tend to be full so they can't negotiate the various parts of their body they feel sunscreen doesn't need to be.) 

Safety First - As mentioned, one of the biggest stresses about taking kids to the pool is water safety. Multiply that by two or three (or more!) and that stress amplifies. Your arms are full, and often don't have enough hands to keep everyone afloat at the same time. But the stress can be minimized by having great water safety devices, and well established boundaries all ready to go before you get there. We know the importance of teaching kids to swim, but in that stage before they learn to independently swim I like to bring good safe back-up with me to the pool.

My favorite piece of pool equipment of all time for babies and young toddlers is the SwimWays Baby Spring Float Activity Center. It's built for little ones aged 9 months to 24 months, and is the #1 selling baby float in the U.S. The moment I grabbed one myself all those years ago on a Target run at the suggestion of a friend, I could see why.

It quickly inflates, is easy to store when you don't need it (and comes with it's own carry bag!), and keeps baby safety entertained with it's variety of included toys. Not to mention it also comes with a detachable 50+ UPF sun canopy. This is a huge bonus! (See first bullet point.)

L.C. is my third child to use a SwimWays Baby Spring Float, and I will be so sad when she outgrows it. It has been a huge helper to allow babies to float and enjoy feeling as if they are swimming independently, but keeping them safe. I've been able to have an arm free to help the others work on their backstroke, catch a ball or be involved in one of those games of Marco Polo.

Don't Forget the Toys - No matter how you go about it, pool toys are just a must when it comes to kids and the pool. Every kid wants them, and every parent has a pool bag full of them. We are all in this together!

After years of experience, and finally crafting how to get three kids and all of our pool stuff from my car to the pool in only one trip (trust me, that was the best day ever!), I've realized what pool toys are most popular.

Never underestimate the power of a good old fashioned football and dollar store water guns. Diving rings will forever reign strong. Simple plastic cups are gold. Anything with a net is a winner. And sharks - sharks toys are beloved by any and every child. Anything that floats, squirts, or can be chewed will always win baby's heart.

Toys that serve dual purpose win mom's heart. Remember that whole one trip from the car I was excited about? Less is more. The SwimWays Baby Spring Float Activity Center comes with several detachable toys (a squeaker, stacking rings, a rattle and a soft touch star). The younger crew loves playing with these both on and off the float, so no need to bring extra toys!

Get in the Water - Lounging leisurely on the side of the pool just won't happen. Go ahead, make the first cannon ball and get it all over with. You'll be in the water already in case anything happens, and to be honest it's just plain fun.

So be the fun mom, get your hair wet, and enjoy these moments. Because before you know it they won't want to have you catch them off the side of the pool, play Categories with them or show you how they learned to float. Somewhere in the grand scheme of life we will all transition over into that embarrassing human being at the pool who is trying to place anything above SPF 5 on their skin, and OMG wearing that bathing suit out in public.

Embrace it and enjoy it. Your kids will love remembering you splashing and playing right along with them. The memory of that holds a lot of weight - for both of you.

What are some of your favorite tips and tricks for bringing multiple kids to the pool? 

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Tips & Tricks for Encouraging Little Swimmers

This post was sponsored by SwimWays as part of an Ambssador Program for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

May has arrived and in the South that means pool season is officially open! From now until October we will be frequenting the pool, lake, ocean and any other large body of water in order to cool off. It is my favorite time of year, and I enjoy the fact that I have given birth to three water babies who love it just as much as I do!

Even though it is just the start of the season we have already taken full advantage of our warmer weather and the fun that is pool season. We swam a little bit during our Spring Break trip, but since it was so cold it wasn't enough time for me to assess how well each of my little swimmers had retained their skills from last year. I was particularly curious how B.C. would do. Last year she loved the pool, but was always a little hesitant about being held in the water. She wanted to be independent and hang out by the stairs. I made her wear her SwimWays Baby Spring Float Activity Center which was a total life saver for both of us. It allowed her the independence that she was seeking, but gave me the reassurance that she was safe. Now approaching that sassy two year old stage of life I was curious how she would do.

As the new swim season has started everyone has surprised me with how well they remember, and B.C. (a.k.a. Miss Independent) is right back to her float loving ways. Thank goodness!

After a recent swimming playdate, a friend commented on how comfortable all three of my kids seemed to be in the water, and asked advice on how we got them around the fear of water. I know that a lot of children seem to have that of the pool or being submerged. Cute was that way from 3 to 4. He loved the water, but one day decided his face going in the water was just not something he needed to do. I sat down and thought about it, and I guess we have utilized some tips and tricks here and there with all three kids to get them comfortable in the water, and encouraging them to be great little swimmers.

Tips & Tricks for Encouraging Little Swimmers

Because we are around large bodies of water most months out of the year, we take water safety pretty seriously. As parents we learned that even with young children we needed to make sure everyone felt comfortable in the water and there were clear established boundaries. As a mom to three, I knew this would be even more important because I would almost always be out numbered when it came to swimming times. Making sure we all felt safe and comfortable would make our swimming time more enjoyable whether you were 6 months old or 34 years old.

Rub-a-dub, let them play in the tub! The tub is the perfect place to introduce early swimming skills. First, and foremost letting kids be confident and showing them how to be comfortable in the water is key. What better way to do that than by letting them splash and play in the tub.

Teach by example. Babies and small children love to be little mimics. They are constantly soaking up every little thing in their surroundings. When it comes to encouraging them to get in the water and start to learn essential swimming skills, get in the water and show them. Don't just tell them how to blow bubbles in the water, show them. Show them how float. Show them how you hold your breath and go under. Show them that getting slashed in the face is fine. Witnessing you do it and knowing you are okay will help them be confident when it's their turn to do the same.

Don't immediately immerse them. When we were teaching our oldest to swim someone told me to just dunk them under and get it over with. I mean I know that approach works for some, but I just couldn't bring myself to ever do it. I took the slow and steady approach and over the course of the summer he was spending more time under the water than above. I decided that immersing my kids immediately if they showed fear would just reinforce that. Remember, confidence is key. I wanted them to be confident in their own decision to go under the water.

Use safe pool equipment. Some of my friends have taught their babies how to swim as young as young as a year old.  I am always so impressed when I see these tiny little tots swimming a few strokes on their own.  Those cases are rare though, and the rest of us have to rely on safe pool equipment to help encourage our little swimmers. In fact, to ease my own nerves I've relied on such equipment for as long as I can.

I mentioned Cute had a slight hesitancy when he was three when it came to swimming, but that was not the case when he was younger. He was similar to B.C. in that he was Mr. Independent and from the moment he could walk until the fear kicked in he was fearless. He would jump into a pool regardless if there was a person close to him or not. He loved the water, but did not love someone holding him in the water. He wanted to be free!

I did my research and found the SwimWays Baby Spring Float Activity Center at Target. It allowed him to enjoy his own time in the water and be comfortable "swimming" on his own, and gave me the reassurance that he was safe. Carrie Beth used the SwimWays Baby Spring Float Activity Center for all of her little ones too!

Now I'm using the same SwimWays Baby Spring Float Activity Center to allow B.C. to build her own swimming skills and confidence. She loves it! She has a blast getting to swim on her own (while I'm holding the float instead of her), and has endless amounts of fun playing with all the fun toys and teethers it comes with. I love that I am not only keeping her safe in the water, but I can also keep her skin safer too with the detachable SwimWays Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy.

The SwimWays Baby Spring Float is easy to inflate and it's easy to store when not in use. It is by far one of my favorite baby items, and I totally get why it's the #1 selling baby float in the U.S. and continually receives outstanding reviews. I also love that they are supportive of parents wanting to encourage their little ones to be safe and confident swimmers.

In 2012, they established that every third Saturday in May would be National Learn to Swim Day, and is dedicated to educating parents and children about the importance of water safety and the benefits to learning to swim. This year National Swim Day is on May 19th. So mark your calendars and check to see what local events might be going on to support SwimWays' cause!

Keep your own fears away. The potential for disaster sometimes around large bodies of water is great. Thinking of all the things that could happen will make a parent go crazy with fear. But, in order for our children to be confident and encouraged to swim, they need to see that you aren't fearful either. Swimming is such an important skill no matter what age you are. If you're too nervous in the water children will pick up on that and can be fearful too. One of the best tips I have ever heard is have a back up swim buddy. Grab a friend or a swim instructor to get in the pool with you and your little one. Someone who is confident in the water and can help assuage those fears for you both, while helping teach your little one those essential swimming skills they will need. Everyone will be a little safer, and while you might have your own fears, your little ones might be dissipated to where they can grow into confident little swimmers.

To grab more resources on how to encourage your little ones to swim, learn more about National Learn to Swim Day, and more check out the Teach Me to Swim website. It is such a great valuable swim and water safety resource for parents and children! 

What are some tips and tricks you have for encouraging little swimmers?

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