I’ve done this holiday packing thing more times than I can count, and somehow I still get it wrong every single year. The sun cream’s already open before we’ve left the driveway, someone’s asked “are we there yet?” four times, and I’ve just remembered I never restocked the swim nappies. Sound familiar?

Packing for a family holiday is a job in itself. Add a pool or a beach into the mix and the list gets even longer, and somehow it’s always the small stuff that trips me up, not the big obvious things.

So here’s my honest list: the 12 things I always forget (or nearly forget) to pack for the pool, plus a few bits I’ve picked up from swim teachers and other parents over the years.

1. Reusable swim nappies

I used to buy a pack of disposable swim nappies before every holiday, and I’d always run out by day three, without fail. Once I switched to a reusable one, that stopped being a problem. I use the Happy Nappy™ range, which is trusted by 90% of UK swim schools, and it’s designed to contain solids without needing pack after pack of single use nappies taking up suitcase space. Wash it, dry it, use it again: one nappy has seen us through a whole holiday before now.

I asked the team at Splash About why they built it in the first place, and their answer summed up exactly why I switched:

“We hear the same story every summer: someone’s forgotten the swim nappies, or the towels have run out by day three. That’s exactly why we made the Happy Nappy™ range in the first place, to take one thing off parents’ minds so they can actually enjoy the holiday.”

Laura Allen, Splash About.

2. UV protection for kids

Poolside sun is sneaky, isn’t it? Between reflections off the water and hours spent outdoors, my kids catch far more sun than I expect, every single time. We’ve started using UV Sun & Sea Suits, which offer built in protection against harmful rays and buy us more time outside without me hovering over them every five minutes. That said, I still don’t skip the basics. I apply sun cream to any exposed skin and top it up regularly throughout the day, UV clothing or not.

3. Spare towels

One towel per child is never enough, and I don’t know why I still pack like it is. Between swimming, ice cream mishaps and the inevitable “can I have another one, I’m cold” moment, I now pack at least one spare towel per person. I look for something light and quick to dry: it takes up less suitcase space and dries faster between dips than the fluffy towels we have at home.

4. Dry bags

Nothing ruins a holiday morning quite like finding your phone at the bottom of your bag, sitting in a puddle of pool water. I learnt that one the hard way. A good dry bag keeps valuables, electronics and important documents safe from splashes, spills and sudden downpours. It’s one of those pool bag essentials that earns its space fast. Roll top styles are especially handy too, since they keep wet swimwear separate from the rest of your luggage on the way home.

5. Float toys

A few float toys can turn a quiet pool afternoon into hours of fun. They’re great for helping kids feel comfortable in the water. And they buy me a moment to actually finish my coffee, which I’ll take. But float toys are for fun, not safety, so I keep watching regardless. Adult supervision is always needed whenever children are in or near water.

6. Snacks and hydration

Swimming is thirsty, hungry work, and poolside cafes aren’t always nearby, or open when you need them. I always pack a refillable water bottle and a stash of easy snacks: think fruit, crackers or cereal bars, to keep energy levels up between swims and avoid the hangry meltdown I know is coming otherwise.

7. Changing mats

Changing a wriggly, wet toddler on cold tiles or a scratchy towel is nobody’s idea of fun, is it? I use a Changing Mat, which gives you a clean, comfortable surface wherever you are: poolside, on the beach or in a changing room that’s seen better days. It’s a small thing to pack, but it makes a real difference to what the whole day feels like.

8. Swim shoes

Hot pavement, rocky riverbeds and pool floors that have hosted a thousand games of splash tag: little feet need protecting from all of it. Swim shoes, sometimes called water shoes, help prevent slips, scalds and stubbed toes. They’re especially useful for holidays that mix pool time with rock pools or a day at the beach, which ours always seem to.

9. Waterproof sunscreen

Regular sunscreen and swimming pools don’t mix well, I’ve found. A few dips in the water and the coverage wears thin fast. Waterproof sunscreen holds up better during play, but I still reapply it regularly, especially after towel drying, since that can remove more protection than I used to think.

10. Wet bags

Wet swimwear, a towel that’s seen better days, or a costume that needs to go straight in the wash when we get home: a Wet Bag keeps it all separate from the dry clothes and holiday souvenirs. They’re compact and reusable, and honestly, one of those things you don’t know you need until you have one.

11. Pool safety tips

It’s easy to relax on holiday, but water still deserves your full attention. I try to have a quick chat with the kids before that first swim. Know where the lifeguard is. Agree on boundaries for younger swimmers. Keep an adult’s eyes on the water at all times, always.

Swimming aids and floatsuits can build confidence and support learning, but they’re not a substitute for supervision. Adult supervision is always required when children are using swimming aids or playing in water.

12. A sense of humour

You can’t exactly pack this one, but I know by now that a holiday with young children rarely goes smoothly. Sun cream ends up somewhere it shouldn’t, someone refuses to get in the water and then refuses to get out twenty minutes later, and that’s just how it goes. The right kit just makes the rest of it easier.

While you’re going through the swim bag, it’s worth checking the costumes themselves still fit. My kids grow so fast that last year’s suit rarely makes it through this year’s holiday. I’ve had good luck with the Girls Swimwear and Boys Swimwear ranges if a size upgrade is on the cards.

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Once you’ve done it a few times, none of this is really that complicated! It’s just easy to forget in the chaos of getting everyone out the door. I still don’t get it perfect every trip, but having the right bits in the bag takes the edge off, and that’s really all I’m after these days. Wishing you a stress free pool day, wherever you’re headed this summer.