Summer Bag Essentials from a Mom of Five

When it comes to summertime, as a mom, being prepared for any scenario is the key to a stress-free outing, and it starts with those summer bag essentials. If you want to make the most of those sunny day outings, whether heading to the beach, park, or local attractions, discover the items that help keep my family of seven organized, entertained, and happy all season long. These tried-and-true items are game-changers. Keep reading to discover my top picks and get inspired to make this summer unforgettable for the whole family.

Summer Break

As the kids school year is wrapping up, I’m gearing up for summer break. This means I’m working on restocking all my summer essentials to make sure I’m as organized as I can be, ahead of time.

If there’s anything I’ve learned along the way being a mom of five it’s that organization and preparation are key. I like the think that being the oldest daughter, a recovering perfectionist, plus an overachiever adds to my strengths in this area.

Anyways, back to our summer essentials…

This summer will look vastly different than the last two summers. I’m excited to say that we will have a community pool (again) at our home in Texas and we are beyond excited to use it! We’ve went 3 summer’s without a community pool, we technically had one last year but since we were just getting settled here in Texas and then I was slammed with that first trimester morning sickness, we never made it to the pool.

The last two years, while living in NYC, we didn’t have access to community pool and the cost of a family membership at area pools for a family our size was not within our budget. Instead we spent our days in the backyard (pictured above) or at one of the local splash pads.

To prep for summer break and days at the community pool, or even our backyard, I’m already stocking up with my summer essentials to prepare us for those beautiful summer days back in Texas.

So if you’re like us and gearing up to spend a lot of time outdoors this summer, here are some of my favorite summer essentials that makes the long summer days out with kids a breeze.

Summer Bag Essentials for Mom

The Ultimate Pool/Beach Bag

I’ve had a lot of pool bags over the years, ranging from actual pool bags to diaper bags and as a family of six, the Bogg Bag takes the win for my favorite pool/beach bag.

Okay, hear me out, if you’re like me when the Bogg Bag was first released you may have said “There’s no way I’d pay that much for a plastic tote.”

Well, here I am two years later with one and honestly they’re worth it.

I like this bag for a variety reason BUT I feel like I should say there are some cheaper alternatives, the Simply Southern Tote and the Simple Modern Tote.

There are some differences with these totes, the first being size. I actually tested the Simple Modern Tote at Target before ordering my Bogg Bag. The Simple Modern is slightly shorter than the Bogg. With a family of six, I need all the space I can get for our pool days and opted for the Bogg since the price was only about $30 difference.

Why I love my Bogg…

This bag is a workhorse. First, it’s plastic, so if it gets sandy, dirty, or wet, it’s super easy to clean out. The Bogg is also sturdy, my last pool bag was mesh (no structure) and all our items were falling out of the bag. It was honestly a huge pain to deal with. I’d sit the bag down and our towels would fall out or goggles, I was always losing something. I’ve seen several influencers push mesh bags this summer and if you have large families, steer clear of them. They tend to be flimsy and you’ll want something with structure to it.

The Bogg has structured strong plastic, so nothing is going to fall out. You can also organize this bag with dividers which is a plus in my book! I have a section for towels, one side for things like sunscreen and my first aid kit, and then the third section for poolside snacks.

The downfall of this bag, it’s BIG (which honestly in my book is also a plus) but it can be heavy. I always say it’s more about expectation’s, if you have a bag jam packed with all the essentials for a family of six, of course it’s going to be heavy but some may thing it ends up being too heavy to tote around.

A Water Bottles

This one is a must, you NEED a water bottle for every individual to make sure they stay hydrated. My current favorite water bottles for myself are the Stanley cups, mainly because they’re large and hold a lot of water.

For the kids I’ve been using (and LOVING) the Owala water bottles. I love that they’re bigger than the traditional kids water bottles (so less refilling) and you can drink two ways with it, like a regular cup supping or use the built in straw. My kids all like using it different ways depending on what they’re doing so the versatility of this bottle is great.

Sunscreen

The first thing we do on any outing during summer is apply sunscreen, especially in the hot summer Texas heat. I’ve learned that the spray on sunscreen works best with my kids and it must be tear free.

Mom Tip: If you’re worried about getting sunscreen in their eyes when applying it to their face, I spray it on my own hands and them rub it on their face. This has really helped reduce the amount of fights we have when it comes to putting on sunscreen now.

First Aid Kit

If you have young kids, I highly suggest adding a first-aid kit to your summer bag. I use our kit almost every outing we have either for my own kids or other kids on the playground. The parents are ALWAYS so thankfully for bandaids during a traumatic time. I routinely check my first-aid to make sure it’s full and if not, I restock it.

The Keep Going First Aid is by far my favorite first aid kit and you can say 10% on your purchase when you use code: TANDRANICOLE at checkout.

Wipes

If you’re out of the baby phase you may be thinking “but Tandra, I don’t have a baby anymore, I don’t need wipes.” I beg to differ. I swear baby wipes work for everything and I’ll forever carry them with me for the foreseeable future.

My favorite wipes are the Pampers Sensitive Skin. I’ve used these now for over 7 years and have tried many different brands but always come back to these.

Hand Sanitizer

I like to keep this handy for any situation with kids. You never know when you’ll need to wipe down playground equipment, dirty park benches/tables, or sticky hands. The Purcell singles are nice for wiping down tables and benches while i prefer the touch land or Purell gel for use on our hands.

Bug Spray

Depending upon where you live (or play) you may find that using bug spray is a necessity during those summer months. Here in Texas, we frequently use it due to overwhelming number of mosquitos.

Insect Bite Treatment

If your kids are anything like mine even with proper repellent there are still days when we end up with a few mosquito bites. We absolutely love using After Bite Treatment for kids.

Towels

This may sound like a random one to keep in your bag but with summer play it’s always smart to carry a few towels with you. Whether your find yourself at a pool, splash pad or maybe even a stream, it’s nice to have towels handy after all the water play.

Picnic Blanket

This is one I just recently started keeping in our bag, of course you can use towels but a pool towel isn’t big enough for our family so I upgraded to a picnic blanket. I love being able to lay these down for a quick lunch on the grass while we’re out playing. Sometimes the picnic benches are taken and these make it so much easier to spread out without worries.

Portable Phone Charger

We spend a lot of our summer days away from the house and those long days can quickly drain your phone battery. I always like to be prepared and keep a phone charger with me as a “just in case” because you never know when an emergency could happen and you don’t want to be caught with a dead phone battery.

These chargers are my favorite because they tell you the actual percentage that the charger is charged, rather than showing dots or lines.

Ready for Anything (and Everything!)

At the end of the day, summer adventures don’t have to be chaotic but a little preparation goes a long way. With these essentials packed and ready to go, I feel more confident heading out the door with all five kids in tow, knowing we’re covered for whatever the day brings.

Whether it’s a spontaneous stop at the splash pad or a full day at the beach, having a well-stocked bag helps us stay present, have fun, and soak up every bit of the season together.

I hope this list helps make your summer outings just a little smoother and a lot more fun.

Don’t forget to Pin this image so you can easily find this when you’re ready to pack your summer mom bag!

These are the things that keep my crew of seven organized, prepared, and able to enjoy the moment without the constant stress of “did I forget something?”

If you have any must-haves that you always keep in your summer bag, I’d love to hear them! Let me know so I can try them out and maybe add them to the list for other moms, too.

Planning a summer getaway or heading out on a family adventure? Don’t miss my Road Trip Must-Haves for Moms, it’s packed with tips to keep your crew happy and your sanity intact on the road.

We’re all in this together, and sharing what works makes it easier for everyone.

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Pack it once and thank yourself all summer! XoXo- Tandra