Poolside notes
Packing a swim lesson bag for a kid
A cold, tired kid gives you one pass at the shower. The bag that works is the one where every bottle earns its place in that single pass, so pack short.
One bottle for the shower
A two in one hair and body suds, tear free. Lessons leave as much chlorine on a small swimmer as practice leaves on a big one, and the difference is that a six year old will not stand still for a two bottle routine. One lather, top to toe, done.
The spray for the cap tangles
Swim caps and towel rubbing turn fine hair into felt. A leave in detangler spray works through it at the lockers without another rinse, which is the only kind of extra step that survives contact with a child.
Lotion before the car seat
The after swim itch usually shows up on the ride home, right when nobody can do anything about it. Tear free lotion on arms and legs at the lockers, while skin is damp, gets ahead of it.
The rest of the bag
Two towels (one always drowns), a dry snack, a bag for the wet suit, and travel sizes of all of the above once you are tired of leaking full bottles. That is the whole list; everything else is weight.
Rather answer two questions than read five notes?
Say who swims and what the water leaves behind, and the shelf assembles itself.