12 Essentials for your Summer Go Bag

This past Thursday, the boys and I met up with a friend and her two daughters for lunch and some fun at the local splash pad. We had such a great time. But I felt rushed and unorganized by the time we got there. My husband had dressed Ben in the morning and grabbed shoes and not sandals, strike one. We had to stop for sunscreen and had a baby meltdown, strike two. I forgot hats for the boys, and then the picnic blanket, strike three and four. Then the list just seemed to grow. The next day the boys and I ventured out and grabbed our 12 Essentials for Our Summer Go Bag. So hopefully, next time, we’ll be well prepared.

There’s just something about being organized, that makes life so much easier. A summer go bag that either sits by the door or even in the trunk if you’re so inclined, is pure genius. No more running late, because you can’t find the elusive bug spray or that floppy hat that your son just has to have.

If you can grab and go, it’ll make everyone’s day easier. Being a work-from-home mom, I know how precious those extra minutes can be. The kids are anxious to get going. You only have so much time you can devote to an outing before you’ll need to check back in with work. The last thing you want to be doing is wasting time searching for the essentials.

I always have the diaper bag stocked. There’s lots of diapers, wipes, extra clothes, pacifiers, warmer clothes, just in case, etc. But we’ve never had a summer go bag. Usually, the picnic blanket lives in the trunk, except, of course, this time. So, with that lesson under our belts, we set out to find the top essentials everyone should have in their summer go bags.

12 Essentials for your Summer Go Bag

You’ll want to start, by finding a nice big bag. We got our bag at Aldi’s. It’s an extra large beach bag. I let Ben choose which design he wanted, and then we discussed what we should pack and what we thought we might need while at a park or splash pad. Ben’s big contribution was toys and hats. They’re both very dear to his heart. Here’s the rest of our 12 Essentials for your Summer Go Bag list.

1. Sunscreen & Hats

This seems like a no brainer, but sunscreen, when you are outside, is always a must. I am, however, guilty of not putting it on as often as I should, or forgetting it altogether.

2. Bug spray

Nothing ruins a fun day out, quicker than getting bit or bothered by those pesky mosquitos and other insects.

3. Picnic blanket

A picnic blanket is definitely a summer essential. It’s one of those items, you don’t really know how valuable it is until you try and picnic without one. Towels cut it but, they’re just not the same.

4. Towels

Which brings us to our fourth must-have. Towels! You never know when a spray park could pop up. Towels also double as make-shift change rooms. And a blanket if the weather turns, or you know, if you just need to mop up a spill.

5. Swimsuits

There is nothing worse than finding a splash pad and not having the appropriate gear packed for your kids, who are of course dying to cool off and play with the other kids. Water seems to have a magnetic pull on my kids. Is your family the same?

6. Swim Diapers/Diapers

If your kids are young enough and still need diapers, it’s pretty important to remember these. Trust me, I’ve forgotten and had to make a pit stop before our outing ended up in total disaster.

7. Wipes, Wet Ones, Kleenex & Hand Sanitizer

I love having wipes, Wet Ones, Kleenex and hand sanitizer along. Wipes are perfect for sticky little fingers and I use the Wet Ones to wipe down surfaces that we may use. Kleenexes are great for those runny noses if you or your kids suffer from allergies. Hand sanitizer is just smart, pack it, you won’t regret washing away any germs before they can attack you or your kids.

8. Reusable Water Bottles

We tend to always bring water bottles with us wherever we go. It’s part of my routine, anytime I leave the house, keys, purse, and a water bottle. So, having a couple of bottles in the bag is the norm for us, besides on a hot day, water goes fast, this way you can refill as often as you like.

9. Snacks

Playing outside in the heat always works up an appetite. You won’t ever go wrong by having a few snacks along. Trust me, snacks are a lifesaver!

10. Toys

So, while we were at the splash pad on Thursday, another little boy was there and his mom packed toys. It was a hard thing for my son to grasp, that the water gun was not his to play with. So, I knew toys were going to be a must. While we were out shopping, we grabbed a frisbee and a bubble wand. We also had a beach ball at home that we could deflate and it would only take up a little bit of space. I also wanted something that was water-friendly, but not a toy gun. So, as we were walking up and down the aisle we came across some bath toys that squirt water, and I was sold.

11. First aid kit

I don’t pack an actual first aid kit, more just the essentials. A few bandaids, nail clippers and some Benadryl. That’s really all I anticipate needing, fingers crossed! But still, a great addition to your summer go bag.

12. Spare clothes and Plastic Bags

You probably already have a set of spare clothes in your diaper bag and really the summer go bag isn’t meant to replace your diaper bag, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring an extra pair of clothes. When you’re at a splash pad or pool, it does seem everything gets wet. So, pack a spare t-shirt and shorts in a zip-top bag. I also pack a few extra empty zip-top bags, the big freezer ones, just in case I need a bag for wet swimsuits at the end of the day.

After our play date on Thursday, I knew before we went out again, we’d be packing our own summer go bag and the list above is our top 12 essentials. I’m sure there are some other items that you may need or things we included that you won’t have use for in your own bag. But whatever you settle on, having a go bag for the summer is a must!

Did our 12 Essentials for your Summer Go Bag give you some ideas for your own? If so, you may enjoy these other great family-friendly posts, I’m sure they’ll be a hit:

If you get a chance to put this together or use any other ideas on the blog to make like a little easier and want to share a photo of your experience. Please feel free to tag @candyjarchronicles or use #candyjarchronicles on Instagram, so I can see your post. I’d love to see your spin on this!

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