Bathing suit? Check. Towel? Check. Like the first day of school, you’re probably scrambling to get gear together for your child’s first lesson at Goldfish. In many cases, you might not even know what to get beyond the swim trunks!

But don’t fret; at Goldfish, we consider ourselves experts on the kinds of items that will make your child’s first experience in the water comfortable and safe. That’s why we opened the Treasure Island Pro-Shop in each Goldfish location. Catered to kids, each and every item in the shop is Goldfish-tested and approved. Before you hit the pool deck, here are three swim gear essentials we swear by:

A trusty pair of goggles.

Let’s face it: no one likes water in the eyes. For children, this can be one of the more traumatizing elements of getting in the water for the first time. A comfortable, form-fitting pair of goggles can help your child feel safe and brave enough to take on the water. Look for the fantastic Finis line of kids’ goggles in the Pro-Shop. Their Fruit Basket goggles (which smell like fruit!) are some of the most comfortable, form-fitting goggles out there!

A big, comfy towel.

This one is probably a no-brainer, but there’s nothing better than getting out of the pool with a big towel to dry you off! Swimmers can get pretty chilly when leaving the pool deck for the changing room or car, and a thick, fluffy towel can dry your child off in no time. Check out our fun Goldfish beach towels, which have been known to keep our swimmers stylish and warm!

Reusable swim diapers.

At Goldfish, we start lessons for children as early as four months old! If your child is not potty-trained, we require reusable swim diapers to keep our pools safe and clean for your children and other members. They are comfortable for toddlers, and easy to wash at home. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask a Front Desk Customer Service Representative.

Here’s a tip: on your first day at Goldfish, you will receive a Welcome Bag, which includes a 25% off coupon for either a reusable swim diaper or goggle purchase! Of course, we have a full line of earplugs, Goldfish clothing, swimwear, and pool toys also available for purchase in the Pro-Shop. Can’t find something? Just ask!

What are your go-to items for the pool? We’d love to hear about them!