This post was originally sponsored content and has since been updated.
We have taken full advantage of having a backyard saltwater pool this summer. With temperatures reaching 120 degrees in Arizona already, we swim several times a day. This is only our second summer with a backyard saltwater pool and it’s a construction decision we certainly are happy about. Several years ago we had our home on the market to sell but then decided we would be much happier staying where we were if we had a backyard saltwater pool.
We took our home off the market and just a few months later, had a saltwater pool in our backyard. The construction was fast and we couldn’t wait for our first summer with a pool. The differences between saltwater and chlorinated pools are more about the maintenance but having two daughters, I am more focused on the positive differences I’ve seen on our hair and skin. Remember those days of green hair after too much time in the pool? That doesn’t happen with a saltwater system. I’m also really loving that we can use Hyland’s Earache Drops to help quickly relieve any pain associated with earaches from too much time in the pool. This summer all we need to do to survive another heat wave is eat, swim and sleep!
We decided to build our saltwater pool during the winter months but couldn’t wait for summer to start swimming. The much anticipated warm weather came quickly and our daughters have spent everyday in the pool. Working from home has been fantastic this year because my time is truly scheduled around summer camp and swimming with friends.
The saltwater pool maintenance is different than a chlorinated pool but my husband handles that. The girls and I make sure pool floats are blown up and we sample new popsicle recipes to be pool ready all week.
Backyard saltwater pool essentials
Shade and sun care
With any backyard pool, sun care is essential. Our girls know they can’t swim without sunscreen. Spending all hours of the day in our pool also means we are constantly moving umbrellas to make sure we have plenty of shade.
Pool floats and toys
Add some fun to your summer with bright pool floats and toys. A water wheel and pink flamingo float are favorites in our pool.
Swim safety
Our youngest daughter is two and does not enter the water without her puddle jumper. We also have a pool fence enclosing our back patio. We constantly have neighborhood friends visiting to play in the pool and they all hear our safety rules before swimming.
Earache drops
It’s summer, you’re swimming everyday, and inevitably someone in your home is ending up with an earache. Hyland’s Earache Drops have no alcohol and no sting so they are perfect for little ears. They temporarily relieve the symptoms associated with earaches after diagnosis by a physician and relieve the common pain and itching of swimmer’s ear. They also help to relieve symptoms of earaches, including fever, pain, irritability and sleeplessness, and they give relief to earaches from non-chlorinated water.
Snacks & hydration
Just because you’re in the water doesn’t mean you don’t need to stop for water breaks. Make sure you’re reminding your little ones to take a quick break for a drink. Share hydrating snacks throughout the day too like fruits and veggies or go straight for the popsicles on those really warm summer days.
We are fully prepared for a summer of fun with our backyard saltwater pool and extra ready for those uncomfortable earaches because we have Hyland’s Earache Drops in our medicine cabinet.
What are you doing to make sure you’re ready for water play all summer?
Learn more about Hyland’s Earache Drops by connecting with Hyland’s on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hyland’s Earache Drops. The uses for Hyland’s products are based on traditional homeopathic practice. They have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration.
I’ve been so nervous about taking my boys to pools with the countless articles I’ve read about this issue and that issue and so I found this one incredibly helpful, it provided a sense of relief
Happy I could help! I have so many great memories of spending my childhood summers at our local pool!
My husband gets swimmer ear BAD. He pretty much just has to look at the water and gets an earache. Drops are essential.
Ouch! No fun as an adult to have pain after swimming!
I have used these drops. They are effective and when you are in pain, you want effective.
Agreed, thanks for sharing!
this is good to keep as i get really bad ear infections and i dread going to the pool because of this. i need to try these drops. thanks for the share!
Definitely stop dreading the pool, go grab these drops!
My dad gets awful swimmers ear but absolutely loves getting in the pool with the grandkids so I’ll have to get this product for him! Can’t wait for summer here in Australia!
My daughters love when my dad visits and swims with them too. My youngest is two and she says she can float on her back like her “papa”. It’s the cutest!
These are all great tips. This is a great product that we will have to get for our family.
For us it’s always better to be prepared than scramble when fun gets interrupted.
This is awesome, it looks like you’re having loads of fun and I definitely love your tips! It’s good to be prepared for what the summer might bring.
We are definitely having the best summer ever!
My parent’s pool used to be salt water and it was great! Also, those ear drops are wonderful! I was a swimmer and always got swimmer’s ear after hours of daily practice, but we only used peroxide and alcohol lol something like this would have probably been much better.
Ouch, I remember the peroxide and alcohol combo too! These drops are so much better!!
I love Hyland’s products. I didn’t know they had this though. I need to pick some up for our kids as they’ll be swimming a lot this summer.
We’re big Hyland’s fans too and these drops are fantastic!
We have a saltwater pool in our backyard and we adore it. I need to check out those earache drops.
Awesome that you also have a saltwater pool! These drops have been great for us this summer!
Totally would have loved these last year when I was in the pool almost daily training for my triathlon! What a great product!
I bet these drops would be great for athletes in the water!
The earache drops are essential. I think it’s awesome that you decided to build a pool and I love that you chose saltwater instead instead of chlorine. I’ve read about the differences and I think it’s the best choice!
We are really happy with our saltwater pool! And really, just having a pool at all, it’s so hot here!
How amazing that you had the pool installed and were able to stay in your home! I lived in Tucson for a summer and those temperatures are NO JOKE. My man and kiddos all seem to get swimmer’s ear after we visit the pool, so these drops may be calling my name soon. 🙂
I grew up here and you’d think by now I would certainly be used to this heat but when summer rolls around, I’m inside eating popsicles! The pool has made a huge difference for us and we love it!
I never even knew that saltwater pools were an option! There’s probably less chemicals And that seems like a worthy tradeoff even if it means you have to keep up with the salt concentration. Those drops also sound like they’re great for swimmers ear!
We love our saltwater pool!
Excellent list of essentials for pool. These are very important regarding swimming.
Thanks for sharing this! I will definitely be giving those ear drops a try. We installed a salt water pool last year toward the end of the summer so we are excited to get a full year of use out of it this year. I do think the maintenance has been fairly easy. Honestly the only problem we had was outside of the pool. My daughter didn’t dry off but just went and sat on the couch while she was still soaking wet haha Luckily we found a good upholstery cleaner and he said the problem would have been way worse had we had a chlorinated pool.