Last Updated on April 6, 2024
If you’re looking for beach essentials for babies and beach must-haves for toddlers, you’re in the right place. Keep on reading!
We hit the beach with our baby when he was seven months old. It was quite an experience for him. He laughed at the waves and played with the sand. The only miscalculation was when he dropped himself face-first on the sand. No harm was done. After a couple of minutes of cleaning, he was laughing again. So going to a beach is definitely fun, but the whole day becomes so much better with proper baby beach gear.
List of Beach Essentials for Baby and Others
1. Sun Hat
Protective clothing is one of the baby beach essentials because infants have delicate skin. It’s safer to protect them with clothing than to use sunscreen. A hat on your baby’s head helps avoid overheating, and a wide rim protects the eyes from direct sunlight. And don’t forget that hats also protect you from overheating. For a child, iPlay Swim Hat (Check the latest price on Amazon) is one of the best choices.
2. Sunglasses
Sunglasses are essential for protecting your child’s eyes. I’ve written a guide on how to pick sunglasses for a baby. You can read about the best sunglasses for a baby by clicking this link.
Roshambo Baby Shades (Check The Latest Price On Amazon) are made in Italy, and they offer a classic look. They are one of the best baby sunglasses out there. This said, in my experience, sunglasses are more suitable for toddlers because most babies want to take them off. It’s easier to protect them with a proper sun hat and by keeping them in the shade ( in a baby beach tent, for example)
3. Beach Umbrella or Beach Tent
You’ll need an umbrella if you wish to spend many hours on the beach with your little one. Too much sunlight is harmful to you, even if you wear sun protection. We didn’t have one with us, but we found a comfortable place in the shade of an old pine tree. That said, the beach umbrella by BeachBub (Check the latest price on Amazon) would be my choice as it’s big and sturdy enough. This umbrella is also easy to pack with you.
If you’re taking a beach trip with an infant who should preferably stay out of direct sunlight all the time, then a beach tent is a perfect solution. Best models offer ample space for your little one to move around. Additionally, more expensive models are more straightforward to fold than cheap alternatives. This becomes especially important when quickly leaving with a frustrated, crying infant. Easthill Outdoors Deluxe XL Shader (also sold on Amazon) is a great family choice.
4. Swim Diapers for a Baby or a Young Toddler
If you want to enjoy your time on the beach, buy swim diapers for your infant. It’s a personal choice if you buy reusable swim diapers or not, but take at least two pairs with you. Just remember that they are meant to contain only poo:) Click this link to learn how to find the best swim diaper.
Nageuret reusable swim diapers (Check the latest price on Amazon) are one of the best baby diapers on the market and my infant is also wearing these.
5. Towels
A yellow towel by Hermes or a multi-colored beach towel by Dolce & Gabbana would surely reflect your impeccable taste. But if you want to be playful, then buy Superman Dad Beach Towel (Check the latest price on Amazon), because when the towel’s right it’s right.
6. Beach Blanket
A big beach blanket is a must when hitting the beach with little ones. I like more traditional beach blankets like the one by El Paso Designs (Check the latest price on Amazon).
There are modern „sand-free“ options available though. For example, one of the most popular choices is a WellaX sand-free beach blanket by Chillax (Check the latest price on Amazon).
7. Beach Toys
Don’t forget to take some toys with you to keep your kid occupied. For toddlers, you may want to buy a collection of sand toys by Prextex (Check the latest price on Amazon).
Children also love nets as they can scoop small shells and fish with them. Battat Shark Diving Set (Check the latest price on Amazon) is a fun toy as you get sinking colorful creatures as a bonus. So even if there aren’t real fish in the sea (or pool) to catch, your child still has something to do.
8. Sunscreen
It’s essential to protect the gentle skin of your child from harmful UV rays. We didn’t buy sunscreen, but stayed on the beach for only two hours and remained in the shade. Our child also wore protective clothes.
If you want your child to play in the sun, buy sunscreen. Neutrogena sunscreen (Check the latest price on Amazon), is one of the best baby sunscreens. It doesn’t contain the harmful chemicals I’ve mentioned in my post about organic shampoos, and SPF is 50. As this is a physical sunscreen, it may stain clothes though.
9. Portable Cooler
If you plan to go for more than a couple of hours, then taking a cooler with you is a good idea. You should pack at least water and some snacks with you. A cooler by IceMule (Check the latest price on Amazon) is an excellent choice, as your hands are left free to carry other stuff and your baby.
10. Sand Coasters
If you’re traveling with a child, you must carry a lot of stuff anyway. You may as well make your stay on the beach a bit more luxurious, and buy sand coasters by Turtlebacks (Check the latest price on Amazon). They don’t take much room, and your cold one will not have to lie in the sand.
11. Portable Phone Charger
I guess I don’t have to explain this item, as nomophobia has become a thing. By the way, nomophobia means the fear of being out of cellular phone contact. If you suffer from it, buy Anker PowerCore 10000 (Check the latest price on Amazon).
12. Beach Wagon
The best way to transport all your stuff is with a beach cart. Mac Sport beach wagon (Check the latest price on Amazon) allows you to load 50 lbs of stuff on so you don’t have to make many trips. This wagon also has a fold out table for drinks, so you don’t need to buy coasters separately.
13. Wet Bag
You need a place for your wet towels, and swimwear…and don’t forget the diapers… A plastic bag is the easiest choice. In Europe, they are planning to ban them though (to the relief of all sea creatures). Buy the one by Teamoy (Check the latest price on Amazon) which is quite large and can function as a beach tote.
14. Pack and Play
If you have many children, then you might want to consider a pack and play. Summer Infant Pop N’ Play (Check the latest price on Amazon) is one of the best pack and plays. I admit it’s quite big, but there’s room for two babies there, and it weighs only 12,2 pounds. It takes less than 30 seconds (yes, I have tested it) to assemble and you can also buy a canopy so it can function as a sunshade for your little one.
15. Beach Tote
If you’re not planning to take a lot of stuff with you, a beach wagon may be overkill. An excellent alternative is a tote bag by Odyseaco (Check the latest price on Amazon) with a classic bohemian look.
16. Beach First Aid Kit
If you’re going on a beach vacation with a family, taking a small first aid kit with you is a good idea. You don’t need anything special though. Bandages and sting relief pads help you to treat the most common problems on the beach. DadProgress top pick is a first aid kit by PreparaKit (Check the price on Amazon).
17. Baby Life Jacket
If you’re planning to go sailing, remember to buy a life vest for your little one. DadProgress’s top pick for infants and toddlers is a life jacket by Stholquist (Check the latest price on Amazon). If you wish to know more about finding the best infant life jacket, click on the link.
18. Baby Beach Shoes
If your little one has already started walking, then shoes are one of the baby beach essentials. There can be many sharp objects hidden in the sand, or the beach can be rocky. And don’t forget the hot sand:) It’s vital to protect the feet of babies and older kids. These comfortable and flexible aqua socks by Apolter (also sold on Amazon)offer excellent feet protection. The material is breathable and you can effortlessly move them.
19. Baby Carrier
Most strollers are hard to push in the sand. As a result, it’s more efficient to carry your infant in a baby carrier and bring all the essentials with a beach wagon. This said, some excellent all-terrain strollers work even on the beach. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but many parents opt for the baby carrier because it allows you to move around more freely. Ergobaby Omni 360 (also sold on Amazon) is a popular choice among parents.
20. Water Bottle or Sippy Cup
Don’t forget to hydrate your little one. Bring a water bottle or a good sippy cup so your kid can help himself.
To Sum Up
I hope this post helped you find fun beach toys for your baby. Have a nice vacation, and thanks for reading!