Your Official Guide To Baby Beach Essentials

Picture it… a hot summer day on the beautiful Grand Strand. You have bravely fought the wiggly little people and finally have them painted with sunscreen. You have all the baby beach essentials to ensure a PERFECT DAY in the sand and shore. (Or so you think…)

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The family is ready to go. You take your first step on the scorching white sand, which slips through your worn out “beach rainbows.”  Bags are digging into your sunburned shoulders, arms are being pulled almost out of socket from dragging your cooler, wagon, and child/children. You continue to barge through the soft, sinking terrain as you tell yourself “just keep walking…just keep walking.”

Finally, you have made it to the “hard sand” and scope out the perfect spot to set up camp. You drop your bags and set out your chair when your toddler announces, “I gottaaaa POOOOOOOOOPPPPPP!”

Sound familiar? Sound terrible? Sound like not a vacation at all?

…good thing they’re cute, right?

If the answer is yes to any or all of those questions, here are “6” of my favorite baby beach essentials to make it your BEST family beach trip ever. 

1.) Beach Cart:

If you don’t have one, get one.

The bigger the wheels, the easier for cutting through that soft sand. You can load it down with your cooler, snacks, umbrella, chairs, towels, sand toys… you name it! A cart also doubles for transportation for the toddlers once you are on the beach and would like to go for a walk. When my kids were younger, it was also a nice place for them to nap. Throw a couple of beach towels in there and you have a nice, cushy mattress.

2.) Beach Tent:

A little pop up one will work perfectly. It’s lightweight and not cumbersome to get down to the beach. It’s a great place for the little people to have their snack or just take a break from the heat.

Take advantage of the morning hours!  Make your way down to the beach for the morning sun. There are less people and the temperature seems to be better for the kids. Plus, if you time it right, your kids can take a nap during the afternoon, when the temps are scorching.

3.) Beach Toys:

You do not need ALL the toys. (Remember, this is baby beach ESSENTIALS.)  I try to take one large bucket that all of the sand toys can fit into. This is also something that my 4 year old can carry himself.

I make sure to have two small buckets, two shovels, and some little toys, which are great for playing “treasure hunt.”) I bury the small toys and mark them with an “X” or some other letter, then the kids dig them up. This keeps them entertained and they learn letters. That’s sorta my thing. 😉

If you have small bath toys, they can also be used as water guns later! I also suggest bringing these mess-free bubbles to the beach, too.

4.) Beach Mat:

I love beach mats because they’re lightweight, pack up easily, and sand doesn’t stick to them. We also use this mat at home for picnics in the yard, or bring it when Zach and I go to concerts on the lawn.

5.) Snack/Lunch:

I pack little sandwich-size bags of snacks. Each kid has their own bag of goodies. Pre-cut strawberries and grapes are some of our favorites. We also do veggie straws.

When I make sandwiches, I wrap one end in a paper towel and put the exposed bread end in the bag first, so when you pull the sandwich out you are touching the paper towel.

For drinks, I will take one juice box for each kid and then pack their water bottles. I love these  Contigo bottles especially for the beach because the spout is closed and opens easily. Also, don’t forget to take a grocery bag for your trash! We want to keep the beach clean folks!

6.) The most important baby beach essential: have a good attitude!

Yes, we all might dread the picture I painted before, but being positive is powerful! You are doing it for the little people. Long gone are the days of you laying on the beach and reading that new Nicholas Sparks love story or James Patterson thriller. Welcome to sitting in the sand, building sand castles, splashing in little tide pools, and going back and forth to your beach house for potty breaks.

Now, let me paint a new picture for you.

Beautiful blue skies, ocean waves on the horizon, with you and your precious family making memories  at the beach. Sounds of laughter, watching your babies run towards a flock of seagulls, wonder in the eyes of your toddler when they see a hermit crab, pride as they complete their very best sand castle, joy-jumping waves with Dad, excitement while searching for shark teeth and seashells with Mom. Thankfulness and love that fills your child’s spirit for time well spent with…baby YOU!

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What are your MUST-haves for a family trip to the beach?! We’d LOVE to hear about them!