Headed on vacation with a baby or toddler? Check out my roundup of my essential baby and toddler travel packing list here! I’ve done the research, so you don’t have to! We live 30 minutes from the beach, and take my kids often, so here is what we won’t live without! I don’t necessarily bring all these things on each trip, but wanted to give y’all options for what will best suit your family and kiddos! I want to make your packing feel like a vacation! Beach please, you can do this!
Save this baby travel packing guide for your next beach vacation! You can pin it for later! Or share it with a friend who is going to the beach!
See the end of the post for my free printable packing list!
Also, I’ve saved additional recommendations at my other Amazon favorites for the beach on my amazon store!
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1. Dress the Part!
Especially at the beach or pool, make your fashion FUNctionable! When I was a new mama and another mom told me to register for rashguards, I 100% thought they were talking about diaper rash cream! Rash guards (we love the long sleeved ones like this one from the picture) are great because they provide SPF coverage, which is helpful when you have squirmy kids who don’t want to put on sunscreen and then wait the recommended 15-30 minutes of time before getting in the water.
–We are currently loving the Cat and Jack ones from Target. Super affordable great designs and the option to color coordinate with siblings!
– Don’t forget the baby sunglasses and toddler sunglasses!
– A cute towel is a must pack too! We use the same hooded bath towels at the beach!
– Hats! Practice wearing them inside before your trip. Like all things with kids they need time to adjust! Hopefully it will become something they don’t fight when you need the protection! We love these!
– Reusable swim diaper-We love our reusable swim diapers-You invest in a few pairs and then can simply wash them out-they come in the cutest styles! Eco friendly too!
2. Soak up the shade
A change of scenery is helpful for everybody! Think creating separate play areas at the beach with different toys for those littles who aren’t walking yet. We love our tents and umbrella! A portable bassinet or baby dome (like this one) is also a great option for keeping your baby out the sun.
-We love a tummy time mat with water in it if you want your baby to be entertained in the shade! Don’t forget, a good ice chest to keep your drinks and snacks cool! We love bringing fruit for a refreshing snack. Also frozen water bottles will keep your ice chest cool. Then you can let them melt and enjoy some cold water! We’ve had this ice chest for years and it’s been awesome, functional, and lightweight, if you want a carrying ice chest!
-Bonus points for bringing a fitted sheet to create a sand free area for babies! An inflatable baby pool is also a great option to create a kid friendly zone to play in!
3. Keep it cool.
-We always bring our rechargable stroller fan to the beach.
– We love these stay cool towels. It comes in a big set, so the whole family can enjoy them. They stay cold for 3 hours! (Great for workouts too)!
Also, we freeze our homemade pouches so they are a cooling treat for little on a hot day.
-Babies can cool off with frozen teething rings/frozen teether with clips! Keep cold in the cooler!
4. Watch the clock!
Set a timer on your phone for reapplying sunscreen, and getting out of the sun for a few hours especially during the heat of the day is helpful ! This is if you are renting a house on or near a beach, try to go inside in the air conditioning (like a restaurant) for a little while! I also set a timer for snacks and water so we don’t get distracted and not offer a snack, because no one wants a hangry toddler!
5. The best sunscreen is… the sunscreen you will use and reapply!
(talk to your pediatrician about their recommendations) -And remember, we all have different preferences and budgets! I remember being overwhelmed because we couldn’t afford the $90 bottle of sunscreen! Well not exactly, but sunscreen can get expensive. Whatever your choice of baby sunscreen, just make sure to read the directions and reapply! Let me know in the comments if there is another brand you love! We’ve loved this kind! Always wanting to try more in south Texas!
6. Bento box for Snacks!
Pack all the snacks, snd stay hydrated! Bento boxes are a great way to keep snacks from getting crushed-and then reuse for school lunches! Remember, when babies are out in the heat they need to stay hydrated more than usual! So more nursing/formula than usual!
7-Use a baby bath as waterproof baby container.
This is an easy thing that can be repurposed as a regular bath at home. Can be helpful to keep in the tent or shade for those moments you need to put baby down safely in the shade (always supervising of course)!
8. Repurpose your Toys
When I’m selecting the toys that I want to spend money on, I want to get toys that can grow with my kids and serve multi purposes. Think bath toys and toys that can be used all year round and indoor!! We brought a lot of our toys from our bath to the beach and it was a big hit! Like bath books, bath boats, etc. They are designed for the water-so they work great at the beach! Of course, don’t forget traditional sand toys, and trucks are always great too.
-We love using our sand toys at home (all year round) with kinetic sand! We have this kinetic sand kit-you can take the toys out of this kit out to use at the beach!
-Also, get creative-if you have a baby they might not be able to enjoy traditional beach toys so bring rattles, and other things that they love from home! Don’t forget a Beach bag for the toys! I love this mesh one because it’s easily cleaned out!
-Also, a spray bottle (like this one for less than $1) is both fun and functional!
-We’ve also brought this baby bather to the beach before. Great waterproof seat for baby! Then repurpose it for a seat in the bath!
9. Baby powder(cornstarch), Baby Wipes, Baby potty and oh my!
These things will help you clean hands before snack time, get sand off of your kids, and help newly potty trained kids. We keep the baby potty in the car if we are in an area without bathrooms! If you haven’t tried using baby powder/cornstarch you should totally try at your next trip to the beach!
10. Make your gear work for you! Pick your beach gear carefully, so it has multi uses!
–We love the Bittybean baby carrier! Waterproof and great for holding baby in the water with you! Folds up super tiny for travel! Got with baby #2 and wished I had for #1! Great for ages 3 months (8 to 40 pounds) and up!
Invest in a rolling cart to carry all your things. I recommend a wagon that you can reuse for gardening, camping, trick or treating, or taking a stroll around the neighborhood!
Ice chests get heavy, especially with all the drinks and snacks from a family-so one with wheels is a life saver! It can also double for seating for kids with its hard top.
Beach chairs that can be carried like a backpack are life savers! We have these Tommy Bahama ones, and they’ve lasted forever and make carrying chairs easier!
Guides to Our Favorite Beach / Pool Items!
Beach Clothes and Accessories
Baby and Toddler swimsuits and accessories for girls and boys! All from Target and under $17! Get packing and ready for summer! #TargetStyle http://liketk.it/3fl3B #liketkit @liketoknow.it @liketoknow.it.family
Beach Gear
The best beach gear-making your life easy so you can enjoy your beach time with littles! http://liketk.it/3fmqm #liketkit @liketoknow.it @liketoknow.it.family
Toys
Beach toys all under $20 for kids and babies! Most can be repurposed for bath toys! Make sure to pack all the toys, so you can some relaxation too! 🙌🏼 🏖 http://liketk.it/3fmEq #liketkit @liketoknow.it @liketoknow.it.family
Safety
Keep your kids safe at the beach or pool! Sun safety and water safety things we love! http://liketk.it/3foxC #liketkit @liketoknow.it @liketoknow.it.family
Snacks / Drinks
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Free Printable Packing List!
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I hope some of these ideas have been helpful to you as you are thinking and packing for your next trip to the beach, or any summer outdoor setting! Let us know what your favorite tips or tricks to use at the pool or beach are in the comments below!
