What to Pack for Beach Days with Kids
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Packing for the beach - especially with little ones - can be daunting. But it doesn’t need to be!
After going on beach trips with one child, and then with two, I’ve figured out my must-have items to pack for a beach day. And they’re a lot simpler than I thought!
In this post, I’m sharing my tried-and-true beach day packing list for parents with young kids. These are all items that have helped us survive (and thrive!) at the beach as a family.
01. The Travel High Chair
A safe place for baby to eat on the beach! No need to worry about it getting sandy or dirty. It’s machine washable! You can easily brush off the sand and spray it down.
It’s a game changer when your baby or toddler has a higher place to sit and eat so they’re not directly in the sand. Bring their favorite snacks and hydrating food to sit and eat together.
Take it with you to your rental house, too. It attaches to a chair to become a booster seat as well!
02. The Portable Folding Table
I wish we would have bought this years ago!
Set it up between beach chairs and prop your drinks and snacks on, etc.! It’s so nice having it sit up off the ground and get some separation from the sand.
I didn’t get sand in my food. Such a win!
It’s lightweight and folds up to be super compact. So easy to pack and carry down to the beach!
03. The Baby Pool Blanket
Another must-have item for the beach with small children.
Last year we bought a plastic pool from Walmart and dug a big hole for it to sit in every day. But, wow, it was such a pain to trek down to the beach and back every day.
This year we got the Beach Puddle which is essentially a blanket that can turn into a baby pool. Just dig a shallow hole wherever you are setting up on the beach and plop the blanket down. You can make it shallow or dig it deeper, and you only need a bit of water.
The blanket folds into a bag so it’s portable and compact! You can use the bag as a bucket to bring water back to fill the puddle.
This was a HUGE hit with the kids this year! They loved playing in it and splashing around. We could put an umbrella near it so they were in the shade as well.
04. Stainless Steel Bento Boxes
I love these plastic-free bento boxes so much. They are great quality and made with stainless steel and silicone.
They keep foods cold in the cooler so much longer. Also, they are huge! You can fit so much food into these bentos.
Our favorite beach snacks to pack are watermelon strips, carrots and peppers with dip, and strips of grilled chicken. Don’t forget to pack hydrating whole foods for those hot and sunny days.
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05. Sand Toys
We loved playing with these sand molds to make pictures in the sand. They also double as water toys.
Remember, kids love the simplest of toys. Let your little ones use their imagination and play pretend in the sand or the water!
This set is affordable and comes with shovels and a collapsible beach bucket, too. It’s everything you need to keep your kids busy and having fun at the beach.
The Extras
Sunscreen
I’m convinced this is one of the best sunscreens for toddlers. It’s easy to pack on-the-go!
The ThinkKids Sunscreen Stick is water-resistant, unscented, and provides SPF 30 protection for kids. It uses 20% non-nano zinc oxide as the main ingredient.
The stick application is quick and painless for impatient toddlers! After an hour in the sun, it’s easy to reapply on the cheeks and nose.
Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Spray
A spray sunscreen is really helpful at the beach. It makes reapplying so much easier.
This is a lower-tox mineral sunscreen spray. It’s fragrance free, water resistant, and uses an air-powered spray. The main ingredient used is zinc oxide.
Hydration
These are some of my favorite spill-proof water bottles for babies & toddlers. They keep water cold for hours on hot days!
I tested this cup out and it passes my test for age 2+! It’s stainless steel and insulated, travels well because of the spill-proof straw).
I love the fun color combos! We took these to the beach every day. Paul and Nellie both have one and love.
This is my favorite travel cup for 9-10 months and older. It’s spill-proof when the lid is closed and more insulated and keeps drinks colder for longer with ice!
You can shut the lid, throw it in any bag, and go!
My Favorite Water Bottle for the Beach
Don’t forget to stay hydrated! This is my favorite water bottle for the beach for two reasons. The cap screws on tight so it doesn’t leak AND it keeps my water cold for so much longer.
I pop this right on top of the portable table so it’s out of the sand. It also reminds me to drink it when I see it sitting out!
Looking for more?
Don’t miss our Summer Must-Haves - packed with the best summertime essentials, sun protection gear for kids, our favorite toys for the beach, and more!
