Are you wondering what’s needed for the beach with a baby? Or how to keep a toddler entertained at the beach?
Taking your little one’s to the beach is fun and exciting but can also be overwhelming!
We’re lucky to live only minutes from the beach and have raised our kids in South Florida sand. Here’s our top beach must haves for baby and toddler that will keep them entertained and safe, so you can relax!
This list of the best beach must haves for baby contains affiliate links, where I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
1. Beach Tent + Pool
- Pop-up tent with easy set up to keep the shaded from the sun.
- Built in pool, so your little one can splash around and stay cool.
- 50+ UV Protection
See our favorite beach tent that will keep the entire family shaded – Our Beach Essentials 2023.
2. Baby Beach Chair
- Beach chair that grows with your baby – 3 growth stages. Safety harness for babies that converts to a portable chair for the big kids (holds up to 75lbs)!
- Removable sun canopy & snack tray.
- Collapses and comes with travel bag.
3. Baby Beach Mat + Kiddie Pool
- Dual use: +5 ft. beach blanket or flip and transform into a kiddie pool.
- Travel bag can be used as a bucket to add water to the pool.
- Great for keeping your toddler cool and entertained.
4. Baby Sunscreen
- We LOVE ThinkBaby sunscreen. It’s vegan, safe and natural! Water resistant for 80 minutes.
- SPF 50+ sun protection for babies & toddlers.
- It’s easy to apply – glides on smooth and easy.
5. Beach Hat
- Full sun protection, hat blocks over UPF 50+.
- Adjustable Size – An elastic back adjusts to baby’s head and grows with them.
- Machine washable.
- Choose from over 10 different hat colors.
6. Baby Float
- Secure and stays steady in the water with a smart design to keep the baby safe (no flips).
- Removable UPF50+ sun canopy.
- Baby can sit or swim 2 ways: breaststroke and backstroke.
- Available in multiple colors and styles.
7. Toddler Beach Toys
- Guaranteed to keep your toddler busy at the beach!
- Ultimate sand castle making kit.
- 13 Pieces – Includes 1 bucket, 1 shovel, 1 rake, 5 sand castle molds, 4 sea creature molds, 1 watering pot, and 1 mesh storage backpack so that you can easily carry all the pieces with you.
8. Beach Wagon
- This is our beach wagon and its holding strong, even after 5 years of constant use!
- Lots of space to hold it all – we fit a cooler, beach bag, towels, boogie boards, beach tent, and a bag of beach toys! It can also easily pull 2 kids.
- Folds up for easy packing.
9. Beach Bag
- Extra large beach bag to hold all your beach toys.
- Mesh bag lets all the sand fall out so you’re not bringing that back with you.
- It’s really inexpensive too, less than $10!
10. Sunglasses 0-24 mos.
- Keep your baby’s eyes protected from the sun.
- Flexible Polarized baby sunglasses with strap for toddler or infant.
- Baby safe, BPA free.
- Available in 4 different colors.
11. Toddler Floaties
- Learn-to-swim vest for boys and girls age 2-6 years old (under 50 lbs.)
- Allows your little one more freedom but with safety.
- Available in multiple colors.
12. Portable Fan
- Keep your baby cool at the beach!
- Flexible tripod legs can attach to a stroller, beach umbrella or even fold it to stand.
- USB rechargeable or battery operated.
How to keep a newborn cool at the beach?
It’s important to keep you baby cool and protected from the sun at the beach. Use baby-friendly sunscreen, buy a good beach hat and keep them under a tent or sun canopy in the shade. A portable clip on fan is also a necessity to keep them cool on really hot days.
If your baby needs more of a cool down, give them a quick dip in the water!
What should I pack in my baby’s beach bag?
- Swimsuits
- Sunscreen
- Floaties or a swim vest
- Swim diapers – these are way different than normal diapers.
- Sunhat
- Frozen teething ring
- Sunglasses
- Beach towels
- Water/baby bottle & snacks
- Beach toys & baby toys (easy wash ones)
- Toddler beach shoes
What can you do on the beach with a toddler?
A beach day with your toddler can be so fun but also exhausting. You want to find ways to play with them but also give them activities so you can take a break and enjoy sea and sunshine!
Here’s 10 fun activities for your toddler at the beach:
- Look for sea life in the seaweed. -We find crabs, shrimp and baby fish everytime we go to the beach.
- Build a sand castle.
- Find seashells and use them to decorate the castle or spell out letters with them.
- Dig a hole.
- Bring trucks and build a road.
- Give them challenges – like build a snowman or a turtle with sand.
- Play hide and seek by hiding beach toys in the sand.
- Set up a kiddie pool and let them play away from the ocean.
- Play I Spy.
- Swim!
Our Top 12 Beach Must Haves for Baby
In Conclusion:
- Beach Tent + Pool
- Beach Chair
- Beach Mat + Kiddie Pool
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Float
- Beach Toys
- Sunglasses
- Beach Wagon
- Swim Vest
- Beach Bag
- Portable Fan
Parents you got this! You now have our 12 beach must haves for baby and toddler, plus a checklist on what to bring for your little one and keeping them entertained. Time to enjoy the sand, sun and make memories as a family!
Check out our beach essentials that we bring everytime we go:
Our Beach Essentials 2024
Our list of favorite beach day essentials when hitting the beach especially with kids.
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