We love our annual beach vacation, but this year was a bit more stressful to plan as we had a 6-month-old in tow. My other two kids were over a year before we took them to the beach, so going to the beach with a baby was a new adventure. This vacation ended up being relaxing and stress-free! I loved everything we packed and I hope to share a few tips to make your beach vacation the best one yet!
Canopy or Tent
Shade is important to have while at the beach. The last thing you want is to go home burnt or spend the rest of the time at the beach with sunburns. This beach cabana is large enough for the whole family, easy to set up, and does not take up a lot of travel space!
Sunscreen, Beach Bag, and Towels
I like to look for mineral sunscreens that have zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the main ingredient. These sunscreens will protect you from the sun better because they sit on top of your skin. Once your baby is at least 6 months old, make sure you grab a good sunscreen for the baby also. I love this baby sunscreen. Grab a beach bag with a waterproof liner to store keys and phone.
Wagon or Beach Stroller
Unless you have several extra hands to help you carry everything, a wagon will help you bring all of your items in one trip while saving your arms.
Portable Table
With a baby, there are so many items I didn’t want to get in the sand (like bottles and pacy) so having a table was really convenient. It was also nice to eat on the beach at the table.
Beach Chairs
We’ve used these beach chairs for three years now and they are very comfortable. They also don’t take up as much room in the car as other beach chairs.
Portable waterproof bluetooth speaker
Ok so this is more for the adults, but we also played soft music while the baby was sleeping. You’ll want to make sure your speaker is waterproof. Depending on how long your phone stays charged, you might want to bring a portable charger.
Cooler
Bring a cooler for food and drinks! Definitely stay hydrated! If you plan to eat on the beach to maximize your time, bring some hand wipes to clean your hands.
Baby items to pack for a day at the beach
Portable Diaper Changing Pad
Word of caution! Swim diapers do not hold in pee! I learned this real quick with my first one walking out to the pool. Use the portable diaper changing pad to store a few regular diapers and swim diapers and avoid bringing the whole diaper bag to get sandy.
Swim Diapers, Rash-guard Shirt, and Hat
These reusable swim diapers are very handy. I will only use the ones with snaps because they are so much easier than not having snaps. The good ole disposable swim diapers work well also. You’ll also want a rashguard shirt to protect babies from the sun along with a hat. Trust me, it is totally worth it to not have to worry about sunburns on a baby!
Baby Powder
I’ve heard baby powder easily removes sand from skin, but I didn’t believe it until I saw it with my own eyes. It wiped the sand away without causing any scratching or need for water. I cannot believe it took having a 3rd kid to try this.
Sand-Free Blanket
This is where my baby played most of the time. I knew it would be easy to clean up and not get sand everywhere.
Beach Toys
If your baby is old enough to enjoy beach toys then grab a small set. I love the sets that come with a mesh bag or storage lid for buckets. If you have a lot of beach toys then this mesh beach bag is really convenient to store and carry toys. We threw all the toys in the bag sandy and rinsed them off in the water before we left.
Pool Float for Babies
If you are staying at a resort or hotel and you swim in the pool, this baby pool float was perfect. It traveled well because it was small and inflated with the portable hand pump.
I’d love to hear what you packed for the beach to make your vacation with a baby more enjoyable and easy.
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What to pack for the whole family at the beach
Canopy or Tent
Shade is important to have while at the beach. The last thing you want is to go home burnt or spend the rest of the time at the beach with sunburns. This beach cabana is large enough for the whole family, easy to set up, and does not take up a lot of travel space!
Sunscreen, Beach Bag, and Towels
I like to look for mineral sunscreens that have zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the main ingredient. These sunscreens will protect you from the sun better because they sit on top of your skin. Once your baby is at least 6 months old, make sure you grab a good sunscreen for the baby also. I love this baby sunscreen. Grab a beach bag with a waterproof liner to store keys and phone.
Wagon or Beach Stroller
Unless you have several extra hands to help you carry everything, a wagon will help you bring all of your items in one trip while saving your arms.
Portable Table
With a baby, there are so many items I didn’t want to get in the sand (like bottles and pacy) so having a table was really convenient. It was also nice to eat on the beach at the table.
Beach Chairs
We’ve used these beach chairs for three years now and they are very comfortable. They also don’t take up as much room in the car as other beach chairs.
Portable waterproof bluetooth speaker
Ok so this is more for the adults, but we also played soft music while the baby was sleeping. You’ll want to make sure your speaker is waterproof. Depending on how long your phone stays charged, you might want to bring a portable charger.
Cooler
Bring a cooler for food and drinks! Definitely stay hydrated! If you plan to eat on the beach to maximize your time, bring some hand wipes to clean your hands.
Baby items to pack for a day at the beach
Portable Diaper Changing Pad
Word of caution! Swim diapers do not hold in pee! I learned this real quick with my first one walking out to the pool. Use the portable diaper changing pad to store a few regular diapers and swim diapers and avoid bringing the whole diaper bag to get sandy.
Swim Diapers, Rash-guard Shirt, and Hat
These reusable swim diapers are very handy. I will only use the ones with snaps because they are so much easier than not having snaps. The good ole disposable swim diapers work well also. You’ll also want a rashguard shirt to protect babies from the sun along with a hat. Trust me, it is totally worth it to not have to worry about sunburns on a baby!
Baby Powder
I’ve heard baby powder easily removes sand from skin, but I didn’t believe it until I saw it with my own eyes. It wiped the sand away without causing any scratching or need for water. I cannot believe it took having a 3rd kid to try this.
Sand-Free Blanket
This is where my baby played most of the time. I knew it would be easy to clean up and not get sand everywhere.
Beach Toys
If your baby is old enough to enjoy beach toys then grab a small set. I love the sets that come with a mesh bag or storage lid for buckets. If you have a lot of beach toys then this mesh beach bag is really convenient to store and carry toys. We threw all the toys in the bag sandy and rinsed them off in the water before we left.
Pool Float for Babies
If you are staying at a resort or hotel and you swim in the pool, this baby pool float was perfect. It traveled well because it was small and inflated with the portable hand pump.
I’d love to hear what you packed for the beach to make your vacation with a baby more enjoyable and easy.
great post. I love it