Pack baby beach essentials for the next beach vacation with your little one. Travelling with small babies is good, but it is also important to ensure that you have everything you need when on the trip. Travelling with little ones can strengthen the bond between parents and children, with research showing that 52% noticed an improved relationship.
As new parents, ensuring the comfort of your newborn is crucial, especially when you are out at a beach. Beach vacations with a toddler require a lot of preparation. Take the necessary preparations beforehand by packing all the baby essentials ahead of time. This can prove to be a game-changer for your beach trip.
Not only will this small step make your vacation super organized, but it will also make your whole vacation fabulous and tension-free. Carrying the right baby beach essentials with you can save you from possible mishaps. However, with a little effort, you can make your trip worth it and enjoy the pleasures of a new experience with a baby.
Think about when you are on the seashore, with everything still so sorted out, you will be able to relax. This is something new parents rarely get the chance to do. Whether you trip to a nearby beach or travel overseas to an exotic one, here we are to help you pack some of the baby beach essentials, from a baby stroller to sunscreen; we will delve deeper into what the most important essentials are for a baby of 6 months old or above.
Baby Beach Essentials – Swim Diapers
The first item on the list of baby beach essentials is swim diapers, and we highly recommend them. Swim diapers are quite essential for the beach when you spend the entire day out with your baby. Before the beach day, you will come across options like reusable or disposable swim diapers. Then, you have to make your decision as to which one to choose.
You may take a mix of them or go for either of them. Regardless of the one you opt for, we would suggest you pack some extras. Keeping a few more with you also put you at ease for later on. Generally, it’s not recommended to take babies who are younger than two months near swimming pools, ocean, or lakes. So, Make sure you don’t do it and wait for your baby to turn atleast two months old.
Baby Sun Hat
The only purpose of covering your baby’s head with a sun hat is to protect the skin from harmful UV radiation. This protection is especially helpful to cover your baby’s most sensitive skin. When it comes to selecting a sun hat for little babies, it’s always better to go with the options that have wider brim options. The wider, the better to cover not just the entire face of the baby, but also their neck and ears.
Diaper Bags
Yet another essential that parents can’t live without when they have their babies with them outdoors is a diaper bag. This is because changing diapers is necessary, and these diaper bags become more useful during a beach trip.
Diaper bags are multi-purpose items that can be used to store various items, such as dripping swimsuits or other small stuff. Additionally, you can use them to discard items that you cannot throw away on your way home or to a resort from the beach.
Baby Beach Essentials – Rashguard OR Cover-up
Rashguard or cover-up are both great to protect your baby’s skin from the sun. They provide an extra layer of protection over sunscreen to safeguard your baby’s sensitive skin. Even after carefully applying sunscreen to the baby, it’s natural to miss some spots. However, rashguard and cover-up are the best for keeping your baby’s soft skin safe throughout the day. They can also help remove sandy residue from your baby’s skin.
Cooler Bag
A must for your beach vacation is a cooler bag, and as a parent, you must be aware of its usefulness for babies. If you are a first-time parent and are soon going to the beach with your baby, take a cooler bag with you.
Use the cooler bag to store the baby’s food essentials such as lukewarm water and milk because both need to be at a cool temperature. They work like a refrigerator or a mini portable version of it. Ensuring that your necessary items are cool or at the right temperature, a cooler bag is a total game-changer for a road trip, like visiting the beach.
Baby Milk/Water/Formula
You can never forget the three most important things on a beach trip with a baby — baby milk, water, or formula. You have to ensure that you are carrying enough supply of all of them to keep your baby fed and quenched sufficiently.
Carry plenty of water with you because staying on a beach also makes not just you but also the baby. So, ensure you have enough water for all of you. If you suddenly run out of the baby’s milk, water can become handy in the situation for the baby and the family as well.
Beach Toys
Bringing some beach toys for your baby can keep them distracted and entertained. It is a great idea to take advantage of when you are looking to relax on the seashore. Whether you give your baby a beach bucket with some water to splash on toys or sand sculptures, this will keep the baby occupied. Furthermore, only through this, the baby will get accustomed to the new environment of the beach.
Especially for babies, there are beach bath toys which are waterproof, and we think they are great options. Due to their washable features, they can become your baby’s companion on the beach. Pick some toddler toys for the beach from a promising toy store, ensuring they are safe and that your baby also loves them.
Spray Bottle
A simple thing like a spray bottle can help you keep your baby cool after spending some time in the outdoors. You just have to fill the bottle with cool water and spray wherever needed. You can use it for your baby, yourself, or other family members too. To keep the water chilled, you can store the spray bottle in your beach cooler bag. Take the bottle out when you need to calm down the baby’s red face.
Beach Chair
Get your baby a super cool baby beach chair for them to sit on at the beach for some relaxation. How cool is it to have your own chair at the beach? This option is pretty cool and perfect for those babies who are old enough to sit in a chair. This is a nice way to let your baby have fun enjoying the beach views while keeping them from squirming in the sand. If you are looking for an alternative to a beach chair, a bath chair is a good option to wash the sand away once it’s time to go.
Baby Beach Essentials – Portable Bassinet
You will be more than happy to carry a portable bassinet along with you, especially if this is the first-ever beach vacation with a baby. This is very convenient accesory to use after laying your baby down in the shade for a little time. It is also great during your baby’s nap. Your baby can sleep safely in the bassinet. Its portability allows parents to take it out easily under an umbrella or beach tent. That being said, you can keep a close check on your little one’s movements.
Sand Shoes
For sensitive feet like those of a baby, the hot sand can seem too much. The extra hot sand can create scratches on your little one’s toes, particularly if it gets inserted between the toes. So, as a parent, you obviously want to protect your baby’s feet. To do this, you can choose to buy a pair of sand or beach shoes for your precious one. If your baby hasn’t started to walk yet, you can still get them. These are not just made for walking but are essentially made to keep the feet free of sand while they sit or crawl in the sand.
Baby Beach Essentials – Sunglasses With Straps
Get your baby a cool pair of infant sunglasses to rock and showcase a cool beachy vibe. These sunglasses are not just to protect the baby’s eyes from the strongest rays of the sun, but also to make their own style statement. You can buy infant sunglasses that come with strap options because the normal glasses can be really tough to keep them in place. The strap will help to prevent the sunglasses from falling off your baby’s face while the baby plays anywhere in the sand or water.
Baby Beach Essentials – Towels Or Blankets
You never want to forget to take towels or blankets when going to the beach with your baby. Ensure you keep towels handy when you are coming out from a dip in the water with the baby. You can easily dry yourself and the baby off.
Also, blankets are necessary to lay the baby out on the beach, on the hot sand. They protect the baby, from any heat that might harm them. You can even use towels or blankets under umbrellas and tents at the beach if you want to cool down your baby.
Sand-Friendly Stroller
A stroller is a great beach item that should be on your beach wish-list. A good stroller is a necessity for parents to carry their baby wherever they go. However, it’s also important to consider capable strollers. Not all strollers are of equal quality.
Before heading to the beach, take some time out of your busy schedule to research good strollers. Choose a stroller that you can easily move on the sand with your infant. When investing in a stroller, make sure it provides sun protection, and proper ventilation. Additionally, you will want one that suits your baby’s age.
Baby Bag
A beach bag for your baby is the most important thing to take on your next beach trip. It is extra important because a separate bag for the baby is good to carry everything, from a diaper bag to milk bottles. You can stock the bag fully with all the baby beach essentials for a day by the sea.
It’s even worth carrying all the baby’s products in a different bag. Isn’t it? Buy a bigger beach or regular bag with pockets or compartments. These are crucial to have plenty of space to keep all the baby beach essentials and to store wet things as well.
Baby Beach Essentials – Waterproof Carrier Wrap
Just after a single use, a waterproof carrier wrap might become your most favourite beach item. It is perfect to carry your baby for a quick dip in the sea. Not just that, it comes in handy if you want to take your baby out for a stroll along the seashore as they doze off.
Keeping a waterproof carrier wrap with you, will be very easy to keep your little precious one close to you. And that too without the trouble of lugging a baby stroller or carrier seat.
Baby Float
Under your supervision, keep your baby afloat in a baby float. Floats work well in shallow and calm waters. However, you should keep an eye on your toddler while they are in the water. Either supervise yourself or have another adult keep an eye on the baby. Having a baby beach float means you can provide your little one with a new experience in the ocean.
As you keep paddling along, this allows your baby to become independent while you stay close to them. There are many float options available everywhere, from baby floats with covers to shield babies from the scorching sun to those for small ocean splashes.
Baby Beach Essentials – Bug Spray
Any insect repellent spray, mostly available at affordable price can work wonders on your baby’s skin when in the outdoors. Make sure you carry one in your baby beach bag to keep mosquitoes away from your little one. Choose the spray with natural ingredients and minimal fragrance that is safe for the delicate skin of babies.
Many bug sprays come with strong artificial fragrances and include synthetic dyes. So, make sure you choose the one that is the most gentle for your baby. A bug spray keeps both mosquitoes and bugs away once you spritz a little around you and your baby while enjoying the evening at the beach.
Portable Fan
When you are out on the beach, especially with your little angel, a portable fan is a must-have essential. When the temperature rises at the beach, parents can rely on a portable fan. This fan can provide better air circulation around your baby and everyone else. It becomes more useful when you spend most of your time at the beach.
A portable fan comes with a rechargeable battery and is known for its easy-to-carry feature. It is typically small in size and has a versatile flexible tripod. Made from high-quality silicon and metal, the tripod can be safely bent at any angle.
Baby Beach Essentials – After Sun Cream Or Lotion
Your baby needs after-sun care too, just like a grown-up adult. After enjoying a day at the beach, both the sun and water can dry out your baby’s skin. To lock moisture back into their skin, an after-sun cream or lotion can keep your precious one’s skin healthy.
All you need to do is wash the skin first and then apply the cream all over the body, including the face and hands. Most of these creams come with soothing and moisturizing ingredients to care for the super soft skin of babies.
Cold Yogurt And Fruits
No matter what else you are taking to the beach, you can never actually skip the snacks. We personally think cold yogurt and fruits are nice beach snacks for toddlers. Most kids love yogurt and fruits. So pack them in your cooler bag as these snacks are pretty good in the hot sun.
If you have still not fed your baby these food items, you may attempt to do so on the beach. Because when children become old enough to start eating dairy, they can sometimes become obsessed, at least with yogurt.
However, the probable reason might be the cold because that seems very soothing to their gums. Not only is yogurt yummy, but it is healthy as well. Give them their favorite yogurt which has probiotics, is organic, pastured, and non-GMO. Apart from giving yogurt, cold fruits are great to munch on.
Inflatable Bath Pool Or Tub
An inflatable pool, the duck one is amazing if your baby loves to play and spend time splashing water. While you enjoy sitting on the sand watching them over, the baby can have fun in the duck pool. Additionally, you can control the temperature of the tub water.
After adding water to the inflatable pool, keep it as it is until it is warm. This allows the baby to sit inside and enjoy the real fun. Sometimes the sea water turns a little cool or the waves are too rough. Bringing an inflatable duck pool lets the child sit on their own.
Baby Beach Essentials – Swimsuit
Is there anything cuter than a baby in a swimsuit? Every baby needs a swimsuit to have some splashing fun in the sun. These days, swimsuits don’t necessarily have to be only stylish, but the ones that are easy to wear and provide full protection.
If you are shopping for swimsuits for your baby, be sure to pick a sun-safe baby swimwear. A great swimsuit is not about the design or color, it’s more about how much it can cover the baby’s body. The right swimwear can protect the ultra-delicate skin of your baby. From fabric to built-in sun protection to comfort, choose the best swimsuit for your baby.
Baby Beach Essentials – Umbrella
Another way to ensure the protection of your baby while playing in the sand is to take a large beach umbrella. Protecting from the harmful rays of the sun, an umbrella is a great open-air shelter option on the beach. It provides a space for the baby to move around while being in a shaded zone.
Baby Powder
As a parent to a toddler visiting the beach for the first time with a baby in summer, we have a hack for you. This hack is a lifesaver for toddler parents. As the baby will have sand stuck between their toes, legs, or arms, sprinkling some baby powder would be nice. The powder will absorb any extra moisture, allowing the sand to be brushed away effortlessly. This will leave your baby’s skin free of scratches and clean. This hack even works for wet sand.
Baby Beach Essentials – Insulated Bottle Or Water Cup
If your baby is older than six months and has started drinking water from a water bottle, it’s good to pack one for the beach. Packing a bottle for days in the sun can allow the baby to take sips in between meals and throughout the day. This will help them avoid dehydration, especially in the heat. Start by practicing with the little one to drink from straw cups first before moving on to an insulated bottle.
Baby Tent
Last but not least is a baby tent that can help the baby sleep soundly. When you lay them on the ground, beach tents can provide your baby with protection from harsh sun, wind, and sand. An anti-UV sun tent can be your baby’s best companion at the beach, where they can lie down and move. Such a tent comes with retractable mesh doors, poles, and most importantly, UPF-50 sun protection. The poles help the tent stay secure on the ground.
Playpen
Another great way to keep your baby occupied and safe on the beach is to install a baby playpen somewhere on the sand. If your baby has a curious mind and loves to move constantly, a playpen with windbreakers will make you feel reassured. Their UV shade cover makes them ideal not just for the beach but also for the backyard.
Life Jacket
When your little one becomes old enough to get in the water, it’s wise that you make them wear a life jacket. Life jackets are designed for kids weighing more than 20 lbs. Since these jackets come in varieties, choose one whose size matches your child and fits them right.
First-aid Kit
Babies crawling, running, or jumping in water or sand do not understand the hidden dangers underlying them. These dangers can come in the form of rocks, sharp-edged seashells, or others. Animals in the sea can pose a serious risk to the child who may touch them out of curiosity. Bringing a first-aid kit is necessary when going to the beach, especially when you have a kid with you.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have ideas of what beach baby essentials to take, you are ready to hit your favorite beach with your little one. Whether it is a local beach or a trip to the Caribbean, you can have a stress-free beach experience with a baby.
