Who else loves going to the beach for the summer?! If you are planning a beach trip with a baby, you want to be extra prepared! Taking a beach trip with a baby can last long when you prepare with all of the beach essentials.
Being born and raised in California, the beach has always been one of my favorite places. Before Kyla was born, Lehi + I would quickly pack our things and have a long day spent at the beach.
When we first started our beach trips, it was hard. As a new mom, I didn’t pack enough because I had no idea what we needed, and then I’d overpack and we just couldn’t carry it all.
Taking a beach trip with a baby has made it a little more challenging, but after a few trips, we finally got it down. A few California mom friends can agree that they pack the same things for their baby because it works!
Once we figured it out, I knew I had to share this with other moms that wanted to take a beach trip with their baby.
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How to prepare for the beach
Before you leave for the beach, have everything packed. Get everything ready to go that night or early in the morning before everyone wakes up. Once everything is packed, change the baby at home before you get to the beach.
We always like to take Kyla in her swimsuit with shorts on. The best swimsuits are the long-sleeved ones that cover the baby’s sensitive skin from the sun.
Once you get to the beach, you will probably have to walk quite a ways, so it is important to know exactly what to pack and how to make sure you have enough hands to carry it all.
Here is a list of items to take to the beach for the baby that makes the day less stressful and last a lot longer! If you have little ones, then you know that having a plan IS A MUST! It is almost impossible to accomplish a busy day without some sort of plan.
These are MUST HAVE items you will NEED if you are planning to take a beach trip with your baby with + you want to have a long day that is well spent in the sun.
Baby Carrier
Trying to carry all your things + baby + ice chest can be frustrating amongst everything else you’re trying to carry to the beach. We can’t go anywhere without this baby carrier!
As soon as you get to the beach, strap your baby carrier onto you, and then get the baby out of the car. Once the baby is strapped onto you, grab everything else that you need. The baby carrier makes it easier to figure out what else you can grab. You can even pull things in a wagon until you find your beach spot for the day.
We like to strap Kyla in because she can’t walk. Plus, she is happy because she is snuggled close to us. It is a win, win. Meanwhile, we can carry everything else we need so that we can find our spot on the sand.
What you’ll love about this baby carrier is that it’s easy to get on and it is very secure. There are nine different ways that you can carry the baby. You will have a waist strap for more safety and security.
It will help you to be at ease if the thought of the baby slipping out might occur. The wonderful thing is that the baby carrier can be used not only at the beach but anywhere and everywhere you go. We’ve used this for hikes, grocery shopping, and much more activities with the baby carrier.
Tent
Once you get to the spot you like, set up your tent right away. This is perfect for your little ones because you can keep them in a cool shaded area without worrying about the umbrella that is flying away! Who wants to go home when you drove an hour to the beach because the baby gets cranky?! Says no one ever!
In the tent, you can get some shade, take a nap, breastfeed, comfortably change the baby’s diaper, feed the baby, and let the baby nap so that you can play games.
The tent does not have to be super big. You might also have to consider the weather and conditions outside that day. With our experience, big tents are a lot more work to set up.
If the wind is strong that day, it is more likely to blow the tent over or fly away if it is not in well enough. A small tent is a lot more convenient because it is faster to set up, and if staked down properly, it will not go anywhere.
We usually do not use the tent stakes because they are too small to reach some solid ground. With all of the items that we carried along with us, we can hold them down.
The tent also allows the baby to crawl around freely without getting into too much sand. You can use the tent to change out of wet clothes and into dry clothes before you leave. This is so much better than going to the bathroom or trying to have one person hold a towel up for some privacy.
We like to use the tent so that I can breastfeed and so that Kyla can take naps! It is better than having an umbrella because it keeps us covered from the hot sun, and the baby can feel the breeze.
This also allows for quality time with your hubby or other little ones while the baby naps.
Waterproof Sandproof Blanket
If you lay a towel on the sand, it would quickly be covered in sand that sticks everywhere. When you are at the beach, the sand seems to stick to everything, but with this blanket, the sand falls right off.
By the time you have spread it out, you have gotten sand all over the towel and it is a hassle having to shake the towel down if you needed to use it. This could also be another area your baby would want to crawl around without getting in the sand.
We use this blanket everywhere we go! We take it to the park, splash pads, to the pool, and the beach. This blanket folds into a bag that you can carry like a purse and is super lightweight. It is easy to fold it up and carry it like a bag with your other things!
Ice Chest
If you are going out to the beach then you’ll want to bring an ice chest full of water, fruit, sandwiches, baby pouches, or etc. Snacks are a must! We like to add sandwiches, fruit, chips, dip, water, and drinks for a nice long day!
Nothing is more frustrating than when your baby is crying and your food has gone to waste in the hot sun. You can even store your milk or a bottle for the baby’s next feed. Everything can be placed in a cooler to keep it nice and fresh to avoid the heat.
This ice chest is our favorite because it is a good size and manageable to wheel or carries along with other items. This is also a perfect way to anchor down the tent.
Even though it might seem like a hassle, it is a good way to save money and have everything that you need right in front of you. If your family is growing, then a big ice chest may be necessary.
Portable High Chair
Before Kyla was born, we knew we would plan many trips as a family. This high chair is a must for any outdoor activities you plan to do. It is light and easy to carry or wheel in a wagon.
We pack it up in a bag and stuff it in our backpack! It is perfect for ALL outdoor activities. If you have a busy baby that you want to entertain for more than a minute, this on-the-go portable high chair is seriously THE BEST!
The high chair will be a good place to entertain the baby. It is so hard when you are getting the tent all set up, making a bottle for the baby, or even trying to enjoy your food.
Having the small portable high chair makes all the difference in the world!
Waterproof Speaker
If you are going to be near the water, then you need a waterproof speaker of course! I bought this speaker for Lehi last year, and he has loved it ever since! We take it EVERYWHERE!!
It is waterproof and clips into his backpack or our stroller. We take it on hikes, to the park, to the beach, and anywhere you can think of. Music makes everything fun!
Leaving the Beach
When you leave the beach, you will want to rinse the baby off. First, keep an open area with a towel over it where you can lay the baby down to put their new diaper on. You can lay out a towel in the trunk or on the seat but have the Ziploc bag right by.
You can do all of this near your car with a water bottle because the showers there will most likely be very cold.
Be sure to hurry and change the baby’s diaper before they have a huge mess. Baby powder will help rub the sand off of the baby’s creases to avoid rubbing the skin.
Since the baby’s swimsuit is probably wet and sandy, you can put it in the large Ziploc baggy so that you can hurry and wash it when you get home. Change the baby into their warm, comfortable change of clothes, and head home.
Baby Beach Essentials
Check out these top must-have baby essentials that you will want to take with you for your beach day trip with baby!
| shop the essentials |
Beach Trip Packing List:
- Sunscreen +50 or higher
- Sun hat
- Swimsuit
- Towel
- Large plastic Ziploc bag
- Small trash bag (we use a grocery bag for a trash bag)
- Swim shoes
- Diapers + water diapers
- Baby wipes
- Formula/breast milk
- Water (extra)
- Nursing cover
- Beach toys
- A change of warm clothes
- Socks
- Baby carrier
- Tent
- Portable charger
- Wagon
- Portable speaker
- Portable highchair
- Ice chest
- Snacks + food
- Blanket
As a mom, going to the beach may be the last thing on your mind with little ones, or it might even be a little bit overwhelming. If you plan on going on a beach trip with your baby, make sure you get an early start.
This helps avoid traffic along the way if you are traveling from afar. If you go earlier, there are more opportunities to find closer parking space. The closer the better, because you will not have to carry your items a long way.
Bring along some fun beach toys like a shovel, keys, or handheld toys that are easy to clean and rinse. Oh, and be sure to bring sunscreen! Lastly, try to relax and have fun being there with your little ones.
From one mama to another, I hope these tips & tricks may help you and your family have an amazing experience on your planned beach day activity.
Please share your favorites below! I would love to hear some of your must-haves!
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