OUR FAVORITE TODDLER BEACH ESSENTIALS
Since moving to Mexico, we spend a lot of time at the beach. If you are a beach-loving family with a toddler, we have the toddler beach essentials you need to make the most of your time by the water.
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Although you may not need everything on this list, a lot of the items help make your time at the beach more fun.
TODDLER BEACH ESSENTIALS SUN PROTECTION
When spending a day at the beach with a toddler protecting them from the sun is one of your priorities. This is especially true if you have a baby since most pediatricians (ours did) recommend waiting until they are six months before using sunscreen.
Here are some toddler beach essentials that will help protect your little one from the sun because you don’t want a toddler with sunburn.
It is difficult for most adults to handle, so I can only imagine how bad a sunburn would be for a baby or toddler.
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Reef Safe Sunscreen
If you plan on visiting the beach, we always recommend using reef-safe sunscreen.
Over the years, it’s been discovered that the ingredients in the sunscreen we use have particles that are known to cause damage or even kill coral reefs.
We can do our part by using reef-safe sunscreen like Thinksport Kids Safe Sunscreen is organic, gluten-free, cruelty-free, and vegan.
This is our favorite sunscreen because it has an SPF of 50 and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. You may be wary of the size, but trust us, a little goes a long way.
Most Popular Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Last update on 2024-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Rash Guard
Rash guards are great for protecting your baby or toddler from the sun. Since they are long sleeves, you don’t have to worry about sunburns on their arms.
They also provide 50+ UPF protection. The material is lightweight and breathable, so your little one will not overheat.
What we love is how quickly it drys, so we can go to the beach or pool as much as we want without having to wait for his swimsuit to dry.
You must admit the different patterns are so cute, especially for babies. Honestly, the only drawback is the lack of quick access for diaper changes.
Related Post: Best Rash Guards for Babies
Beach Umbrella
The Sport-Brella Canopy Umbrella provides you with protection from the sun at all angles.
There are side flaps, a side window, a wind gust vent, ground stakes, and a telescoping pole to keep the tent stable.
With this beach umbrella, you can spend all day at the beach with your family.
Pop Up Tent
We use the Kidco Peapod Tent for our son’s travel bed and take it to the beach on hot days. It is perfect for giving him a break from the sun when he needs it.
The SUNBA YOUTH Beach Tent is a bigger and cheaper alternative to the peapod. This beach tent is silver coated to protect your little ones from UV rays. It is large enough to fit 2-3 people at a time.
There is no assembly required, all you need to do is remove it from the bag, and it’s ready to go. You could use this beach tent for years to come, thanks to the wind resistance, ventilation, and heavy metal poles.
Baby Banz
We tried getting our little one sunglasses and he takes them off within 30 seconds. The Baby Bandz is a winner in our book because our toddler keeps them on longer than regular sunglasses.
These cute glasses protect your little one’s eye from the sun. Since they wrap around your baby or toddler’s head they stay in place.
The best thing about these baby sunglasses is the one-year warranty. If they break within the first year you can get a replacement for free.
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Sun Hat
A sunhat is one of the easiest ways to protect your baby or toddler from the sun. We like this toddler sun hat because it has UPF protection of 50+ with a wide brim to shield their eyes from the sun.
The adjustable chin strap helps keep it in place and the drawstring toggle adjusts to fit their head.
My favorite thing about this hat is the mesh, which provides ventilation, so the head isn’t trapped inside the hat.
Overall, this is a good sunhat for toddlers.
Related Post: The Best Sun Hats for Babies & Toddlers
TODDLER BEACH ESSENTIAL TOYS
Our toddler is obsessed with sand. It wouldn’t be a fun day at the beach without toys. We can spend hours building sandcastles, burying each other, spraying one another with water, and playing games.
Related Post: Best Strollers for the Beach
Sand Toys
Our toddler beach essentials list wouldn’t be complete without sand toys. There are a lot of different sand toys available, but our favorite is the B. Ready Beach Bag.
B. toys are one of our favorite brands because their toys are very durable, and we love the colors.
This set comes with 11 fun beach toys for toddlers to let their imagination take hold. Plus, it comes with a bag, so you can keep everything in one place and carry it to the beach with ease.
Related Post: Best Beach Toys for Toddlers
Water Blaster
Water blasters are so much fun. They are the perfect alternatives to water guns for toddlers.
I love that they are more affordable and come in a pack of four, so the entire family can play.
You don’t have to wait until you are at the beach to enjoy these fun toys; they’re just as much fun in the yard.
Kids Action Camera
If your toddler likes to take pictures, then the Ourlife kids’ action camera is perfect for them. This action camera comes with everything your little one needs to take fun pictures at the beach.
It’s like the toddler version of a GoPro without the expensive price tag. If you want to purchase the camera, there is a hard carrying case to keep all of the pieces in one place.
Related Post: Best Cameras for Toddlers
Toddler Chair
The Melissa & Doug Giddy Buggy Chair is a cute lawn chair that your toddler can use at the beach.
If you don’t want to lay on a towel or blanket, this chair is a great alternative. It is water-resistant, easy to clean, and comes with a matching storage bag.
TODDLER BEACH GEAR
These toddler beach essentials are must-haves for making the best of your time at the beach. We included safety gear, helpful items, and some fun water shoes.
Coast Guard Approved Life Vest
Water safety is our number one priority, so our toddler wears a coast guard approved life jacket. This is one of the best life jackets for kids under 30 pounds.
Since our son is still learning how to swim, this life jacket will keep him face up when he is in the water. The grab handle makes it easy to keep him close when we were in the water.
Our toddler hates wearing a life jacket, but he has to wear it if he wants to get into the water.
It can be hard to find a life jacket for toddlers under 30 pounds, so be sure to check the weight requirements before purchasing.
Most Popular Life Vests
Last update on 2024-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Related Post: Best Swim Floaties for Toddlers
Swimsuit with Built-In Reusable Swim Diaper
I recently discovered swimsuits with reusable diapers attached, so you don’t have to buy them separately.
These have been game-changers for us because wrestling with him to put on a swim diaper and swimsuit is no longer an issue.
Trust me, you NEED this swimsuit if your little ones aren’t potty trained.
Related Post: Best Rash Guards for Babies
Reusable Swim Diapers
Last update on 2024-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Hooded Towel
I think using hooded towels for toddlers is better at home and on the beach. They are easier for young kids to put on, and they aren’t always falling off, like regular beach towels.
Wet/Dry Bag
We’ve been using wet-dry bags since our son was born because we used cloth diapers. My wife still uses them today for just about everything.
For our beach days with our toddler, we put our phones in the bag with his dry clothes, so they don’t get wet or full of sand.
After we finish playing in the sand and water, we take off his swimsuit and put it in the wet-dry bag. Honestly, every parent needs a wet-dry bag they are so useful.
Stainless Steel Sippy Cup
Our toddler drinks A LOT of fluid, so we always have a sippy cup when we go out.
A toddler beach essential is a stainless steel sippy cup that is spill-proof and will keep their drinks cold. It is one of our toddler travel essentials because we do not go anywhere without it.
Water Shoes
STQ Water Shoes are the most popular water shoes for toddlers. They are breathable, easy for toddlers to put on, easy to clean, dry fast, and just overall great for kids under 4.
We are getting our toddler a pair within the next few weeks when they have his size available in grey.
These water shoes are perfect for toddlers, even if you don’t plan on visiting the beach. They are versatile and can be worn as everyday shoes.
Related Post: Best Water Shoes for Toddlers
BEACH GEAR EVERY FAMILY SHOULD HAVE
Spending a day at the beach with kids can seem overwhelming, from a planning perspective. Don’t worry, we have everything you need to make your fun in the sun stress-free.
These are items every family can use to make spending the day at the beach easier.
Collapsible Wagon
Having a collapsible wagon isn’t essential for a day at the beach, but they certainly make things a lot easier.
Getting to the beach usually involves a lot of walking, so I’m sure you don’t want to carry everything by hand or take multiple trips.
This wagon has extra-large wheels, which makes it easier to roll on the sand. You can store it in your trunk because it collapses so small.
The maximum weight to use on sand is 50 pounds, but that should be more than enough to get everything you need in one trip.
Related Post: Top 10 Baby Beach Strollers
Cooler Backpack
Having a backpack cooler lets you spend the entire day at the beach without worrying about getting food for the kids.
When we spend the day at the beach, we usually pack sandwiches and snacks to avoid paying high prices for food at a restaurant.
There is a built-in beer opener, plus additional pockets to store things like your keys, phones, or other items you don’t want to get wet.
Related Post: Best Beach Coolers with Wheels
Portable Fan
We got a mini handheld portable fan when our son was still a baby to help cool him off on hot days.
We love this model because we can wrap it around our stroller or toddler carrier. It’s nice to have some cool air when you are hanging out in the sun.
Related Post: Best Swim Floaties for 1-Year-Olds
Talc-Free Baby Powder
Baby powder is the secret to getting unwanted sand off of you when beach time is over. We use talc-free baby powder to help remove the sand from our son’s feet, more importantly, his hair.
It used to be a fight to wash his hair after spending the day at the beach, but now we sprinkle baby powder on his hair(must be dry), and it brushes right off.
Trust us, you will thank us when it is time to leave the beach, and you no longer have to deal with mountains of sand in your car or at home.
