checklist

Going to the beach used to be easy, we would wake up and were quickly out the door. Throw some flip flops and some sunscreen in a bag and that was it. Now, with our Son, there is a whole process to making sure we have everything we need before bringing baby to the beach. 

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Here is a list of the top 20 items we use at the beach to make Baby as comfortable as possible. 

1. Ez Up or Umbrella

We prefer the EZ up because my husband burns at the sight of sun so we like to have lots of coverage for the whole family. You can also change the height of the legs to create a barrier from wind, if necessary. 

2. Small pool

Bring a small blow-up pool for baby to sit in. This will keep baby nice and cool without having to worry about holding them in the water. It will also keep mobile babies contained to one spot and will prevent them from becoming a sandy mess. This is the one we have from Target: 

3. Spray bottle

This is great for cooling baby (or yourself) down in the hot sun. Put it on the mist setting and give yourself a little spritz. It works great, and prevents you from having to get in the water if you don’t want to. 

4. Sun Screen

Get some baby-approved sunscreen and keep track of when you applied it. I would reapply after each feeding, since my son’s stomach is on a timer for every 2 hours, he would always let me know when it was time to eat. 

5. Hat

Get a baby sun hat to protect the top of their head, ears, face, and neck from the sun. Check out this adorable alligator hat from Target!

6. Sun glasses

Get your child a pair of polarized sunglasses to help protect their eyes. We have a pair from Top Flyer on Amazon and they are a huge hit. Every parent on the beach commented on my son’s cute glasses. They have a strap in the back to prevent them from falling off (or being pulled off). We have used them at baseball games, the beach, the park, and I keep a pair in the diaper bag for any sunny days. 

7. Swim Diapers

We decided to go with the iPlay reusable swim diapers. They worked PERFECTLY and come in so many cute prints. This saved so much money, because we went swimming multiple times during our vacation. I would suggest getting two, so that way if baby goes poop, you can just switch out the diaper.

8. Beach Towels

Bring beach towels for you and a hooded towel for baby. It can get a little chilly when you first get out of the water, so being able to cover up his or her head can come in handy. I would also bring a second set to keep in the car. Towels always get soaked and sandy out on the beach, so having a backup will be nice for that car ride home.

9. Bathing Suit

Look for ones that have a SPF rating to protect Baby’s skin from the sun. I personally love carter’s brand and you can get some great deals on Amazon. Check out this adorable dino swimsuit, and it has SPF 50 built in!

10. Extra set of Clothes

This is something I forgot the first day at the beach. Luckily our diaper bag had an extra outfit! Sitting in a wet suit is so uncomfortable, and if the wind picks up, it can get a bit chilly. My son was ready for a nap after a couple hours so it was nice to be able to put him in some dry clothes and cuddle up while he fell asleep. 

11. Baby Powder or Cornstarch

This helps remove the sand from yours or Baby’s skin without irritating it! Just do a quick check that the Baby Powder is made with cornstarch instead of Talc. You just sprinkle a generous amount on your hands, feet, legs, etc. and the sand will brush right off. A lot of moms have recommended using a large makeup brush to get the sand out of crevices, which is a fantastic idea!

12. Blanket, Mat, or Fitted Sheet

Bring something large for the family to sit on. We use a lightspeed waterproof blanket that folds up and has a shoulder strap. I keep it in my car at all times, and it is perfect for the beach, sitting on wet grass, or putting down on a surface that may not be comfortable (like bark or hot turf/fake grass). You can also use a fitted sheet and put an ice chest or large beach bags in each of the corners to create an isolated area and to keep the sand out.

13. Baby Dome

This is one of my favorite items to bring when we are hanging out outside. We have a Fisher Price On-the-go Baby Dome and it folds down flat, has hanging toys that my son loves to play with, mesh sides for air flow, and two canopy’s to help protect from the sun. My son has taken so many naps in here while we are out and about.

14. Frozen Watermelon

If you baby is able to eat solids, a great summer snack is putting frozen watermelon inside one of these Munchkin Mesh Feeders (my full review HERE). This will not only keep them entertained, but it’s a great way to cool them down in the summer sun. 

15. A Cooler

You will want to bring a cooler for not just your items, but it’s a great idea to bring a couple damp washcloths in a plastic baggie to help cool down baby if it gets too warm. You can also store the sunscreen in the ice chest so it feels nice and soothing when you go to reapply. 

16. Beach Toys

We decided to bring a couple of bath toys to go into the pool and we also brought his favorite ball to play with. This ball was perfect, because it kept him entertained, and it didn’t collect sand like some of his other toys would have.

17. A Wagon

It can be a struggle trying to get you, the kids, and all of the bags, coolers, and accessories to the perfect spot on the beach. A wagon is perfect for loading up the kids and bags, so you only have a few items to carry with you. 

18. Mesh Beach Bags

You will want to leave the diaper bag at home, unless you want to be pulling sand from it for the next 3 years. Load up the essentials into a gallon sized ziplock bag and throw it into a big beach. This will not only keep the sand out of your baby items, but it will hopefully prevent too much sand from making its way back to your car. 

19. Liquids

Along with lots of water for the family, you will also want to make sure to bring lots of breastmilk, formula, or water (depending on age) to keep you baby hydrated in the summer sun. If you are breastfeeding, this is easy! Just make sure you are wearing a breastfeeding accessible bathing suit. 

20. A lifejacket

If you are planning on doing any kayaking or paddle boarding with baby in your lap, it’s best to bring along a lifejacket to keep them safe. If you are going to the ocean, the waves might be a little much for a young child, but lakes can be a perfect place to go for a gentle cruise near the shore. 

Hopefully some of these items will help make your experience a little more enjoyable when bringing baby to the beach. Feel free to comment with your favorite beach items!

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