Last week I shared my list of Seven Items For A Better Beach Day With Kids. This week I am sharing a full list of our best tips for taking toddlers to the beach.
If you’re looking to maximize fun and minimize meltdowns, here are our tips for taking toddlers to the beach.
1. Consider your family’s schedule
Arriving at the beach just as your child is ready for his nap won’t be fun for anyone.
If your children are finicky nappers, it may be best to time your drive to or from the beach around their typical nap.
If your kids aren’t picky about where they sleep, go ahead and try for a beach nap.
2. Pack your lunch
From picky toddlers to overpriced snack stands, it is much easier to have your food with you.
Pack a variety of snacks in zip bags as well as sandwiches, diced fruit or salad in plastic containers.
Freeze water bottles to serve as ice packs at the beginning of the day. They will turn into extra drinking water later on.
3. Apply sunscreen before leaving the house (or car)
We have done it both ways, and it is 100% easier to lather children up before the sand can stick to everything. For reapplying at the beach, we have found it’s easier to use a spray sunscreen for their bodies.
4. Put swim diapers on at the last minute
Disposable Swim diapers only hold poop. They let pee pass through.
We were fortunate to be staying only two blocks from the beach so we put them on right before we walked out the door. Otherwise, I recommend waiting until you have arrived at the beach.
5. Make a plan for shade
Whether you use a beach umbrella, canopy, or tent Be prepared to provide shade for your little ones. It will help protect them from overheating and sun exposure.
We found the pop-up tents didn’t allow enough air flow so we prefer to use two beach umbrellas. One for our chairs and one for the blow up pool.
It also helps if everyone in the family has a beach hat to shade their faces.
6. Have alternative ways to cool down besides the ocean
Not all kids like to splash in the waves so it’s good to have different options to help cool them down.
In addition to providing shade, consider any of the following:
- A small spray bottle filled with water
- A handheld fan
- A small inflatable pool (major hit in our family)
- A wash cloth you can dampen and rest on their necks
- Insulated water bottles to keep their drinks cold
7. Pack an extra set of clothes
I like to have an extra set of clothes for the boys. Sometimes they don’t want to be wet anymore and it is nice to be able to get them dry and cozy.
You will also want these if you are driving home from the beach.
8. Bring baby powder
I wrote about this baby powder trick last week in my post about Seven Items For A Better Beach Day With Kids. This is one of my favorite tips for taking toddlers to the beach.
Just sprinkle baby powder on sandy hands and feet and rub well with a towel. The baby powder absorbs the moisture which allows the sand to fall off easily.
9. Limit the number of toys
Between the three families we went to the beach with last week, we had a ton of beach toys. Only about 10% of them were played with.
If you don’t mind lugging a lot of toys, go ahead and bring them all! But if you’re looking to cut weight, here were the favorites throughout the week with six toddlers:
10. Get rolling with a beach cart or wagon
They say the greatest invention was the wheel and they are right. This is our third year with a beach cart and it has been a life saver. It holds ALL of our gear (chairs, beach bags, cooler, two umbrellas, and sand toys).
Whether you prefer a cart or wagon, I encourage you to invest in something with wheels to get your gear to and from the beach.
11. Wear one of your children in a carrier
It is not easy to lug everything across the sand. As I just mentioned, we use a beach cart (not a wagon) so our kids either have to walk or be carried.
I always wear one of our kids in a carrier for the walk to the beach. It keeps both hands free to hold something (or someone) else.
12. Have cash and small bills
Even if you have packed your lunch, it is helpful to have some small bills on hand for the ice cream truck or a snack stand.
13. Limit your valuables
There is no need to risk the loss (or theft) of your valuables. I have a slim wallet that I use to only bring my license, a debit/credit card, and some cash. I often leave my wedding rings at home as well.
14. Keep organized
We try to keep our chaos under control as much as possible by organizing our beach essentials into a few different bags.
- Main beach bag
- Towels, bathing suits, sun hats, swim diapers
- Ziploc bag filled with sunscreen and baby powder
- Sand-free bag
- Diapers, wipes, extra pacifier
- Small personal pouch
- lip balm, sunglasses, phone, keys, slim wallet
- Mesh toy bag
15. BEACH SAFETY
While this is not fun to think about, beach safety it is the most important thing on this list.
Note: this is not a comprehensive, all-inclusive list of beach safety. These are simply a few things to keep in mind.
- Keep an eagle eye on your children at all times
- Never leave your child unattended (especially near the water)
- Remember that drowning doesn’t look like drowning. Familiarize yourself with what drowning really looks like (note: it is not like the flailing arms and screaming you see on T.V.). I read this article every year to remind myself to be vigilant.
- Try to keep your cell phone down unless you have confirmed that someone else is watching your child.
- Remember what your child is wearing so you can describe it if they get lost. It’s even better if you take a picture of them that day to show someone if necessary.
- Never assume that because you are in a large group that someone has an eye on the children. Maintain responsibility for your own child at ALL times.
- If you decide to go in the water or step away, make sure your partner, or someone in the group, has “tagged-in” to be responsible while you are gone.
- While it’s imperative that you always keep an eye on your children, if you can be a back-up set of eyes for the other children in your group, that’s wonderful, too.
And Finally,
Now that we got the scary stuff out of the way, the last of my tips for taking toddlers to the beach is to let go of expectations. A beach day with toddlers will never be as relaxing as your child-free days but once you accept that, you can embrace the day for what it is.
Wonky nap schedules, excessive heat, sticky bodies, can make everyone a little cranky. It’s not always easy, but I try to let go and just enjoy the fact that I am able to make these memories with my family.
