The best beach essentials for baby for a safe and fun day out. This list will ensure you don’t forget anything when you take your little one to the beach.
Taking Your Baby To The Beach
If you are planning a family vacation then you will be excited about taking your baby to the beach for the first time. It is not like anything they have ever seen before and if they are anything like my babies their reaction will be priceless.
We are lucky to live near the coast and often pack up the car and head to the beach as a family. Having two babies under 2 I quickly realized that I needed to plan ahead and work out exactly what baby items we needed to take.
A trip to the beach should always be fun for your baby but it also needs to be safe and you need to keep your baby cool. There is a lot of equipment available to help to protect your baby from the sun.
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How To Keep Baby Safe In The Sun
Your baby’s skin is at its most vulnerable during the first six months so it is important to follow these guidelines when taking baby out in the hot weather.
- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight and keep baby in the shade between 10am and 4pm
- Keep as much of your baby’s skin covered as possible including arms and legs. Always protect your baby’s head with a sun hat.
- Protect your baby’s eyes. You can get sunglasses especially for babies.
- Use sun shades in the car as uva rays can easily penetrate car windows.
There is a lot to think about and you don’t want to forget anything so here is a list of the most important baby beach essentials.
The Best Beach Essentials For Baby
Suitable Sunscreen
Using a good quality sunscreen that is suitable for your baby is crucial. It is recommended that you use an SPF of at least 30 but I always use SPF 50 or higher.
Make sure you apply to all of baby’s exposed skin and reapply every 2 hours. Also make sure that the sunscreen you use is waterproof. To avoid your baby’s skin being irritated by the sunscreen always choose one that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
I use this stick sunscreen for my little ones faces as I find that it goes on better and is easier to rub in. I love it because it’s SPF 60, is super easy to use, and doesn’t feel greasy at all.
Always check with your doctor before using sunscreen on a baby younger than 6 months.
A Protective Swimsuit
Now sunscreen is great and you definitely need it, but what can be better for your baby’s delicate skin than coving it up as much as you can.
These super cute swimsuits come with SPF 50+ sun protection, rashguard and you can get for babies as young as 3 months. There is a range of designs for boys
I use this style of my little ones and they are really easy to put on and take off when you need to do a quick change after a swim. The SPF in the swimsuit itself will give you the comfort of knowing that your baby has that extra protection from the sun.
A Hat
A good beach hat like this one
This hat also comes with built in SPF 50 and will float on the water while baby is in the ocean. I find this style of hat ideal for my two and it is so important to protect your baby’s head in the sun.
A Beach Bag And Wet Bag
I can’t recommend strongly enough that you take a separate wet bag with you. This way you can keep wet towels, clothing, and shoes completely separate from your other stuff.
Beach Towels
Hooded beach towels like this one are perfect for wrapping up baby after they have been in the ocean. My youngest always falls asleep after I wrap him up in his. I think it just makes him feel snuggly.
There are a lot of great designs and they tend to be very reasonably priced. I would always recommend buying more than one. You will definitely need a spare.
Check out a whole range of baby beach towels here.
Swim Diapers
These 
I would recommend that you only have baby wear a swim diaper when they are actually in the water and take plenty with you. You are definitely going to need more than one.
A Flotation Device
A flotation device is a must if you are taking your baby out into the water. This 
An Umbrella
If your baby is going to nap on the beach then this baby beach tent may be just what you need. We love ours as my youngest is terrible without an hours sleep in the afternoon. It also comes with a portable shade pool so baby can splash about to their hearts content.
For older babies this baby beach chair is perfect as it comes with an umbrella attached so your baby can be comfortable in the shade. They also come in adult size which is perfect if you are breastfeeding your baby.
Shoes
Waterproof shoes 
In really sunny weather the sand can get pretty hot which can be uncomfortable to walk on. They are great for going into the ocean and also protect the top of your feet from the sun.
The Practical Stuff
It’s easy to just concentrate on the fun stuff when thinking of baby beach essentials and to completely forget about the everyday practical stuff you are still going to need. Believe me, I know this from experience. So these are practical beach essentials for baby that you shouldn’t forget.
Don’t forget to pack extra water and snacks to keep baby hydrated in the hot weather. Also, things like hand sanitizer and a change of clothes for baby are often forgotten.
Your baby will probably get tired at some point during your time on the beach so its always worth having a blanket with you. You can keep them covered up from the sun, and if you have baby beach tent with you then this is an ideal place for them to nap.
On our last vacation one of the best things we took with us was this portable fan. It helped to keep the whole family cool during the hottest parts of the day.
Another handy tip is to take plenty of disposable diaper bags with you. You can use them for soiled swim diapers and clothing, as well as unfinished snacks. After a few messy past experiences I have a fear of sunscreen leaking all over my beach bag. So after a bottle has been opened I always pop them in a disposable diaper bag to contain any mess.
Don’t Forget The Toys!
If your baby is anything like my two then they will get easily bored and need constant stimulation. This handy bag of beach toys is guaranteed to keep them occupied on the sand.
So there you have it! All the beach essentials for baby you need for a fun and safe day out at the beach.
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