Baby Beach Accessories: The Must-Have Beach Gear

To keep your baby safe at the beach be prepared with these baby beach accessories. Here is my overview of the best baby beach items and why you must pack them when taking a baby to the beach.

Create Shade

One of the most important baby beach tips is to create shade to keep your baby out of the sun. When setting up our “home base” on the beach we use a Pop Up Canopy Tent or a Beach Umbrella to create shade. We learned the hard way that you need a beach umbrella sand anchor to stop the tent or umbrella from blowing away in the wind.

When our children were small we loved this Baby Beach Tent. We would line it with a beach towel or blanket, and it provided shade for little ones to play and nap (see also ‘Best Beach Blanket‘).

It also gave us a sand-free area for diaper changes, and the shade was helpful as a place to keep the snacks and cooler bags out of the sun.

Baby Beach Items

Choose a beach bag that is large enough to carry all your baby’s beach essentials. I like this mesh Beach Bag for moms with a zipper closure that helps you get stuff quickly. The specially-made PVC mesh is anti-sticky which helps keep items dry and odor-free, and you can just shake it to easily remove the sand.

Bring an outdoor beach blanket to create a sand-free zone or at least attempt to! Not all babies like the feeling of sand so it’s ideal to provide a place where they can lay out of the sand. I find a quick-dry blanket is better than large beach towels.

However, definitely bring hooded towels to dry off your baby and keep them warm after they’ve been in the water. This also functions as a beach cover-up for baby.

A small inflatable pool can be handy for a baby at the beach. Set it up under your tent and fill it with ocean water so they can play in the water, but also stay in the shade.

If you don’t have any beach toys then consider bringing bath toys from home for your baby to use at the beach. A mesh laundry bag is handy to carry beach toys. You can rinse the entire bag with a water hose or outdoor shower and all the sand will be gone, then the toys can sit in the bag and air dry.

Baby Beach Clothes

When taking a baby to the beach it is essentials to cover your baby from the sun. Baby skin burns much easier than adult skin, or even an older child’s skin. Baby skin lacks melanin for the first 6 months of life, this is the pigment to protect skin from the sun. The sun’s rays can be harmful and your baby’s skin is delicate and can still burn even if it isn’t sunny.

Therefore, one of the best ways to protect your baby’s skin is to dress your child in protective beach clothes. Start off with a UV Sun Protective Swim Suit or Long Sleeve Rashguard. Add a Sun Hat and Baby Sunglasses with a Strap to help protect your baby’s head and eyes from the sun.

Baby Safety at the Beach

The two most dangerous things for babies at the beach are the sun and the water. Take the necessary steps to keep your baby safe at the beach. Avoid going to the beach during the hottest part of the day, keep your baby in the shade and cover up their skin from the sun.

For a baby older than 6 months then another level of protection is to use an SPF 30+ Lip Balm and water-resistant sunscreen. Remember to reapply every 2 hours, and certainly after being in the water.

Check out this Sunscreen Hack for Kids using a brush applicator. It makes applying sunscreen SO much easier!

When taking your baby swimming or in the ocean then it’s vital your baby is wearing an Infant Life Vest. Even if the ocean looks calm waves could quickly come and make you lose your footing. You could be knocked off your feet in the ocean and lose grip of your baby. Therefore, it is important for your child to wear a baby life vest to keep them afloat in an emergency, and to help avoid drowning.

It is easy to become distracted on the beach, especially if you have more than one child. It is essential that your child has a designated supervisor when they are in or near the water.

If you are at the beach with multiple adults they do not assume that someone else is watching your child. Communicate with the other adults in your group so everyone knows who is responsible for watching each child. Take it in turns so each adult has time to relax and also time to be with the kid(s).

Newborn Beach Gear

When packing the essential baby beach accessories a Wet/Dry Bag definitely makes the cut. The large zippered pocket is for wet items or dirty diapers, and the mesh zippered pocket on the front is for dry, clean items. Other newborn beach gear for a beach day with a baby includes Swim Diapers, Baby Wipes, and Hand Sanitizer. And don’t forget the baby powder… it’s not just for your baby’s butt!

Baby Powder Beach Hack

Did you know that baby powder is essential for a beach hack? There is a baby powder sand trick that revolutionized my experience of taking a baby to the beach. I tell all my mom friend’s about this Baby Powder Beach Hack, and I want you to be in on it too!

The Baby Powder Beach Hack will remove sand from wet hair, feet, hands, legs, and just about everywhere else! Simply air dry for a bit once getting out of the water or wet sand. Then apply baby powder on your child’s skin where the sand is sticking and watch the sand fall off! Once you try this you will never head to the beach without baby powder again!

Ultimately, the baby powder sand trick works because the baby powder removes moisture from the skin and this allows the sand to easily come off.

I would avoid your baby’s face because you don’t want talcum powder dust to get in your child’s eyes, nose, or mouth. If you prefer to use something more natural than baby powder then corn starch works well too.

To learn more check out my post and video about this Baby Powder Beach Hack.

Give the Baby Powder Sand Trick a try. You won’t be disappointed!

Beach Essentials Packing List

If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of all the beach gear I take to the beach for my family, then check this out. Avoid the overwhelm of trying to remember all the things you need to pack and follow my simple packing list.

BONUS: Download our FREE Beach Essentials Packing List for a day at the beach with kids.

Click to DOWNLOAD Beach Essentials Packing List

How to Take a Beach Vacation with Baby

Once you are prepared with all the Baby Beach Accessories to keep your child safe and comfortable at the beach, then it is time to head out and make memories with your family at the beach.

When taking a newborn to the beach be aware of the water temperature since a baby cannot regulate their body temperature. And to prevent water illness it is best to wait until your newborn is at least 2 months old before taking them swimming.

Avoid going to the beach with a baby during the hottest part of the day, which is typically 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. It is important to prevent your baby from overheating. Keep your baby in the shade and cover up their skin from the sun. If your baby is over 6 months then apply sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.

Using my Beach Essentials Packing List (download above) will help you to remember everything you need for a beach day with kids. This will help remove the stress and packing overwhelm so you can spend more time enjoying time at the beach with your baby.

And remember, let’s BE Family so you can enjoy the journey.

Until next time,
💕 Ruth

For more about family travel check out these posts:
Beach Essentials for Kids
When can you take a Baby to the Beach?
Family Beach Vacation – Ultimate Guide & Packing Lists
Road Trip With A Baby: Tips To Help Parents Survive

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Taking a Baby to the Beach

Baby Beach Essentials

The Baby Beach Accessories include: