5 Must-Have Beach Essentials for Toddlers
A day at the beach can turn into a nightmare when you’re weighed down with all of the junk that comes with being a toddler parent. With two toddlers in tow, we’ve done our best to pare things down and travel as light as possible, so both parents and babies alike can enjoy the day in the sun and surf. Here are our recommendations for the only 5 beach essentials for toddlers you need to bring to have a great day.
Before You Go: Prepare Toddlers for New Experiences
A beach day is often just one part of a bigger vacation, and it can feel like a totally new world for little ones. New sounds, crowds, waves, wind, and even the feel of sand on their toes can be overwhelming. If your kids are new to the ocean, take a few minutes before your trip to set expectations and walk them through what the day will look like.
I like to talk about the waves, the sand, and how we will stay safe near the water. If you want extra ideas, my post on How to Prepare Toddlers for New Experiences shares the simple routines and language we use before big “firsts”.
If your beach vacation involves flying, you can also check out my Toddler Flight Essentials guide.
Quick List: 5 Beach Essentials for Toddlers
Here are the 5 beach essentials for toddlers that always make it into our bag:
- Life jacket
- Water shoes
- Sand toys
- Sun protection (sunscreen, rash guards, hats)
- Snacks
Once these basics are covered, everything else becomes optional and easier to skip.
1. Sun Protection
Don’t mess with that sensitive new skin and the strength of the sun! As we adults know, a sunburn can ruin your entire vacation, so protect those little faces and toes. A sensitive-skin and reef-safe sunscreen is a must for us. We absolutely love Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion (and all of their products, really!) for the kids. Not sure about you, but my little guys are champion complainers about having sunscreen applied. This is the only product I found that doesn’t seem to sting their skin when applied or eyes as they sweat. Bonus, I even use it on myself!
For us, in addition to sleeved rash guards, the kids always wear wide-brimmed sun hats. For kids 2 and up, we love Sunday Afternoons Kids Play Hats, which have breathable mesh sides and an adjustable strap to grow with your child. For under 2, our favorite is JAN & JUL Boys’ GRO-with-Me Aqua-Dry Adventure Sun-Hat (6-24 months). Both are made with quick-dry material, so feel free to splash around.
When I think about 5 beach essentials for toddlers, sun protection is always at the top of the list because it keeps them comfortable long after we leave the beach. If your toddler hates sunscreen, try turning it into a game. Try “painting” animals on their arms and legs or count to ten for each body part. Giving them a small, supervised dab of sunscreen to apply on their own arms can also make them feel more in control.
2. Sand Toys
Is there anything more fun than digging a hole at the beach? Probably not, but you don’t need to bring an excavator full of toys to have a blast. We love the sand toy sets from Androni Giocattoli. They each come with just enough items to keep the kids interested, but they are compact. The bucket holds all of the other toys when you’re not playing with them. The shovel and rake are extra sturdy, which is great for destructive toddlers.
A few molds, a shovel, a rake, and a bucket are more than enough. Involving the kids in choosing which toys make the cut before leaving home is always a good idea. It gives them a sense of ownership and also makes it easier to say no when they want to bring the entire playroom.
Sand toys are one of those 5 beach essentials for toddlers that can also double as entertainment in other parts of your trip. Kids can use the set in hotel bathtubs or at playground sandboxes.
3. Water Shoes
If there was something remotely possible to hurt yourself on, a toddler would find it. That includes sharp edges of shells or random debris people have left on the beach (please don’t do that!). Burning the bottom of your feet on hot sand is also a real thing. Thus, our kids always wear water shoes. We love HOBIBEAR Quick Dry Toddler Water Shoes. We’ve tried other well-known brands, and they always seem to lead to blisters. These never pinch, they dry quickly, and they protect their feet really well.
You can keep a pair of water shoes in your beach bag at all times during summer so you are never tempted to skip them. They also make transitions easier. Toddlers can walk from the car to the sand, through the shallows, and over rocks without needing a shoe change every five minutes.
If your toddler is new to water shoes, try letting them wear them in the house or yard first so they feel familiar. That way, when you arrive at the beach, they are focused on the waves and shells instead of the strange new shoes on their feet.
4. Coast Guard Certified Life Jacket
Even if your babe is a champion swimmer, which would be amazing for a toddler, a little extra help in the water never hurts. Drowning is a real thing, especially when you combine heavy surf and weak swimmers. Both of our boys wear life jackets around the water whenever only one adult is watching them both or if they are getting in the water.
We love the Full Throttle brand.
- For kids under 2 or those who don’t know how to swim and can’t keep their heads above water, go with a Type II life vest. We love the Full Throttle Infant/Child Under 50lbs Character Life Vest.
- If your child can swim/keep their head above water, you go get a Type III vest. Our favorite is Full Throttle Child Water Buddies Life Vest.
Life jackets do more than keep kids afloat. They also give you as the parent a little more mental breathing room when you are watching multiple children. I still stay within arm’s reach near the waterline, but I feel much calmer knowing they have an extra layer of protection. On busy family trips, that matters as much as the physical safety benefits.
If your toddler resists wearing a life jacket, introduce it at home first, just like the other beach essentials for toddlers. Let them wear it during bath time or while playing a “boat” game on the couch. By the time you get to the ocean, it feels familiar instead of restrictive.
Learn more about the different types of life jackets and their uses here, or explore the best life jackets for toddlers.
5. All the Snacks
Toddlers have two ways of eating: either everything you brought is unacceptable, or they want to eat everything in sight, including what you’re eating. At the beach, ours are typically the second. So we always make sure to have their favorite snacks on hand. Mine are particularly obsessed with the Goldfish Colors right now. We love storing them in the Skip Hop Baby Snack Containers, which let them feed themselves without the mess.
Pack a mix of salty, sweet, and fresh options in small amounts so nothing sits in the heat for too long. Think crackers, cut fruit, pouches, and maybe a fun “special beach snack” that they only get on these outings. Snacks are one of the beach essentials for toddlers that keep everyone happy during those in-between moments: waiting for sunscreen to dry, taking a break from the waves, or hanging out under the umbrella.
Final Thoughts
What items can your kids not live without at the beach? For our family, these 5 beach essentials for toddlers keep our days simple, safe, and fun. With the right life jacket, water shoes, sun protection, sand toys, and snacks, the beach becomes a place your toddlers can explore with confidence and joy, and you can actually sit down and enjoy the view.
If you have any questions as you plan your trip, feel free to email me or send a message on Instagram. I’m always happy to share more tips and insights to help you travel.
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Northern Portugal With Kids: Porto, the Douro Valley & Gerês: Your Perfect Family Weekend
I’ve said it so many times, but it’s worth saying again: Portugal is the most underrated country for families in Europe. And while most families who do visit are busy planning their Lisbon itinerary or counting down the days to the Algarve beaches, northern Portugal is sitting up there quietly being spectacular. We’re talking cobblestoned riverfront cities, wild national parks where horses roam free, terraced vineyards dropping straight into a UNESCO-listed river valley, and some of the warmest hospitality in all of Europe. Oh, and the food? Amazing!
If you’re planning a family trip to Portugal, you need to consider heading north, with this itinerary as your guide. Three days, three very different experiences: Porto with kids, the Douro Valley with kids, and Peneda-Gerês National Park, all designed for families. Let’s go.
Already planning a bigger Portugal adventure? Don’t miss my guides to Sintra, Belém, and Lagos or explore all my Portugal posts.
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Best Moments | England | Europe | Family | Featured
Things to Do in Richmond London: An Unforgettable Ted Lasso Day Trip With Kids
If you have watched even one episode of Ted Lasso, you already know Richmond. The corner pub. The green with the soccer goals. That little row of shops that looks like somebody painted it for a postcard.
Maybe you didn’t realize that Richmond is real part of London, twenty minutes from central London by train, and there is so much more to it than the filming locations. We visited Richmond during a trip to London and Copenhagen, it ended up being one of my favorite days of the whole trip. We even had the “should we move here” moment, just like Ted Lasso.
Now that Ted Lasso is back, everyone is asking about Richmond again. So I’ve gathered all the best things to do in Richmond London, from the show’s filming spots to the deer in Richmond Park, plus every way to get there.
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Ireland Itinerary With Kids: How to Spend 7 Days in the Beautiful Emerald Isle
Ireland is a destination that seems to work well at every age and stage of family travel, and this Ireland itinerary proves it. The country is compact enough that you can cover a lot of ground in a week, but every stretch of road feels like it deserves more time. Castles appear constantly, the countryside is quintessentially green and rolling, and the pace tends to be relaxed in a way that makes traveling with kids feel manageable rather than exhausting. Plus, the Irish absolutely love kids and babies, which makes every local encounter feel pleasant and welcomed.
Our Ireland itinerary is built around one week and is focused on the southwest, which is where families will get the most out of their visit. Starts in Dublin, then heads down to Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, and up to Galway. If you only have time for one part of Ireland, the Killarney area is the one worth prioritizing.
