If you are taking a trip to the beach with your baby then you’ll want to check out this list to make sure you have all the infant beach essentials.
A day at the beach can be a fun family experience. However, forgetting to pack one of the infant beach essentials can turn what was supposed to be a fun day into an unpleasant experience. Ultimately, it can either leave you with an unhappy baby or a beach trip cut short which neither one is ideal.
If you are anything like me then you are preparing ahead of time to ensure you have all the infant beach essentials for a successful trip.
On this list, you’ll find items from a beach tent and snacks to a baby beach hat, fan, and more.
After reading about these infant beach essentials you will be so prepared when packing for your next family beach trip.
This post is all about infant beach essentials.
Infant Beach Essentials
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1. Beach Tent / Beach Umbrella
When it comes to infant beach essentials a beach tent or umbrella is a must! Babies have a harder time regulating their body temperature and can easily overheat. This is why shade is crucial for a successful beach trip with your baby.
If your baby is under 6 months it is even more important to keep their skin protected from the sun because they are not old enough for sunscreen.
Beach Tent
If you’d rather have something smaller than a tent, you could get an infant dome like this Fisher-Price one just for baby. It even folds up nicely and has a carrying handle.
Fisher-Price Portable Bassinet
2. Baby Beach Hat
Another infant beach essential is a beach hat. This will keep your baby’s skin safe from the sun, especially if they have little to no hair. I highly recommend getting a hat like this that has a neck flap.
3. Milk
Milk is the most important of the infant beach essentials. You’ll need to pack much more than you think your baby will drink. In the hot sun, a baby can quickly get dehydrated so ensure they have plenty to drink.
4. Bottles / Sippy Cup
Don’t forget the sippy cup or bottles (and bottle parts) for your baby to drink out of!
5. Diapers / Swim Diapers
Reusable Swim Diaper
Don’t forget the diapers when packing for a beach trip. If you plan to bring your baby in the water you’ll also want to bring swim diapers. I like to use reusable swim diapers like this but you can also get the disposable ones.
I will note if you just plan to have your baby sit and play in the sand I wouldn’t put a swim diaper on them. These diapers do not soak up pee so if your baby pees with a swim diaper on whatever they are sitting on will get wet.
What I like to do is keep them in a regular diaper until just before they go in the water then put a swim diaper on. Once they are out of the water, I put a regular diaper back on.
6. Wipes
You’ll want to pack baby wipes for a trip to the beach! Not only do you need them for diaper changes but they also come in handy for cleaning up spills or hands.
7. Fan
A mini, battery-operated fan can be super helpful in cooling your baby down on a hot summer day! This is the one we have and it works great!
8. Snacks
Make sure to add snacks to your infant beach essentials list. You do not want a hungry baby while you are trying to enjoy the beach.
9. Snack container
Don’t forget snack containers for baby’s snacks! You’ll want to make sure their snacks are kept completely enclosed such as in these stackable containers to keep the sand out.
10. Sunscreen
If your baby is 6 months of age or older then you’ll need to pack sunscreen to protect their skin. We use these Badger sunscreen tins and they are great for the beach.
If you do plan on spending the whole day at the beach don’t forget to reapply the sunscreen every one to two hours.
It’s easy to lose track of time at the beach so I always find it helpful to set an alarm on my phone so I don’t forget to reapply the sunscreen.
11. Swimsuit
RuffleButts Long Sleeve Swimsuit
If you’re heading to the beach you can’t forget a swimsuit for your baby. Since babies have such sensitive skin, I prefer using swimsuits with rash guards or long-sleeve tops to protect as much of their skin from the sun as possible.
I love the RuffleButts swimsuits. Not only are they the cutest but they have the long sleeve top as well as the snap bottoms for easy diaper changes! Seriously, can it get any cuter than this ice cream swimsuit?!
12. Wet Bag
A wet bag is so helpful when taking a trip to the beach. When you’re finished, throw all your wet swimsuits, swim diapers, and towels in the wet bag to keep all of your other items from getting wet. Trust me, you’ll want to have one of these!
13. Beach Blanket
Another infant beach essential is a beach blanket. With a beach blanket, you don’t have to worry about your little one sitting in the hot sand. This is the one we have and I love that the sand does not stick to it and folds up to take up very little space.
14. Sunglasses
Protect your little one’s eyes with some sunglasses. We have these sunglasses and they are super nice because they have an adjustable strap to keep the glasses on.
15. Diaper Cream
Make sure to pack some diaper cream before heading to the beach. This is one item you don’t want to be without if your baby ends up with a rash.
16. Pacifier & Enclosed Case
If your baby uses a pacifier, this infant beach essential is a MUST!
When you’re at the beach, sand gets on EVERYTHING so if you have a cranky baby you want to ensure that your pacifier is not covered in sand. This is why I recommend packing a few extra pacifiers and an enclosed case for them like this easy-to-clean silicone one.
17. Beach Shoes
Unless you plan to keep your baby on a beach blanket the whole time, you’ll want to put beach shoes on them to keep their feet from burning in the sand.
Non-Essential Infant Beach Items
These next items are non-essential infant beach items. Not having them isn’t going to ruin your trip but they can make your trip much more enjoyable.
1. Inflatable Baby Pool
Baby Pool – Inflatable
The last time we were at the beach I saw someone with a mini inflatable pool for their baby and I thought it was GENIUS! They blew it up when they got there and then used toy buckets to fill the pool up with ocean water. It was such a cool idea for their baby to be able to play in the water while also staying cool out of the sun.
2. Beach Toys
Bath Book
While beach toys are not a necessity, they can make the trip much more fun for your little one. Some great beach toys for babies are waterproof books like this, bubbles, shovels, and buckets.
3. Water Spray Bottle
If it is really hot, then a spray bottle full of water can help cool your baby down. It can also be used with spraying off any sand on hands and feet.
4. Beach Bag
A beach bag can be a convenient way to pack and carry your items. I have found beach bags made of mesh, tend to bring home the least amount of sand.
5. Wagon
A wagon is another non-essential beach item. While it is not a must, it can be a lifesaver when it comes to hauling your items out to the beach. To maneuver through the sand, you’d need an all-terrain wagon like this instead of a regular wagon.
Printable Infant Beach Essentials
If you’d like a copy of these infant beach essentials feel free to download and print my list below! The second page of the printable is a blank beach packing list if you’d rather create your own.
I hope you and your family have a fun beach trip!
This Post Was All About Infant Beach Essentials
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