If you are headed to the beach this summer, this toddler’s essentials beach list is for you! I’ve listed our top 9 Beach Must Haves for Toddlers, so you don’t have to stress about what to pack and what to leave at home.
(This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.)
Traveling with little ones is so much fun, but also needs a lot of planning ahead of time. For our first beach trip, I overpacked a ton and was worried we didn’t have everything we needed.
After a few beach trips with our toddlers, I’ve narrowed it down to our must have items and I hope this toddler beach trip packing list, will help you not forget, or overpack on your trip!
This post is all about the best toddler beach essentials
9 Beach Must Haves For Toddlers
1. Toddler Sunscreen
Shop Organic Toddler Sunscreen
An organic and mineral Sunscreen for little ones is a must for hot beach days. I’m rather picky when it comes to what goes onto my toddler’s skin. Not all sunscreens are created equal and a lot of the more popular brands actually have hidden ingredients that aren’t good for your kids’ skin. I really like this brand and can highly recommend it.
Little Beach Hack for Toddlers: If your toddler does not like to get sunscreen applied to the face, try using a makeup brush or sponge! 🙂 My girls get excited to use a makeup sponge like Mommy, and it applies super easily and avoids getting your hands sticky.
2. Toddler Sun Hat
To keep your toddlers head and face protected from the sun at the beach, it’s important to put a sun hat on them, in addition to applying sunscreen. We love this Summer Bucket Hat from Amazon, because it has a UPF 50+ UV sun protective fabric and blocks up to 98% of all harmful UV rays, and has a tie to easily secure your toddler’s head.
3. Toddler Water Proof Shoes
These Native Shoes are our absolute Must-Have Item for the beach. They come in all different kinds of colors and are not just perfect for the beach and the water, my kids literally wear them everywhere. My toddlers live in them all summer long and they are super easy to clean and will hold up well.
4. Waterproof & Foldable Picnic Blanket
Getting a Waterproof and Foldable Picnic Blanket was probably one of my best investments ever. 🙂 This blanket is perfect for the beach, as well as the park, lake, or yard. It dries up super fast once you sit on it with wet bathing suits. The best part, it is foldable and even fits in a diaper bag. You can throw it in the wash after a beach day, and use it over and over again. It comes in many different prints.
5. Toddler Beach Toy Set
Hands down, the best beach toy set we’ve had so far! We’ve had plastic ones before but they really didn’t hold up well and ended up cracking. This Silicone Beach Toy Set has been through a lot and is still in amazing condition. You can roll it, fold it, and easily put it in your beach bag or diaper bag. It’s not bulky like other beach toys, super lightweight and will provide hours of fun for your toddler.
6. Waterproof Wet Bag
There is nothing worse than wet clothes stinking up your beach bag and car. With a Waterproof Wet Bag, you can just put all the wet bathing suits, towels, and clothes in the bag, zip it up and throw it straight into the wash, once you are back from the beach.
7. Portable Beach Chair & Integrated Pull Cart
Shop portable beach chair & integrated pull cart
Getting all your beach necessities to the beach and carrying a toddler, can be overwhelming. With this Cart, you can transport and keep your toddlers’ beach necessities all in one place. The best part is, that the cart turns into a lounge chair, perfect for relaxing at the beach! I think it’s absolutely genius and I’m always excited to bring it, whenever we head out to the beach with the entire family.
8. Toddler Water Bottle
Packing enough Water for your toddler is crucial for hot beach days. This Stainless Steel Water Bottle keeps your drinks cold for hours. It’s dishwasher safe, free of BPA, and has a leak-proof lid with an easy-open button.
9. Bento Box
Going anywhere without snacks, is a no go with toddlers. When planning a beach day with little kids, food, is one of the most important things to pack. I don’t know what it is, but the beach makes my kids extra hungry. I like to pack a variety of foods and snacks for them and a bento box is perfect for that. You can fit a lunch and a few different snacks inside a bento box, without having certain fruits and veggies touch each other. A bento box is a definite must-have to bring to the beach and can be used for pre-school and other occasions as well. The boxes aren’t super bulky and will easily fit in your beach bag.
I hope this toddler beach trip packing list was helpful for you and will save you from overpacking on your next trip.
If you are traveling with your toddler this summer, check out these blog posts:
{ 7 helpful tips when flying with toddlers }
{ 11 Best Travel Toys for Toddlers }
{ 7 Must Have Toddler Essentials for a Road Trip }
This post was all about the 9 Beach Must Haves for Toddlers.
