If you have plans to take your toddler to the beach this summer, this list includes all the toddler beach essentials, that will make your life so much easier.
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Going on a full-on beach vacation or just a day trip to the beach, with little kids can be a lot of fun! But spending a day in the sun with a toddler can also be challenging as their moods and needs can change every 5 minutes. When planning a trip to the beach, it’s best to come prepared, so you can actually enjoy your time.
With the right beach gear packed and putting a bit of thought into your timing and activities, it will be a great experience with your toddler – even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time!
This post will give you over 22 ideas on how to entertain your toddler during long car rides
15 Toddler Beach Essentials
That Will Make Your Life Easier
Before we dive into the toddler beach essentials, I want to mention that timing your stay at the beach with your toddler is crucial. I find that the early mornings or afternoons when the sun isn’t as strong is a perfect time to bring my little ones to the beach before it gets really hot out.
We like to spend a couple of hours in the mornings at the beach and then spend a few hours inside so my toddler can nap comfortably.
Before planning a family beach vacation, or even just a day at the beach with your toddler, you’ll want to consider packing these toddler beach essentials to make sure your day runs smoothly:
1. Toddler Sunscreen
A mineral Sunscreen for your toddler is a must for hot beach days. I’m pretty 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 skin. I really like this brand and can highly recommend it.
Little Beach Hack for small children: 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 Rashguard
It’s super important to have your toddler’s skin covered when they’ll be out in the sun all day. This One-Piece Swimsuit blocks 98% of harmful UVA and UVB rays without the need to apply sunscreen to your toddler’s or baby’s delicate skin.
2. Toddler Sun Hat
To keep your toddler’s face and head protected from the sun at the beach, it’s important to put a sun hat on them, in addition to applying sunscreen. I really like 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, is super quick-drying, breathable, and keeps toddlers cool and comfortable.
3. Toddler Sunglasses
It can be a challenge keeping glasses on your toddler’s head, but our favorite ones come with straps, so it makes it a lot easier to keep on. These Sunglasses for babies and toddlers are UV-resistant and shatterproof lenses made of Polycarbonate, 100% UVA, and UVB that can protect your toddler’s sensitive eyes well.
4. Toddler Waterproof Shoes
These Native Slip On 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, slip-proof, and easy to get on and off.
5. Toddler Beach Tent
If you’re planning on spending time at the beach during the peak sunlight hours of the day, an anti-UV tent for your toddler is well worth it. It will be your child’s first line of defense against the UV rays when they’re out of the water. What I love about this beach tent is, that there is no assembly required it just pops up within seconds and it’s just as easy to fold back down.
6. Waterproof & Foldable Picnic Blanket
Getting a Waterproof and Foldable Picnic Blanket is going to be a lifesaver. This blanket is perfect for the beach, as well as the park, lake, or yard. It is completely waterproof and sand proof and dries up super fast once you sit on it with wet bathing suits. The best part, it is foldable and comes with a handle, you can even fit it into a diaper bag. It comes with different patterns and colors, depending on what your style is.
7. Toddler Reusable Swim Diapers
While there is a huge range of disposable swim diapers for babies and toddlers out there, I really like bringing a reusable swim diaper for my toddler whenever we head to the beach or lake. It is the far more enviro-friendly option and you can just wash them and use them over and over again.
8. Toddler Floating Vest
Toddlers should definitely wear a floating vest when in the water. This swim vest has adjustable waist and bottom padded safety straps for extra comfort, allowing your child to swim freely in the water.
9. Toddler Beach Essentials: Water Bottle & Snacks
Shop Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Packing enough Water for your kids is crucial for hot beach days. This Stainless Steel Water Bottle keeps their drinks cold for hours. It’s dishwasher safe, free of BPA, and has a leak-proof lid with an easy-open button, perfect for little hands!
When planning a beach day with little kids, enough snacks are one of the most important things to pack. I don’t know what it is, but the beach makes my children super hungry. I like to pack a variety of foods and snacks such as fruits, veggies, and nuts for them and a reusable bento box is perfect for that.
10. Toddler Beach Toy Set
Trust me when I say, this beach toy set is the best we’ve had so far! My kids 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.
11. Waterproof Wet Bag
I hate nothing more than wet clothes stinking up my beach bag and car. With a Waterproof Wet Bag, you can just put all the wet bathing suits, towels, reusable diapers, and clothes in the bag, zip it up and throw it straight into the washing machine.
12. Beach Wagon
Now, of course, a Beach Wagen is not an absolute Must-Have but it is super convenient to have! If you are bringing a whole lot of stuff to the beach, which with kids you most likely will, this is very helpful. You can either have your toddler sit in it or carry all the beach necessities in it, such as beach toys, towels, and food. This wagon is portable and can be stored or taken anywhere! Easy one-hand fold allows for convenient storage.
13. First Aid Kit
You are probably thinking, please not more stuff to bring for my beach trip, but trust me, accidents happen everywhere, it’s always wise to have a first aid kit with you.
14. Baby Powder
The easiest way to get Sand off your toddler’s body is with Baby Powder. Try a little bit of this talc-free baby powder on your toddler’s skin after hitting the beach, it works at treat keeping the sand off!
15. Toddler Beach Towel
A cute little beach towel with a hoody is one of those fun beach items that are ultra-cute AND ultra-practical. Great for keeping them warm after a dip in the water with a character towel perfect for their little personality.
I hope this post about the best toddler beach essentials was helpful and will make your next beach trip, with your toddler a bit easier. If you have anything that needs to be added to this list, feel free to leave a comment below.
If you are looking for more travel tips with kids, check out these blog posts:
{ 7 helpful tips when flying with toddlers }
{ 19 Amazing Travel Activities for Toddlers That Will Make Your Trip Easier }
{ 7 Must Have Toddler Essentials for a Road Trip }
