27 Baby Beach Essentials for a Perfect Day at the Beach

Author: Celine Brewer

Last Updated:

Taking a baby to the beach is the perfect way to spend a warm summer day with your family. There are few things cuter than watching your baby play in the sand and water. I love spending time on the beach with my little ones, and I’ve learned that being prepared is key to a great family outing at the beach. To help your family have the best day possible at the beach, I’ve put together the ultimate list of baby beach essentials. So pack up your baby beach gear and get ready to hit the beach!

Before I get into the list of beach essentials for babies, the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation both recommend that babies are kept in the shade, where sun protective clothing that covers their entire body and wear a wide-brimmed sun hat. At the top of my list of baby beach essentials, you are going to find the best baby beach tents and the best sun hats for babies. I know that keeping your baby safe in the sun is of the utmost importance!

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Beach Essentials for Baby

Whether you are going on a beach vacation with a baby or visiting your local beach, here is my complete list of baby beach must haves:

Baby’s First Beach Trip

If this is your first time taking a baby to the beach, be prepared to haul a whole lot of baby beach necessities with you. Babies skin is so sensitive that you’ll want to take extra precautions in the sun.

a baby sitting in the protective shade of a baby beach tent, one of our most important infant beach essentials.
When evaluating your baby beach essentials, make sure you have something to provide ample shade from the hot sun.

If you read my post on sun safety for babies, you’ll know that your beach essentials for baby must include a way to provide shade for your little one. I also recommend trying to cover as much of your baby’s skin as covered as possible when in the sun. Not only will this offer better sun protection for your baby, it’s much easier than trying to cover a wriggly baby in sunscreen.

Thinking about a family beach vacation? Don’t miss my Guide to Visiting an All-Inclusive with a Baby and the 10 Best Baby-Friendly All-Inclusive Resorts.

Can You Take a Newborn to the Beach?

Yes, you can take newborn to the beach! If you are spending a while at the beach with your newborn, make sure you have a shady spot to put your baby down to sleep on the beach. I also recommend consulting your doctor about using sunscreen on newborns. Typically the recommendation is to wait until an infant is 6 months old for sunscreen.

I consider a portable baby beach tent or a larger baby beach shelter to be newborn beach essentials. Having this important baby beach gear allows you to safely take your newborn to the beach and still protect them from the powerful sun and wind.

I haven’t forgotten about the toddlers! You can find all the best toddler beach essentials here.

baby on beach playing with baby beach toys

Beach Vacations with a Baby

Now that you have all your beach essentials for your baby, where will you go? Find all the best baby friendly holidays here that should give you some inspiration for your next beach vacation with a baby.

Baby Beach Essentials

This post was written & edited by:

Celine Brewer - Baby Can Travel
info@babycantravel.com | Website | + posts

Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.

Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.

Read more about Celine Brewer.

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