We recently just got back from a beach vacation, and I was telling my husband how much easier this time around seemed than any other years previous (even though we’ve added another kid to our bunch.) I feel like we go to the beach for relaxation, but sometimes when you take kids it can be more stressful in some ways, especially if you’re not prepared. So I thought of some helpful things I’ve learned through trail and error over the years that makes taking kids to the beach so.much.easier, and hopefully this will help you on your next trip!
(My kids are 6,4 and 1 so I can only speak on what I’ve learned with younger kids in that age range.)
Check Tide Times
Before taking anything down to the beach or trying to wrangle the kids, get a game plan for the day and check tide times. There’s nothing worse than getting everything set up for the day, only to have to move your whole gig an hour later because the tide moved in on you. I never realized how crucial this was until I had kids and find yourself having to take a little more than just a towel and some sunscreen down with you lol
Sunscreen BEFORE You Go
This step is essential for several reasons. It really helps the forgetful mamas (like me lol) who might not remember to do sunscreen until after everything is set up at the beach and the kids have already been in the sun for a good 30 minutes… burning. (oops!) Also, putting it on in the room gives the sunscreen time to soak in. I wasn’t aware, until this year when I actually read a sunscreen bottle, that apparently sunscreen needs about 15 minutes to soak in for optimum protection. Applying everyone’s sunscreen in the room while packing and getting everything ready gives you that 15 minutes for sunscreen to soak in without hearing antsy kids say “can we get in the water yet?” and “how much longer?” And lastly, well… nobody likes putting on sunscreen that feels like an exfoliator, especially if you’re already a little burnt.
Pack Your Lunch
One of the best things we’ve learned to do when going to the beach is packing our lunch with us. We would always bring snacks when we went, but then when it came to lunch time we would pack everyone and everything back inside. I felt like we never had enough time at the beach because we were always going back and fourth to the condo, and with my family of 5, that was more of a hassle than anything else. We quickly learned that packing a lunch is essential for our family, and now that we do it, I can’t believe I had never thought to do it before. It is the biggest life saver if you love spending a full day at the beach and hate dragging everyone up and down to the condo. (I personally don’t want to be back in the condo until I’m done at the beach for the day and ready for a shower.)
Wipes
Whether you have a child in diapers or not, I still believe taking a thing of wipes with you to the beach is essential. Snotty noses, diaper changes (obviously), and easy clean up after eating. I even keep wipes in my car. I am a firm believer in keeping wipes handy, always.
Waterproof Blanket
My husband thought I was crazy for spending extra money on one of these (even though walmart has them fairly cheap) but he is actually the one who suggested adding this to my list. When our kids are eating lunch on the beach, we lay this out and its perfect for them to sit on while they eat. And not only just for eating, its also nice to have when someone wants to take a nap. If you spend your whole day at the beach, it’s likely someone is going to want a nap… and I don’t know a single soul that wants to hold a baby/toddler in the heat. The upside to a waterproof blanket vs just laying a beach towel down is that you can pick it up and shake the sand off easiliy, whereas a towel you’re probably not gonna get all the sand off and you’ll be drying yourself off later with that sandy towel. Yuck.
Canopy
You’ll need to check first because not all condo’s and beaches allow it and sometimes it depends on the season you go, but if you can, I highly suggest bringing a canopy. Make sure you go early in the morning and set yours up in a spot to stay all day. Canopies are great for shade for several people, where as umbrellas typically only keep about 2 people shaded. For my large family, having a canopy makes our all day stay at the beach so much easier. Sometimes you want to be at the beach, but are burnt out with the sun (kids, I feel, especially get tired of the sun fast.) Because canopies are so big, it’s easy for the kids to nap under there and not be bothered, everyone can enjoy their lunch under there, etc. If an umbrella is all you’re allowed to have, I say take what ya can, but if canopies are acceptable, invest. They are so worth it!
A Bag for Trash
Typically the beach trash is wayyyy far away from where you’re set up on the beach and who wants to continuously have to walk back and fourth? Not me. Bringing a small bag to keep your trash in is so helpful when you’re at the beach, especially with kids who need snacks every hour, and diaper changes.
Wagon
Yet another thing my husband insisted we didn’t need, but was so thankful we brought once we got there lol A wagon with big wheels is a life saver! Literally everything you’re taking to the beach, and even your kids maybe, can all fit in your wagon. We squeeze our 1 year old in our wagon because even though she can walk, shes a little slow lol and I’ll admit it’s a little hard to pull the wagon in the fluffy sand, but I’d rather pull that thing through the sand as to have my hands full and carry everything. Let’s be honest, my hands are full enough with 3 kids, I don’t need chairs and toys filling them up even more!
Toys
In my opinion, (everyone is different) but I’ve learned that my kids don’t need a loot of toys to take to the beach. My older boys are just as happy with a big, sturdy shovel and a bucket as they would be with a huge sack of toys. They are more interested in digging big holes for tide pools than making sand castles anyway. I also recommend a boogie board or skim board. Those kept my kids, even my 1 year old, busy for hours! My husband would sit them on the skim board on their butts and push them. They absolutely loved it! Keep the toys simple. The kids will be just as happy with less, and you won’t have as many to clean/carry.
A Water Bucket To Clean Hands
This is something I noticed my mother in law did this trip that I will forever do from now on. She filled up one of the kids buckets with water from the ocean, and sat it beside her. My 1 year old was constantly getting her hands sandy (and eating the sand) but having this water bucket made it so easy for her to just dip her hands in the bucket and have instantly clean hands. We didn’t have to keep taking her down to the water, or wiping her hands off with a towel. I thought this was a genius idea I had to share. (Shout out to Veronica!)
Make A Tide Pool
Everyone says to bring a blow up pool to the beach for toddler/baby ages, which may have worked out great had anywhere had them in stock, but I couldn’t find a blow up pool anywhere! So something we did was dig a small tide pool near us that she could play in instead, and I’d say it essentially did the same thing at no cost. I’d say we’ll probably skip the blow up pool next time and just do this every time. It was a great way for our little to get to play in the water without me worrying about her washing out into the ocean, and she loved it!
Getting your kids out for a day at the beach is not always the easiest thing, but hopefully some of these tips will help your trip go a little smoother!
Happy Summer, ya’ll!
xo.brit