Beach Essentials for Baby
Headed to the beach this summer? Us too! My husband and I have always loved to travel and have welcomed our babies into our adventures. Here is what I’m packing for the beach this summer while traveling with our baby and toddler. Make sure to grab my baby packing list to make packing for your baby more efficient!
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Water and Sand Proof Foldable Beach Blanket
The Little Unicorn Outdoor Family Picnic & Beach Blanket has great reviews but is on the pricier side. Here is another option for a cute and budget friendly beach blanket with good reviews and is what I’ll be purchasing for our upcoming beach trip.
Sun Protective Outdoor Playpen
We have the California Beach Co Pop ‘N Go Playpen. It folds up to a lawn chair-like size so it’s easy to pack and take along. I also recommend their self-inflating playmat to place under the tent for a little more cushion. The hiccapop outdoor playpen also has great reviews and looks similar to the California Beach Co tent. Looking for a something less costly? Check out this budget-friendly outdoor playpen.
Baby Safe Sunscreen
It’s best to use a mineral sunscreen on babies, typically recommended for use over 6 months but ask your pediatrician (some say you can use it earlier). We use Tubby Todd’s mineral sunscreen on our babies. Other baby safe sunscreen options can be found here and here. Pro mom tip: use a cheap makeup brush or makeup sponge to apply sunscreen on your baby’s face as that seems to agitate them less than using your hands.
Sun Hat
Check out these floppy hat style and bucket hat style sun hats to keep your baby’s head protected from the sun.
Protective Swimwear
I look for swimwear with UPF 50+ fabrics like this baby girl swimwear and this baby boy swimwear.
Swim Diapers
I personally use disposable swim diapers but you could also do reusable swim diapers.
Muslin Blankets
I highly recommend bringing a few muslin blankets because they are lightweight, breathable, absorbent, and serve multiple purposes such as drying your baby from the water, keeping your baby warm from the wind and protected from the sun, and can be used as a burp cloth or nursing cover. Aden and Anais boutique swaddle blankets are linked above. I know they are a little pricey but I’ve tried a couple other brands from Amazon and keep coming back to Aden and Anais because they are super soft and high quality. They’re worth it!
Baby Swim Float or Life Vest
For the pool I cannot recommend the Mambobaby float enough. It gives me so much peace of mind in the water with a baby because baby is strapped in security and the device is structure in a way that prevents tipping. For the ocean or lake you should use an infant life jacket that is US Coastguard Approved.
Portable Fan
I love these fun summer color stroller fans that are perfect to hook on a beach chair or playpen. A water mist fan also works great to keep your baby extra cool.
Water-Proof Pouches
We have lots of these mesh zipper pouches to hold extra diapers, clothes, snacks, etc. These wet bags are also so cute to throw in your beach bag for wet swimwear.
Travel Stroller
For a single, I love love love the Summer Infant 3Dlite stroller. It has a huge canopy to shade your baby from the weather, leans far back for naps on the go, folds up easily, and really is super lightweight for transporting through the airport. We brought ours to Europe when we traveled with our first baby when she was just 4 months old and it worked so well. For a double, I am looking at purchasing the Zoe Twin stroller, which I’ve heard similar great reviews about even though it is a bit pricier.
Lightweight Baby Carrier
I like having a baby carrier as an option for traveling through the airport and walking around wherever you are traveling to. I typically recommend the Solly Wrap for the new new phase (read my Solly wrap review here) and the Wildbird Aerial for when baby is bigger. They are both super lightweight and breathable so they are perfect for hot weather months. I also have the Mabe baby carrier, a dupe for the Artipoppe, that I’m trying out right now. it appears to be pretty lightweight as well as it’s made from cotton and I like that baby can also be front facing, which the Wildbird can’t do.
Portable Sound Machine
If you’re baby is used to sleeping with white noise make sure you pack a portable sound machine for the hotel/condo/rental.
Travel High Chair
Since we are traveling with our toddler too and will need to be hands-free at times, we are planning to bring our travel high chair so that our baby can sit up to play or eat. This may not be totally necessary depending on the age and preferences of your baby.
Beach Friendly Toys
Here are a few of our favorite beach friendly toys: water-proof books, suction cup spinner toys (great for sticking to airplane window or portable high chair), rattle, water-filled teethers (sand-proof and can be chilled to keep baby cool in the heat). Some baby toys are sticky silicone which attracts dirt and sand especially, so be mindful of that when choosing which toys to bring along with you. I also recommend getting a few new toys that you’re baby hasn’t seen or played with before to keep them entertained on the airplane or beach.
Cooler Pouch for Snacks
If your baby is eating solids you may want to grab some packable snacks that can be easily thrown into a compact cooler pouch. Some of our favorite beach friendly baby snacks are yogurt melts, puffs, teething wafers, fruit grain bars, and fruit and veggie pouches.
