Pack These Essentials for Your Next Family Beach Trip
Who doesn't love the beach? Sand, sunshine and cool waves make for a really relaxing day perfect for the family. If you are lucky enough to get a day at the beach you want to be sure you pack everything you need to really enjoy the day with your family and not have to make random trips to go get the basics. If you do not head to the beach on a regular basis you may be wondering what to pack for your next beach trip. The good news is packing for the beach can be a breeze.
Sun Screen
Sun protection needs to be your first focus when packing for the beach. Whether you are sitting by or playing in the water, you are exposed to more sun than normal so sun protection is vital. A quality sunscreen in the highest SPF you can find is the perfect start. Be sure to pack enough that you can reapply about every two hours, more often for people sensitive to the sun. Packing rash guard swimsuits with built in SPF is great for protecting sensitive shoulders and backs. For on the beach, an umbrella is great option to provide shade. Tents are perfect for protecting your baby from the sun while you relax a bit.Kid Towels
Everyone knows to bring towels to the beach, but they don't always remember to bring ones specifically for the kids. When returning from a fun filled day at the beach, the last thing you want is a tired, wet kid tripping over a towel that is too big and falling off of them. We love these Kidorable towels because they are just the right size for little ones and come with a button at the top to keep them from falling off. The soft and absorbent 100% cotton towels are machine washable and come in cute styles that will excite boys and girls alike. They even come in 2 sizes: a smaller size that is suitable for newborns to 2 years old, and a larger size for children 3-6 years old.
Want to win a towel from Kidorable? Read to the end of this post to find out how you can enter!
Cooler
Grab one of these great coolers and fill it with food and drinks. While most beaches have several places you can buy food it can be a pain to wait in long lines for an overpriced flavorless hot dog because you forgot to pack food. Even if you choose to not pack food you still want to bring plenty of drinks included bottles of water. We love to freeze refillable water bottles and use them as the ice for our cooler. Then we have plenty of ice cold water to rehydrate from the sun and less mess than dumping a bag of ice into the cooler.Toys
When you go to the beach, take advantage of toys and floats that you aren't allowed to use at the local pool. Pull out the big floats and let the kids enjoy themselves. When packing toys for the beach, grab some cheap sand toys that will help keep little ones busy playing away from the water during a break. They may even entertain older children for quite a while. Other great toy options include water squirters, frisbees, and pool noodles. Stop by your local Dollar Tree for these items so that you aren't out big bucks if the kids lose or break them.
Camera
If you're lucky enough to own a tough camera that is water and sand proof you have the perfect addition to document your family trip. If you don't have one you can get a waterproof case for most higher end cell phones that will allow you to take photos and never forget that big smile on your child's face when they come running with w hermit crab or minnow cupped in their little hands. Some of my favorite family photos are the ones with an amazing ocean backdrop.
Bags
To transport all of your fun stuff and your basics like towels, flip flops, and spare sunglasses grab some reusable shopping bags. Sturdy bags are perfect for the pool or the beach. You can even toss them in the wash and store them in the trunk for your next trip to the grocery store.SassNSpunk is partnering with Kidorable to give one of our lucky readers an awesome kids' towel. Winner will be able to choose the design of their towel based on availability.
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway below.
Would be great for our upcoming vacation!!
Yes these towels are great. We use ours at the beach and pool
I pack sunscreen!
Absolutely!
Sunblock, water (lots of water), cooler, towel, beach toys and a chair.
Definitely lots of water is important, don’t want to get dehydrated
Sunscreen, floppy hat, sunglasses, water, beach towel, and chair!
Yes to all of these! Tough to find a good floppy hat I like though
Lots n lots of kid sunblock!
I use the same sunblock as the kids to get the most protection possible!
Backpack, picinic, bathing suit, sunscreen, diet pepsi, sun glasses
Great ideas. Love the Diet Pepsi lol
I pack extra clothes, drinks, snacks and meds on a beach trip.
Extra clothes are a definite must in case the originals get wet
We take water, hats, towels and most of all the sunscreen.
Hats are a big help with keeping the sun off of your face
sunscreen
Absolutely!
sunblock, towels and a change of clothes
Great ideas
Towels, Sunscreen, snacks
Snacks that don’t melt are a must!
Sunscreen, towels, kindle, snacks and water
Ooh a kindle is a great idea so you can bring multiple books with you
What a great win it would be ,summer so hot for the little ones so I could use all of it ,hope to win????
Summer gets very hot here in Georgia, a trip to the water is a must
would love to win! connie danielson
Good luck!
I really dislike the beach. I need to buy a tent for shade if I take my toddler this year.
I don’t like getting too hot or too much sun, so a tent definitely helps
Those towels look as cute as a button would love to win one Sincerely Mary Harding
They are really cute! Good luck
Sunscreen,water,lots-of-fruits,towels,
Fruit is a great idea, good refreshing snack
Umbrella for shade!
Oh yes, an umbrella or cabana is awesome
towels, sunscreen, snacks, drinks and umbrella
Great list
the main thing is sunscreen, but we pack snacks, change of clothes, first aid kit , and water and towels for sure!
A first aid kit is important but not everyone thinks of it
I take sunscreen that has bug repellent
Great idea, 2 for 1
Suncreen, chair, beach towels, snacks & drinks.
I prefer a chair to a towel for sure
We back everything and make a day of it
Good idea
We always pack plenty of sunscreen, along with water & snacks (that won’t melt in the heat). Always a couple good books & a blanket/beach chairs. And hats, sunglasses, water toys/boogie boards.
Good books for parents are great because kids tend to want to stay longer than I do
Sunblock, water, snacks and toys for the kids
Yes I agree with those
Sunscreen is most important!
Absolutely
Trips to the beach I love to pack lunch in a picnic basket! Kids love it! But trips to the beach aren’t complete without sunscreen or a beach towel!!
A beach picnic sounds like a fun idea
Everything! Towels, bathing suits, toys, sunscreen, etc.
I tend to overpack because I never know what we will need but not have
I pack a towel, sunscreen, water, fruit, brownie, hat or visor and float.
Ooh a brownie!
i take water, snacks, sunblock and a beach towel, and hat
Lots of water for sure if it is hot
Sunglasses and sunscreen are on the top of the list
I can’t go anywhere without my sunglasses, especially the beach!
For a beach trip we pack towels, sunscreen, toys, clothes, bathing suits, floats, food…you name it we pack it. We are a family of 6 so we need everything.
I pack a lot for 3 of us, I can’t imagine how much stuff I would bring for 6!
I pack towels, sunscreen, change of clothes, brush, floaties, drinks and snacks
Great list!
Large beach towel !
The bigger the better for me!
I always pack sunscreen for my kids who burn easily
I’m with you. I actually burn very easily too