Planning for a beach trip used to mean packing a bag and beach chair for yourself, and identifying the nearest grocery and liquor stores. But once you have a baby, you have to plan to tow a lot more gear with you too. A successful beach day with a baby is entirely dependent on your logistics. You do not need to pack your entire nursery, but you do need the right gear to survive the heat and the sand. Here is the short list of what actually works.
The Short List (Your 5 Essentials)
- A massive mesh bag: This holds towels, toys, and floaties. The mesh allows the sand to fall out on the walk back to the car instead of ending up in your trunk.
- A Diaper bag: Pack swim diapers, regular diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, and plastic grocery bags for wet swimsuits and trash.
- Insulated bag or ice chest: Bring more water than you think you need. Freeze partially full water bottles the night before. You will need them to drink, and you will need them to rinse off dropped pacifiers and sandy fingers. You can keep formula in this bag, as well as baby food or healthy snacks for the day. Cut up grapes, frozen yogurt pouches, and cheese sticks or cubes are all good options if they can be insulated from the heat. Â Â Â Â
- Portable shade: Do not attempt the beach with a baby without guaranteed shade. Whether it is a massive pop-up tent for the whole family or a mini UV-tent just for the baby, you need an escape from the sun.
- Beach chairs: Hopefully you can find the $5 kind that comes in a carry case and just swings over your back.  It’s relatively easy to bring these with you, and nice to give your bum a break from the beach.
How to CREATE A WORKABLE SPACE For baby at the beach
This will differ depending on your needs and your baby’s age. Regardless, it is still the beach–you will be hot; you will be sweaty; your baby will be sweaty. You are going to want to put your baby down somewhere. Instead of laying down multiple beach towels, it’s helpful to have a picnic blanket, sheet, duvet cover (they are more likely to stay put with the wind and are washable), or some other surface where you can lay your baby and keep some of the sand off of your stuff.
The DIY Baby Pool Hack: If your baby isn’t ready for the ocean waves, buy a $2 shower curtain liner from the dollar store. Dig a shallow hole in the sand under your tent, lay the liner over it, and fill it with a few buckets of ocean water. You instantly have a shaded, contained baby pool.
DRESS BABY FOR SUCCESS
For infants under six months, this means a lightweight onesie offering head to toe coverage, and a hat.  Babies older than six months require swim diapers and a UV protective swim shirt.  I recently came across a Upf. 50+ coverall swimsuit that offers full coverage of baby’s arms and legs.  The brand name is Coolibar and can be found on Amazon as well as Ebay. This is genius and will save you from scrambling after your little one with hands full of sunscreen. The sand gets hot for sensitive little toes so you’ll want water shoes too. If your baby is going in the water, they need a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. While Puddle Jumpers are popular for toddlers, they are not safely rated for infants under 30 pounds. Stick to an infant-specific life vest with a head-support collar and a crotch strap so they can’t slip out. For nursing mamas, a lightweight beach cover up can double as a nursing cover to save additional space and stress. Â
SCHEDULE AROUND THE SUN
According to the AAP, it is best to limit sun exposure between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm.  This is where having a baby can be an advantage–your little one will probably rise with the sun if not before. The beach during the summer is like New Orleans during Mardi Gras–you have to get there early to secure your spot. When your human alarm clock arises, it’s time to grab breakfast and hit the beach. You can take a break at 10 for a snack, lunch, and hopefully a good nap after hours of fresh air.  Then it’s back to the beach around 4 to soak up some fun when your skin is safe from the sun. Â
Worth Knowing: The Sand Removal Trick Before you get back in the car, you are going to need to wipe the wet sand off your baby’s legs. Pack cornstarch baby powder. It absorbs the extra moisture immediately so the sand just brushes right off. (Make sure it is cornstarch-based, as talc-based powders are a respiratory hazard).
