16 Useful Beach Essentials for Toddlers and Babies

Traveling anywhere with kids takes a little extra planning and packing, especially when your children are young. Beach vacations with toddlers and babies can be a lot of fun. Little ones have an endless sandbox, water to play in, and a new environment to explore. What is not to love about the beach? But if you’re planning a trip to the beach, or any tropical destination, there are a few beach essentials for toddlers and babies that you will want to make sure to pack. 

This list of baby and toddler beach essentials will help ensure your family’s beach day is both fun and safe.

Playa Blanca Cartagena beach essentials for toddlers
The beach can be a fun vacation with young kids. Just make sure you have packed all the beach essentials for toddlers and babies before your trip.

Complete packing list of beach essentials for toddlers and babies

While there are a lot of items that can make the beach more enjoyable, there are a few items that should be considered beach essentials for toddlers and babies. To make your beach travel and packing easier, we have also included a convenient, printable beach packing list of all our baby and toddler beach essentials at the end of this post. 

Don’t forget these overlooked beach essentials for toddlers and babies, too!

Besides the items mentioned above, don’t forget these other baby and toddler beach essentials when you are out in the sun. Other things you’ll want to bring with you include an extra pair of dry clothing to change into afterward, wet wipes to help rid yourself and your little ones of sand, a hair brush, cash for those ice cream carts that always come by, and extra fluids. If your baby or toddler is still nursing or using formula, it’s a good idea to bring extra in a cooler. 

Flying for your beach vacation? Flying with breastmilk and formula is easy. 

a mom carrying a baby in a water wrap, one of the most convenient baby beach essentials
Whether you’re taking a beach trip with a toddler or a baby, make sure they’re safe in the water and the sun.

Final thoughts on beach trips with babies and toddlers

Regardless of how prepared you are and how well you packed, keep in mind that when traveling with kids rarely does everything goes as planned. We’ve had some very memorable family beach trips and some sketchy ones, but the good always outweighs the challenges.

Our best advice, in life and in travel, is to simply roll with it. Take the pros with the cons, and try to enjoy the salty air, cool water, and warm sand with your kids.

Printable packing list of beach essentials for toddlers and babies

Want to print this beach packing list for toddlers and babies? We’ve made a handy checklist you can download, print out, and use as you pack. Gotta love a good check list! Take the stress out of packing and subscribe to our email list below to get access to our beach packing list and other printable family travel resources.

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Have a question or comment about these beach essentials for toddlers and babies? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or let us know what items you pack for a beach trip with your baby or toddler.

Like it? Pin this list of baby and toddler beach essentials to save for later!

This post on beach essentials for toddlers and babies was originally published in April 2016 but was updated in July 2021 for accuracy and current product information.

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