It’s summer—time to beat the heat at the pool or the beach! But a pool or beach day requires lots of preparation—and a ton of gear—when you have little ones. To help make it easier, we’ve compiled this handy list of items to pack in your beach bag. Try to keep as many as possible stocked in the bag at all times for quick packing.
- A swimsuit for each person, preferably with rash guards for kids (although you’ll likely be wearing your swimwear already)
- A beach towel for each person
- Beach chairs or a large blanket or sheet (Melissa & Doug beach chairs, such as the Sunny Patch Flex Octopus Chair and the Bella Butterfly Chair, are great options for kids.)
- Broad-spectrum sunscreen for adults with an SPF of 15 or higher (one that protects from both UVA and UVB rays)
- Broad-spectrum sunscreen for kids with an SPF of 30 or higher (one that protects from both UVA and UVB rays)
- Lip balm with SPF
- Baby powder to easily remove sand from little bodies
- Hand sanitizer
- Life jackets or other water safety items for kids (We love the Puddle Jumper!)
- Sun hats for each person (Get ones with straps that tie or Velcro under the chin for kids who like to pull them off.)
- Water shoes for kids
- Water shoes or flip-flops for adults
- A pair of sunglasses for each person (Get ones with straps that go around the back of the head for kids who like to pull them off.)
- Regular diapers, if your child still wears them
- Swim diapers, if your child still wears them
- Baby wipes
- A change of clothes for each person
- Ziploc or other bags to hold wet bathing suits
- Snacks and/or lunch and plenty of water in a cooler
- A large umbrella or tent for the beach (Try the Sun Smarties Family Beach Cabana Tent.)
- Sand or pool toys (A mesh bag is great for carrying sand toys.)
- A camera to capture memorable moments
- Reading materials for each person
- A bag to put trash in
If you head to the beach often, we recommend getting a wagon with all-terrain wheels to easily lug all of your beach gear through the sand. We like the Radio Flyer 32S All-Terrain Steel and Wood Wagon.
And if you’re looking for a large beach bag to fit your whole family’s gear, try the large-sized Family Tote from Pottery Barn Kids. Have a great day at the pool or beach!
Did we forget any of your beach bag essentials? Leave a comment and let us know!