Beach days with kids are equal parts magical and chaotic. One minute you're building sandcastles and spotting seashells, the next you're digging through a beach bag looking for sunscreen, snacks, and that one toy someone suddenly can’t live without.
Over the years, we’ve figured out what actually earns a spot in our beach bag — the beach essentials that make summer days easier, more organized, and a little more relaxing.
If you're heading to the beach with babies, toddlers, or young kids this summer, here’s our tried-and-true list of beach day essentials for families and what to pack for the beach with kids.
🏖 Hooded Towels or Robe Towels
Cozy, practical, and somehow they make every post-beach photo even sweeter.
A soft hooded towel or robe towel is one of our favorite beach essentials for toddlers and young kids — easy for drying off, warming up, and wrapping little ones after a swim.
👜 A Beach Tote That Fits Everything
Towels. Toys. Extra clothes. Snacks. Sunscreen.
We still swear by the extra-large LL Bean Boat and Tote Bag — roomy, durable, and somehow able to hold everything.
🌊 Beach Toys (The More the Better)
Buckets. Shovels. Sand molds. Endless entertainment.
One longtime favorite:
These durable surfer toys actually ride the waves — and somehow keep kids entertained longer than expected.
☀️ Shade You Can Set Up Quickly
A beach tent or cabana is one of those things that feels unnecessary until you have one.
Reliable shade = happier kids and longer beach days.
We love our CoolCabana for quick setup and dependable coverage.
🧴 Mineral Sunscreen Sticks
One of our favorite parent tips — and advice we picked up from dermatologist Dr. Lauren Okon:
Mineral sunscreen sticks tend to be easier to apply, less messy, and stay out of little eyes when kids are sweaty and constantly moving.
👶 Baby Powder
A longtime beach-parent trick.
Sprinkle a little baby powder on sandy feet and legs before heading to snacks or back to the car. It helps brush sand away surprisingly easily.
💧 Insulated Water Bottles
Cold water solves more beach-day problems than you’d think.
Staying hydrated is one of the easiest ways to keep summer outings fun for everyone.
✨ Small Organizing Pouches
Keeping sunscreen, wipes, bandaids, first aid essentials, and little odds and ends separated makes beach packing so much easier.
We love Stasher bags for keeping everything organized and reusable.
🍎 Snacks We Never Skip
Beach snacks just hit differently.
A few favorites:
🍎 Frozen applesauce pouches (bonus: they double as mini ice packs)
🍇 Frozen grapes
🥨 Hard pretzels
🧃 Extra snacks you think you won’t need (you will)
🧺 A Portable Changing Mat
Lightweight. Wipeable. Surprisingly useful.
Our Pluie Pret Changing Mat is great for quick diaper changes, snack breaks, or creating a cleaner spot to sit.
🤍 A Versatile Blanket
One item we never stop bringing.
Our Clover blanket comes everywhere with us:
• Stroller naps
• Sitting in the sand
• Extra warmth after swimming
• Travel days
• Makeshift beach mat duty
Soft, breathable, and easy to roll up and toss into the beach bag.
🩱 Rash Guards & Swim Essentials
Even after swim diapers are behind you, sun-protective swimwear stays high on our beach packing list.
For babies and toddlers especially, rash guards make beach days easier.
Pro Tip → Keep a Mesh Laundry Bag in Your Trunk
When the beach day ends, toss sandy toys and gear into a mesh bag before heading home.
It keeps the sand contained and makes cleanup so much easier.
Summer days with kids aren’t about perfection.
They’re sticky, sandy, loud, and somehow become the memories everyone talks about years later.
We hope your summer is full of sunshine, salty air, and a few sweet seagull sightings ☀️
Looking for more summer favorites? Browse our Summer Collection designed for memory-making moments all season long.
