We recently visited family in Florida, and our eight-month-old baby girl had her first beach day in the ocean! We didn’t know what to expect, but it turns out she loved playing in the sand, splashing in the warm waves, and digging for shells.
I’m not really the type of mom to drag a ton of things to the beach (or carry a ton of things in my diaper bag), so I just brought the essentials with us. We also wanted to give her a few fun toys to play with, as well as a place to lay, crawl, or nap. Oh, and sun protection!
Sun protection is so important (for all of us!). Babies are more susceptible to sunburn than adults because their skin is thinner, more delicate, and contains less melanin. Just 10 minutes of exposure to direct or indirect sunlight can result in a burn. So, most of the essentials involve some sort of sun protection.
Here are the items we brought for our day at the beach, and (with the exception of the tent) they all fit in one bag:
1. Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 40
This sunscreen by Earth Mama provides excellent protection without harmful chemicals and is perfect for our baby’s sensitive skin. It has an EWG rating of 1, ensuring its safety and efficacy, and it’s also reef-safe, protecting both our baby and the environment.
2. Baby Tent with Anti UV Sun Protection
This pop-up tent offers excellent sun protection and a shady spot for our baby to relax. It’s super easy to set up and take down. It also comes with it’s own carrying case for easy transport.
3. Baby Sunscreen Stick
This hypoallergenic sunscreen stick from Neutrogena is easy to apply. It has an EWG rating of 1, and there’s no scent. I love that you can see where it’s been applied or not. I even use it on my face.
4. 1-Piece Zip Rash Guards Swim Suit
These rash guards provide extra sun protection and are easy to put on and take off. They come in a two-pack and have full coverage of arms, body, back of neck, and half coverage of legs. My little one can move around easily, and they are easy to take on and off as the zipper fully unzips.
5. Sunhat with neck protection
This hat from Zelda is adorable, and my baby gets so many compliments. But more importantly, this UPF 50+ sunhat offers excellent sun protection for our baby’s face and neck. It’s adjustable and fits size 6 months to 2 years, so we’ll have it for a while.
6. Disposable Swim Diapers
These eco-friendly disposable swim diapers are perfect for keeping our little one comfortable and protected in the water. Just remember, swim diapers don’t hold pee!
7. Sunscreen Facial Cream Application Brush
Fighting to put sunscreen on your baby is a battle you’ll probably lose most times. This soft, full-coverage applicator brush makes it way easier and ensures even and gentle application of sunscreen.
8. Turkish Beach Towels
These oversized, quick-dry towels are soft and absorbent. They also don’t hold sand and can even double as a blanket or sarong. I actually like them so much, I use them in our bathrooms at home, too!
9. Waterproof Wet Bag
Ideal for storing wet swimsuits and cloth diapers, this reusable bag keeps everything organized and dry. It makes post-beach clean-up a breeze, and keeps the rest of your beach bag dry.
10. Airtight Wipes Dispenser
We have a few of these dispensers, and I like them better than the cheap packaging that most wipes use (looking at you, Water Wipes). This dispenser keeps wipes moist and allows for just one to come out at a time. It’s a must-have for quick and convenient clean-ups during our beach adventures.
11. No-Spill Soft Straw Easy Grip Sippy Cup
These no-spill cups keep our baby hydrated without the mess. She learned how to drink from the straw pretty quickly, too!
12. Mexican Falsa Blanket
I much prefer Falsa blankets to towels or sheets when sitting on the beach. They are way more comfortable and tend not to blow around. They also add a touch of comfort and style to our beach setup.
13. Eco-friendly Sand Play Set
Made from eco-friendly materials, this play set provides endless entertainment for our baby. She used it to rake sand, scoop up shells, transfer sand to the bucket, and splash water.
14. Eco-Friendly Stacking Cups
I am all for toys that can be used in many different ways. Stacking toys can be used at the beach, in the bath, outside, inside, etc. These fun stacking cups are great for playtime in the sand and water. They are fun colors and numbered.
15. Beach Bag Tote Pool Bag with Cooler
I love this simple but spacious beach bag. Featuring 9 pockets, it is ideal for carrying all our essentials. It’s waterproof, sand proof, and leakproof, with a built-in cooler bag to keep drinks cool for a few hours. The multiple outside pockets also help to keep everything organized.
With the above items, we had everything we needed to make her first beach day safe and fun — without having too much stuff. Our little one was protected from the sun, comfortable, and had a ton of fun during her first seaside adventure.
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