We just got back from a week at the beach with our three-year-old and two-month-old. Taking your little ones to the beach or pool is always fun and great for making memories. However, it also comes with the challenge of ensuring their safety and comfort amidst the sun, sand and waves. Whether you’re planning a sunny beach day or a relaxing poolside retreat, having the right gear can make all the difference.
In this post, I’ll dive into the must-have beach and pool essentials for babies and toddlers. This is everything we took to the beach and a few things I wish we had taken.
Read on to discover how to transform your next aquatic outing into a memorable and stress-free experience. Let’s make every splash count with these top beach and pool essentials for your youngest adventurers!
Beach Essentials For Babies and Toddlers
Baby Lounger – This is technically a bather for the tub, but it also makes a PERFECT baby lounge chair.
DEET Free Bug Spray – We’ve used lots of different mosquito repellents. Ben and I are both allergic to mosquitoes, so nothing is perfect, but this one seems to be working the best. I like that it isn’t greasy.
Rear-Facing Car Fan – It is hot as Hades outside right now. If you don’t have ceiling vents in your car but have a baby in a rear-facing car seat, you need this fan.
Beach Tent – We used this tent on the beach. Stephen says it’s easy to put up and take down. It folds up and fits into a bag which was the appeal for us. We were LOADED DOWN with stuff for this trip, so we needed something that wouldn’t take up a lot of room. It definitely kept us cool and shaded all week.
Pop-Up Travel Potty – Ben is potty training. This travel potty pops up and down, so it is very small in terms of packing. It has little bags that line the potty so you can just throw them away once your child uses it. Ben used it every single day on the beach.
Baby Swimsuit and Matching Hat – Guy has the sea creature print and the dinosaur print. He was so stinking cute all week!
Stroller Fan – A must. It attaches to a stroller, but the flexible lets allow it to attach to other things as well. We take this fan everywhere.
Baby Dome – Another must. This dome protects babies from bugs and sun. Guy spent so much time in the dome and Ben used it when he was a baby too. They both were able to take naps and stay cool and protected inside.
Baby Sun Hat – A hat protects babies from the sun and also makes them look so adorable. So it’s a win-win.
Baby Sunglasses – See above. 🙂
Pool Toys – Ben loves wind-up pool toys that swim.
Baby Sunscreen – We have used this sunscreen for years. Guy is too little for sunscreen, but once he can wear it too, we will use it for him.
Baby Pool Float – Ben used this for two years. He loved floating around in this float. Guy is too little, but we are looking forward to when he can use it too. This float keeps babies shaded and safe, just always remember to have an adult supervising.
Coast Guard Certified Life Vest – Ben can’t swim yet, but felt very comfortable in his life vest in the pool. We started practicing swimming and he was kicking and using his arms, but felt safe while learning.
