What’s Inside My Beach Bag!

June 14, 2021

Sharing must-haves for a beach day with toddlers!

Before kids, I could pack a small backpack with sunscreen, a towel, my ipod, and maybe some cash for the snack stand. But since having kids and going with them often here in Southern California, I’ve learned the hard way that there is a lot more required for babies and toddlers. I’ve partnered with buybuyBABY, my go-to baby store to share all the items I use and love! They are my favorite place to find anything I need from skin products for the kids, diapers and wipes, baby gear, toys, clothes, and much more! In my opinion, the items I’m sharing today are what I’ve found make my life easier and make our beach days go so much smoother.

First, and most importantly is sunscreen! The worst feeling is when you spend so much time getting everyone ready and loaded in the car, and you finally get to the beach, only to realize you forgot the sunscreen. I know what that feels like, because yes I’ve had that happen before, and yes we all got fried. So to avoid that ever happening again, I keep a sunscreen in every bag. For the beach bag, I keep it already packed up and ready to go in the summer, just in case we make last minute plans or we don’t have to rush to find everything and end up forgetting something. Our family loves the SunBum brand sunscreen, and I use all their products on the fam. I love their spray to easily spray us and the kids, and their regular SPF 50 is what we always use too. I also have the face stick sunscreen to get the face and ears better. I also always keep wipes in my beach bag as well. The kids always seem to get sticky on themselves from their lunch or who-knows-what. But I rather have it cleaned off on a wipe than on their beach towels.

SUNSCREEN:

DIAPERING + WIPES:

I always keep a swimsuit in the beach bag and our pool bag as well! I’ve also drove the kids out to the beach or the pool, only to realize we forgot one of their swimsuits at home. I love the variety of cute swimsuits buybuyBABY has right now for babies and toddlers. They also have lots of SPF rash guards, which is a GREAT option for babies. Especially since it’s recommended to not put sunscreen on babies under 6 months old. So it will protect their sensitive skin without the need to apply sunscreen. I also got toddler sunglasses and this protective hat for Dane for the beach from buybuyBABY. I keep this in the beach bag at all times. It has a flap to protect his neck from getting burned, and is adjustable which is so nice.

BOY SWIMSUITS + ACCESSORIES:

GIRLS SWIMSUITS + ACCESSORIES:

There are so many options to use as a “beach bag,” and it all depends on what stage of motherhood you are in. When Dane was an infant, I preferred bringing my diaper bag backpack with me to the beach. Most of the time, I had to carry him from the car to our spot on the beach, so I needed my hands free to do that. I also highly recommend a wrap carrier if you have a newborn or infant, so you can wear them in the carrier, have your backpack with all your beach stuff, and then have your hands free for anything else you need to carry. Then you can just wrap it back up and put it away in your bag without getting sand all over it. I also love wet bags to throw in wet swimsuits and these small bags for miscellanies small items Now that both kids are able to walk with me without running off, I have been taking my large tote bag that fits a ton of stuff. I’ve used both many times, and you really can’t go wrong either way. I also always bring my Freshly Picked fanny pack. I know some people think it looks silly, but it is a game changer. I can put my phone safely in there and have it on me at all times, so it won’t get lost or stolen, or ruined in the water or sand. I also love getting down and playing with the kiddos, so I can have my hands free but have easy access to it if I need it. I also keep a small sunscreen, chapstick, hand sanitizer in there as well.

BAGS:

I will always bring refillable water bottles for the kids!!! I will bring a separate cooler with drinks and fresh fruit, but I also bring quick and handy snacks in my beach bag. I love having individual packets of easy to hand out snacks at all times! The kids love the granola bite balls from Trader Joe’s and the Kid’s Cliff Bars. So I make sure to always have those in my bag. In the cooler, I will cut up fruit such as watermelon or berries, put some apple sauce packets, cheese sticks, etc. I also have bento boxes where I will make sandwiches and lunches, and have them ready to go for the family. I love how the food doesn’t get smushed in the bento boxes, and it’s easy to have everyone’s lunches made for them when they are starving.

FEEDING PRODUCTS:

OTHER ITEMS I BRING:

*This post is sponsored by buybuyBABY, a brand I love and use. All opinions are my own.