10 Baby Beach Essentials

Beach weather is the best weather! Having an infant shouldn’t stop you from going to the beach as long as you take some precautions to ensure a successful first trip with your new baby.

The American Pediatric Association recommends that babies be kept away from direct sunlight until 6 months of age. With that being said there are steps you can take in order to ensure your baby stays cool and safe in the heat.

10 BABY BEACH ESSENTIALS:

Beach Umbrella: This is an obvious choice since it will keep your family and infant protected from the sun. The example I added is a basic example but you can get as elaborate as you’d like. I like that a lot of beaches rent out umbrellas and chairs which means you don’t have to carry as much with you.

Sun Protection bathing suit: Not only is this bathing suit adorable but it is also 50+ Sunproof. It is not recommended to put sunblock/sunscreen on an infant younger than 6 months so this is good protection for your little one. Even now that our daughter is older than 6 months, I don’t like the idea of putting sunblock all over her so I try to keep this to a minimum by having her in the shade with long sleeves.

Sunblock: As I mentioned above, I like to keep sunblock to a minimum by covering up a large part of her body to shield it from the sun. When we do use sunblock, we try to stick with sunscreen/sunblock with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as active ingredients since they are non-toxic and mineral based.

Sun Protection Hat: I like this hat because it’s good from 0-6 months and 6-12 months. Surprisingly it grows with our baby since it has adjustable straps that adjust to your baby’s head.

Sunglasses: I guess this is a matter of personal preference. I find a lot of discomfort in being outside in the bright sun. So I’m sure our baby appreciated these sunnies. Our daughter didn’t fight them off at all so I assume they are comfortable. They stayed on while we enjoyed some family beach time, I defeinetly recommend them.

Battery operated fan: Ok, this my sound a little diva (ish) but this is a life saver. This is a good way to keep your baby cool and avoid any fussyness from getting too hot.

Swimming Diapers: This help by absorbing messes without swelling. As you may have read from another post, we switched to Huggies. I was happy to see they also make disposable swimming diapers.

IcePacks: This is helpful if you are looking to keep breast milk or water for formula cool.

Shaded inflatable baby pool: As babies get older this is another good way to keep them cool and in a fun shaded area.

Beach Toys: Last but not least toys! This will vary with age but even at 6 months our daughter still had fun “building a castle” and playing in the sand.

These are some of the things that have made our trips to the beach more manageable. If you are traveling to a beach destination feel free to check out tips for flying with a baby.

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