15 Best Tips for Successful Beach Trips with Kids

Any links in this post to a merchant may contain an affiliate link, which means that if you click on that link and then buy something, I may earn a commission from it.  However, all opinions in this link are 100% mine and 100% honest.  If I didn't believe in a particular product, I wouldn't recommend it to you.

Beach trips can be a lot of fun for families. But, spending the day at the beach can be challenging when you have kids, especially if your kids are babies or toddlers. So, to make your family’s days of sun and sand easier, I’ve rounded up 15 of the best tips for successful beach trips with kids.

1.  Get there early.

Let’s face it: everyone loves going to the beach when it’s warm out. This means the beach can get crowded.

You don’t want to drag your kids and stuff all over the beach looking for a spot to set up camp. You also don’t want to be stuck sitting uncomfortably close to other people.

So, do yourself a favor and get there early. This will, as What Moms Love points out, allow you to lay claim to a prime spot of sand. It will also help you to get a better parking spot.

2.  Spread your stuff out.

If you get there early, you will have lots of space to yourself, at least for a while. Take advantage of this situation and spread out. This will help you keep more space later in the day when it gets crowded.

Put your beach toys out in front of your blanket. Place your cooler and/or wagon behind your chairs. Spread your chairs further apart than you normally would put them.

Both Army Wife to Suburban Life and What Moms Love recommend this strategy to prevent others from sitting right on top of you and to give your kids some room to play as the day goes on.

3.  Bring water shoes for your little ones.

Next on my list of the best tips for successful beach trips with kids is to pack water shoes for your little ones to wear.

They will protect their feet from hot sand, rocks, and any critters they might step on while in the water. They will make the day so much better for you and your kids!

4.  Use a sponge lei to cool off.

Donella at One Crazy House has one of the most creative ideas for keeping cool that I’ve ever seen! She recommends using a sponge lei to help beat the heat!

Cut a kitchen sponge into shapes, and then thread them onto a string. After soaking the sponge pieces, give the lei to your child to wear. It will serve as a cooling device while being a fun necklace to wear!

I love this idea!

5.  Bring a baby pool.

If you have babies or toddlers, take an inflatable baby pool with you to the beach. Devon over at Mama Cheaps declares it to be the best tool for keeping young children entertained at the beach!

You can either fill it with water for a baby-friendly swimming experience, or you can add some sand and sand toys for your little ones to enjoy while having a buffer between them and other people.

6.  Use bath toys instead of beach toys.

No one wants to spend a fortune for a day at the beach. And, according to Passion for Savings, you can save some money by bringing bath toys, cups, and bowls to play with in the sand instead of buying beach toys.

Not only will you save money with this idea, but you already know which bath toys your kids like to play with! If your kids have a play kitchen, take some of the sturdier dishes from their play set! These make great alternative sand toys.

Donella at One Crazy House recommends using old measuring cups, spatulas, and even paint brushes for building sand castles! Great idea!

7.  Bring a fitted sheet.

One of the most creative tips for successful beach trips with kids is to bring a fitted sheet. Now, this may seem like odd, but it can be quite handy.

If your baby is tempted to eat sand, or if you just want a sand-free spot for them to play, use a fitted sheet anchored with heavy coolers or bags at the corners to create a sand-free baby zone.

Deidre at Team Johnson and her sister came up with this great idea.

8.  Bring an umbrella and/or tent.

If you are going to spend all day at the beach, you need some shade, especially if you have kids.

Devon at Mama Cheaps prefers a simple tent for her shade. A tent also gives your kids a quiet place to get away from people and take a nap.

She recommends looking for one that is easy to set up! No need to make things harder on yourself!

If you prefer to use an umbrella instead, be sure to keep it in place with a sand anchor, as suggested by What Moms Love.

9.  Don’t forget the hats!

Next on this list of the best tips for successful tips with kids is to bring hats for your kids. They will keep your kids’ faces out of the sun while they play.

For the most sun protection, use hats with large brims. What Moms Love prefers those with full UV protection.

10.  Put your snacks in small containers.

While your kids may not care whether their snacks are a little sandy, you probably don’t want to eat sand. To keep your snacks sand-free, either bring individual size snacks or pack your food in small containers.

Jessica at Suitcases and Sippy Cups likes to use small disposable containers at the beach. For more ideas on the best snacks and food storage at the beach, see my food tips for beach trips.

11.  Bring some baby powder.

Jamielyn at iheartnaptime.net says you should pack some baby powder in your beach bag to use on your kids at the end of the day. This is because it is great to get sand off of wet skin. 

This will help keep the sand on the beach and out of your car! How awesome is that!?!?

12.  Use a mesh laundry bag.

To help keep that stubborn sand out of the car, carry your sand toys in a mesh laundry bag. Amy at The Idea Room uses this and it works great.

It allows any stray sand to fall out of the bag while you walk back to the car.

13.  Don’t forget the ziploc bags!

Ziploc bags may be the greatest thing ever invented. They are a must-have for anyone traveling, regardless of the destination. They are also pretty great for the beach, as Devon from Mama Cheaps can testify to.

As she points out, they are waterproof, so they are the perfect place to store everything from food to diapers. Plus, you can use one to store your keys, phone, and money.

14. Bring a dry set of clothes

While this may sound obvious, you would be amazed at how many people forget this: pack a dry set of clothes to change into before heading home.

A lot of times, we tend to dress our kids in swimsuits before heading to the beach. The problem with this is that at the end of the day, they are wet. And you don’t want to get your car seats wet.

So, don’t forget to throw in some dry clothes to put on at the end of the day.

15. Pack an extra towel

Like ziploc bags, beach towels have a ton of uses. From drying off to providing shade to acting as a cover up, they are very versatile. But usually, we only pack one towel per person.

I suggest packing an extra towel. You will be glad you have it when you need it.

One time, we got caught in a downpour at the beach. By the time we got back to the car, everything was soaked! I was happy to have an extra towel in the car to dry things off.

Conclusion

These are the best tips for successful beach trips with kids. I know they will make your next day at the beach better than ever!  

For more tips for your beach trips, see what to pack for the day at the beach and safety tips for beach trips. And check out my complete guide to happy travel with kids.

For a fun beach getaway, check out the Texas SandFest.

Happy travels!