What are your must-haves for going to the beach with littles? I'm putting together a beach-themed gift basket, and I also have a 12 month old...last year she just sat on the towel. I'm looking forward to this summer!
Links appreciated! WOH mama/Amazon Prime addict here!
pear / 1718 posts
We love the Sport-Brella (so cheesy!): http://www.amazon.com/Sport-Brella-X-Large-Umbrella-Steel-Blue/dp/B003DJ4FEM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1456363612&sr=8-2&keywords=sportbrella
A good ole full/queen size bed sheet is our go-to for putting under the umbrella.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
Some kind of SPF sun tent with a bottom and mesh opening.
Mineral based sun screen
SPF zipper rash guard
Sun hat
Flip flops
A FOOGO thermos that will keep water cold extra long
Put everything in a big Beach pail with beach toys
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
My kids never sat in the tent so a good floppy hat that could be worn in the water was key. Iplay has good ones.
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
This is my go to gift lately, I just love it - my toddler can run to the ocean, fill it up with water, and bring it back to the sand without spilling. It's really well built and a neat design.
Quut Ballo Beach Toy, Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GR86VR0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_8hMZwbX95AT41
nectarine / 2115 posts
Baby powder! Dust it onto sandy body parts and the sand comes off MUCH easier!
nectarine / 2085 posts
I take hats, sunglasses, rash guards, a change of clothes (left in the car), water, maybe a snack, 2 towels (one to the beach and one stays in the car for brushing off the last of the sand), goggles, sometimes flippers, and sunscreen. For toddlers and early swimmers, I bring a vest-type life vest.
I don't take toys. It's too easy to lose them and since we're regular beach-goers, we pick up and recycle forgotten toys all the time. I think it's better to let children play with the sand/shells/leaves/water/rocks and leave the plastic stuff at home.
I agree with @T.H.O.U.: about hats over tents/umbrellas. If your child is walking, the tent/umbrella is very unlikely to be used enough to justify carrying it.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@Charm54: I just ordered one of those water balls for my son and one for my nephew! Thanks!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@Charm54: that's sooo cool!!!
I only suggested the tent because she said this is for a gift basket. I'd assume for a new mom to be. 
honeydew / 7463 posts
I would disagree with @honeybear: about toys and tent (not in a let's duke it out kind of way. Haha. But I've just had different experiences and it probably just depends on your kids personality).
We have a beach house that we basically live at in the summer. We definitely need some kind of tent or umbrella. My son is super pale and sensitive so even with tons of sunscreen, an spf 50 long sleeve rash guard and a hat, he still burns if left in the sun for long enough. I give him beach toys like a shovel and a bucket (really that's it) he will sit under the umbrella/tent for large chunks at a time. I mean for a toddler 
so like 15-20 mins. Then he'll want to walk and explore but because of his skin I try to lure him back to the umbrella with more toys. So that's just a different perspective. You know your kid best - mine happens to like plastic colorful toys and burns easily Oh and if he sees kids with toys he'll just want them. He's not old enough yet to understand that they aren't his.
My list:
- also like sportbrella or anything that you can pop open and install easily. Best if 2 adults are present.
- simple beach toys (bucket, shovel, sifter, etc)
- sheet
- 2 beach towels per person/child
- baby powder to help get sand off. (It also helps after haircuts!)
- foogo thermos IS amazing! Have left milk in sun all day by accident and it's still freezing.
- LOVE the PackIt cooler bag for cold snacks/fruit. The whole lining is that gel that you freeze. So you put the whole bag in the freezer then right before you leave load it up. Instead of one little frozen packet everything is surrounded by cold. I have traveled full days with it and everything is still very cold at the end of the day.
http://www.amazon.com/PackIt-Freezable-Lunch-Bag-Polka/dp/B0049CVWCK#mobile-twister_color_name_1456403765611
- floppy hat
- like babyganics sunscreen a lot. The tube, not spray. It goes on nicely.
- lots of extra swim diapers and regular diapers.
- dry clothes for LO
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
The sportbrella is Amazon deal of the day! I actually bought it last summer for a theme park day but it came late. So when it arrived I sent it back for a refund. Glad to have it now for this summer.
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