Your One-Stop-Shop for Your Family Beach Trip Packing List Essentials.
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One of our favorite things about living in New Braunfels, TX is the proximity to the coastline. We can get to Whitecap Beach in Corpus Christi in about 2.5-3 hours from where we live. Compared to driving from Tulsa, it makes for a very reasonable day trip.
My husband and I are obsessed with the sea. Obviously. I’ve mentioned more than once in other posts about our dream of moving onto a sailboat in the next few years with our babies and traveling the world while “home”-schooling. We really can’t get enough of the water, the surf and waves, the salt in the air, the sand between our toes, the sun radiating down on us…
During our first year of marriage, we spontaneously jumped in the car and drove all night the 10 hours from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Port O’Connor, Texas to catch the sunrise over the water and soak up time at the beach. Can’t really do that with toddlers, so our new proximity as South Central Texans is absolutely ideal.
All or Nothing
With my 31st birthday right around the corner, I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than “31 Years–Fun in the Sun and Cheers!” since I’m bringing canned birthday Mimosas (what a novel idea).
Nathan and I share the quirk of having very all-or-nothing personalities. We don’t really do “in-between”. We either embrace spontaneity or have everything planned down to the most minute detail, then triple-check and cross-reference our mental lists up until the time we leave.
When traveling with toddlers, you really have to lean into the latter. Everything needs to be planned to go as smoothly as possible, and even then, nothing is guaranteed. We’re still learning through parenting how little is really ever in our control. Past that, you just kind of have to roll with it and enjoy the moments, good and bad, to the fullest.
That being said, I’ve compiled a beach trip packing list that will ensure your best shot at surviving (and enjoying) a family beach trip with toddlers. Even if things don’t go completely according to plan, these necessities will ensure you can still have a great time!
Mamasaur’s Family Beach Trip Packing List
Babo Botanicals Sun Care Products
Summary
I’ll never buy another brand of sunscreen if I can help it. I really can’t rave enough about Babo Botanicals. They have sunscreen and after sun care products that are safe and clean for the entire family and the environment that protect against both UVA and UVB rays, not to mention a diverse line of other skincare and beauty products. They have sensitive-skin specific baby sunscreen in lotion, spray, and facestick forms that make application convenient and fight-free. I’m in love with Babo for a multitude of reasons that I’ll try to keep brief.
All the reasons I LOVE Babo:
- All of their certifications! They’re a certified “B Corporation”, meaning that the Babo brand is a socially responsible one and meets the highest social and environmental impact standards in the industry. Babo believes in “sustainable cooperation with nature”. Babo Botanicals is also EWG Verified, many of its products are NSF, MadeSafe, and USDA Organic certified, and its products are all double-certified cruelty-free by PETA and the Leaping Bunny Program.
- Babo’s Environmental Impact and Outreach! Every year, Babo reduces its overall plastic use in its products and packaging, opting for 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and FSC-certified paper when it can. Babo’s sustainably sourced ingredients benefit things like koala habitats in Australia and small, Peruvian, family-owned farms.
- Babo’s suncare products are REEF SAFE! This is a huge plus for us, since we strive to be environmentally-conscious.
- My toddlers LOVE it! Nova has very sensitive skin as well as nummular eczema. This girl will even react to Honest Company’s water-based wipes (which are good wipes, we just have to use WaterWipes instead). She has never reacted to any of the Babo products. We’ve used sunscreen, moisturizing lotion, bubble bath, and shampoo/body wash products without issue. When lathering her up with lotion at bedtime, she’ll start rubbing her belly, saying “ooh, ooh, ooh”, and it’s hilarious. Orson specifically requests the lotion before getting his jammies on now, and anytime we use it on the babies before bed, their skin is ridiculously soft the next day.
MORE Skin Protection
Rash Guards for the Whole Family: Yes, it’s nice to be able to show-off your beach bod and get a tan. I’m all for it. But for extended stays at the beach, baking in that hot, radiant sun, especially for your little ones, you need to opt for the rash guard. It’s so nice, too, because you save time on Babo Botanicals sunscreen application when you aren’t having to worry about lathering up your arms. Not to be a downer, but if you don’t protect your skin with either sunscreen or convenient rash guards, you risk premature skin aging and skin cancer. Anyway, these are my favorite rash guards that my family wears and absolute must-haves on the beach trip packing list.
TSLA Men’s UPF 50+ Long Sleeve Rash Guard
Summary
It’s quick-dry, stretchy, comfortable material. They’re reasonably priced (prices vary depending on size and color), well-rated, come in 8 different colors, and range in size from XS-3XL.
Roxy Women’s UPF 50+ Long Sleeve Rash Guard
Summary
You’d think that wearing a long-sleeved anything to a beach in Texas would be a death sentence, but this rash guard is insanely comfortable, stretchy, breathable material. More than that, the way that it fits, it looks flattering. Also reasonably priced and well-rated. This comes in 22 different colors and ranges in size from XS-XXL.
Star Wars Toddler Rash Guard and Swim Trunks
Summary
Orson is a little Star Wars nerd-in-training, and, wanting to encourage that, I found this awesome 2-piece toddler swim set for him that includes a matching UPF 50+ rash guard. He’s a fan! There are 3 available styles of this set, and the sizes range from 4T to 14-16.
Green Sprouts UPF 50+Long Sleeve Baby Rash Guard
Summary
Last year, I had ordered a hot pink Charlie Banana rash guard for Nova, and it did do its job of preventing sunburn. However, the dye from the shirt bled all over everything it touched in our car. Her sunhat, our towels, etc. While it did, thankfully, wash out, I wasn’t in a hurry to buy an upsized one this year. Instead, I opted for this Green Sprouts UPF 50+ long sleeve baby rash guard, and it is adorable and fits her well! It comes in 8 colors, and ranges in size from 6mo to 4T.
Everyday I’m Guzzlin’
Next on my family beach trip packing list? LOTS of Water: Tons and tons of water. Imagine that. For the trip to and from and your stay at the beach, you need to stay hydrated. We typically take a few bottles of water with us and these are our preferred/most-used brands for travel.
Summary
I LOVE my REDUCE 50 oz tumbler, so I may have to go ahead and invest in their 40 oz for easier travel since it fits in a cup holder, but this brand has got you covered. It’s stainless steel, offers 3 different drinking options (sip, drink, or gulp), and can keep your water ice cold for up to 36 hours. It’s dishwasher safe, BPA-free, comes in 4 different colors. Plus, it’s WAY cheaper than a Yeti, but a fair competitor.
Buc-ee’s 30 oz Stainless Steel Tumbler
Summary
Nathan always opts for his 30 oz Buc-ee’s stainless steel tumbler. With its double-wall insulation, it also does a great job at keeping his water nice and chilly for extended periods of time. It even can keep ice for up to 24 hours!
Bubba Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Tumbler
Summary
Big Bubba Coen likes using his namesake “Bubba” stainless steel tumbler. It has a removable handle, holds 32 oz of water, and comes in 5 different colors.
Tommee Tippee Insulated Straw Cup for Toddlers
Summary
The toddlers use Tommee Tippee Insulated Straw Cups, but also tend to sip off of our waters as well. Since these are double-wall insulated, they do a decent job of keeping water relatively chilled for Orson and Nova. The straws are made of soft silicone, and the bottles are leak-proof, BPA, BPS, and phthalate-free.
Just a couple general water tips here. We like to take a gallon jug or two of water with us when we go to the beach. Yeah, we use it to refill our travel tumblers, but the best thing we use it for is a quick rinse as we’re loading into the car to minimize sand transfer. Then we just fill the jugs back up for our next trip. It’s the best and beats having to vacuum out the car later.
You can also opt for the XL Bathing WaterWipes for a super convenient wipe down!
Throwin’ Shade
Shade Canopy + Beach Blanket: If you want a comfortable place to sit, whether or not you have beach chairs, do yourself a favor and invest in this beach blanket. You could just spread out a beach towel or two, I guess, but you’ll have a doozy of a time shaking all of the sand out of it before using it to dry off.
Instead, this beach blanket is made of a water-resistant, sand-proof, soft, parachute-type of material. It makes for easy clean-up, and it can be folded up compactly and carried in the accompanying satchel. It comes with ground stakes or, as an alternative, you can fill the four corner pockets with sand to weigh it down.
But what good is a comfy space to sprawl out if you’re roasting in the blaze of an oppressive sun? Get this highly-rated, pop-up, beach sun shelter to complete the environment ensemble. Like the blanket, it’s very easy to transport and comes with its own carrying bag, along with ground stakes, 4 tent poles, and a small shovel for weighing down the supports with sand. It’s machine-washable and made with a stretchy spandex material that can hold up to a lot of wind. Sand-free, roast-free, beach R&R is in your future.
OCOOPA Diveblues Beach Blanket
Summary
It’s water-resistant and sand-proof, making clean-up to head home a breeze. It’s super portable, comes in fun prints and colors, and has multiple securement methods.
SUN NINJA Pop Up Beach Tent Sun Shelter
Summary
It’s highly-rated, portable, machine-washable, and it holds up really well against wind. Everything you need comes in a super lightweight carrying bag and takes up minimal space in the car.
Put a Lid on It
Sunhats + Sunglasses: Adorable and functional toddler sunwear in the spotlight here! My Irish twins have super fair complexion and platinum blonde hair. Needless to say, their sun protection needs are expansive, so I don’t just stop at the sunscreen and rash guards.
COCOSAND Kids Sunglasses with Strap
Summary
The sunglasses are lightweight yet heavy duty in their durability. The frames are flexible. The lenses are polarized, shatterproof, and block UVA/UVB rays, and the glasses come with an adjustable strap. Truth be told, they don’t always keep their shades on, since I don’t keep the securing strap attached, but they’re toddlers, so no big surprise there.
JAN & JUL Original Grow-with-Me Adjustable Cotton Sun-Hats
Summary
Even if our kids sometimes struggle to keep their shades on, these hats are always well-received accessories, especially with their fun prints. They have adjustable chin-straps to help keep them secure and a fully adjustable head drawstring to ensure the most comfortable fit. These hats are lightweight, breathable, easy to pack, and look SO CUTE on. There are 26 prints available and range in size from newborn to 12 years old!
Stash It Away (from the Sand)
Stashers: Bear with me. If you just immediately click on the links, like me, you’ll probably think “Whoa, that’s pricey for a food-storage bag”. You’re right, they are pricey. However, you have the Mamasaur here to tell you why these bad boys are absolutely worth every penny you spend on them.
- Versatility! These don’t just store food. Oh no, these are good for e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. From marinating food to microwaving it, using a sous vide or steaming veggies, Stashers have you covered. The bags are freezer, oven (up to 425F), microwave, dishwasher (top or bottom-rack) safe silicone. They can also be used to contain any small items or toiletries you have for suitcase organization during travel. If you can think it, they can do it!
- Environmental Responsibility! To date, Stasher has helped prevent 5.5 billion single-use plastic bags from entering oceans and waterways. For every purchase made, Stasher donates funds to nonprofits that benefit the planet in big ways, and so far, it’s donated roughly $1.3 million through the Stasher Gives program. Stasher’s ultimate mission is to reduce single-use plastic consumption and waste and ocean pollution.
- Stasher products are “clean”! Its bags are lead, latex, BPA, BPS, and phthalate free!
- In the context of traveling to the beach with toddlers? You need snacks! Lots of snacks. You need snacks for the car ride to and from the beach. And when you’re at the beach? You want something that’s leak-proof and SAND-proof! The locking seal on these bags is PERFECT to maintain sand-free snacks for the duration of your time on the sandy shores. You can thank me later.
Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Bag
Summary
While these are admittedly pricey, over the long term they more than make up for it with the number of zip-loc bags you won’t be buying and throwing into a landfill somewhere. Not to mention the fact that you can throw them in the dishwasher, microwave, and even the oven (up to 425F).
Caca Containment
Built-In Swim Diaper Swimsuits for Babies! Maybe it’s different a year out, but I’ve been burned before. So, early in the swim season last year, I got a couple really cute one-piece swimsuits with built-in swim diapers for Nova. Five month olds are so irresistibly chunky in all of the best ways, except for when it comes to squeezing them into a one-piece swimsuit.
Lesson learned. The ones I used ended up just being too uncomfortably tight around her midsection and glorious thighs. Now, I’m all about the convenience of the two-piece reusable swim diaper and rash guard combo, and it works! I have two brands that I really prefer.
Both of these have an adorable selection of prints and sizes up to 4T or 44lbs/20kg. They are both easy on-easy off, they don’t swell when wet, they’re environmentally-friendly, and save SO much money as opposed to buying single-use disposable swim diapers. They are snug-fit, but not restrictively, cut-into-your-belly snug, and I highly recommend.
Charlie Banana Reusable Swim Diaper with Snaps
Summary
I love the current print options these have, and they’re slightly cheaper than my alternative pick. These have snaps on both sides which makes for easier access but really comes down to preference.
i play. Baby-Girls Snap Reusable Absorbent Swimsuit Diaper
Summary
While the style options are a bit more limited, these work well. For you it may come down to your preference of prints and whether you like having snaps on one side as these do.
Toddler Toys You Can Enjoy
Eco-Friendly Beach Toy Sets: Look no further than LoveLotte or Green Toys for your beach toy needs. Of course, you could be that person and opt for those mega-packs of super cheap, flimsy, plastic toys that crack and splinter after an hour in the sun and the half of which get left on the shoreline. Don’t be that person. These aren’t the cheapest toys, but they are the highest quality. You don’t get as many, but the ones you do get are built to last and safe for the environment. Let’s go into what makes these toys so impressive.
First Place Goes To…
LoveLotte Eco Beach Toy Set. Nathan could tell you himself that when I saw this set and wanted to buy it, even he was on the fence about it because of the price. The set consists of a bucket, a shovel, a rake, and a flat trowel. But here’s the win here. Beyond the feel, look, and obvious high-quality of this minimalist set right out of the box, it’s made out of BIODEGRADABLE natural bamboo fiber and USA-grown cornstarch.
What does this mean exactly? This set was built to last…unless it’s left buried in the sand or lost in the water. Due to the natural elements, this sand toy set will actually break down in roughly 12 months into harmless organic matter. No negative environmental impact at all. Our toddlers love them. Nathan and I love them (and feel good about the purchase).
Check out the Amazon reviews and see the sheer multitudes of people who feel the same exact way. These are sold from a small family business that donates to Plastic Oceans from the profits that they make from these sales. This beach toy set sells for about $45, and I assure you, it’s worth it. You won’t be disappointed.
And The Runner-Up…
If you really just can’t justify the LoveLotte price tag, but still want to buy a toy set that is environmentally conscious, Green Toys offers a fair runner-up. We love Green Toys products in this house and have always been impressed by the quality and durability of its toys. The USA-made Green Toys Sand Play Set is BPA, phthalate, and PVC free. It’s even dishwasher safe!
It’s sturdy, durable, and smooth, but the best thing is that it’s made out of recycled plastic. Plastic recycled from plastic found in the ocean. So worst case, you forget it at the beach, it’s swept out into the water, it’s kind of a zero-sum game, isn’t it? But, really, don’t forget your toys at the beach.
LoveLotte Eco Beach Toy Set for Toddlers & Kids
Summary
We were skeptical when first getting these because of the price, but we wanted a solid option that wouldn’t have a million plastic pieces and was eco-friendly. Once we got them in hand we knew we’d made the right choice. They look and feel great and while they’ll degrade in 12 months if lost on the beach, they’re durable enough to pass on to the grandkids.
Summary
While this isn’t as eco-friendly as you can get, and it’s not biodegradable, it is made from recycled plastic. It’s a super durable, sturdy play set, and definitely won’t crack or splinter out in the heat. It’s a great minimalist set that encourages more imaginative play.
Toddler Transportation
Evenflo All-Terrain Stroller Wagon: Awh yiss, our “Hell-wagon”. Don’t let the charming moniker fool you; we love this beast! We only call it that because we won it by guessing 666 in a 1-1000 number guessing contest. Before you start hating on us, it was Halloween, guys! Jesus still loves us!
Anyway, this stroller-wagon gets used virtually every single day. It’s held up exceptionally well, no matter the terrain, for over a year and a half now. It’s spacious, adaptable depending on the age of your babies, and has an attachable basket for hauling any number of necessities. For example, I love putting the babies’ TWELVElittle on-the-go diaper backpack in there during zoo trips so that I don’t have to carry it.
This wagon also comes with UPF 50+ canopy shades to protect your littles from too much sun exposure. It’s also a nice plus that in the inefficiently-designed trunk space that our Ford Fusion Hybrid has, I’m still able to load it up easily by myself. Built to fit 2 children (both weighing up to 55lbs), you can push OR pull this wagon through the sand easily to find your perfect beach set-up spot!
Evenflo Pivot Xplore All-Terrain Stroller Wagon
Summary
We use this beast everyday. Whether we’re carting the kids around the zoo, going for a neighborhood stroll, or scouting out the perfect beach spot, being able to use this as an all-terrain stroller or wagon makes it easy to get where we need to go.
TWELVElittle Midi Go Diaperbag Backpack with Changing Pad
Summary
This bag goes everywhere with us and has held up extremely well. It comes in several stylish options and even has a matching changing pad for the diaper emergencies on the the go.
Lights, Camera, Action
A Camera to Capture All of the Special Family Memories! While having the fancy DSLR camera on hand is always ideal for a photoshoot, it’s not always a practical option. Enter the GoPro Max. We always make sure to bring this along for any family adventure, but especially for family beach days!
This camera is rugged. It’s actually waterproof up to 16ft. It can film 360 video in 6K. We’ve caught awesome, crystal-clear footage with this camera of me grabbing Nova to avoid a Portuguese manowar. As well as a 360 recording of the DisneyWorld teacup ride (that was a wild replay).
Because of its ability to shoot in all directions simultaneously, it makes it far less likely we’ll miss the toddlers doing something cute. It’s versatile, and with its different shooting modes, it’s like buying 3 cameras in one compact, tiny, little package.
I’m also collecting memories for Orson and Nova’s “first 5 years” scrapbooks and Coen’s cookbook/scrapbook. So we bring along our Instax as well. It captures fun, nostalgic polaroids that are perfect for preserving a piece of time in a cherished memory book or photo album. I just suggest keeping it in a safe place out of the sand. Like sealed up in a Stasher. You’re welcome.
Summary
While the image quality isn’t quite as good as you might get shooting with a mirrorless camera, the ability to capture every direction at once means you don’t have to worry about where you’re pointing it and can focus on having fun knowing you’ve captured the moment.
Summary
While you could certainly take pictures with your phone and have them printed out later, there’s a certain magic and instant gratification in capturing something direct to film and having it right there in your hand. The Instax Mini makes it fun and easy and looks great doing it!
Wrapping Up this Family Beach Trip Packing List
That concludes my family beach trip packing list! If you made it this far, thanks for sticking around for my unsolicited opinion. I wasn’t, in any way, paid or recompensed for my reviews. However, if you’d like to support my site and see more content like this, all of the products I’ve listed have affiliate links attached.
I believe in these products. Enough that I want to share the love and point you in these companies’ directions. Did anything catch your eye on my family beach trip packing list? Did you buy anything I mentioned to ensure the best beach getaway with your babies? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!