Family beach vacations are a great choice for family vacation, and packing the right things can make the trip smooth with your toddler.
We take a lot of road trips with our family of 6, and we often take spontaneous trips. The way to pack for these trips quickly is to pack in categories!
Packing Categories
Clothes
Hygiene
Entertainment
Snacks
Use this packing template to keep a list of things that you need every time you leave and keep it handy.
I am admittedly an overpacker. I like to have everything I might need, but if you are more of a minimalist this list will give you ideas, but choose what you know your family uses and will appreciate.
If you are traveling using public transit or flying to your beach vacation your list will be shorter. I have a short and sweet list for families flying or traveling by train or bus.
Toddler Beach Vacation Must Haves:
Essentials
Start with the essentials:
- 2 Bathing Suits
- Towels
- Swim Diapers
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Puddle Jumper/Life Vest
- Water Bottle
- Sunglasses
- Beach Umbrella with Anchor
- Cooler Lunch Box
- Drinks
This is the bare basics to get out the door. We all know that there are a lot of other things that you will need for a vacation.
Clothes
You will need more outfits than you would at home.
I recommend 2 outfits a day for kids under 12 months, and 3 extra outfits per week for kids 1-3. If you will be spending every day on the beach, consider 2 outfits a day for everyone.
Be sure to include:
A Light Jacket
A Long Sleeve Option
One Restaurant Outfit
Socks
Extra Shoes
Water Shoes
I was not sure where to include water shoes, but they can be a great idea to keep little feet safe. They are an essential for some families and totally optional for others.
These things will make life easier and keep everyone more comfortable.
Hygiene
Be sure to pack the soaps and detergents that you use at home to avoid an unexpected allergic reaction to new products.
Diapers
Pack enough diapers for the trip and the first few days, most places will have a few stores where you can buy your normal brand, but international travel may require you to pack all the diapers with you.
Be sure to include wipes. Pack twice as much as you usually use because baby wipes come in handy for lots of things when you are traveling.
Bath Stuff
Baby Shampoo
Baby Lotion
Diaper Rash Cream
Bath Soap
Bath Towels (if you use the soft baby towels at home)
First Aid Kit
Always carry a simple first aid kit!
I like to have bandaids, antibiotic ointment, burn cream, anti itch, children’s pain relief and aspirin.
The aspirin is not for the kids, if an adult is having a cardiac event an aspirin can save their lives. I always carry an aspirin in case we can use it to save a life.
The bandaids get the most use and the itch cream helps with some uncomfortable moments on vacation.
This kit on Amazon is a great little kit for the car, and it has what you need. We have this one and we keep it in the van door.
This mini kit is a good one for the baby bag, or just grab what you need from the big kit and put it in a ziploc in the bag.
Entertainment
I like to have some toys from home and some new beach toys packed.
You know your kids best, so pack what you think will entertain them and keep them engaged during down time.
Toys From Home
Your toddler will be comforted by toys and activities from home.
Get a few small bags and pack 2-3 small bags of toys and books. If you find yourself needing a few moments get out a new bag.
I like to rotate the toys each day to keep it fresh.
Some favorites in my house:
Board Books
Fisher Price Little People
Cars
Interlocking Blocks
Notebooks and Pencils
Blocks
Magnet Tiles
Electronic Drawing Board
Choose a few toys that your little one loves and pack them away.
The excitement of new beach toys is great for some kids and uninteresting for others.
I have a 3 year old who could play in sand for hours uninterrupted, a sifter and cup are all she wants. Pure bliss.
Sand Toys
The best time to get sand toys is when you are at home before you depart, you can shop around and get the best deal, but there will be toys available at any beach you visit.
My kids love:
Trucks and Tractors
Sand Castle Forms
Sifters
Shovels
Cups
These toys are really great and they can be used at a home sandbox too.
Recommended Toddler Beach Gear
I am a gear girl and I love a good gadget to make adventuring with kids easier. Here are my favorites that we use all the time.
Car Vacuum
Sand is a constant battle whenever you visit the beach. I love, love, love my portable car vacuum. I actually have 2, but the Baseus Handheld Vacuum gets the most use in our car and on trips.
The vacuum is the size of a water bottle and charges with a normal phone charger. It is so perfect for vacuuming our car seats or cleaning up small messes to keep everything nice and neat.
I love to keep it in my baby bag.
This is such a good investment for families who travel because there are just a million times when I want to be able to clean up.
Portable Oven/ Food Warmer
We also love our Hot Logic and Sabot Heat.
This is just a small soft sided lunch box with a hot plate in the bottom. It can be plugged into the car outlet to cook or warm homemade food.
They fit the rectangle Pyrex containers and it is just super convenient to be able to warm up food on the go.
I have a bunch of ideas for meals in the Hot Logic in the linked post.
Inflatable Pool
A small inflatable pool is a great investment for a beach trip.
I have not used one, but my sister has loved hers on her multiple beach trips with her kids.
A pool gives the baby a safer place to splash around. Monitor the temperature of the water in the pool as it might heat up quickly.
I also love a small inflatable pool to make a bath in the bottom of a shower. This is an great trick families use when there is no tub for the baby. It packs so small and it is just a really versatile thing to throw in the bag.
Packing List for Flying to the Beach With a Toddler
If you have to pack light for your beach vacation here is your list:
- Swimsuits
- Swim Diapers
- Sunscreen
- Sun Hat
- Water Shoes
I recommend that you pack these things in a brightly colored zipper bag or mesh backpack so that you can easily grab your beach stuff and head to the water.
A mesh bag is a great way to carry your stuff on the beach as it allows the sand to leave the bag and is a good way to carry wet items too!
I like this mesh beach bag on Amazon, it is affordable and available in many colors. You could also go with a mesh backpack that can be a great beach baby bag.
When flying to the beach, plan to rent an umbrella and beach chairs.
You can purchase some toys at a discount store or skip the plastic and spend time enjoying beach treasures, you can use your mesh bag to collect stones, shells or other nature finds.
We just spent a day at the lake and the new environment was really
Beach Trip With A Toddler
Ok mama, the trip is going to be great.
Maybe it is just me, but having small kids around the water is very stressful. I feel a lot better when there are 2 adults watching the babies with me.
Check in with your partner about water safety, what are they thinking and what are they expecting?
Keep pool doors and gates locked, always wear water safety gear, always supervise your child when they are close to the water.
Be sure to communicate clearly when sharing supervision duties so that someone is always in charge.
Pack all the things that make you safe and comfortable around the water.
