What do you take to the beach/any beach tips?

[ThisSereneZebra]

Just as the title says really. My parents live about 10 minutes walk from the beach, it’s not touristy so no shops or cafes but it is very lovely. I took my 1 and 3 year old the other day and it was a bit of a disaster! They dropped clothes on wet sand so nothing to wear, I brought a towel but kept falling off (need to get a hooded one) and not enough snacks. Forgot rock shoes, forgot something to sit on. Child constantly complaining about sand everywhere.

It just made me think I need to get some bits (proper waterproof picnic blanket/hooded towels/maybe a shade tent) and I wondered what other people do. Any must haves? How do you take enough but not too much? I’m also considering one of the wagons to put things in as I am inevitably carrying at least one child.

I live by the beach and so keep a stash of beach bits in the boot of my car - swimmers, blanket, beach shoes or crocs, suncream, spare clothes. I’ve also got collapsible buckets from Temu and a couple of spades.

Baby powder to get the sand off damp feet and legs. I believe you can get powder specially designed for this now, but a small bottle of ordinary baby powder will do just as well.

Decathalon is great for hooded towels. I got myself a poncho style one a few years ago and it's a game changer as I can throw it on after swimming outdoors to quickly warm up, and it's big enough to get changed under so I've used it in communal changing rooms for privacy too.

We live on the waterfront so the beach is across the road from us and we spend a lot of time there.

We wear crocs (or wellies in the winter!). But assuming you’re talking about warm weather it’s crocs. We don’t bring much. I carry a rucksack with a change of clothes for my 3 year old, and a hooded poncho towel. In the height of summer I’ll bring his swim shorts. A packed lunch/snacks and a bottle of water each. I also have a waterproof bag that wet clothes can go into before putting in the rucksack. I carry talc to help with drying off before changing clothes. Sun hat, sun cream, water wipes…

That’s about it. Usually hang a light bucket and spade from a carabiner on my rucksack and if he wants to bring any other toys he carries them in his own little rucksack.

This is based on family trips to the beach, but my kids are older (13 and 9). I am sure there are lots of cheap/free options that others will come up with, but here is my advice!

If you want to get organised, firstly buy a beach cart - they are great. We then have a tent for shade, and beach chairs for the adults and picnic mat for the kids. We have wetsuits (decathlon) and beach shoes. We then have a picnic bag for food and drinks. Good tips are pegs (we dry stuff by pegging it on the tent), ponchos for the kids and taking a couple of spare plastic bags for wet stuff, rubbish etc. All the normal stuff too - suncream, hats etc. I would also recommend talc for getting the sand off and crocs for getting to and from the beach.
I won't lie, we are have invested in our beach stuff and there is quite a bit (we even have a blow up paddle board!) but it makes the day so much more fun.

We spend a lot of time at the beach year round.

I take a complete change of clothes for everyone. Plus put them in crocs. Towels. Body board for older one, truck, bucket and spade for younger one. Suncream.

Older one likes to wear a wetsuit, so she has to carry it if she wants it. Younger one happy in swim suit.

Lunch/snacks and drinks. Carrier bag for taking rubbish home in so doesn’t leak all over my bag.

I don’t bring picnic rug because it just gets covered in sand. All our beaches have rocks to sit on, so we sit on the rocks or dc sit in the sand. Don’t bring a wind break or tent or any of that stuff. If it’s truly like 25c, I’d probably avoid the beach altogether, but if I felt we needed shade, I’d bring a parasol.

If you need to put shoes/socks on to walk home, and there isn’t a tap for foot washing, I fill a 2 litre bottle with water to wash feet off before we walk back or get in the car.

Oh just remembered, I also take a bum bag or similar - not fashionable but good for popping your phone, keys and money in if you all want to go down to the sea and leave your stuff behind.

Beach is very difficult with toddlers...just as much work as being with toddlers anywhere but with the added worry of drowning. It's not fun.

I have an Ikea bag that I keep beach stuff in, ready to take. In it, I keep
picnic rug
shoes/flip flops
spades, buckets, moulds for sand castles
Aqua blasters (for moats usually)
beach ball
hats
beach towels

Always have a change of clothes in the car...even if you also have one that you take to the beach.
Paddling in our family usually means, ooops I accidentally got really wet. DS2 regularly gets his wellies full of water.
Take snacks. The beach makes kids hungry.

Perfect! Thank you all. This weekend I’m going to pick up some rock shoes and poncho towels. Crocs are a great shout and we have some in the hand me down box so I’ll get those out.
I’m going to make a ‘beach bag’ at my mums or in car to keep separate supplies in (suncream etc) so I’m less likely to forget things or run out. And baby powder!

I always found the idea of the beach with young children was much more fun that the reality.
They're too hot or too cold, want to go in the sea then want to get out after 5 minutes then back in, they're thirsty or hungry or need the toilet etc

Our must have was a pop up tent, they are great for shade, shelter from wind, getting changed in, naps and generally perfect for keeping all your stuff together.
You fetch them out of their little carry bag, let go and they ping up into shape.

Drowning? This has literally never crossed my mind. How deep in the water are you going with a toddler?

We have the best times at the beach with our 3 year old. It’s our favourite place to be and we spend most days at the beach in the summer. A toddler at the beach is much more fun to be around that one cooped up at home. Kids and water is always a great combination.

I actually think beaches are really dangerous for young children... Or maybe I'm just anxious? But particularly when they're very busy. You cannot take your eyes off them for a single moment...a small child can disappear in the time it takes to fish something out your handbag...then in a crowd, you can struggle to locate them. Or perhaps I'm just an over thinker! I think one child is not so bad, but two or more , it's harder to watch them, especially you're on your own with them. I never found it enjoyable being on a beach with my dc when they were young. I was just on high alert

We’re not thinking of the same beaches 😂 I’m talking about remote Scottish beaches. I don’t think I would go to a beach that was so busy I couldn’t have eyes on my child. That doesn’t sound fun.

Why would you be taking your eyes off a toddler anywhere? I don’t take my eyes off kids much older tbh when they’re in the water!

Put beach mat into Amazon and you will find a massive one that sand doesn’t stick to with pegs. Little pop up tents are good for the kids to sit in and eat.

Bento/snack boxes.
Windbreak
camping chairs

@Comedycookis talking about beaches that are so busy you can quickly lose sight of your child in the crowd

Yes it must be completely different...I'm down south and the beaches near me are absolutely rammed on nice days

A large fitted bed sheet, put stuff in each of the 4 corners creating a wall, then a bucket of water for sandy feet to be dipped before they are allowed to step over fitted sheet wall, thus keeping sand out. I haven’t actually tried this, I saw the idea and thought it would be worth a try.

we live near a beach - so never go for a day...

but we take a small watering can (to rinse off sand before getting back to the bikes).
don't bothe with shoes (unless driving).
when hot freeze water bottles filled half way, fill up with more water. they will stay cold for ages.

Ah. No crowds here

stuff others have said. Plus cotton jumpers for the evening sun (best time - when you’re tired out, skin warm from the sun and the sun starts setting)

I can’t be doing with sandy picnics or the prep! Get ice creams at a beach cafe and chips on the way home.

Drowning? This has literally never crossed my mind. How deep in the water are you going with a toddler?

@Yourethebeerthief small kids can drown in a few inches of water - capt.org.uk/mum-issues-warning-after-toddler-almost-drowns/

I know that. It still wouldn’t occur to me as a concern at the beach. But @Comedycookhas explained what the beaches near her are like and they sound miserable even without the worry about drowning anyway.

We keep a bag ready in the garage to grab and go to the beach once it gets to this time of year. It has:
2 large towels
waterproof picnic blanket
buckets and spades
a spare outfit per child
suncream

then we just need swimsuits if it’s warm enough and sun hats and drinks/snacks

Also take a carrier bag for rubbish or wet stuff.

We live about 40minutes from a beach you can drive on to- children love the beach.

• picnic bag- with loads of snacks. ( sometimes there an icecream van sometimes not)
• juice
• camp chairs ( folding)

(don't really bother with blankets on beach but there's always one in boot just incase we have an impromptu picnic)

• buckets and spades
• chsnge of clothes ( for everyone including me)
• potty ( nappies and nappy packs for taking poos home! lol)
• Sun cream
• Sun hats

-swim clothes

• we normally play in clothes- leave water to its nearly home time as once they get wet they get cold. ( not over warm up here)
• baby powder for taking sand off
• plastic bag for all wet clothes

Hoover when you get home for removing all sand....lol