Toddler Beach Hacks You’ll Want to Know Before Your Trip
When we got back from a recent beach trip with my 7 year old and my 2 year old, I was reminded of all the toddler beach hacks that can come in handy.
My two girls couldn’t be more opposite in some ways. But when it comes to beach hacks for the toddler years, some things are just universal!
Things like using baby powder to remove sand (have you every tried this magic??) and freezing water bottles the night before (it provides a cooling element for the food in your cooler AND cold water to drink throughout the day!).
Not everything I brought worked or was a hit, but I was so grateful to be over prepared and to always have more tricks up my sleeve. Using some of these beach hacks for toddlers will help keep everyone in your family happy! We all know, the mood of your toddler can be contagious… for better or for worse!
8 Tips and Hacks for Playing in the Sand at the Beach with your Toddler
1. Use Baby Powder to Remove Sand
Okay, if you have to know one beach hack for toddlers, this is the one to remember! Baby powder removes sand like magic. Put some into an old sock, rub that sock across your toddler’s skin and the sand will seriously disappear.
The baby powder trick is perfect for before you get into the car to minimize the inevitable permanent sand that gets stuck in all the cracks and creases that are just out of reach of the vacuum.
And even if you’re staying a walkable distance from the beach and have an outside shower to remove most of the sand, the baby powder trick is still necessary.
Like that time my toddler fell face first into shallow water and ended up with sand literally piled into her ears and all over her eyes. There is no way she would’ve been happy with me getting a wet cloth to remove that sand. And there’s no way a dry cloth would’ve removed it all from around her eyes. But she did let me take a soft, dry sock filled with baby powder to quickly and gently remove the sand from her eyes and the rest of her face.
Some people use cornstarch to avoid talc and other chemicals they may not want to expose their toddlers to. I’ve honestly never tried it. But I use this talc free baby powder and it works perfectly.
2. Have a Dedicated Bucket of Water for Hand Rinsing
If you just need a quick sand rinse of the hands before a snack, before reapplying sunscreen, or before reaching into the beach bag for the next toy - a dedicated water bucket could be an easy solution for you.
Set it up next to your chairs or right next to your towels. Maybe even have a small hand towel for drying those “clean” hands, and enjoy hands-free snacking!
3. Use a Mesh Bag or Laundry Basket for Sandy Toys
As much as you try to rinse your toys in the ocean, they’re still going to be sandy. And then they’ll also be wet. You won’t want to be putting wet and sandy toys back in your beach bag alongside your sunnies, towels, and sunscreen bottles.
If they’re in a mesh bag, you can easily give them a rinse with a hose, they’ll dry out more easily, and you’ll overall just contain the mess.
4. Use a Sand Blanket to Start Off Sand Free
Nothing will ever stay sand free at the beach. But I love having a sand blanket like this one that is held in place by filling corner pockets with sand. That way, you have a dedicated space to initially set down bags, for eating, for reading, and in general to keep things “clean”.
Some people swear by the “fitted sheet hack”. They bring a fitted sheet and lay it upside down on the sand. Then, they place heavy items in each corner. Things like a cooler, a beach chair, or the toy bag. When you’re all done, you have a walled “sand free” zone for playing and eating.
5. Don’t Forget Shovels and Buckets
I know, I know. This isn’t exactly a beach hack for toddlers. But I had to include it because no one should go to the beach with a toddler and not have shovels and buckets. It’s kind of the bare minimum… even ahead of swim suits probably. 🙃
Speaking of bare minimum, if you want to know the 10 things you actually need at the beach with a toddler, check out this post.
If you want to take your bucket next level, there’s something about these ice cream sand toys that keeps toddlers occupied for hours. Okay, maybe not all at once. But seriously, in my experience there’s something magical about pretend ice cream on the beach!
6. Rotate Sand Toys
Just like at home, with novelty comes sustained interest and entertainment, ha! Maybe start the morning with the regular shovels and buckets, then break out the ice cream sand toys when it’s time for a break from the water.
When everyone needs a break from the sun, tempt them under the umbrella with the watercolors for painting the seashells you found earlier. Everyone need a cool off in the water? Introduce the surfer dude for some shallow water play! Waves starting to get too big for safe toddler play? Time for your kite!
7. Bury Hidden Treasures Around Your Chairs
Sometimes, you need an activity that will keep your toddler occupied near your beach set up. So you can make lunch, stay with your sleeping infant, or even just read your book!
One of the easiest beach hacks for toddlers that keeps them nearby is to bury treasures in the sand surrounding your set up. Either large shells you found earlier, small toys you don’t care about, or even pretend gold coins for “real” buried treasure!
8. Consider Some Alternative Beach Toys and Activities
Sometimes, you need some less “beachy” toys at the beach! And a lot of these toys are a bit more adult-friendly and can lead to some really fun family games and memories.
Things like a soccer ball for kicking around the beach. We already talked about flying a kite. Or maybe a family game of cornhole. Ever play Finska? It’s one of our family favorites for all ages! And it’s perfect for at the beach because the pieces stand up more easily in the sand.
3 Tips and Hacks for Playing in the Water at the Beach with your Toddler
9. Always Use a Floatie or Other PFD
Even if you’re in the water with your toddler, you never know when a big wave will come and surprise both of you. Even if you’re only ankle deep, you never know when you’ll get distracted the same time that your toddler decides to take one step deeper.
Less of a toddler beach hack, and more of a gentle reminder. You’ll never regret that extra bit of peace of mind.
We love this floatie that is coast guard approved and comes in tons of different patterns to suit your toddler’s passions… mermaids, dinosaurs, cars, ladybugs, etc.
10. Play With a Surfer Dude for Shallow Water Play
This is a very specific beach hack for toddlers, but our family just loves these Surfer Dude toys so much! At first, I wasn’t sure if it would be worth the money, but we got so much playtime out of it. And to be honest, it was fun for me, too!
Our favorite way of playing was for me to be around knee deep in water. I would let the Surfer Dude go in a wave, and she would ride the wave all the way to shore. My toddler would chase down the toy, running through shallow water, and then we’d do it all over again!
It’s a great way to play in the water and with the waves when the ocean may be rough and you don’t necessarily feel safe swimming with your toddler.
Or if your toddler isn’t a huge fan of the waves, it’s a gentle way to get them more comfortable. Maybe they’ll even start to see the waves as fun!
11. Hide Valuables in a Portable Safe or Bury Them in the Sand!
If everyone’s going to want to be in the water at the same time, you’ll want a secure way to store your valuables back at the beach chairs. One solution is to buy a portable safe to attach to a beach chair. This one is huge and can even fit a couple phones, sets of keys, and wallets.
If you’re looking for something a bit more inconspicuous, this water bottle safe will fit keys and some cash. The cheapest option? Bring some plastic bags and bury your valuables in the sand! Just don’t forget where you buried them!!
9 Tips and Hacks for Beating the Heat and Sun at the Beach with your Toddler
12. Use a Chair Umbrella for Portable Shade
Those big umbrellas that you drill into the sand are amazing. But your toddler may not want to play directly underneath its shadow. At some point, you may want to move your shade along with your beach chair down to the water. Or maybe your toddler is making an epic sand castle but you want to give them a little reprieve from the sun without interrupting their play.
That’s when a chair umbrella comes in handy. Move the chair and you move the shade. I love this chair umbrella because it has a sturdy clamp, and you can move the angle of the umbrella in just about any direction you can possibly think of.
13. Consider a Beach Tent - But Check Beach Regulations First!
Large beach tents are perfect for providing enough shade for everyone in your family. But we recently brought a 10ft by 10ft Sun Ninja to a beach where we had seen before. Well, it turns out that during peak season (Memorial Day to Labor Day), that beach doesn’t allow tents… only circular umbrellas up to 7 ft in diameter.
We had another circular umbrella we would have brought had we known. It wasn’t all lost. Our VRBO had some umbrellas we could use. But still, it was a bit of a let down after spending 30 minutes figuring out how to set it up for the first time… only to be told we had to take it all down!
14. Bring Water Colors to Paint Shells in the Shade
When you need another activity to convince your toddler to take a break in the shade, you could try painting! We’ve painted shells, but you could also do rocks or random treasures from home.
Grab a bucket of water from the ocean. And make sure you have one watercolor palette per child. Set them up in the shade and let them paint away!
This “toddler” beach hack also entertained my 7 year old for a good 45 minutes when she needed to give her body a break from bodyboarding.
15. Use a Sunscreen Stick for Fuss Free Face Application
A sunscreen stick works the same as your typical deodorant. And for some reason, toddlers find it much less offensive for you to apply sunscreen with a stick than with your fingers. I don’t know why, but I roll with it and just buy the sunscreen stick.
I like this Baby Bum sunscreen stick from Sun Bum. But to be honest, I haven’t tried anything else! I found one that works for us and don’t see a need to change it up.
Some people swear by using a foundation brush or a makeup sponge to apply sunscreen to the face. I haven’t tried it, but maybe that would be less offensive as well? Worth a try!
16. Long Sleeve Rashies Beat the Sun and Heat
For the best sun protection, a long sleeve rashie is the way to go. You never need to reapply. And you won’t miss a spot. If you can convince your toddler to wear one, just do it!
Quick tip: As much as I love the all in ones, it’s probably better to buy a separate rashie for on top of a regular swimsuit. Have you ever tried putting wet, tight, long sleeves back on after going to the bathroom? It isn’t easy. So for girls, this also means buying separates.
You may think that having long sleeves on would cause your toddler to overheat. But having wet long sleeves actually helps to keep your body cooler!
17. Wear Water Shoes for When the Sand is HOT
Sand gets hot in the sun. We all know this. Yet we have all walked onto a sandy beach with bare feet only to immediately start yelping in pain. Prevent burning your toddler’s soles with some water shoes. You may not need them, but they could be a necessity on your trip.
18. Take an Afternoon Break
This is probably my favorite toddler beach hack. If you can, go to the beach in the morning, head back to your accommodation for lunch and nap, and then head back to the beach later in the day.
That way, your toddler is getting a good nap in. You’re avoiding the sun and the heat at the height of the day. And everyone returns back to the beach in the evening feeling refreshed and sunburn free!
I usually took this time to sit on the balcony (in the shade), people watch, have a drink, and read my book. For my introverted self, this was much more relaxing than being in the chaos of the beach and trying to read.
19. On Calm Days, Bring a Clip On Fan
If wind isn’t a thing on your day at the beach, create your own! A little airflow can go a long way in beating the heat. I love this rechargeable clip on fan. Seriously, the charge lasts for ages. And when you aren’t at the beach, it can easily clip on to a stroller.
20. Make a Water Play Station With a Shower Curtain
Okay, to be honest, this toddler beach hack didn’t work out for us. But some people swear by it. And it’s a cheap and easy thing to bring along just in case.
Essentially, dig a hole. Lay the shower curtain across the hole. Make piles of sand on the corners of the shower curtain so it doesn’t blow away. Fill your hole with water.
The problem we had when we tried this trick was we were always setting up during low tide. That made for a very long walk to the water. Bucket by bucket. To try to fill up our hole. It kind of worked. And we did make drip castles for a bit in there. But I don’t think the effort was worth it.
9 Tips and Hacks for Traveling To and From the Beach with your Toddler
21. Use a Wagon if You Have a Long Walk
If you’re going to have a walk to the beach in the morning. Or if you’re transferring everything from your car to the beach, a wagon could be a good thing to add to the packing list for you.
A wagon can carry a lot of beach gear. It can also, of course, carry a child when it’s too hot or far to carry them in your arms.
If you plan on napping at the beach, a wagon can serve as a nice enclosed area for sleeping. And if not, it can also double as a toddler-sized chair on the beach. Some even come with a sun shade.
When it comes to beach wagons, the bigger the wheels the better. A lot of people like this wagon.
We already have a standard Radio Flyer wagon with all terrain tires and a zip down side for bench seating and a sun canopy. It doesn’t fold down as small as others, and it isn’t as meant specifically for the beach. But considering we already own it and it has a lot of great features, it works perfectly for our needs.
22. Bogg Bags (or Knock Offs) Are Worth It!
To my father, a Bogg Bag is a piece of plastic in the shape of a bag… with holes in it. His jaw did not leave the ground for at least ten minutes when he heard how much one of them costs. Little does he know that these bag-shaped pieces of plastic are magical… and are actually made out of rubber.
They stand up and stay open on their own - which makes finding things a million times easier.
If sand gets in them, they’re so easy to clean and dry when you get home.
They are strong- so load it up with all the beach toys! Towels, kites, sunscreen, shovels, water bottles, bubbles, coverups… you name it, it fits!
You can get various accessories - like waterproof pouches to attach to the sides for phones, keys, money, sunglasses, etc.
Do yourself a favor and get the XL Bogg Bag. You won’t regret it.
A lot of people also like this Magg Bag that is a bit cheaper and includes a single shoulder carry strap. It also includes a waterproof pouch. I don’t have personal experience with a Magg Bag - but it could be worth checking out!
23. Wear Water Shoes for Hot Sand and Pavement
No one wants to burn the bottoms of their feet. Bring water shoes for those bucket trips from the towels to the water and back again. And to prevent having multiple pairs of shoes for everyone to keep track of, just wear them from the car or hotel room down to the beach!
And if you’re going to be at a rocky beach, water shoes help protect from sharp rocks and slipping as well.
24. Bring a Wet Bag for Swimsuits and Towels
If you drive to the beach, you’ll want a place to contain all the wet gear. Otherwise, everything will end up permanently damp and you’ll have a lot more clean up to do when you get back.
You can bring along a laundry basket, or we love these wet bags that can be tossed right into the wash right along with your towels.
25. Keep Clean, Dry Towels in the Car
On the beach, your towels are going to get sandy. They’re going to get damp. You’re not going to be satisfied drying off with them before getting into the car. Keep one towel per person in your car so everyone has a clean, dry towel to end the day with.
26. Have an Easy to Put On Set of Clothes in the Car
Especially after a long day at the beach, you don’t want to be messing with buttons and tight fitting clothing. Think loose t-shirts or dresses. My girls even just wear their terry cloth cover ups with undies or a diaper underneath when we leave the beach.
27. Line the Back of Your Car with a Sheet
Don’t want the fabric of your trunk to be permanently ingrained with sand? Line it with a sheet that can easily be removed and washed.
While you’re at it, you can also use a sheet to cover car seats. Nothing is worse than burning your leg in a car that’s been baking in the sun all day. Cover up the seats with a sheet. It’ll still be hot, but won’t quite have that burning effect.
28. One Gallon Jug of Water in the Car per Person for Sandy Bodies
Sand can be a stubborn one. In addition to baby powder, having a gallon jug of water per person ready in the car is the perfect way to prevent even more sand from permanently finding a place in every crack of the seats.
Plus, if it’s been in the warm car all day, the water will be like bath water - i.e. fewer complaints from toddlers!
29. If You Can, Stay Close to the Beach
Being able to easily take multiple trips back and forth from your hotel or condo per day is a game changer. Forget something? Run back and get it. Need a break from the sun? Go take a popsicle break. Want to get a good nap in? Head back up to the room!
You can set up your beach spot for the day while the kids are eating breakfast. When everyone is ready, head down to the beach. Beach chairs and umbrellas are ready to go and you can get started with the fun!
If you're looking for a place to stay near the beach, my new favorite tool is Booking.com. Yes - I think it has finally surpassed Airbnb on my travel planning top ten list! 😲Why? Booking.com offers a mix of hotels and rental properties. Many of them have free cancellation policies. Cleaning fees are included in the price you see! And you'll see reviews from across multiple platforms and sites.Pro tips for using Booking.com:1. Create a free account and get an additional 10% off certain stays with their "genius" discount.2. If you book through their app, you'll often get an additional "mobile only" discount.3. Once you click on a property, be sure to look below the bolded price. It will show you how much will be added for taxes!
8 Tips and Hacks for Eating at the Beach with your Toddler
30. Use Individual Snack Packs Instead of Family Sized Bags
No one wants to taste test to see if the grainy bits they see in the pretzel bag are salt or sand. Prevent sand from taking over your snack bags by buying the individual snack packs.
If you want to make a more eco-friendly choice, you can always divvy out the portions into small stasher bags or containers.
Check out some of my favorite vegan beach foods in this post (Coming Soon!)
31. Pack Hydrating Foods Like Grapes or Mandarins
Sometimes it can be hard to get a toddler to drink water. Especially when they’re so busy playing. But presenting hydrating foods like grapes and mandarins are a great way to help prevent dehydration that much more.
Yes, I know. Grapes. Cut them ahead of time if you’re concerned. Or bring a small knife to the beach to cut them one by one.
I like mandarins because they’re basically individual “snack packs” of fruit. If you open one and it gets sandy, it doesn’t ruin the whole bunch.
But some other fruit ideas are cut watermelon or pineapple. Berries like strawberries or blueberries. Or even some stone fruits like peaches.
32. Consider Bringing Electrolyte Packets to Encourage Hydration
My kids love electrolyte water. If nothing else, they’ll drink so much more when it’s flavored with the electrolyte packets. Even more than juice boxes - which could be another option to just get more liquids in!
My kids love the Liquid IV flavors, but any will do!
33. Freeze Water Bottles or Pouches
Unless you have a super insulated cooler like a Yeti Hopper (whose backpack style is ace by the way), everything in your cooler will eventually end up lukewarm on a hot beach day.
To help keep some food actually cold for afternoon snacks, freeze some of it! You can freeze water bottles to have cold water to drink. Freeze pouches for refreshing afternoon slushies. I’ve even heard of people freezing nut butter sandwiches so they aren’t soft and smooshy come afternoon.
34. Use a Water Bottle with a Straw to Minimize Sand
There’s enough sand at the beach. You don’t want sand in your water bottle as well. On a daily basis, I don’t like drinking from a straw. Personal preference, but I feel like I get dehydrated more easily that way.
But when I’m at the beach, being able to limit the opening to the bottle while I drink and being able to easily close that opening without using sandy hands is a necessity.
For kids, I love the HydroFlask Kids size. The only thing I don’t like is that it can’t fit into a cup holder. At the beach, that isn’t a huge deal.
If you’re looking for more of an all arounder, I also really like the Klean Kanteen bottle with a sports cap. It doesn’t keep drinks as insulated, but it will fit into a cup holder, and it will keep the sand out. Plus, no straws to clean!!
35. Set Timers for Water Breaks
It can be easy to get wrapped up in the fun and forget to drink water. Even though you’re sweating more than usual. Especially when your water bottles are likely tucked away to keep them cool and sand free.
To avoid the “thangrys” (think, hangry but from dehydration), set timers for forced water breaks.
According to this CDC article, drinking smaller amounts of water more frequently is more effective in preventing dehydration than drinking large amounts less frequently. For adults being active in the sun, it recommends drinking 8oz of water every 20 minutes!
36. Use a Camping Chair with a Tray for Sand Free Toddler Eating
For little active bodies that are still learning how to fully coordinate hands, balance plates, and have overall spatial awareness… it can be hard to eat off of a lap. That’s where a camping chair with a tray comes in handy.
37. Have Somewhere to Put Your Trash
This is less of a toddler beach hack, and more of a “be a good person” hack. Bring a trash bag or somewhere to put all the straw wrappers, snack bags, and empty pouches. You don’t want to be that person that lets their trash blow down the beach.
I hope you’re feeling more prepared for your beach trip with your toddler! If you’re looking for other tips on traveling with toddlers, you may find these articles helpful:
- Delicious Vegan Beach Food: Fuel Your Fun in the Sun! (Coming Soon!)
- Your Complete Family Beach Packing List - With a Printable PDF! (Coming Soon!)
- Toddler Beach Essentials: The 10 Things You Actually Need For a Fun Day at the Beach
My Favorite Resources for a Family Beach Trip
If you’re looking to take your beach trip to the next level with boat tours, evening shows, or private surf lessons, you’re most likely to find what you’re looking for on Viator.
If you’re still looking for a place to stay, my new favorite platform is Booking.com. They often offer free cancellation until shortly before your trip. You can see a mix of hotels and vacation rentals. See reviews from multiple websites. And join their rewards program to get special member pricing!
If you’re traveling with a large group, you’ll probably have more luck finding accommodation at VRBO.