Our Guide to A Stress-Free Family Beach Day

This post contains affiliate links and was updated June 25, 2020*

I’ve been asked a few times how we manage to make our beach trips with a toddler “so easy.” Well, first, it’s not easy, but we do it anyways… because god dammit we’re going to have fun! (I’m getting family vacation flashbacks now). Anyway, we have learned along the way a few tricks and packing tips to make the beach days as stress-free as possible.

First thing you should know—our daughter doesn’t nap anywhere but in the car (it has to be moving at a steady speed and even this is rare) or in her crib. So, if you’re looking for tips on getting your infant/toddler to nap at the beach, I’m just as clueless as you. If you do figure this one out, please let me know! Since it takes over an hour for us to get to the beach, we time our drive so she naps on the road.

Tip #1

Keep expectations low. Kids are unpredictable, so don’t expect the “perfect” family outing every time. If it doesn’t work out the first few times, don’t stress or let it ruin your day. Plan some back-up activities, like shopping at local beach shops, going to a new restaurant, or go for a drive first if that helps with the no-napping situation.

Tip #2

Double up on the food and snacks. Whether your child is an immobile infant or a running toddler, they’re going to burn energy when out in the sun all day. So, stock up! Our go-to’s are:

Fruit - watermelon, pineapple, and apples are our favorite for the beach.
Applesauce
Fig Bars - these are the BEST!
pre-made pb&j or grilled cheese (I know, it’s weird but Ellis loves a good grilled cheese. even a cold one).
Cheese
Veggie Straws
Goldfish crackers

For Infants:

Teething Crackers—Ellis liked these and these.
Puffs (because, duh! Puffs solve every tantrum)
Baby Food Pouches—we LOVE Sprout Foods for on-to-go baby food.
Extra Milk/Formula

Tip #3

This may sound mean, but I feel I need to be as honest as possible on here—your beach days will never be like it was before you had kids. I’m sorry, I miss them too. Taking naps on the sand, catching up on some reading, playing in the water… all gone… probably until they go to college. Again, I’m sorry. But you will find your new kind of beach day and you will enjoy it. I promise!

Tip #4

You will inevitably pack up the house the first few beach outings. We all do it! But take note on what items get used the most and then just pack those moving forward. And this final tip leads me to…

Our Beach Packing List!

One big thing missing from our list is a beach cart. The one we have is no longer for sale and we’re considering getting a new one anyways. My tips with this are 1) don’t say you won’t need one because you will, just accept it and 2) get one with BIG wheels. The bigger the better. When we find a new one we like, I’ll update the list!