20+ Beach Essentials for Families - Busy Toddler (2024)

Collapsible Wagon

This is a 10/10 item that I can’t imagine NOT owning. We use this wagon for everything: trips to the beach, concerts in the park, even traveling on vacation (this folds up and can be checked onto a plane). It hauls all our beach gear and makes life so manageable.

Pop Up Beach Tent

My husband bought me this in 2019 and bless him for it. Having a shaded spot as “home base” at the beach has been everything. This folds up like a beach umbrella or tent, so it’s manageable to store and haul to the beach. Sets up super fast.

Beach Umbrella

If the pop up tent isn’t your style, many of my friends have this umbrella and it casts so much shade onto the sand. It’s also super visible and makes finding the group even easier.

Low Beach Chair

I don’t know why it took me until my oldest was EIGHT to buy a beach chair, but thank goodness I finally have one. They’re easy to carry on your back or fit nicely inside the collapsible wagon (wink wink). This makes my day at the beach so much more enjoyable.

Beach Playard for Baby

Have a baby at the beach this summer? This was heavenly to own “back in the day” when we were all juggling babies at the beach. A place to rest, shade, sand-free, safe space for baby to play and explore.

Portable Grill

Not for every beach trip, but we bring this if it’s a whole family, whole day adventure. We also use this on camping trips, when a VRBO doesn’t have a grill, and at parks. Our friends also borrow this from us all the time – it’s such a little gem to own.

Portable Air Pump

I’m too old and I have too many kids to be blowing up all the beach toys. I can’t. I finally broke down and bought this a few summers ago. I wish Past Susie had always had this.

Best Beach Towels

These are the most compact and lightweight (but still giant and absorbent) towels. I’m so obsessed with them for kids and the fact that they don’t take up every square inch of space in my bag. You won’t believe how small fold up.

Wet/Dry Bags

Best way to take home the wet swim suits at the end of the day. This pack comes in three sizes – it’s a must.

Waterproof Picnic Blanket

These blankets are the best – they’re waterproof on one side and soft, comfy on the other. They machine wash, fold up tight, and they make for a great center square at any beach or park day. This lives in my car year-round.

LunchBots Lunch Boxes

These are my holy grail of lunch containers. They’re smaller, simpler, lighter weight and easier to clean that so many of the other plastic versions. We have lots of different sizes but this one seems to be used the most.

Thanks to my friend Jennifer from Kid.Eat.In.Color who got me hooked on

Best Water Bottle

This keeps the water ice cold and is the best, despite not being the super trendy water bottle that everyone obsessive over (wink). It was 116 degrees where we live in summer 2021 (gross, too hot) and my drink still had ice cubes in it by the day’s end. I have so many of these.

Cooler Bag

A giant, fancy, hard sided cooler just isn’t manageable for me at the beach alone with my kids. This soft-sided one is plenty to keep our food cool (and lots of it). It’s another “why did it take me so long to buy this” purchase that I’ve ended up using for much more than just the beach.

Portable Safe

Love having this portable safe for the beach. It’s easy to use, and I feel a lot safer about my phone, wallet, and car keys especially since it’s usually just me at the beach with my kids.

Kid-Sized Nets

Laugh all you want at this random item, but I can’t think of any supply that gets more beach play (park play, creek play, backyard play) than these nets. I keep them in my car all summer long because they’re such a hit in the water and out.

Reusable Water Balloons

10/10 beach toy. We’ve had these for a year now and they’ve revolutionized water balloon play here. There’s no mess. There’s no parent help filling balloons. With an endless supply of water at the beach, these are a gem to play with. Can’t recommend them enough (for home, pool, or beach).

Collapsible Buckets

The best beach gear is the collapsible kind – clearly space is an issue. With three kids, one set of these is perfection and a huge space saver.

Clear Plastic Jars with Lids

Another random winner that we couldn’t live without. These plastic jars with lids are perfect for water play. They’re great with sand, for catching fish, housing frogs, etc. These are just the right size for kids (and come as a 12 pack).

Beach Tools

My kids literally cannot go anywhere in the summer without shovels. I have to keep this set in my car because you never know when you need to dig… This set is plenty for all three of my kids to share.

Water Blasters

These are clutch. They’re the right size and usable even for kids under age 2. We have so many sets (and yep, a set lives in my car all summer long). Kids love having these at the beach.

The Baking Bucket

Here’s an easy one-stop toy option for the beach (and everything stores inside). This is a great set especially if you have a dedicated-to-sand-play little one. This theme is so good for the beach.

What do I need to take to the beach?

Think about how long you’ll be there and what sort of play your children do at the beach. If they don’t love eating hot dogs, don’t pack in a grill. If they hate water sprayed, don’t get blasters. Only bring the tried and true essentials to the beach… and however many snacks you packed… double it.

What age can kids go to the beach?

Whatever age you are ready for! There is not hard and fast rule on beach ages, just stay within your comfort zone and what makes you feel confident and safe.

How do I keep my child safe at the beach?

Beaches can be a tough place to supervise. Be active. Stay alert. Keep close when kids are in the water. Remember to talk to your child about what to do if they get lost, and review/remind yourself how to approach a lost situation to help find your child quickly (see my step by step guide here).

Susie Allison, M. Ed

Owner, Creator

Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie’s parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.