Trips don’t always feel like a vacation when you have little ones in tow. Is it even possible to enjoy the beach with a baby? YES! With some adjusted expectations and proper planning, taking your babies and toddlers to the beach doesn’t have to be such a daunting task.

After a lot of trial and error in my own family vacations, I have some tips that will help make the beach with a baby a more smooth and enjoyable experience!

Not all beaches are created equal.

When considering which beach to choose for your next family vacation, it’s important to keep your priorities in mind. Do you want to stay by the water all day or do you want to be able to walk into town? Will you be taking your child into the water?

Let’s look at a popular NC beach for example. Carolina Beach is a common go-to, but is it best for all families? It’s not for mine, but it might be for yours! Carolina Beach has a fun boardwalk complete with a Ferris wheel and easy access to showers and restaurants (like the famous Britt’s Donuts).  However, the water is notoriously rough here and has a fast drop off so it gets deep quickly. I’m usually not comfortable with our children being in the water here. Playing in the waves is important to us, so we choose to skip this beach to keep our vacation more relaxing and safe.

For calm water and fluffy, soft sand, our preference is Topsail/ Surf City area or the Crystal Coast anywhere from Emerald Isle to Atlantic Beach.

Beach with a baby? Bring an inflatable pool!

I realize this might seem ridiculous. Why bring a baby pool to the OCEAN? Hear me out: create a mini ocean for your little one. Blow up the pool, dump some water in and throw in some toys. You’ve now created the perfect spot for your baby to play while staying contained and cool.

We did this when Dean was one and he played in it for hours at a time. It kept his toys close and kept us from having to chase him all over the beach. Anything that keeps me from having to exert physical energy is worth it. You might think I’m lazy but that’s because I am.

Precious nap time may not have to be jeopardized.

If you’re staying at the beach for more than one day, I highly recommend an oceanfront (or close to it) property for your stay. Yes, they cost more usually, but I think it’s so worth it to be able to easily take breaks and let my baby (and me) have a comfortable nap.

If that’s not possible for you or if it’s just a day trip, there are some ways to encourage naps on the beach.

Our foolproof strategy is to wear the baby for a walk up and down the shore. Bring along a carrier or baby wrap and when nap time rolls around, carry them and let the sound of the ocean waves soothe them to sleep.

You also may be able to get a cuddly nap in while you sit on the beach chair together. I’ll bring my baby or toddler onto my lap with some shells to look at, or our feet in the waves—something to occupy his attention but not get him hyper. Many times, the sun puts him out and then I move us under the shade of an umbrella.

The exhaustion of a fun day combined with the sun and sound of the waves will usually put your baby to sleep if you time it right. However, babies will be babies and toddlers will be toddlers. They may not nap and that’s okay! Roll with it, have a good time, and just put them down a little early for bedtime.

Sand will be eaten.

Riddle me this: why is there an all-out brawl trying to get our babies to try a corn dog if they’re so willing to eat sand? The only answer I’ve been able to come up with is that babies are tiny, adorable weirdos.

Go ahead and remove the unrealistic expectation that you’ll be able to stop your kid from eating any sand. Plan to interfere if they’re trying to shovel a handful in, but don’t worry too much about a little making it into their mouth as they’re playing. It’s good for the immune system…or something.

Useful products to help you survive the beach with a baby

Here are some links to products that you may find useful for surviving the beach with a baby. As an amazon associate, I earn a small percentage when you shop using my links. This is at no extra cost to you and helps support our blog. Thank you!

Baby Carrier: Whether its a stretchy wrap carrier or a buckle one like this popular and affordable one we love, a carrier will help keep baby calm and even fall asleep for naps!

Sun Protection Swim Hat: You’ll want a good hat that can resist the water and sun with flaps to protect their sensitive ears and neck!

Stroller Fan: Stroller fans are a God send in the North Carolina summers. Attach one of these battery powered fans to the stroller, wagon, umbrella, or bassinet to keep baby cool.

Pop n Sit Booster: These chairs come in handy for older babies and toddlers. It gives you somewhere to set them down without them getting into the sand and is particularly helpful for snacks and lunch.

Inflatable Baby Pool: The best way to keep your baby contained with their toys, control the amount of water, and keep them cool.

Baby Sunscreen: A given! We prefer mineral sunscreens and only use after the baby is 6 months old and we have the go ahead from the pediatrician.

Portable Bassinet Dome: This bassinet dome is perfect for baby lounging and naps on the beach. I love that it folds almost flat for easy transportation and the top protects from the sun’s rays.

Baby Powder: Baby powder is one of my best mom hacks at the beach! It not only helps dry off the baby, but can completely remove sand from their skin (it works best on dry sand). Sprinkle some on and wipe away all the irritating sand granules.

Beach Wagon: There’s not much that makes me grumpier than trying to walk on sand while trying to balance kids, toys, chairs, and umbrellas. Wagons are lifesavers.

Do you have any helpful tips for our readers?

We’d love to hear your own tips and tricks for surviving the beach with a baby or toddler! Leave us a comment!