"Every time I stand before a beautiful beach, its waves seem to whisper to me: If you choose the simple things and find joy in nature's simple treasures, life and living need not be so hard."

—Psyche Roxas-Mendoza

Some of my favorite childhood memories are those spent on the beach as a kid, As a sand shark I remember getting giddy digging holes, making long roads of trucks, and splashing along the water.

Unfortunately, some of my most fraught memories also fall into these beach days: sunburn, chafing from the sand in my bathing suit, eating sandwiches with sandy hands, and drinking hot water.

Now as a parent, my mission is to transform chaotic beach days into moments of pure bliss. After lots of trial and error and countless beach trips, I've uncovered a treasure trove of strategies, a.k.a. "hacks," that effortlessly fend off turmoil and usher in waves of happiness.

Baby Beach Hacks

Here are my favorite ideas for a beach day with your baby.

The Fitted Sheet Beach Hack

Use a fitted sheet to create a sand-free zone for your kids to play in. Simply lay the sheet out on the sand and secure it with rocks or bags. While you’ll never get a sand-free baby outing at the beach, this will keep your kids' clothes and toys clean.

The Kiddie Pool

A kiddie pool is a great way for young kids to cool off and play in the water without having to go into the ocean. It doubles as an easy way to get sand off of your hands before eating too. Fill the pool with ocean water or fresh water and set it up in the shade for an easy beach activity for babies.

The Spray Bottle

Use a spray bottle to mist off your kids when they’re getting hot and to get sand out of eyes, and off of hands and food.

The Backpack Cooler

A backpack cooler is easy to carry, keeps food and drink cold for the whole day, and it’s easy to clean. It comes in handy for when you need to run back to the house “for one more thing” while you’re also carrying your kid who has to hit the bathroom.

Bring Shade

Kids + too much sun = disaster. A baby beach tent is critical. Whether it’s a beach tent with sandbags (my favorite), a wind-powered shade, or a smaller beach tent for the kids, pack something that provides relief, even on those deceiving cloudy days.

Bring A Change Of Clothes

Your kids are going to get too cold after being in the way, too sandy after digging holes, and they might even develop rashes from both of the above. Pack a change of clothes for an easy transition from the baby beachwear to avoid the aftermath.

Bags With Holes

For toys, use a big mesh bag to bring to the beach and shove them in there when you’re all finished. Drag the bag of toys in the ocean for a quick rinse-off before you bring them home.

For everything else, go with the Bogg Bag which is durable, simple to clean, and light.

The Kid Carrier

My favorite baby beach gear. This child carrier/backpack turned out to be a lifesaver when we had more stuff than we could manage and kids who couldn’t make it across hot sand and through crowded areas (which was most beach days). It was also clutch on those pre-dawn mornings when I put my kid in the carrier to do a quick and easy breakfast on the beach. It’s got a bigger-than-expected storage area and the kids loved hopping into it. I got more compliments on this than anything else I’ve ever brought to the beach.

Big Wheel Beach Wagon

Wagons are a great way to transport the 5 tons of beach supplies. This one is a step up because it’s foldable and it has huge wheels which make it easier to drag across the sand.

Roll On Sunscreen Applicator

This may be the best baby beach hack of all time. Put the sunscreen in the applicator and have your kids put it on themselves without a giant mess. Why didn’t I think of this?

Hide Valuables Discretely

Worried that someone will snag your stuff while you’re down by the water? Use this sunscreen diversion container or water bottle diversion container to hide all of those valuables.

A Sunscreen Alarm

Yes, that parent is annoying but yes, that parent prevents sunburns. Apply natural sunscreen and then set a timer on your phone for 2 hours.

Solar Powered Charger

I used to be against bringing my phone to the beach. Then I had kids and the combination of taking pictures and triangulating our beach spot with friends and family changed all of that. Pack a solar charging power bank with multiple cords for those longer days.

Store Tech In Bags

Seawater + sand + tech = disaster. If you need to bring your phone, camera, Kindle, or other gear to the beach then protect them from the elements. Use these BPA-deww reusable bags if you don’t need to use the touch screen often and these disposable Ziploc ones if you do.

Freeze Drinks & Snacks

Freeze drinks and snacks overnight before your beach trip. Not only will they stay cool for longer, but they can also serve as ice packs for other food items. Some beach baby feeding ideas: yogurt pouches, mini Larabars, berries, cheese sticks, and smoothies.

Basic First Aid Kit

Whether it’s shells, waves, boogey boards, or friends, kids will find a way to get hurt at the beach. The lifeguards will have the full kit so pack a small and waterproof basic First Aid Kit as a backup.

Beach Towels Are Old School

While packing a beach towel can be good for the quick dry, it’s annoying to lay on. Here are three great alternatives:

• A huge (79”x83”) sand-proof and waterproof blanket that compacts into a bag.

• A yoga mat that provides more comfort.

  
  

Protect The Lungs

Alright, this is definitely not a “hack” but rather a word of caution about one. Using baby powder to ensure sand comes off the skin might be the most popular trick around but the talcum in baby powder has been shown to cause respiratory problems, especially in infants and young children. Fine particles of talc can be easily inhaled and may lead to breathing difficulties, lung irritation, and even respiratory distress. Even powders free of talc pose a risk due to how small these particles are as well as other concerns such as fragrances.

The same goes for spray sunscreens (read more about that and baby sunscreen recommendations here).

What’s your favorite baby beach hack?

Related:

• The Best Natural Sunscreens For Kids (& What To Avoid)