What To Pack The Kids For Your Beach Vacation

When you hit the road to the best local beach, you may be wondering what to pack the kids for your beach vacation. If so, I have some great tips that are going to keep you and your kids happy throughout your stay at the beach this year. Even families with years of beach travel experience may need these reminders to stay on top of their vacation planning needs.

What To Pack The Kids For Your Beach Vacation

Multiple swimsuits: If you plan to be in and out of the water throughout the week, there may be times when you need to have a swimsuit in the laundry and that could be frustrating to a child who just wants to get back in the water. Multiple swimsuits help both you and your kids to be happy and ready to hit the water at a moments notice throughout your beach vacation.

Water shoes: Everyone expects to take sandals along for a beach vacation, but water shoes are really one of the best choices. Not only do they easily go in and out of the water, they will offer more support on your kids feet as they run along the sand. Flip flops and sandals while some are better quality than others often can be dangerous to kids playing in the sand. With small pebbles, rocks, coral and seashells all over the sand you want to protect the soles of their feet as well. This is a great investment worth making.

Waterproof sunscreen: While you will still need to reapply every few hours regardless of the type or brand of sunscreen, waterproof adds an extra layer of comfort for you. Make sure to keep a brand that has high amounts of zinc oxide as well to add even more protection against sunburn.

Aloe Vera gel: For soothing sunburn, but also a great way to moisturize skin dried out by constant wind, water and sun all day long. Take a cheap $1 ice cube tray, fill with gel and pop in the freezer. When you get home, you’ll have a super cool and moisturizing way to relieve dry or sunburnt skin.

Floppy hat: Ears, noses, necks, and faces need extra protection and a nice floppy hat is a great choice for your kids. Find one with a drawstring that will keep it from flying away should it slide off their heads while they play.

Beach toys: Buckets, shovels, cups and similar are just what your kids need to have tons of fun in the sun this year. Beach toys aren’t necessary, but they do make the experience a lot easier to handle and have fun with. If you are staying at a hotel or renting a condo, see if there are any toys to borrow. If you don’t want to bring them with you, there are options for renting toys through beach rental companies. Do a quick Google search for your destination + beach gear rental and see what they offer.

Life vest: Even if your kids are strong swimmers, there are many beaches that have a strong current and can pose a problem for kids to stay afloat and steady. A properly fitting life vest is a great idea for anyone on your trip if you are planning to go past the knee deep areas of the water.

Head out with your family this year with confidence since you know what to pack for kids for your beach vacation. Everyone will have everything they need on hand, and you’ll be happy to enjoy time in the sun while your kids spend time out in the sand and surf.

Our favorite beach to visit? Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina! If you plan to visit as well make sure to pack a pirate outfit and let the little ones get their sea legs aboard a cruise with Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours where they go on their very own pirate-themed treasure hunt. Kids will want their sneakers to play at the Wrightsville Beach Park, which is home to two outdoor basketball courts, four tennis courts, three sand volleyball pits, one softball field, an open area for soccer/flag football, and a 2.5-mile walking path. If the younger ones need entertaining too, there’s also a playground onsite!

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