Sun Protection and Beach Essentials

Wearing protective clothing like hats, long sleeves and sunglasses are also an option for beach days. There are definitely some cute surf shirts and swimsuits available that you and the kids will love. Check out these adorable items from Hurley Kids!

Any day at the beach will have sun, even on the cloudiest days. Provide shade and shelter for lunch time, relax time and for when the kids get too tired to play! We love this Shade Shack Portable Beach Tent, roomy enough for two adults and a child with an open floor, your little one can play in the sand while being protected from the wind and sun. For an individual sized tent with built in SPF 30, we love this Seaside Beach Cabana Tent.

Check out Huffington Post's 8 Reasons to Take Babies to the Beach!

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2. Beach Essentials - No beach day is complete without building a sandcastle! While you may dread carrying a ton of stuff down to the water's edge, be sure to bring some of these items with you to ensure an amazing time is had for all!

First of all, you will need a wagon or a cooler with wheels! Even if you plan to pack light, most beaches require you to walk a short distance from parking to sand. Why struggle to carry everything you need? If your stroller can roll through sand easily, pack that up too, it doubles as a cart and a nap time vehicle when the day is over! This Little Tikes Stroller Fan is awesome on hot days too!

Pack up your Beach Bag and bring snacks, toys, water bottles, a beach ball or two and your beach towels. And don't forget the Baby Powder! A little travel size bottle will take off all the sand from your feet, and keep the car as sand free as possible! Make sure you also bring a wet bag. You don't need anything fancy, a grocery bag will do, but you will want to put wet towels and clothes somewhere!

Let the kids pick a few beach worthy toys they want to bring along, or buy some at the store. We suggest getting them BEFORE you hit the beach. Shops along the boardwalk will most likely up-charge for simple items like a shovel and why waste your money for something that might get lost! We also love this idea for storing and carrying those toys to and from the sand.

For playtime toys we love Packable Pails! These collapsable buckets are great for building a sandcastle, toting your other toys and items and once you're done with them they stow away easily.

There are literally thousands of swim suits and beach wear for the kiddos. Make sure you choose items that fit well and will hold up for many beach trips. For the babies, we suggest a reusable swim diaper, for the big kids, choose a bright fun rash guard!