If you’re looking for the best beach gear for toddlers, then you’ve come to the right place! When heading to the shore with children, you do not want to go empty handed. Packing beach essentials is the best way to ensure everyone has the best day possible at the shore, including the toddlers. Bringing entertainment, protection and comfort to the seaside will ensure your toddler stays happy throughout your adventure.
Because the market is overflowing with beach gear for children, we’ve created this guide to help you choose the best products for you. Here are 10 beach gear essentials for your toddler:
Top 5 Comparison Chart
Best Beach Gear For Toddlers Reviewed
1. MEIGO Beach Sand Toys
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Review
Toddlers absolutely love playing at the beach. Splashing around in the water and building sand castles are always go-to activities for beach-bound children. If you and your kids want to build some cool sand castles before the next tide comes in, this set of MEIGO Beach Sand Toys is a really good option to keep in mind.
Now, it is not like these toys are anything fancy per se. They are just simple beach toys for the sand, but they get the job done just fine. This is actually an 18-piece set, one that comes with shovels, a rake, a bucket, and a bunch of molds. It’s definitely more than enough to keep your kid occupied for a day at the beach.
To make the MEIGO Beach Sand Toys easier to carry, they come in a large mesh bag with a handle. Each sand toy has a different color; this is beneficial because it makes it easy for your kids to distinguish between the multiple toys, plus it helps add some fun and brightness to the mix as well.
We like how MEIGO Beach Sand Toys are made with soft yet durable plastic. It is hard enough to be fairly rugged. None of these toys will break when dropped. However, they are also soft enough to ensure that your kids will not get injured in any way. Even better is that MEIGO Beach Sand Toys do not contain any BPAs, thus making them non-toxic and perfectly safe for your kids to play with for hours on end.
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2. Body Glove Paddle Pals Learn to Swim Life Jacket
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Learning how to swim has been made as easy as 123 with this Body Glove Paddle Pals Learn to Swim Life Jacket. It is carefully designed to fit children weighing 30-50 lbs, and it is an ideal choice for kids that are being introduced to the water for the first time.
This fun and safe life jacket is made from polyester material that is durable and features a multi panel design for superior comfort and durability. Teaching children how to swim with this jacket is really easy, thanks to arm bands that come attached to the life jacket. It also comes with chest strap with quick release rear safety buckle and adjustable.
The last thing you would want is for the vest to slide off when your child is alone in the water. To prevent this from happening, the life jacket comes with a safety shoulder harness. This not only prevents the vest from sliding off during use, but it also prevents kids from removing the vest without parental help.
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3. JIASUQI Baby Aqua Socks
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Do you go to the beach a lot with your kids? Or maybe you go to the lake, river, pool, or anywhere else with water. The point is that rough ground like rocks, pool decks, and rough beaches can hurt small children’s feet. To help keep your kids comfortable and their feet safe at the beach, you could consider these JIASUQI Baby Aqua Socks.
These are some very simple yet effective beach socks or water shoes for kids. First off, they are unisex, and they come in dozens of different colors and patterns, so you can always find something that your kid will like the look of. The JIASUQI Baby Aqua Socks are made with polyester and spandex which means that they are quite durable; they should not rip or come apart from some basic wear and tear.
At the same time, because they are so stretchy and flexible, they are quite comfortable too. They will mold themselves to the shape of feet, thus making them fairly comfy. Moreover, they come with an elastic upper, which means that they are fairly secure as well. Simply slip them on and off, with no tying of laces required.
The thin material used here feels like socks, and is comfortable just like socks, but is way more durable and protective. The JIASUQI Baby Aqua Socks come with rubber soles – thick rubber soles to help protect your kid’s feet from sharp and uncomfortable objects on the beach and at the pool too. The outsole is also slip-resistant so your kid won’t take tumbles on slippery surfaces like wet rocks.
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4. Hippo Creation Baby Beach Tent
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The Hippo Creation Beach Tent is a great option for anyone who wants to take their family to the beach, but is worried about how to protect their children from the harsh UV rays of the sun. Not only will this lightweight tent help to protect your child’s sensitive skin from the sun while still allowing them to enjoy a breeze, thanks to the built-in mini pool, they will be able to splash and enjoy the water while still being perfectly safe, which is great for any parent who is worried about their safety.
One problem with a lot of beach tents is that they are heavy and bulky, making them difficult not only to transport to the beach, but also to set up easily. This beach tent doesn’t have that problem, and since it weighs only 1.6 pounds, it’s easy for any parent or older child to carry to the beach without a lot of hassle, making sun protection fast and easy.
Parents don’t have to worry about this tent blowing away even though it is so light, thanks to the strong steel wire that is used to make the frame. Additionally, after you anchor the tent into the sand with the four provided studs, there isn’t any chance of it blowing away or being knocked out of shape by a strong gust of wind. This is ideal because it means that you don’t need to worry about the tent blowing over and injuring your child while they are inside.
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5. Tuga Baby/Toddler UV 400 Sunglasses
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While it’s easy for adults to protect their eyes from the harmful rays of the sun when outside, it is much harder to keep sunglasses on small children. Even infants and toddlers need to have eye protection so that they are not at risk of damaging their eyes when outside. Rather than fighting with a child who refuses to wear glasses that keep falling off, parents who invest in these Tuga sunglasses can easily tighten the strap to fit perfectly and then enjoy the time outside with their family.
Unlike some sunglasses, these Tuga sunglasses have stretchy straps that are made from a very comfortable neoprene. Thanks to the Velcro on the straps, they are very easy for parents to not only adjust as the child grows, but also to put on and take back off. Additionally, there are two straps included with each purchase of sunglasses. The smaller straps are best for children who are infants to two years old, while the larger straps will easily fit up to five years, or a 21” head circumference. The straps only take a few minutes to switch, ensuring eye protection for years.
The lenses included in these sunglasses are designed to block 100% of all UVB and UVA rays, resulting in perfect safety for children and easily protecting their sensitive eyes from damage. Additionally, the material of the lenses won’t crack, which is a great safety feature to protect a child.
Since the glasses come in a convenient carrying case that matches the color selection, it’s easy for parents to keep them ready for impromptu trips to the beach or the park. The case is very lightweight and zips shut to ensure that the sunglasses are always protected. Finally, since there are so many different colors to choose from, children will be able to pick their favorite color. Most parents know that this can greatly reduce the frustration that kids feel when wearing glasses and make them much happier to protect their eyes.
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6. Fun Little Toys Sand Toy Set
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This is another nice little sand toy set to go with, one that is a little bit more high end than the previous option, but it does come with a couple of extra pieces too. This sand toy set is bright, colorful, and comes with everything your kids need for a day of fun in the sand.
This is a really nice 19-piece beach toy set to go with. The Fun Little Toys Sand Toy Set comes with a neat water wheel, many different rakes, shovels, and sifters, a bucket, molds for various shapes, and much more. There is more than enough included here to keep your kids busy while you relax in the sun. We like how all of the toys here are made with good plastic. It is durable and hard so you know that it won’t break even if your kids drop the toys or step on them.
At the same time, the Fun Little Toys Sand Toy Set is made without any BPA materials, thus making it non-toxic and safe for your kids to play with for hours at a time. It is not like this is an overly special or fancy beach sand toy kit, but it comes with lots of cool little parts, they are colorful, and they are all quite durable too. To make things a little easier for the parents out there, the Fun Little Toys Sand Toy Set comes complete in a mesh carrying bag for easy transportation.
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7. Toddler Boys' 2-Piece Swimsuit Trunk and Rashguard
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Immediately your baby boy graduates from swim diapers, a new exciting world of adorable swimsuits opens up. These Toddler Boy’s 2-Piece Swimsuit Trunk and Rashguard from the famous brand Simple Joys by Carter’s will be an excellent addition to your little guy’s swimwear collection.
While the fabric content varies by size and color, the 2-part swimsuit is made using lightweight and stretchy fabrics. This makes the swimsuit an ideal choice for toddlers who are constantly on the go, as both the trunk and Rashguard can easily stretch as your child runs along the beach and bends down to make sandcastles. The designs are simply adorable, with the Rashguard featuring a color block design and the trunk coming in cool patterns and prints that are easy on the eye.
Your toddler cannot be comfortable when all sweaty at the beach. The good thing about this swimsuit is that both the trunk and Rashguard have a breathable mesh lining that helps keep your son cool and comfortable under the hot sun.
Since the tastefully designed boy’s 2-piece swimsuit is made using lightweight material, it is easy to wash. You can hand wash it for a sparkling clean look that will leave the swimsuit looking as good as new.
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8. Girls' 2-Piece Rashguard Set
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If you have a little princess, there is no perfect way of keeping her looking and feeling beautiful at the poolside than with this swimsuit. The Toddler Girl’s 2-Piece Rashguard Set is an excellent choice for girls from the famous and trusted brand, Simple Joys by Carter’s.
The 2-piece Rashguard set is available in different sizes, including 5, 2T, 3T, 4T, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months. The swimsuit is also available in different color combinations that happen to be every girl’s favorite. The two pieces also feature flattering design elements such as raffles.
You’ll be happy to know that the Rashguard comes with a roomy neck hole that makes it fairly easy to get on and off. The bottom is reasonably high-waisted, which makes it perfect for an active youngster that will be engaged in a lot of playtime on the beach or at the pool.
After a long day at the beach, the swimsuit is bound to get dirty. You want the swimsuit to be easy to wash. Thankfully, the Toddler Girl’s 2-Piece Rashguard Set can be easily hand washed.
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9. Brim Sun Protection Hat
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With this Brim Sun Protection Hat from i Play, you won’t have to worry about the harmful UV rays whenever your baby is venturing outdoors. This hat is designed to protect your baby’s head, eyes and neck all day long.
Besides providing the protection that your baby needs while under the sun, this Brim Sun Protection Hat is also very comfortable to wear. It comes with a breathable liner that has wicking properties. It also helps that the UPF 50+ material dries quickly once it gets wet. This helps to keep your baby dry and comfortable when it is hot.
Of what use is a hat that keeps falling off as the baby goes about his or her activities? A good protection hat is one that is designed to stay on. The Brim Sun Protection Hat from i Play is a perfect example of a good hat as it comes with a tie strap that ensures that the hat stays in place. What’s more is that the hat comes with an adjustable toggle that creates a custom fit as your baby grows.
One of the aspects that set products from i Play, including the Brim Sun Protection Hat, is the fact that the company uses safer natural materials and avoids harmful substances when making all of its products. This gives you the peace of mind knowing that your child will be wearing a hat that will not put his or her skin and overall health at risk.
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10. Long Sleeve Rashguard Shirt
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Wearing a long sleeve rashguard is an extremely effective way to prevent your baby’s skin from abrasions while on the beach, at the poolside, or when venturing in outdoor activities. What makes this Long Sleeve Rashguard Shirt from i Play an ideal choice is that it covers the sensitive areas of your child’s body.
This rashguard shirt is made using UPF 50+ materials that are quite effective in preventing the sun’s harmful rays from getting to the sensitive skin underneath. When your child is wearing this rashguard shirt, you don’t have to worry about your child experiencing the negative effects of UV rays.
The Long Sleeve Rashguard Shirt from i Play is available in various sizes, which makes it easy for you to choose the size that can fit your child. There are also a variety of cool colors to choose from, which makes it easy for you to pair the shirt with your kid’s other outfits.
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Final Thoughts
A trip to the shore requires the right beach gear for everyone in your family. Along with beach toys, beach play yard sets, and family beach games, there are plenty of other quality products on the market to make your experience one you’ll remember forever. Use this guide to choose the right items for your adventure, and get lounging on the sea’s shore with your family in no time!
Has this guide for the best beach gear helped you find the ultimate products for your toddler? We invite you to share your thoughts and adventures with us in the comment section below!
Megan Jones leads the editorial staff of Seaside Planet. They are a multidisciplinary team of outdoor adventurers, water sports lovers, and passionate beach goers. You can learn more about Meg and the rest of the editorial team here.