10 Beach Bag Essentials You Need This Summer

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Summer is finally almost here and I don't know about you but I cannot wait to be back at the beach, sun on my skin, sand in my toes and the sound of the waves crashing around me. The beach is definitely my happy place and both my children love it at the seaside too. But preparing for a day at the beach takes some preparation, even more so if you are taking children too. There is a fine line between packing too much and having to haul it around with you and not enough so you end up having to scramble around and purchase things once you arrive. 

However with a bit of planning ahead and preparation you can ensure you have everything you need for a day at the beach without any stress. To help with this we have put together a handy list which contains some beach bag essentials that will make your day at the beach easy, fun and stress free. 

Sun Cream / Sun Protection 

One of the most important things to remember when you are spending any time in the sun is sun protection. It doesn't matter if you are young or old, spending one hour or all day, sitting in the shade or sun, everyone needs sun cream/ sun protection when spending time outdoors in the sun. Factor 50+ is highly recommended and should be used for babies and children always. 

Whilst considering sun protection, if you have young children OR you are particularly sensitive to the sun it may be worth purchasing a simple pop up UV sun shelter. It can help provide some relief from the sun, especially in mid day and provides a shady spot for things like relaxing, changing or eating. 

Swimwear 

If your heading down to the beach don't forget your swimwear for that cooling dip in the sea! Even if you don't plan on taking a dip, your swimwear is perfect for wearing on the beach as it will keep you nice and cool unlike layers of clothing. If you don't feel 100% confident in just your swimwear you could always consider a sarong or kaftan as a cover up. For children keep an eye out for handy UV swim suits for added protection in the sun. 

Quick Dry Towel 

Towels are a must down at the beach but they can be bulky and heavy especially once wet and sandy! Quick dry towels or microfibre type towels are perfect as not only are they smaller and much less bulky they dry super fast, repel the sand are still just as absorbent as a standard towel perfect for the beach and to double up as a blanket to sit on too. 

Sunglasses 

Once the sunshine hits it can be piercing and bright, not only will you be grateful for a pair of sunglasses to keep the sun out of your eyes, but they can actually protect your eyes and vision from direct sunlight too. Don't forget both kids and adults as all will benefit from a little extra shade from the midday sun. 

Headphones & Music/Podcast's 

As enticing as the sea and sand can be, sometimes kids might need some down time. It might be from all the excitement, needed to recoup come energy from all the swimming and running around or just time to cool off from the heat. Whatever the reason, a great way for kids to relax is listening to some music or stories on a tablet or phone device using child friendly headphones such as those from JLAB  kids Jbuddies headphones range as they are wireless and have a battery life of 13+ hours so plenty for a full day out.  You could pre-download podcasts or movies etc onto a device so you don't need to rely on an internet connection too. 

If you are alone and don't have kids with you its still worth considering downloading a few podcasts or ebooks, throwing on some headphones and shades, to enjoy whilst you sit back and relax. 

Change of Clothes 

Most people will head to the beach swim ready which is a great idea as it means you can get stuck in as soon as your arrive, but don't forget your spare change of clothes for the trip home too. Try and make it something really simple and easy to put on too as you will likely be covered in a mixture of sea, sand and ocean water! We often take things like over the head dresses, elasticated shorts and baggy t-shirt for ease and comfort. 

Sunhat 

It doesn't matter whether you think a sun hat looks cool or not (and believe me, nobody will be judging), because burning your scalp or head can be excruciatingly painful! People often sun cream up but forget about the sun beating down on their heads all day long, a hat is a simple yet effective way of protecting your head. It can also head shade your eyes from the sun so you aren't squinting and protect you from headaches too. 

Food and Drink 

Snacks, snacks and more snacks, if you have ever been on a day trip with kids this will probably be second nature now, but its always worth remembering to take plenty of snacks and drinks for a day out at the beach. Not only does playing at the beach work up quite an appetite but you need to be drinking plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated too. People often make the mistake of assuming they can buy food and drink at their location but this isn't always the case. Small beach cafes and stalls often sell out or close earlier and you never know how nearby they will actually be! 

Cooler or Cool box 

With the above in mind with regards to snacks and drinks, if you can carry one or you are able to throw everything into a wagon/trolley a cool box or bag packed with plenty of ice or frozen drinks is the perfect ay to ensure you have cold refreshing drinks and cold food all day long. A little tip to save room in a cool is to actually freeze some of your drink beforehand to act as the ice. This way you aren't taking up room in the cooler with ice blocks and you will have super cold defrosted drinks at the end of your beach trip.

Flip Flops/Sliders

Trainers or shoes always seem like a good idea, until the end of the day comes and everyone is trying to put back on their shoes and socks with wet or sandy feet, it isn't easy or comfortable that's for sure. However, having a handy pair of flip flops or sliders to wear to the beach beach you can just slip your shoes on and off whenever you need to. Perfect also if you have kids who might want to visit shops, get ice cream or go to the toilet during the day too. 

If like us your love visiting the beach as a family but always seem to have so much stuff to take with you, I can highly recommend investing in a couple of decent rucksacks or even a pull along wagon which you can chuck everything in and pull along. 

What are your beach bag essentials? Let us know in the comments below. 

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