Are you headed to the beach with your twins this summer? Here are some of our favorites to bring along to the beach to stay cool and keep our twins occupied.
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Beach Blanket
These are so great for the beach and beyond! We have two similar to this that zip up when we’re not using them and have a nice strap to carry it. We have a pink one and a red one, both with flowers for my boys and me. It’s actually nice to have something girly for once along with us. Ha!
This blanket is waterproof and sand proof so great for the beach or the park! We actually use ours in the front yard for picnics quite often as well. It’s machine washable and easy to zip up and stash away when you’re not using it. We keep both of ours in the van so it’s with us wherever we go.
Beach Toys
My kids LOVE digging in the sand and filling up buckets. They’re pretty young so don’t get the whole building a castle concept yet but they have fun all the same.
The beach set below is great if you have two kids because there are two buckets and a lot of other various toys.
Caution, let me tell you from experience, if you have more than two kids, get more buckets and shovels or you’ll have a beach fight on your hands!!
Collapsable Buckets
These three collapsible buckets are so awesome for taking to the beach. My kids LOVE them ever since we got them. I love them because they collapse down so they don’t take up as much space.
We aren’t the only ones that love them, we went to the beach with our friends recently and they have the same collapsible buckets!
Beach Construction Toys!
My boys LOVE anything construction and LOVE being able to use construction equipment in the sand! These are perfect as they can all work together, if they want, to complete the job.
We’ve even had other kids come up to us and ask to play with our construction toys, that’s how much kids love them at the beach. It’s fun to be able to move the sand around with construction vehicles.
Beach Bag
Now you’ve got all the toys, you’re going to need a beach bag that doesn’t keep all the sand in so as you walk back to your vehicle the sand trails behind you. Haha! This bag is amazing! It not only fits toys but it fits beach towels, water bottles, etc.
There are even outside pockets for water bottles which is really handy for my thirsty crew. It also comes in different colors.
I’ve found that I need more than one beach bag with my crew. One for towels, one for toys, one for food, etc.
The one below is amazing as it has a nice zipper, plenty of pockets, is huge, and you don’t have to show the whole beach what you have inside. lol
Beach Towels
Towels are always needed at the beach! Here is a colorful microfiber four-pack for a decent price. They also have different colors.
Bento Boxes
I had heard of Bento Boxes but hadn’t used them until recently. I needed something to easily transport meals for the kids and me when we’re out and I came across these. They each have three sections, one is big enough for a sandwich. I tend to put a sandwich in the big part, a granola bar or crackers in the second largest section, and fruit or a treat in the smallest section. It’s great having the different sections as that helps things not get soggy from each other, which is a problem we had in the past with other containers.
These are very sturdy and the kids love using them. There are 6 containers and different colored lids which is great for keeping track of whose is whose! Especially when food allergies are in the family, as they are in mine.
We use them at least every weekend as we tend to head out to a park, beach, or grandparent’s house over the weekend. We also use them for picnics during the week, sometimes even just out on the front yard. These 7 also stack up nice and compact when they aren’t in use.
Beach Umbrella
We just bought this beach umbrella and it’s been awesome to not have to rush to the beach to stake out one of the few umbrellas already there.
This beach umbrella has a great carrying case, comes in many different colors, can tilt if desired, and of course, screws into the ground to be steady. This umbrella will keep you cool and shaded as well as protect you from the sun with SPF 50.
Beach/Camping Chair
I really love having a big camping chair when I’m outside, whether it’s around the campfire or at the beach. Here is one that I love that has a cupholder plus a built in cooler! Often I use the cupholder for my coffee and I put my water in the cooler pouch, whether or not I have ice in it.
This one is also great because it has an area on the side for holding books or magazines! Maybe even a crossword puzzle or word find!
If you’d prefer a beach chair closer to the sand, which I’ve lately come to love when my friend let me use one of hers at the beach, I suggest this one. It has a carrying bag, is easy to set up, and is comfortable.
It even has a cup holder which is helpful for your water or iced coffee or even just to hold your phone to keep it out of the sand.
There are multiple colors and you can buy them individually or as a 2-pack!
Clip On Adjustable Umbrella
If you don’t want to have the big umbrella above and just want one for yourself, I highly suggest this one. I got one this summer to put on my camping chair and it has exceeded my expectations, by far!!
When my dad saw it in action, he bought two of them for him and my mom! We used them a lot at the beach when we went to a resort together this summer and I use mine a lot at home as well.
The Sport-Brella Versa-Brella adjusts in 3 areas to help block you from the sun’s harmful rays. The material is 50+ SPF and it attaches very securely to your chair with a universal adapter. It also folds up easily and has it’s own sleeve it goes into when not in use.
The Sport-Brella Versa-Brella comes in many different colors (notice that some vary in price).
Sunscreen
In our house, we like to use more natural products, as I’ve documented in blog posts such as My Favorite Natural Cleaning Products and How to Naturally Prevent and Neutralize Bug Bites. we also prefer to use more natural sunscreen. We’ve tried quite a few kinds throughout the years and have found that many are hard to spread and rub in without a chalky glow.
We have come to love the Goddess Garden brand which we can be found on Amazon.com, Target, and their website. We’ve used their Baby sunscreen for years and now also use their Kids’ sunscreen. It is mineral-based and therefore thicker than the traditional chemical-laden sunscreens so does need to be applied differently than chemical sunscreens.
Unfortunately, the Goddess Garden Brand isn’t always available on Amazon. My second choice would be Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen.
Tips for application
Ensure you, or the child, are ready to get sunscreen on (sounds stupid but if you have kids you know what I mean). Squeeze a small amount of sunscreen into your hands/fingers and rub them together before putting the sunscreen on the child or yourself. Try to do just one area at a time such as the face, an arm, a leg, etc. This will help ensure that the sunscreen doesn’t dry before fully rubbed in. It also helps a little go a long way!
Water Bottles
Water bottles are essential for any outdoor activity, especially the beach! Below are my favorite ones for kids and favorite one for adults. I also have a whole blog post about water bottles if you want to see more options that we’ve used and liked in the past.
Kids Water Bottles
We found that the water bottles with straws are great at being leak proof but they are a pain to clean every night with all the parts and places to check for mold, etc.
I came across these water bottles recently and LOVE them! They are easy to clean, they are stainless steel inside so they keep their water chilled and have a nice handle.
These water bottles hold 16 oz and come in several different colors and designs! One of my twins got the dinosaur one, the other got a pink and purple swirl one, and my oldest got the one pictured below, the space one. We used them on our vacation recently where we were at the beach most of the time and they were perfect! The kids were delighted at how long their water stayed chilled!
Adult Water Bottle
The Contigo Stainless Steel water bottle is spill proof, leak proof, keeps your water cold for hours, and is easy to clean. It also is slim so it’ll fit in cup holders and sides of backpacks.
The other day I used one of mine for cold brew coffee and milk and was amazed when 3 hours later it was still cold! I know it would have kept it colder longer but I was thirsty. Ha!
There are many different colors and sizes!
If you want a larger water bottle, this is my favorite large one, it’s still a Contigo but bigger.
More Water Bottle Recommendations
BONUS: Swimsuit for Mom
I haven’t felt comfortable in a swimsuit since having my twins as I have extra skin on my belly that only surgery can remove, and several extra pounds.
THIS swimsuit though, I absolutely adore!
I just bought it before going on a week long vacation at a beach in Northern MN and wore it most of the time I was there. It was so comfy and cute!!
There are many different designs to choose from, I got the ‘Blue Leaf’ color in medium (I’m 5’1″ and 130lbs)
Women's two piece swim dress bathing suits made of soft, stretchy and quick dry material, from high quality fabrics to precision stitching for ultimate comfort
As a mom of identical twins and a son two years older, I have gained invaluable experience in the realm, and chaos, of parenting. With a Master's Degree and Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology, I spent years as a school psychologist, helping children navigate through their educational and emotional challenges. Now as a stay at home mom and professional blogger, I combine my areas of expertise to help you in your parenting journey.