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
The most important thing is something to sit on. A towel is great but a big blanket is much nicer. 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.
- OUTDOOR BLANKET - The Vista Picnic Blanket & Tote by Oniva, a Picnic Time brand is a large outdoor blanket for life’s best adventures
- LARGE PICNIC BLANKET - Measuring 59 by 51 inches when open, there’s plenty of room for 2, 4, and more - the whole family can comfortably set up for a picnic
- TOTE-ALLY PICNIC READY - This durable beach blanket folds up into an easy to carry 12.75 by 16.5 inch tote with adjustable carrying strap and extra large pocket to hold personal items
- EASY CLEAN - This rugged camping picnic blanket is fully machine washable and you can even put it in the dryer! With such easy cleanup, this camp blanket is your go-anywhere best picnic accessory
- BUILT TO LAST Lifetime Guarantee - Product quality backed by the Picnic Time Family of Brands, a family-owned business in California
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!!
- Sand Beach Toys: This beach toy pail and shovel set for kids contains 2 buckets, 2 shovels, 2 sand sifters, 2 rakes and 10 molds for toddlers beach toys for baby boys and girls kids 3+.
- Beach bag for kids toys: Storage backpack kids beach basket is perfect for fuss-free cleanup and travel with our durable beach buckets for kids. Sand beach toys by TOYLI provides hours of engaging play!
- High Quality Materials is a Top Priority for TOYLI, so our Sand Toys Set is 100% kid friendly, safe, BPA-free, designed for 3-9 year old kids' hands to play. Beach sand toy set is CPSIA & ASTM tested.
- Encourages Creative Play: Looking for sand boxes toys for kids? Outdoor is more fun with our sand toys for beach, which gives your child the tools they need to let their imagination run wild.
- Unique Appearance will grab the attention of children for a long time. Kids love TOYLI Beach Sand Toys Set for Birthday and Christmas gift for kids. Have a great time with kids beach toy set!
Collapsable Buckets
These three collapsible buckets are so awesome for taking to the beach. My kids LOVE them ever since we got them last year. I love them because they collapse down so they don’t take up as much space.
- 🌴Package Included- Each package includes 3 pieces collapsible bucket with 3 bright and vivid colors, with the foldable design, you can fold or unfold each sand bucket in seconds, it’s a great space saver, easy to carry and store in beach bag, backpack, suitcase etc.
- 🎀Premium Quality- Our beach bucket is mainly made of high-grade silicone materials, it is thick, soft and very sturdy, very hard to break, so you can use it for a long time.
- 🌻Multi-Purpose- All the edges of these sand buckets are smooth to touch, so you don't need to worry if it will hurt the hands of your kids. These beach toys are not only for kids to play sand and water, but also excellent for fishing, camping, gardening, household cleaning, car washing, dog feeding etc.
- 🍄Size Information- The capacity of each sand pail is about 2L (0.5 Gallon), with the size: upper diameter 7.5 inch, bottom diameter 4.3 inch and 6.1 inch in height, these beach buckets are neither too small or too large for kids to play with.
- 🎁Perfect Gift- Our beach buckets for kids can also be used in the snow, backyard gardening and in your kid’s sandbox. Adorable and novel appearance sand toys can promote the cognitive and imaginative skills of your kids, perfect beach toys for 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 10 years old boys and girls.
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.
- CAT CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES: 7 Inch Kid Powered Caterpillar Toy Construction Vehicle Set Of 3. Set Includes A Toy Dump Truck, Wheel Loader And Excavator toy. Great toys for 3 year old boys.
- MOVING PARTS: Each Cat Construction Vehicle Features Articulated Parts For Real Caterpillar Construction Action. These are ideal kids toys.
- QUALITY YOU CAN TRUST: Cat toys are built to last and can be used indoors or outdoors.
- IDEAL GIFT: This toy truck is the perfect birthday or Christmas present for children, providing hours of fun for budding builders to take charge of their own construction site and get hauling sand, rocks and anything else they can imagine!
- LEARNING AND EDUCATION TOYS: CAT toys and vehicles are toys for boys and girls that enjoy building toys! Great gifts for kids 2 and up, as an alternative to dolls, dinosaur toys or a train set.
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.
- Large Mesh Beach Bag: The oversized mesh beach bag has plenty of space for water bottles, towels, sunblock, and toys. This xl tote net bag is big enough for 5 people in a family to storage their stuff for a day at the swimming swim pool or beach.
- 8 Deep & Big Pockets: One of the many attributes that make this product one of the most-sought-after mesh beach bags is the abundance of deep and big pockets that keeps every item separated. Inside the bag is the zippered pocket so users can safely keep their phones, keys, or any other valuables.
- Lightweight and Top Quality: This is one of the large mesh beach bags that withstand intense wear and tear from the sea, sand, children, etc. Lightweight will reduce the weight of the package and make it easier to carry.
- Easy Cleaning and Dries Fast: The mesh beach bag dries up quickly and sand fall off through the meshes so you can easy clean up when you get home.
- Foldable: This mesh beach bag is highly foldable, making its storage pretty easy and simple. Package include the Top-grade storage bag，Luggage tag
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.
- Quality Material: Our beach towel is made of 100% high quality polyester, which will give you super soft and comfortable feeling when touching it. Thanks to its special material, it’s much more lightweight than traditional cotton beach towel.
- Classic Pattern: Cabana stripe element will never be out of date. Compared with those plain colored towels, Cabana striped beach towel is more classic and brighter. Besides, it reflects more generousness and simpleness than that from towels with various patterns, which makes you and your family striking in the crowd.
- Durability without Fading: The high quality polyester is a kind of microfiber, which guarantees that our towels are more durable, lighter and thinner compared with cotton towels. It could easily wipe away the moisture on your skin to keep you fresh and clean instantly.
- Multi-purpose Towel: Lightweight but oversized, the beach towel definitely meets your needs whoever you are. Along with multi use, it is ideal for beach, gym, yoga, vacation and shower time. Whether you are doing exercise indoor or having a good time outdoor, the towel could be your company that care you most.
- Easy Care: Machine wash with low temperature water. Wash separately from other clothes and keep away from fire. Don’t bleach and iron.
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. $16.99 for 6 containers is a good deal in my mind. 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.
- Keep Food Fresh: Great Meal Prep Lunch Box to keep your food fresh and meal preps easy.
- Safety: The container and the lid are made by BPA-Free and Food-Grade Safe PP materials.
- Reusable/ Durable/ Stackable : The container is designed to stackable in the freezer or lunch bag, with leaking-proof and air tight lid.
- Microwave / Freezer / Dishwasher Safe On Top Rack: Withstand temperature from -40°F to 320°F (Or -40°C to 160 °C)
- USPTO Patent No: US 2018/0086500 A1
Beach Umbrella
To be honest, I’ve never had my own beach umbrella but it sounds amazing. This one 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.
- Heavy-duty sand anchor to secure umbrella in high winds. Built in, flip down handles to easily turn auger.
- Vent located on the top increases its wind tolerance and stability in windy conditions.
- Secure, locking push button tilt feature, allows for easy adjusting to the moving sun.
- Oxford fabric with UPF 50+ sun protection from 99% of intensive ultraviolet rays. Carry bag included for easy storage and movement.
- Strong aluminum top pole and strong steel bottom pole with zinc tilt, extra strong 8 fiberglass support ribs, resist wind better, Last longer.
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!
- Built-in cooler: Keeps up to 4 cans cold and easily accessible
- Hours of comfort: Thanks to fully cushioned seat and back
- Convenient features: Side pockets, mesh cup holder, adjustable arm heights
- Dimensions: 24 inches wide; 18.1 inches high
- Built to last: Strong steel frame supports up to 325 pounds
- Carry bag: Included
- Built in arm rest cooler holds up to four cans
- Mesh cup holder keeps a fifth drink at hand
- Storage pocket to keep magazines and personal items
- Adjustable arm rest heights
- Durable construction, heavy duty steel frame supports up to 300 lbs.
- Compact, folds up to fit inside most car trunks
- Carry bag for easy transport and storage
- 1 year limited warranty
Clip On Adjustable Umbrella
If you don’t want to have the HUGE 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).
- UPF 50 PLUS PROTECTION. The Versa-brella is a clamp-on shade canopy umbrella that offers UPF 50 plus protection to help keep skin safe from 99.5% of UVA and UVB rays
- RUGGED COVER AND DURABLE CONNECTOR. The rugged canopy cover won’t rip or tear; a heavy-duty universal clamp connects to square and tubular surfaces and ensures a secure hold on golf bags, beach chairs, or even bleachers
- ADJUSTS TO ANY ANGLE: The 4-way, 360-degree swivel and 2 push button hinges allows the Versa-brella to be adjusted to any angle to block the sun
- EASY TRANSPORT FOR EASY PROTECTION. The Versa-Brella conveniently folds into a compact carrying case, weighing only 1.8 pounds, so it can be taken anywhere.
- HAVE NO FEAR. From the beach to the sidelines, the Versa-Brella lets you stay committed to your team, family, and friends, while keeping your skin protected against the sun
- 1 year Limited manufacturer's Warranty
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!
- 100% GOOD FOR YOU & YOUR FAMILY: A lightweight & hypoallergenic sunblock for extra sensitive skin; Water resistant and perfect for babies, kids and adults alike
- FORMULATED FOR EXTRA SENSITIVE SKIN: This sunscreen contains non-nano zinc oxide to provide you with 80 minutes of water and sweat resistant coverage; Fragrance free
- MINERAL FORMULA: Specially formulated to naturally protect your skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays, this sunblock is oxybenzone and octinoxate free; Enriched with Babo's organic Nutri-Soothe Complex. Reef friendly
- NO HARSH CHEMICALS OR IRRITANTS: Hypoallergenic to reduce the risk of allergic reactions; Gluten, soy, dairy, peanut, almond and walnut free; Made in USA and B Corp Certified
- GENTLE ENOUGH FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY: Apply liberally to exposed areas 15 minutes before sun exposure; Reapply at least every two hours, after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating immediately after towel drying
- GOOD FOR YOUR BABY: A fast-absorbing, non-whitening and lightweight sunblock for very sensitive skin. Water resistant and perfect for babies.
- FORMULATED FOR VERY SENSITIVE SKIN: This sunscreen is specifically developed with zinc to provide you with 80 minutes of water and sweat resistant coverage. Fragrance free.
- ZINC-BASED, MINERAL FORMULA: Specially formulated to naturally protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays, this sunblock is oxybenzone and octinoxate free.
- HAWAII COMPLIANT: Mineral sunscreen. Free of oxybenzone and octinoxate.
- NO HARSH CHEMICALS OR IRRITANTS: Dermatologist tested to reduce risk of allergic reaction. Clinically tested and rated number #1 in safety by Environment Working Group (EWG). Gluten, dairy, peanut, almond,walnut free. Made in USA and B Corp Certified.
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!
- STAYS COLD: THERMOS vacuum insulation technology keeps drinks cold for up to 12 hours. Our kids water bottles are built so their drinks are as cool on the inside as they look on the outside. Not for hot liquids
- DURABLE FOR DAILY USE: High quality 18/8 stainless steel construction is built to handle drops, dings and assorted roughhousing. You can pop your FUNTAINER water bottle in the dishwasher, though washing by hand is recommended
- KID-FRIENDLY DESIGN: Choose from a variety of fun colors or patterns! This water bottle is lightweight and compact with a push button lid so it’s easy to carry and open. The integrated carry handle features a soft touch grip
- HYGIENIC COVERED SPOUT: Help keep germs away with a hygienically covered spout
- PROTECT WHAT YOU LOVE: This THERMOS KIDS gear is made with durable, dishwasher safe materials meant to keep lunch and drinks how they like them. The lunchtime puzzle is officially solved
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!
- QUICK HYDRATION WITH AUTOPOP TECHNOLOGY: Lid pops up for easy drinking and seals shut for no leaks when you're on the go
- QUENCH YOUR THIRST: Wide mouthpiece is ideal for quick, easy drinking
- VACUUM-INSULATED: Drinks stay cold for 24 hours thanks to the double-wall vacuum-insulated stainless steel
- LOCK IT IN: Button lock ensures the top doesn’t open accidentally
- CARRY ON: Integrated handle makes it easier and more comfortable to pick up and go
More Water Bottle Recommendations
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.