Summer is my jam. It’s easier for me to venture outside, and when it’s really hot you can find us at the beach or sitting in the sun in our backyard cooling off in our kiddie pool. No matter what spot you find us sunbathing in, you can bet we have a bag packed full of necessities and extras to keep from having to walk back and forth from outside to the house, or from the beach to the car.
Here is my go-to list of essentials for my beach bag all summer long!
Mom’s must haves…
- Epionce Daily Shield Tinted SPF 50 Sunscreen because you shouldn’t be using anything else on your face, you are an adult. You will be happy you splurged on this one shade blend, it works with most skin types and tones. This sunscreen is also waterproof for up to 80 minutes.
- Jane Iredale Lip Drink SPF15 Lip Balm. This balm comes in 7 shades, so if color isn’t your thing you can snag sheer. I currently have Buff and with my natural lip color you can’t tell I have anything on either. You can get 15% off your first purchase by subscribing to Jane Iredale! This brand offers a lot of makeup with SPF as well as tinted moisturizers. No better way to keep the wrinkles at bay than getting makeup that does double duty!
- A Backpack folding chair because you have only so many arms. We found one that looked like a pineapple at Target last year on the cheap. The kids don’t need a chair, but mom and dad might! If you are nursing a baby you may find it’s easier to sit in a chair rather than sitting on a beach towel worrying about sand getting everywhere.
- A swimsuit you feel confident in: once piece, two piece, high waisted, cheeky, whatever you fancy, ROCK IT.
- A beach hat, I found this cute hat from Costco last year and it looks like it’s back in stock for the Summer!
Kid must haves…
- Sun Bum Sunscreen is our favorite because it is unscented and it’s not greasy like other sunscreen formulas. This sunscreen is also vegan, gluten free, cruelty free, reef safe, sulfate and paraben free. Sun Bum also has a Baby Bum’s sunscreen spray and face stick.
- Snacks: I like to keep things simple on snacks because my oldest is usually too distracted to eat because he’s having so much fun. We occasionally pack snacks in an insulated lunch bag with ice packs or bring a small cooler. Our staple snacks include applesauce pouches, That’s It bars, Made Good granola bars, fresh fruit (like watermelon), Pirate’s Booty, crackers or chips (individual bags make snacking easy). We also pack a big water jug or individual reusable bottles to quench our thirst.
- Cash for the ice cream truck, because it always seems to make an appearance when we go to the beach.
- Big beach towel for everyone to sit on and a few regular towels for everyone to dry off with.
- Sun hats and/or sunglasses to help protect the kids from the sun. Target has some great bright options for the season, but you can also stick to baseball caps and whatever else you have around the house for the kids.
- Floaties shaped like donuts or that look like animals are always a fan favorite. Target has got you covered here too!
- Sand and water toys, a bucket and some shovels will do, you don’t have to go overboard here. Hit up garage sales or the dollar store if you don’t have any sand toys yet!
Once your summer beach bag is packed, be sure to check out a local beach or a splash pad to enjoy with the family. The Twin Cities Park Finder is a great resource! Also, if you are in need of some backyard water experiences, hit the stores now before everything is sold out! Hopefully, manufacturers have had plenty of time to restock since 2020 is over. You should be able to find pools, water tables, sand boxes, trampolines, sprinklers and slip ‘n slides more easily now. You may even want to stop at garage sales as you see them around town because I’m sure there are people getting rid of their COVID backyard summer purchases this year!
