Going to the beach with kids is a lot of fun. It’s also a lot of work. Make your upcoming beach visit a breeze with these little-known, yet super-useful hacks.
1. Bring Baby Powder
“Bring baby powder to help get sand off so you can put sunscreen on,” says Hilarye Reid of Dotting the Map.
2. Bring a Sand Mit
Another great way to remove sand? Sand mits! Simply slip them on and wipe everybody down before you go back to the car or house.
3. Use an IKEA Bag
“IKEA bags are a beach family’s best friend,” says Kristin Reinhard of Swiss Family Travel. The bags are large enough to carry all of your beach essentials and cheap enough that you can buy several if needed!
Related: The Ultimate Beach Bag: 9 Best Beach Bags for Moms and Families
4. Put Your Valuables in a Diaper
“Wrap your valuables in a diaper,” says Keri Hedrick of Our Globetrotters. “If you’re going to be leaving your beach gear unattended while you’re in the water, it’s the last place anyone will think to look.”
5. Bring Balloons
Ever gone to play in the water or for a stroll to find seashells and forgotten where your stuff was? Lisa DiDomenico Cameron of Adventures in Familyhood suggests bringing balloons and tying them to your beach umbrella or beach chairs to avoid that. Balloons can also be useful when you or your little ones get water stuck in your ears—blowing into a balloon can help open up the Eustachian tubes.
6. Make Your Own Frozen Water Bottle
Another great tip from Adventures in Familyhood: fill up a water bottle halfway and lay it on its side in the freezer overnight. Before you go to the beach, fill up the remaining portion with water and you’ll have ice-cold water for hours. Insulated water bottles are also a great option for this.
7. Put Your Devices in Sandwich Bags
Don’t let the sand and moisture get into the nooks and crannies of your smartphone or ereader. Instead, put your devices in sandwich bags or freezer bags to protect them from the elements. We also recommend these waterproof pouches for smartphones.
8. Bring a Fitted Sheet
Many people are aware of the genius fitted sheet trick, but it’s too good not to keep sharing. Pack a fitted sheet to create your own sand-free beach blanket; simply put other beach gear, such as your cooler and beach bag, inside each corner of the sheet to create a barrier from the sand. You can also buy a sand-free beach blanket.
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