Being the parent of a newborn can be really stressful at times. But hopefully our tips on how to keep a newborn cool at the beach will ease your mind so you can take some time to relax on the beach. (Because we all know you need it if you have a newborn!)
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1. Shade Cabana/ Tent
This is necessary for keeping your baby cool on the beach. You DO NOT want to be at the beach with a baby without something like this. I love it because it usually breaks the wind a little bit, provides shade, and they can comfortably lay down for a nap inside.
It is super compact, so it is easy to bring along on any beach vacation. In less than 5 minutes, it is set up and ready for your baby to enjoy. The little window flaps are nice too because you can let in more of a breeze if it’s warm inside the tent, or you can close them all up for relief from the wind and max sun protection.
When babies are so little, the best option is to keep them in the shade and out of direct sunlight, so this is why this is #1 on my list of things you need to keep your baby cool at the beach.
2. Sun hat & Sunglasses
Next on the list might be kind of obvious. A sunhat and baby sunglasses! You probably packed your favorite hat and sunglasses for the beach, so why wouldn’t baby get their own pair too?
I LOVE these little bucket hats. I think they are so cute. They are pretty gender neutral too, depending on the color you choose, so it could be passed down to the next child. (I always like making purchases that I know will be beneficial down the road. Kids are expensive!)
Those brand-new little eyes need protection from the sun too. The reflection off the water and white sand can be pretty intense! These cute little sunnies are perfect for babies 0-6 months old. I was surprised how well they actually fit my 3 month old. They really are made for small baby faces!
Here’s our cute boy in his pair of Sunnies at 3 months old!
3. Portable Fan
When it’s hot and your baby is stuck in an enclosed space, a portable fan can help keep them cool. We have one of these for every day use in summer here in Arizona, but I bring 2 of them when we go to the beach or pool. I have learned the hard way that if I forgot to charge the fan, it dies and then everyone is sweaty and fussy.
Babies don’t always love spending a ton of time in the water, or it can quickly become overwhelming for them. So if they are awake, water is a good way to cool them off for a bit. But then once they are back in the tent, stroller, car seat, or wagon, you will want them to still have some air flow. Young babies are especially sensitive to outdoor temperatures, they struggle to regulate on their own.
These fans are great because they can clamp onto anything. They are easy to charge too since it takes a type-C charger!
4. Long Sleeve Swimwear
The CDC guidelines urge you not to use sunscreen on your babies until at least 6 months of age. What are you supposed to do before theyre 6 months old?? Clothing with SPF and keeping them in the shade are the best options for keeping a newborn safe at the beach. Clothing is arguably the best sunscreen for anyone looking to stay protected from the sun!
The trick is to make sure the clothing you put your baby is in is breathable while still covering the most skin possible. Although swim trunks are super cute on babies, that alone wont do the trick. Make sure you also have a long sleeved rash guard to go with it. This material stays nice and cool, and it also dries out quickly. This set is super cute, as you can see on our son!
5. Shade Umbrella
To make things a little easier, bring a portable shade umbrella like this that has a universal clamp! Just like the portable fan, this can clamp onto anything you have with you on your trip to the beach with a newborn.
If you don’t want to set up the tent or sit in there because it is too stuffy one day, you can clip this onto your beach chair & still have shade for baby. We loved using it on the wagon as we walked around our resort from the beach to the pool.
6. Wagon
After this last trip to the beach, I was SOLD on needing a wagon. Maybe its the fact that we have 2 kids now too? But a wagon was so convenient for hauling all the beach gear. We had one of the cheaper wagons on Amazon that doesn’t have the large wheels and that was my only complaint. This one has the big wheels that are more capable of rolling through sand.
The reason I also loved having the wagon was because I could use it to transport baby around the resort! Instead of having a stroller or carrier, we used the beach towels as a soft platform for him to lay on in the wagon. We attached the shade umbrella and he was good to go!
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