Kids’ clothing: What to wear and what to carry for summertime fun at the beach

Summertime is the perfect time for family vacations, outdoor adventures, and backyard parties. And when you’re ready to hit the beach, you’ll need the perfect outfit and things to make it a fun day. The clothing chosen can make all the difference in a child’s experience at the beach.

Here are some tips for things to carry for summertime fun!

Dress them lightly

It’s best to dress kids lightly when going to the beach. Go for simple, light, and easy outfits and keep the layers at a minimum. There’s no need a the onesie under toddler beachwear – the name of the game is to keep cool!

For little girls, a simple sleeveless dress makes getting dressed a breeze and lets them freely play at the beach. For the boys, a simple sleeveless shirt and shorts made from light material will allow them to play and walk easily – and the same can apply for girls. Alternatively, a child of either sex can be dressed in a beautiful kaftan for kids, which is light and perfect for a day at the beach.

Don’t forget the sunscreen

Health professionals will tell any parent “Never forget sunscreen for your kids.” There are special ones sold at the stores specifically for babies and young children, and though it can be a task to apply, it should never be skipped. Research shows that sunburn as a child can make the skin more vulnerable to skin cancer when they become an adult.

Most experts recommend physical barrier sunscreens that contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide over chemical sunscreens because they work better at protecting against both UVA and UVB rays, plus they start working immediately.

The sunscreen should be applied generously on the skin, concentrating on the area exposed to the sun at the beach, and it’s important to to keep reapplying the sunscreen every two hours to ensure maximum protection as the sun breaks the barrier after two hours of exposure and water will not help. Parents can make it fun by making a song or a game to ensure they are applying and reapplying the sunscreen when at the beach.

Buy sun-blocking clothes

When the plan is to spend hours outside at the beach and exposed for longer periods, one can buy clothes that contain sun protection, called UPF. Such outfits are perfect for long days at the beach or out in the sune, especially during the summer.

Get an outfit rated UPF 15 because it will allow only 1/15th of the sun’s harmful rays to pass through. If you find outfits with a higher UPF rating, that’s even better to block out even more harmful rays. Nowadays, there are also sun blocking detergents available which you can add to your laundry as sunscreen.

Full UV protection sunglasses and hats

Even if when the kids’ sunscreen and protective clothing is on, they will also need protection for their eyes. The glare from the ocean and the sand at the beach is intense and can damage their eyes if they are constantly exposed to it.

Parents and carers should ensure they buy wide-brimmed hats for the kids and sunglasses with UV protection. There are always fun-looking ones in the shops, such as with cartoon themes, which will encourage the kids to keep them on while at the beach, ensuring their protection.

Remember to carry a change of clothes

The kids will play in the water and with the sand, and they will get sandy and wet. Once they get tired and ready to head back home, they will need to be changed into clean, dry clothes. It would help to pack a set of extra outfits for them to avoid them sitting in the car with sand and water – plus if they stay in wet clothes too long, they may catch a cold when the sun goes down.

Wet clothes can be hung on beach chairs or even rocks to dry so that the sand can easily be shaken off, or they can be packed them in bags so that they don’t drip water while in the carryall.

Don’t forget to pack towels

A towel should be packed for each person at the beach to use, so that getting cleaned up and dry at the end of the trip is a breeze. It’s a good idea to remember to hang them out to dry while at the beach or soon after arriving home, rather than leaving them crumpled up somewhere in a heap or in the bag.

There are different themed kids’ towels available, from their favourite cartoon to those with fun patterns and animal prints, which will encourage them to look after their own towels, ensuring they’re hung to dry and packed when leaving the beach.

It might also be worth considering hooded towels: not only do they offer more coverage and protection, but they will also keep the kids warm.

Carry baby powder

After swimming and playing in the sand, the kids will be covered with sand. Carrying baby powder comes in handy at this time to help remove all the sand from their skin. Better to leave it at the beach than let it end up in the car or, worse, in the bathroom at home.

Carry a cooler

Hydration is important on a sunny day at the beach, so it’s essential to carry a cooler and pack enough water for the adults and the kids to drink while at there. Even better, some icepacks can be thrown in, or iced water bottles to keep the others cool and drink once they start to melt.

Snacks with a high water content can be included in the cooler, and it’s a good idea to pack sandwiches to eat at lunch or when the kids get hungry. Some cookies, chips, fruit or popcorn will also be a must because after playing and swimming all day, they will definitely be ravenous.

Finally, the kids can hunt down a shady spot to place the cooler in so that everything stays cold for longer.

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