Baby Swimming
When Can Babies Go to the Beach? Safety Tips & Kit
5 min. Read
All you need to know to make those first beach trips ones to remember.
When can you take a baby to the beach?
"Can I take my 3 month old to the beach?"
- Joe, Dad to Rory
A great question. The good news is there's no age limit for a beach trip. Exposure to the natural world, the benefits of sunshine, the effects of sea air, and the sounds of waves at naptime mean the seaside can have a positive impact from an early age. But there are important things to consider before you plan on taking your baby to the beach.
4 ways to stay safe on the beach with your baby
You want to make sure that when you and your newborn go to the beach for the first time, it's as safe as possible. Here are a few tips on how you can protect them.
| Safety tip | What to do |
| Go early or later in the day | Avoid the sun at its hottest (11am-3pm). Protect your baby with a wide-brim hat, sun umbrella, full-body UV rash suit and a quality baby sunscreen of at least SPF 30. Apply 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapply after a dip in the sea. |
| Never leave your baby near water unattended | Even after a few baby swim lessons, your little one is far from a competent swimmer. Always monitor them while they play near the water. |
| Be careful of the sand | Sand can contain sharp stones, glass and rubbish swept in by the tide, so keep a watchful eye. Waterproof shoes help, especially if sand gets hot. |
| Keep aware of where your little one is | Beaches are one big playground. A mobile toddler can cover a lot of ground, so don't take your eyes off them. |
What to take to the beach with a baby: 8 essentials
So now you know what age a baby can go to the beach and how to keep them safe, what should you bring with you?
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- Sunscreen - a quality brand that's at least SPF 30 and suitable for baby's sensitive skin.
- Sun hat - pick a style with a wide brim to shade your baby's neck and eyes.
- Huggies® Little Swimmers® to take care of any little accidents, made with an absorbent material that doesn't swell in water.
- Beach parasol or tent - shade is really important to provide young children with much-needed shelter from the sun.
- Change of clothes - pack clean, dry clothes and a few extra layers.
- Towels - one to sit on, one to dry with.
- Drinks and snacks - plenty of liquid, especially on a warm day, and a good supply of snacks for your busy beach baby.
- Wipes - useful for cleaning up after a roll in the sand, a sticky ice cream and a nappy change.
6 nice-to-haves for the beach with your newborn
Ok, you have the essentials, but what else should you bring if you have the room?
- Swimwear - the fun Disney graphics on Huggies® Little Swimmers® mean swimwear isn't essential, but a cute cossie helps cover your baby's delicate skin.
- A UV rash suit is a practical way to protect your baby's skin from the sun's rays (you'll still need sunscreen).
- A bucket and spade, ball and other durable toys for extra entertainment.
- Big blanket, with room for everyone to stretch out and relax.
- Camera to record those magical beach outings.
- Waterproof footwear to protect little feet from sharp stones and hot sand.
5 beach games to play with toddlers
We all love to have fun at the beach, especially our resident parents. Here are some of their go-to beach activities for your next visit.
| Game | How to play |
| Sand art | Use fingers, a stick or a spade to draw lines and shapes in the sand. Start with familiar shapes to get your little one's interest, then encourage them to have a go. |
| Catch me if you can! | A game of running, carrying or toddling from the incoming waves provides endless fun for a squealing tot, especially when someone gets wet. |
| Treasure hunt | Bury shells, pebbles and other beach objects together for your little one to dig up with their hands or a spade. Remember - X marks the spot! |
| Sand sculptures | Let your imagination run wild. You don't even need a bucket and spade, just use your hands. Wet sand holds better than dry, and shells and feathers make great decorations. |
| Beach bingo | Take your tot in search of different objects and animals found on the beach. Decide what to look for, then shout 'bingo!' when you make your discovery. |
Parent hacks for an easy beach day
Tried-and-tested tips from our parents to make beach trips with your baby a breeze.
| Hack | Parent tip |
| Start with shorter trips | We never did more than a few hours at a time on the beach when the babies were little. Less to pack, less sun exposure, and I could still stick to their sleep routines. - Carolyn |
| Try a blow-up paddling pool | Don't leave home without a small blow-up paddling pool and a beach umbrella. It helped our newly crawling son keep cool and stop him putting sand in his mouth. - Jessica |
| A buggy for the beach | We always found taking our buggy to the beach useful for loading up the bags and weary babies - but remember to drag it backwards across the sand, not forwards! - Amanda |
| Use cornflour for easy cleaning | A nursery teacher suggested using cornflour to remove sand from your toddler's legs and arms. It dries the skin so it's easy to wipe the sand off. - Sarah |
| Ice blast their meals | For hot days, I'd stick their food pouches in the freezer the night before - they'd go nice and slushy by the time we got to the beach (which helped sore teething gums too). - Clare |
Dive into a range of insightful content
Over the years, we've picked up a thing or two about parenting, and we want to share it all with you.
Discover an insightful range of articles, lists, tips and tricks designed to make playtime and adventure with your little one as exciting as possible. Whether you're looking for fun swimming games, or what swim bag essentials are needed for your first dip, we've got it covered.
Find out about Little Swimmers® Swim Pants
Kimberly-Clark makes no warranties or representations regarding the completeness or accuracy of the information. This information should be used only as a guide and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical or other health professional advice.
FAQs on when to take baby to beach
There's no age limit for a beach trip. Exposure to sunshine, sea air and the sounds of waves can have a positive impact from an early age, even for a 3-month-old. The key is to plan ahead and take sensible safety precautions to protect your baby.
Follow four key steps. Go early or later in the day to avoid peak sun (11am-3pm), never leave your baby near water unattended, watch out for sharp objects in the sand, and always keep aware of where a mobile toddler has wandered.
Use a quality baby sunscreen of at least SPF 30. Apply it 15 minutes before your baby is in the sun and reapply after a dip in the sea. Combine it with a wide-brim hat, a UV rash suit and a sun umbrella or parasol for full protection.
Pack eight essentials: sunscreen, a wide-brim sun hat, Huggies Little Swimmers, a beach parasol or tent, a change of clothes, towels, drinks and snacks, and wipes. Nice-to-haves include swimwear, a UV rash suit, toys, a blanket, a camera and waterproof footwear.
Only under constant, close supervision. Even after a few baby swim lessons, your little one is far from a competent swimmer, so never leave them near the water unattended and always monitor them while they play.
Try five simple games: sand art, a chase-the-waves game called catch me if you can, a buried treasure hunt, building sand sculptures, and beach bingo spotting different objects and animals. They need little or no equipment and keep toddlers entertained.
