We are seasoned beach goers, and with four young kids it's crucial we pack smart, so that everyone has the things they need, while keeping the load manageable. Before we set off, we make sure the whole crew are ready in swimmers, boardies, rashies, hats and sunscreen. Plus, snacks (usually sambos and cut up fruit) and water are packed into a cotton bag and popped into our Sande Kids™ Beach Hauler. Here are our other top six essential Items;
Shade
Head to one of our famous beaches on a hot sunny day, and before you even see the Ocean, you'll be greeted with a sea of blue and white stripes - the Coolcabana and the first on our family essential list. We love our medium size, slightly less traditional, beige striped Coolcabana (RRP $189). It’s easy to set-up, offers plenty of shade for everyone and most of all, is compact and light to carry.
For shorter beach sessions we love to use our super cute, vintage-inspired Basil Bangs Weekend Beach Umbrella in Mineral (RRP $199.00). Providing enough shade for that whole 5-mins of time the kids actually decide to sit still and eat.
We have just exited the baby stage, but when our kids were babies, we would put them in their bouncers in a pop-up tent such as the Caribee Rapid Beach Pop Up Sun Shelter (RRP $79) – an easy pop-up design which offers UPF 50+ protection for delicate baby skin. This meant babies were safe in the shade, while we were playing at the water’s edge with the toddler/s.
Sunscreen
We have tried and tested many sunscreens on our kids, last summer we finally found one that ticks all the boxes! The We Are Feel Good Inc. Sensitive Sunscreen SPF50+ comes in a great 400ml family sized pump pack (RRP $49.95). This sunscreen is light, gentle, easy to apply, fragrance-free and the best thing – it’s not sticky! It's suitable for babies from 6 months and don’t forget, reapply every 2 hours!
And for the surfers in the family, we have recently discovered Surfmud Natural Zinc (RRP $22.95) – it’s made from natural ingredients, is reef safe, and stays put for long sessions in the water. It’s great because it can also be used on babies and kids – we like to apply it to the kid's faces once we're at the beach, as it can get a little messy at home and in the car.
Beach Towels
For a family of six, traditional towels can be bulky and take up a lot of room, so we opt for light weight, quicky drying Turkish towels for Mum and Dad, and for the kids, we have little hooded towels made from the same light-weight cotton – check out the Noosa Towel and Tots Pebbly Poncho by Mayde Store.
Beach Toys
Beach Toys… we have tried and tested pretty much every eco, recycled-plastic beach set on the market. At the moment, we are loving the quality and squishability of our silicone beach set by My Little Giggles (RRP $49.95). And for the bigger kids, the Dantoy recycled plastic shovel (RRP $18.00) perfect for digging the ultimate pool at the water’s edge. We always chuck in a footy and a Surfer Dude too.
Oh, and if you're looking for a surfboard for the kids – our kids are still learning so we take a Mick Fanning Softboard – DHD Twin Fin (RRP $570) for everyone to argue over. Our son Reef (7) has progressed quickly using this board.
Beach Bag
Obviously, it’s the Sande Kids Beach Hauler™ (RRP $89), we designed it with families in mind and it is the ultimate family beach bag. We ditched the bulky old beach cart for our large mesh beach bag, that has a giant 110 litre carrying capacity. With wide cotton straps for comfy carrying, our hauler allows you to venture further without having to tow the kids...
The mesh fabric allows sand to sift through as you walk back to the car, so no having to empty pools of sand from the bottom of your bag when you get home. It even has a canvas pocket for your valuables such as sunnies and phones, and a key clip so you're not digging around at the bottom of your bag when you get back to the car.
As well as super practical, It’s also beautiful – in a classic neutral colour to complement all the beautiful beach gear on the market. We think it's simply perfect, and it's been a total game-changer for our family beach days.
Sand Brush
And finally, our Sande Kids™ Sand Brush to swiftly sweep wet or dry sand from kids, adults, beach toys, surfboards, pets, car upholstery and carpet – I can make our Van look almost freshly vacuumed with this beauty!
We hope these tried and tested products make beach going with your kids a little more relaxed! And don’t forget to keep our marine life safe and Take 3 for the Sea – take just 3 pieces of rubbish that you find on the beach when you leave, it makes a huge difference!