Beach trips with kids are way different from beach trips without kids. Your days of relaxing in the sand with a good book may be over (for now) but here are Five Beach Must Haves for Families that will help you keep your sanity or at least help keep the sand out of your sandwich…

1) I’m the kind of person who likes to keep the sand off my beach blanket. While I can’t control wet sandy kid feet, these BeachTacs stakes are great for keeping my blankets and towels securely in the sand. The set includes four stakes, one of which doubles as a cup holder!  You’re welcome. If you want to keep sand out of your picnic food and drinks, you’ll want these.

2) You can never have too many beach pails and thanks to clever folks at Packable Pails, you can always pack a few extras.  These colorful (Starfish Orange, Aquatic Aqua, Sunshine Yellow and Paradise Pink, oh my!) full-size pails feature a collapsable design so they fold down to just two inches deep.  Whether you’re building sand castles, shell collecting or carrying around water balloons, these pails are a really great option for city dwellers, day trippers and vacationers alike.

3) Kids love to run around in the sand but what happens when the sand is super hot or full of rocks and shells? Protect little toes with these Sun Smarties Sand and Water Socks. One of my very best mommy friends has a toddler who won’t go in the sand without these and I think they’re also great for kids who freak out at the thought of stepping on jelly fish…this may or may not apply to my daughter…

4) For windy beach days, towel clips are a must.  There is nothing worse than a dripping wet kid coming back to find that their towel is covered in sand. Avoid the potential meltdown and attach your towels to your beach chairs. I like Boca Towel Clips which come in adorable sets of two (think animals, flip flops, and sunglasses).

5) Do you or your kids need to be plugged in even at the beach?  Check out ECase’s waterproof electronics cases for phones and tablets. The touchscreens will work through the clear covers making them a great option for wet, sandy fingers.  These are also great for everyday sticky kid fingers too.

For more beach must haves like sunscreen, towels, swimwear, toys, totes and picnic bags, check out my Top 10 Must-Haves for a Beach Getaway With Kids.

Do you have plans for a beach getaway this summer??

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