Katie and Carrie’s Ultimate Beach Bag

Spring is here! Soon you will be turning in your sweaters for bathing suits and cover ups. We all love the beach but if you don’t prepare, it can quickly turn into temper tantrums, sunburns, and sand everywhere! Forever Freckled’s mission is function and fashion. We try give our parents the tools necessary to overcome the obstacles of parenthood in the most chic way possible. Carrie and I thought it would be fun to combine forces and create the ulimate beach bag. Carrie is going to use her expertise to make sure your entire family looks adorably perfect, so you can capture the moment, and I am going to ensure the moment is actually perfect. Here are our best tips and the ultimate checklist for your beach experience. It doesn’t hurt that we live in Florida!

The Beach Bag.  Carrie is going to suggest a gorgeous beach bag. You should get it and save it for that Caribbean getaway with your spouse. Sorry Carrie, but the key to an easy family trip to the beach is a functional bag!  I love this bag by Saltwater Canvas. It is huge and has multiple pockets.

Sun Protection. This should be every parents #1 priority when heading to the beach. UVA and UVB rays not only cause cancer, but sunburns are horribly painful and uncomfortable. Although sunblocks and sticks are imperative, physical barriers such as SPF clothing, umbrellas, and shade are equally as important. Please remember that children under the age of 6 months cannot wear sunblock and if you take your infant to the beach, you must have shade. I love the portable pop-up cabana. It is perfect for your child’s nap and easy to carry and setup! Make sure to apply sunblock 15-30 minutes before getting to the beach and reapply ever 45 minutes – 1 hour.

Hydration, Hydration, Hydration. A day on the beach should be treated as if your child is participating in a sporting event. It is recommended that a child drinks 5 to 9 ounces of water (10 to 18 “gulps”) every 20 minutes during activity depending on weight (teenagers should drink more). Younger children should be given water bottles with marks on the sides showing how much they should drink or be told how many “gulps” to drink. Bring a cooler filled with hydrating fruits like watermelon and cantaloupe. I love this cooler tote with a collapsible mini table. It helps keep the sand out of your food!

The Perfect Beach Toys.  The beach is for relaxing and enjoying time with your family. Here are some of my favorite toys for your little ones. The sand provides a great opportunity to create and learn. I love the number molds.  Flying a kite is also a fun activity and can be a great way to introduce some science concepts to your little ones.

{beach holding toy bag, crab frisbee, turtle kite, fish mini pool, shark board, number sand toys and molds, pale and shovel set, sand and water wheel, horseshoe game}

The Clean Up. The beach is so much fun but driving home in wet sandy bathing suits is definitely not. Make sure to pack an extra set of clothes for yourself and each child. Put them in a separate zip-locked bag so they stay dry and sand free. Baby powder is an old secret to easily getting sand off of your body. Wipe baby powder over your and the kids’ sandy bodies and the sand will come right off. I also love Sand-Off. It’s a mitt filled with natural powder that whisks sand away! Invest in a sand repel blanket too.

Fashion, Totes and More. Yes Katie, I totally agree that a bag should be functional! But why not be functional and cute? There are two different types of beach-goers. Ones that want to look styled head to toe and others who want to be comfortable. For me, there are times for both looks. When I want to take a quick trip to the beach, I go for comfortable. So for my beach bag, I would choose a canvas or water resistant bag that I won’t mind getting wet or dirty. I also love a simple neutral straw bag like the one below. This one is under $80.00! Below I have also listed some suggestions on fashion pieces for your beach adventure. For mom, I picked out two different looks. A more polished vacation look and a more casual beach day outfit for a day with the kids. I am obsessed with these two swimsuit designers, Mara Hoffman and Marysia. I love the bold print and cross front of the Mara Hoffman. Marysia suits are simple yet so feminine. For flats, I have always loved the brand Melissa. They just scream BEACH to me! Melissa has styles for both mom and daughter. For the kids, we always suggest a rash guard to protect them from the scorching sun. Tucker Tate is a great brand for kids clothing. They always have adorable prints and styles. Check out all my picks below. You can stay protected from the sun but keep your style at the same time!

Mom: {yellow maxi coverup, melissa flower flats, crisscross one piece, tortoise sunnies, white hat, black studded flats, black and white floral coverup, white halter bikini, straw beach bag}

Kids: {trucker hat, boys bathing suit, red ray bans, girls bathing suit, glitter sunnies, melissa flats with ice cream bar}

I hope you enjoyed 0ur ultimate beach bag blog! Lots of great and useful things to choose from for your next beach adventure!

XO,

Katie & Carrie