It's the best time of year! The sun is high in the sky, the weather is nice and hot, and the beach is finally open! Beach days are the best, but they can become a bit difficult when you're bringing a toddler with you, especially when it comes to being sun-safe.
Picture it: It's July in North Carolina. You took the trip, got through the bridge traffic to Wrightsville Beach, you're excited, the kids are excited, you get all of your gear to the beach, and... now you have to smear your kid with a bottle of SPF. You finally get the lotion on, send them out to play, and you can relax. An hour passes, it's time to reapply the SPF, and the real nightmare begins!
It's exhausting having to chase a toddler all over the beach to reapply their sunscreen. Then, once you finally sit them down, reapplying lotion to your sandy kid is messy and stressful. But what if I told you there's a trick to having fun in the sun without making yourself go crazy reapplying sunscreen! The secret lies in physical UPF coverage. Read below to discover more! 
The Physical Barrier Solution
The "SPF" in sunscreen stands for "Sun Protection Factor," and is essentially a measurement of how well the product protects your skin from the sun's UV rays, which causes sunburn. Using variable amounts of SPF for tanning purposes as an adult is perfectly fine, but you should always go for maximum sun protection for your little one, period. That's because when you get a blistering sunburn as a child it can potentially more than double your chance of developing melanoma as an adult. As a parent, it's your responsibility to set your little one's health up for success from day one!
While the sunscreen's SPF keeps your kiddo safe from the sun, we always suggest another added layer of protection with physical coverage. The swimwear we carry for kids has a UPF (UV Protection Factor) of 50+, meaning your kid's skin is as safe as can be while they're having fun in the sun!
Our swimwear is made of a fabric with a tighter weave, so less UV radiation can harm your little one's skin. Long-sleeve rashguards and swim sets are perfect options for your little one's beach uniform, because you only need to worry about reapplying sunscreen to their legs, face, and hands, instead of their entire body.
Shop our baby swimwear collection to browse our entire collection of sun-safe swimwear, made of premium fabric that withstands saltwater and chlorine, all without losing its shape or sun-blocking power!
Hats That Stay On
One thing that often skips new parents' minds when getting baby ready for the beach is to keep their scalp protected from the sun! Most grownups have a head of hair to keep their scalp safe, but baby hair is very short and thin, if not non-existent! Their skin is also much thinner than adults' so they run a way higher risk of deep, harsh sunburns. They're not able to regulate their body temperature yet, so overheating is a major risk, too. The scariest part (not to fear monger) is that it can happen fast.
Our solution? Baby hats! But you need a hat that actually works! Baby hats we carry from brands like BinkyBro have adjustable snapbacks so that the fit is perfect--no more naughty toddlers ripping off and throwing away their hats! It isn't easy to find a hat that also has UPF protection, but our baby hats from Rylee & Cru are also sun-safe, with UPF 50+! Another key accessory to beat the Carolina sun's glare is sunglasses! A cute pair of sunnies is the perfect cool kid accessory to finish your little one's beach outfit and keep them safe!
Need a new hat for baby? Check out our collection of baby hats to find their next favorite!
The Sandy Re-Application Hack
Applying sunscreen to a clean, dry kid is tough. Reapplying sunscreen to a wet, sticky, sandy, screaming, squirming toddler is a daunting, absolutely monumental endeavor. We all dread it.
No matter how tempted you are to do otherwise, make sure you're applying sunscreen to your kiddo every 45-60 minutes. Rubbing lotion on sandy skin, however, can feel like sandpaper to a toddler's sensitive skin! Our solution? Sande Kids Beach Gear!
If you've stepped foot into the boutique and talked to anyone working, you'll know that Sande Kids beach gear is the absolute best! Their Beach Hauler backpack is an absolute essential for any beachgoing families this summer. Everyone on our staff has one--the owner, Cassi, was the first to buy one--and they're perfect for getting all of your gear on and off the beach as mess-free as possible.
But the star of the show today is their Sand Brush. This tool is specially designed to quickly remove both wet and dry sand from all of your surfaces--you, your kids, the family dog, beach chairs, car seats... everything! And it works like a charm! The coconut fiber bristles on the brush make tidying up effortless, and the ethically made, sustainably sourced materials mean that this is a purchase you can feel good about, and that will work for a long, long time. No more tears, no more sticky sand, and (most importantly), no more mess!
Check out our entire collection of beach gear to make sure you're 100% equipped for your beach day!
Have a Blast at the Beach!
Beach days down at Wrightsville are the best. You can enjoy family fun in the sun, exciting activities, and make new friends in the community. Places like Wrightsville are where positive family memories are made!
Can beach days be stressful? Sure. But with the right gear, you can sit back in your beach chair, crack open a cold drink, and relax knowing your little ones are protected from the sun.
Ready to upgrade your beach bag and get new skin-safe summer styles? Stop by the boutique or check out our collection online:
Shop Baby Swimwear/Accessories
For the Mamas: Shop Women's Swim