Visiting the Beach with Kids? Must-Haves For Memorial Day

If  you’re hitting the beach with kids this Memorial Day weekend,  like me, then you know it’s not as simple as just packing a beach bag. Before kids, I packed one small bag. It was stocked with a few simple items for myself and I was set for a relaxing day. Not quite as easy with kids. With experience and a couple of disaster days on the beach, I’ve learned that there’s a few easy, must-haves when you bring kids to the beach. Easier still, you can find them all at Duane Reade.

A Good Beach Bag (or bags)

Instead of one large bag that can become an endless pit,  I like to use a few smaller ones and divide the supplies between them. STuff is just easier to find this way. Duane Reade has an awesome seasonal section stocked with all your needs for the pool or beach. I found a great new bag that is just the right size and easy to carry.

Baby Powder

Yes, baby powder. I don’t mind the sand – on the beach.  I don’t like it when it travels back to my car or the house with us. Baby powder can free little ones (and adults too) of sand, wet or dry. You can use it straight from the bottle, but I like to use a microfiber cleaning mitt. This helps to disperse the powder and wipe away the sand.

Here’s how I made mine: Take a Microfiber cleaning mitt & simply pour baby powder in. Clip it closed or tie it off and place it into a plastic zip seal bag.  When you’re ready to clean off, simply tap the mitt a few times to release some powder and brush the sand away! The powder helps release the sand, the fabric of the mitt brushes it away. It’s so easy and really works!

Spray on Sunblock

Kids tolerate the spray sunblock so much more than a lotion that has to be rubbed in. My kids love the sunblock spray with a cooling sensation. It’s perfect on a hot day and it keeps them sitting still for an even application. Easy sunblock application so that they can get back to playing and looking cute!

Wipes

We use countless wipes. They are great for cleaning sticky hands after a snack, cleaning up a mess or wiping sand off of your hands or face. I like to use the all-natural Bamboo Wipes from Ology.

Plastic Zip Seal Bags

I bring a bunch of these and use one for our electronics and phones.  It ensures sand stays out when you’re not using them. I also use these bags for garbage, sunblock bottles and more.

Activities and Toys

You  also find a variety of fun activities for kids at Duane Reade. My kids always bring a big bag of beach toys, but it’s always nice to have a little something different. A new bubble set, squirter or beach ball works like a charm at buying me a little bit of peace and quiet. With great prices on these fun toys, I was able to stock up for the summer. 

Snacks, Snacks and More Snacks

If your kids are like mine, they will tell you they are hungry every 5 minutes. So, I like to have a lot of easy-to-grab snacks on hand. If not already pre-portioned, consider dividing snacks out into small bags so it’s easy to eat. Some of my favorite snacks that I picked up at Duane Reade for this Memoria Day include, pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit, and tortilla chips. Pick things that are easy to eat and fairly mess-free. I threw in some iced tea for myself, too!

An Extra Pair of Hands

While Duane Reade will not be able to help you with this, an extra pair of hands to help with the kids is always great. We go with family or get a mother’s helper to be with us on the beach. It’s nice to be able to reduce the ratio of kids to adults. And who knows, you might actually get to sit in your chair for a moment or two.

Have a Happy, Safe and Fun Memorial Day!

No matter what your plans, Duane Reade has what you need to celebrate.

How will you be celebrating Memorial Day this year?

Connect with Duane Reade

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#DRMemorialDay #CollectiveBias 

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