For the Beach: A Sourcebook for Summer with Kids

When I was pregnant with Tanner we went on a beach vacation with some friends. A couple we traveled with had their very fair-skinned, blond-haired toddler daughter with them. Hanging on the beach, they would dress her head-to-toe in a sun suit. It covered every part of her body except her hands, feet, and head and then they threw a white sun protection hat on top of that. She literally looked like she was wearing long underwear on one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. As much as I understood why they did it, to my fashionista eye, something didn’t look right. I have a healthy fear of sun damage – I try not to walk around outside without a hat, but I swore to Richard we wouldn’t do that to our son. So after almost four years of having my own kids, here is what I’ve come up with as an alternative: a kid’s beach guide filled with bathing suit sources, sunscreen suggestions and other safe alternatives to cover your little one head-to-toe. For the next post, I will follow up with a matching grownup guide to beach accessories…

Swimsuits for the Little Ones

Years ago, a friend told me about Nature Baby – a kid’s store in Auckland, New Zealand. When I was lucky enough to travel there, I made a stop into the store and discovered an amazing collection of natural toys, gear and clothes. Luckily for those who can’t make it there in person, they have a great website and recently J.Crew has picked up a small selection of their collection.

To get to the point… while I was there I discovered Little Red Fish swim suits and fell in love. They make chic stripped swimsuits that protect your little ones from the sun without compromising style. They come in a variety of sizes and colors and remind me of swimsuits from the 1920’s. My favorites are the long sleeve and short sleeve bathers. They have great stripe two-pieces as well. I am a particular fan of the short sleeve shirt with the swim shorts for boys and the long sleeve shirt with bikini bottoms for little ladies. I’ve told all my friends about them over the years and love seeing all the kids in our pool in different striped outfits.

Sunglasses

After I found the perfect swimsuit, I searched for sunglasses that a 1 ½ year old would actually wear to make the outfit complete. I discovered Teeny Tiny Optics when I was shopping at Eggy one day. They are super light and durable and look like little Ray-ban shades, plus they protect 100% of UVA and UVB rays. I loved all the colors they came in and picked up the Jordan in yellow and hot pink for Tanner. Now that he has outgrown them, I am trying to teach Ripley to wear them but she is a little young and it only lasts a minute or two.

Another great option for bigger kids is little Ray-ban Wayfarers, which come in red or black. Our friends bought a pair for Tanner and they’re adorable. If you want a more affordable option since kids aren’t the easiest on their glasses, check out Gap’s options – they’re fun and colorful.

Hats

For swimming or hanging out on the beach, Makie’s simple Summer Hats are my favorite. They come in a variety of great neutral colors and my kids always seem to keep them on. They aren’t made out of UV blocking fabric, but I feel like with sunscreen this hat does the trick while still looking chic. I carry them at my store in West Hollywood or you can order them online at Makie. I also like the Gap for straw hats – they’re a great finishing touch for a summer look.

Sandals

Since I despise Crocs, I had to search long and hard for the perfect beach shoes for my kids that had Crocs’ practicality without sacrificing good looks. The Gap always has cute jellies (which brings me back to the 90’s) in a bunch of colors for the girls – big and small . My all-time favorite sandals for girls or boys are Salt Water Sandals. They come in great colors and styles and are timeless. They’re meant to get wet, which make them perfect for the beach. Another great option for boys is Native Shoes, which are rubber slip-ons that can get wet and are easy to take on and off.

Sunscreen

A couple years ago, I discovered Dr Robin’s sunscreen for kids and fell in love. It’s hard to find an organic-natural-chemical free sunscreen that is easy to apply, works well, and doesn’t leave a white chalky film on the kids. This brand is gentle and effective and doesn’t contain chemicals, phthalates, parabens or fragrance. Made by a Beverly Hills Pediatric Dermatologist and mother of two, it’s the only sunscreen I put on Tanner and Ripley. You can buy it on Dr. Robin’s website or pick it up at my friend Nathan Turner’s store in West Hollywood. XXJKE