A day on the beach used to mean frolicking in the surf, reading half a novel in one go and lying around on warm sand until sunset….when you become a parent you have to re-think the schedule.

Kids and babies love the beach but they can be a recipe for disaster if you're not properly prepared! Sun, sea and sand all seem like heaven but cold, sunburn and too much sand in unspeakable places can spoil everything. With a few essential accessories, you and your children can enjoy a fantastic family beach holiday this summer.

Before you set off:

Apply sun cream to everyone – it’s much easier than when you are all covered in sand

Ensure the kids have cool lightweight clothing on that offers good cover from the sun.

Ensure everyone has a hat – even a short walk to the beach can make toddlers hot and cross.

Ensure that everyone’s shoes will stay on – toddlers trip easily in flip flops.

Ensure that you have a flask of water to keep everyone hydrated.

Tips on what to take

Wet towels laid on the sand become gritty and heavy very quickly. Rather than taking lots of heavy, bulky towels why not combine towel and clothing. Towchos and towelling robes will be easy for your child to keep on as they play -when your child emerges from the water, whip off wet swimwear and simply slip it over his head. Take a blanket for the family to sit on.

The most useful item to take to the beach - And Urchin doesn’t sell them! Take a few light, cotton sarongs. I have used a sarong as a towel, a hat, a bag, a sun shade, to sit on, clothing for any member of the family, a bandage… They roll up very small, weigh nothing and rinse and dry in an instant. If you have any other great uses for a sarong, let us know!

You may envy that retired couple who have their comfortable deck chairs but with children and bags to carry it’s not really practical to take chairs as well. Some back support from a lightweight portable and compact seat will be a god-send especially if you will be breast feeding or cuddling a baby.

Creating shade at the beach

A full day in the sun is too much for anyone, especially babies and young children. Take a sun tent with you. Most are compact and lightweight and are safer than beach parasols which can so easily blow over. I shall never forget a woman on a beach in the south of France who was impaled by a wind-caught parasol – she didn’t survive.

Little children have tender feet and sand can be very hot so put on some beach shoes which can be worn in and out of the water.

Keep them warm and you will keep them happier for longer! A child wetsuit or baby wetsuit is ideal to keep them warm in the water. A UV protection suit or UV protection top will add warmth as well as vital sun protection. Use towchos and towelling robes to dry them off and they can continue to wear them as they play in the sand.

Getting to the beach

Invariably with babies and young children you end up carrying everything but the kitchen sink but with a bit of thought and careful packing you can avoid your day at the beach becoming like an army exercise. Think compact - instead of heavy bulky towels that both take up all the space and are horrible and damp at the end of the day - take a towcho and get the child to wear it, or a super absorbant compact towel. Get the kids to carry their own beach stuff in their own beach bag (OK that might be a challenge and you may end up carrying that too!), invest in a big beachbag with waterproof lining that will keep your stuff organised and that will fit a lot beach stuff in!

Do you have a pushchair that can cope with sand? You either need a pushchair which has 'all terrain' wheels – most 3 wheelers such as the ZAPP will cope or a baby pushchair which is super-light so that you can either carry it or pull it behind you.
Do you really need to take the pushchair with you? Would it be simpler and more comfortable to use a baby sling or back carrier?

The best thing about a day at the beach? Seeing just how competitive dads can be when it comes to making sand castles…..