One of the first baby beach items I bought was a large beach umbrella. I didn’t end up using it very much because we found it cumbersome to set up and carry with us. One of these best baby beach tents would have been such a better option, especially since they provide better coverage and a sand free floor! As a mom, I know how important it is to keep our baby’s skin protected and that’s why I highly recommend a baby beach tent.
Visiting the beach with a baby is an ideal family activity, because there’s one thing for sure – babies love the beach! But that sun can be harsh and those harmful rays can be dangerous on baby’s sensitive skin. The American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation both recommend that babies are kept in the shade, where sun protective clothing that covers their entire body and wear a wide-brimmed sun hat.
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Best Baby Beach Tents
If there’s one thing I’ve learned when taking a baby to the beach, it’s that having your own shade and a full coverage swimsuit will make your life so much easier! They are definitely must-have baby beach essentials!
Keeping your baby’s skin healthy will make for a much more enjoyable family trip to the beach. While it might seem extreme to pack a baby tent for the beach, you’ll be glad you have the easy UV protection (UPF 50+) when you spend hours on the beach. This is especially true for young babies who are too young for sunscreen (always talk to your pediatrician about sunscreen on babies).
1. Gorich Beach Tent & UV Sun Shelter
The Gorich Beach Tent with a UPF 50+ rating is a great option for anyone looking for a larger beach tent to fit the whole family. It fits 3-4 people, so 2 adults and 2 children should fit comfortably in this baby cabana for the beach.
Folds down to a size that will fit in luggage
Has an extended floor in the front and 3 large mesh windows for 360 ventilation
Comes with attached sand bags and stakes for those windy days
Can be difficult to set up by one person only and may need help
2. WolfWise AquaBreeze A10 Baby and Toddler beach Tent
The WolfWise AquaBreeze A10 is another pop-up baby tent for the beach that will fit 2-3 people. It’s similar to the Sunba Youth beach tent in shape and features.
Has an extended front and with its UPF 50+ rating
Has stakes and sand bags
With wind ropes for those extra windy conditions on the beach
With two doors and two mesh windows, offering a 360 degree ventilation
3. Sunba Youth Anti UV Baby Beach Shade
The Sunba Youth beach shade couldn’t be easier to set up: open the bag and it will pop right open. This pop-up beach tent for baby will fit 2-3 people, meaning an adult should easily fit inside with a baby or toddler.
Has front and back flaps that can be rolled for ventilation
Has an extended front flap which gives a baby or toddler more room to play
Features a sand bag on each side and can be staked down at all four corners
Has UPF 50+ UV rating
4. KidCo Peapod Plus Travel Tent
The KidCo PeaPod Plus Travel Tent is a pop-up tent that can be a toddler travel bed for toddlers over 12 months old. While it’s not rated for babies under 12 months old, many parents use the KidCo PeaPod on the beach as an infant beach tent. It has UV protection and mesh surrounding it, to protect babies from the sun and insects.
Lightweight and packs small
Can be used as a travel bed as your baby transitions to toddlers
Comes in two sizes and offers the same sun and insect protection
Its mesh won’t do much to protect against sand entering on an extra windy day
5. Monobeach Baby Pop Up Portable Shade
If your baby is sitting up and wanting to play on the beach rather than spend most of the time napping, a baby beach tent with a mini pool is a fun option. Your baby can splash along under this sun shade while being protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Has coated fabric that protects baby from sun exposure
Its back has a net to help protect against insects
The net can also be open to allow more airflow through the baby beach shade
Folds into a carry bag that can be packed in a suitcase
6. Babymoov Beach Tent for Toddlers and Babies
The Babymoov toddler beach tent is the perfect place for your toddler to play or nap anywhere outdoors, including on the beach. It’s a large pop-up tent that blocks 99% of the sun’s rays with UPF 50+ protection.
The dome tent gives toddlers more room to sit up and play while protected from the sun
Has mesh curtains with a zipper, so it will also provide some protection against insects
With two back windows, this tent would offer plenty of ventilation to keep baby from overheating
At less than 2 pounds and folded in it’s travel carry bag
7. bblüv Nidö Baby & Infant Beach Tent
The Nido baby play tent is another option for parents looking for a pop-up baby beach tent. It has a canopy constructed of fabric with UPF 50+ to protect against the sun’s rays and a retractable mesh to protect against insects.
Has a removable mat for easy cleaning
Made with lightweight fabric and poles that can easily be folded up
Can fit into a medium or large suitcase
Not recommended for overnight sleeping
8. Schylling UV Sun Shade for Toddlers and Babies
Similar to the Babymoov, is the Schylling toddler beach tent or outdoor play tent. The Schylling toddler tent is larger than the Babymoov. It’s dimensions are 51” wide by 39” deep and 31” high, compared to the Babymoov which is 39” x 39” x 31.5”.
Has large front opening and a window in the back to let the ocean breeze pass through for ventilation
Has both sand pockets and pegs to stake it down
With sun protection with a SPF 50+ rating
Has a lightweight size of 2.2 pounds and a folded size small enough to fit in a suitcase
9. SwimSchool Splash Play Mat
Another fun option for your baby at the beach is this splash play mat. It has both a backrest and a canopy to give your baby a fun and comfortable place to play on the beach.
Has a removable canopy
Provides UPF 50+ protection
With inflatable play mat that has stackable rings
Mat is refillable with water for splashing
10. SwimSchool Rainbow Baby’s First Pool Float
Don’t forget pool time. This pool float for babies has a seat for baby plus an adjustable sun shade canopy to provide UPF 50+ sun protection.
Has adjustable sun shade canopy
Provide UPF 50+ sun protection
Adjustable and easy to use
Recommended for babies who are 6 to 18 months old
10 Things to Look for in a Baby Beach Tent
When looking for the best baby beach tent, here are the top 10 things you need to consider:
1. UV Protection
With the sun’s harmful rays, it’s important educate yourself on how to keep your baby safe from the sun, and then be sure to provide some sun protection for your baby’s skin.
Whether you are planning an all-inclusive vacation with a baby or a week at the lake, a beach tent is an invaluable baby and toddler beach essential to protect your baby from the sun’s harmful rays. The baby or toddler beach tent you purchase should have UV protection of at least UPF 50+ to keep your baby’s skin safe. Effective sun protection is one of the most important features of a baby beach tent.
What is UPF? According to SkinCancer.org, “UPF measures the amount of UV radiation that can penetrate fabric and reach your skin. UPF measures both UVB and UVA rays, while SPF measures only UVB.”
2. Stakes
It can get windy on the beach. If you use your beach shade for baby primarily near the ocean, you’ll want to make sure it comes with fillable sand bags and stakes. If your baby beach tent doesn’t have stakes then it should have some sand pockets to help keep it down on a windy day.
3. Ventilation
While providing sun protection is very important, you also want your baby to be comfortable and not overheat while on the beach. Many of the baby beach tent options have 360 degree ventilation or at a minimum a back window you can open to let the air flow and circulate. A portable fan will help keep your baby cool too.
4. Compact for Travel
If you plan to fly with your toddler beach tent, you’ll want it to fit in a suitcase. If your family primarily drives to the beach, then size is less of a factor for your beach tent.
5. Ease of Set-up
There are so many pop-up tents for the beach that make setting up a shade tent for babies a breeze! The frustration comes when it’s time for folding the baby beach tent. Many of them use a twist & fold method to get them back in a circular form to fit in the carrying bag. It’s best to watch a video and practice folding your baby tent at home before your trip to the beach with a baby.
6. Price
The price of tents for babies at the beach is always a factor and how much you spend will depend on how much use you plan to get out of it. Consider how often you’ll use your baby beach tent, or buy one that isn’t just for the beach.
7. Size
Do you need a baby sun tent for multiple children or just your baby. Will you want enough room for 2 adults in the beach tent as well? Thinking about this will help you decide what size tent will work best for your family.
8. Multi-Purpose
Beach tents for babies don’t have to be just for the beach. You can get even more use out of it by using your baby beach tent as a place for your baby to play while in the yard or camping with a baby. Travel tents like the KidCo PeaPod and Joovy Gloo can be used as both beach shade for baby and later as a toddler travel bed.
9. Full Sun Coverage
Too much sun exposure is harmful to your baby’s sensitive skin. The best beach tents for your baby will provide full coverage to provide the best sun protection for your baby’s sensitive skin.
10. Age of your Baby
The age of your baby will also be a big factor. An infant beach tent can be small enough to give your baby a place to sleep with proper UPF 50+ UV protection from the sun. For older babies and toddlers, you’ll want a larger space where your toddler can sit and play.
More Baby Beach Essentials
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Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she’s helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.
Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.
