A perfect day at the beach—in which the kids have a blast, you get to relax and no one comes home with a sunburn—takes a little planning. Helena Alkhas, of Silver Spring, MD, should know: she’s a professional organizer and a military wife and mom.
"I know how crazy packing for the beach can be, because I have three boys to protect, entertain and, of course, feed!" Alkhas says. Her best advice: Get everything together the night before. "This way, you can get out the door without stress." When you’re preparing for any trip, it helps to have a system. "I always use the visual image of 'head to toe' to help me remember everything I need," says Alkhas. That includes people’s stomachs. Prepare food the night before, then transfer it into a cooler just before you leave.
FOR THE GROUP

- Sunscreen that’s labeled "waterproof" and "broad spectrum" and is SPF 30 or higher. Also good to have on hand are wipes such as POND’S® Towelettes
- Beach umbrella
- Large mat or blanket
- First-aid kit with any necessary prescription medications, plus adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment, aspirin or acetaminophen, antihistamine and hydrocortisone cream
- Wide-tooth comb to detangle hair
- Food, such as sandwiches, string cheese, nuts, raisins, fruit and crackers
- Water, in reusable bottles
- (Optional) Sand toys for kids. "I keep ours in an inexpensive mesh laundry bag," says Alkhas
- Lotion, to cool your skin off after a day in the sun. A product like Vaseline® Spray & Go™ Aloe Fresh Moisturizer makes this extra convenient.
- Wide-brimmed hat
- Sunglasses
- Towel
- Swimsuit
- Water shoes
- Ponytail holder or barrette
- Leave-in conditioner to help detangle hair. Try TRESemmé® Split Remedy® Leave-In Conditioning Spray
- Book or magazine
- Extra clothes to change into at the end of the day. Put each child’s clothing into a resealable plastic bag, then reuse the bags to bring home wet swimwear.
