Summer is probably the best time of the year for many because hey, nothing beats escaping the miserable cold isn't it? Best of all , it's time for those family beach excursions!
However, one very important thing for these outings is - sun protection. If you think sunscreen is the only baby beach gear you need, you're wrong. A baby beach tent is equally important when going to the beach with your little one.
Not only does it provide sufficient shade to shield your baby from getting sunburnt, a good baby beach tent also keeps those blasting winds and annoying bugs at bay, apart from providing a sand-free space for baby to nap, eat a snack or change a diaper.
Top 8 Best Beach Tent For Babies (in no particular order)
The Schylling UV Play Shade is one of the best canopy tent for beach that we'd highly recommend if you are one of those that are particular about UV rays.
Made from a special material that is certified to exceed SPF 50, you can be sure that your little one is worry free from the harmful UV rays.
It has a patented design that pops up in seconds, making the Schylling one of the best pop up beach tent that requires no adjustments to be made.
Packing it is a breeze likewise - it easily folds up and goes right back into the 'Go Anywhere' travel pouch that comes with it which can be slung over your shoulder for easy portability.
While it is the perfect size to fit multiple toddlers, we note that it may be too small to breastfeed so that may present some inconvenience for breastfeeding mothers.
Also, it only has one open flap and one vented side mash so ventilation may not be the best especially on a very hot day.
Nonetheless, when it comes to the best beach canopy for wind, the Schylling UV Play Shade does not disappoint.
It has tie down pegs and sand pockets to keep it securely in place wherever you are, so you will never have to worry about it getting swept away by strong wind.
If you're looking for an infant beach tent for your newborn or baby below 6 months old, the Nido Mini 2-in-1 Travel & Play Tent will be a pleasant delight to add to your beach bag.
This baby beach tent uv protection is one of the top in its category in terms of blocking off harmful UVA and UVB rays, in addition, it keeps sand, wind and mosquitoes away with its retractable mesh so that baby stays protected from the elements.
If there is no mosquitoes and the like, simply roll the mesh up for better ventilation and the canopy will keep your little one shaded.
As pictured left, this newborn beach tent has a pop up design that makes it easy to set up in a few seconds.
Folding and unfolding is so easy, making the Nido Mini ideal for travelling.
Apart from being an infant beach tent, you can use it for naps and playtime at home or on the go too wherever you are as it comes with a removable mat and 3 toys for baby's comfort and fun.
As its name indicates, the Nido Mini 2-in-1 Travel & Play Tent makes for an excellent infant travel bed too for when you go for your overseas travels.
The Monobeach Baby Beach Tent Pop Up Portable Shade spells FUN from just its looks - yep, this is a baby beach tent with pool!
Not only does it shade your little one from the sun, it also adds a fun element for him/her!
Designed for children under 3 years of age, it features a mini pool at the bottom to allow baby plays in the water instead of going to the seaside.
Not only is this safer, it also lets your little one cool his body down after playing out and about on the sand.
As pictured left, the half tent can be removed to become just the base with the mini pool if the sun is not particularly strong.
Otherwise, as with any best beach tents, baby is well protected from the sun's harmful rays with its SPF 50+ canopy.
This half tent for beach pops up automatically and features a two-way zipper, curtain and mesh for ultimate ventilation. The only downside we can find?
The Monobeach Baby Beach Tent Pop Up Portable Shade can only fit one baby at a time - considering the fun mini pool it has, it may cause a slight turbulence if you have multiple kids scrambling around to get their share of fun out of it!
Another best beach tent for infant and babies is this Overcrest Portable Beach Pop Up Tent that is made of high premium 190T nylon fabric with high breathability and wear resistance.
Similar to the Nido Mini, this is a small beach tent that is very lightweight (under 1 pound!) and can be zipped all the way up to effectively protect baby from ultraviolet (UPF 50+) and mosquitoes and the likes.
What's different though, its that the Overcrest has 2 tent pegs to keep it securely fixed on the ground/sand, making it one of the best beach tent for wind.
If you know us, you will know it's all about convenience when it comes to baby gears.
The Overcrest is the same - it employs a self-expanding or pop up design that can be folded down in seconds, into a compact package to make for great portability.
However, one thing you should note about a beach cabana tent like the Overcrest Portable Beach Pop Up Tent is that it can only accommodate one child at a time.
At the very least, it is not a big beach tent where you can lie inside with your little one so for breastfeeding mothers, this may be an issue.
If this concerns you, we suggest getting a large beach tent like those reviewed below.
For a little more space and privacy, a beach tent like the Pacific Play Tents Lil Nursery Tent is a good choice.
Bigger than the usual pop up cabana beach tent, it measures 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall so you can use it to change diapers when needed.
Two mesh side panels are incorporated to provide ample ventilation and visibility while the rest of the walls are SPF30 UV treated to protect your child from the sun.
The mesh door secures with velcro and the Lil Nursery Tent can be set up and take down in minutes with a carry bag included for ultimate portability.
What makes this one of the best pop up canopy for beach is that it has a polyethylene floor that is completely washable so baby can always lie/play on a hygienic surface.
The rest of the material consists of flame retardant high tech 70D polyester that meets CPAI-84 standards and is known to be very durable.
The Pacific Play Tents Lil Nursery Tent is one of the best baby beach tent for one that is under $20 (that is some cheap beach tent!), considering it has everything you will need for a beach tent including two durable shock-corded poles.
However, bear in mind that it will not be as sturdy as the more expensive ones, and that you do need to find ways to hold it down yourself (i.e. sandbags, buckets etc.) especially on a windy day.
Another kids beach tent that we'd recommend is the Babymoov Anti-UV Tent, a large beach tent that can accommodate more than 1 child.
In terms of beach tent UV protection, it is one of the best as its sun shelter features a 50+ UPF coating, which means it can block up to 99% of UV rays to keep your little one safe from direct sunlight while playing outdoors.
Apart from that, elements like wind, sand as well as harmful mosquitoes and bugs are also blocked by the built-in bug net that also offers ventilation to keep baby cool on the warmer summer days.
This newly improved 2018 beach tent is made to an XL size thereby provide sufficient space for 2-3 children to take shelter.
Don't worry, you can certainly change nappies or breastfeed in it.
Given its size, we're pleased to find that it is still very lightweight, 1.5 lbs and that is already including the weight of the 4 pegs used to secure the tent to the ground/beach.
Yep, the Babymoov Anti-UV Tent is another best beach canopy for wind as it has pegs and stakes that keeps it standing sturdy and firm on its own.
The Narmay Play Tent is regarded as one of the best tent for beach camping because it is strong, durable and practical.
Like Babymoov, it also offers SPF50 superb sun protection with its waterproof polyester fabric with PU coating.
Unlike many cheap beach tent, it uses fiberglass poles so that not only it is more durable, it is also flexible.
It is roomy enough for older children to use, if not for multiple toddlers to play on its tent floor that is made of high quality fabric similar to a camping tent.
As a pop up beach tent, it requires zero assembly and once folded, it fits into the included carry bag that fits under your arms and straps over your shoulder for an easy carry.
The Narmay Play Tent has two mesh openings for great ventilation (and also for you to keep an eye on children) and the front mesh door can be rolled up and tied at the top to keep the tent open for easy entry.
For what it's priced, it is no surprise that stakes are also provided for you to secure the tent to the ground on windy days.
The Abco Tech Pop Up Cabana Beach Tent is the best beach tent for family or multiple kids because it is one of the biggest beach tent we have reviewed so far.
Big enough to accommodate 1-2 adults, this family beach tent has double doors on both left and right side so that it is easy to step in and out from either side.
Assembly wise, it is another pop up cabana beach tent that opens up into a ready-to-use form (auto-setup) in a blink of an eye.
Likewise, it can be easily folded up into a compact form that fits in the carry bag that comes along with it. Oh, there is also a small bag for you to put other baby beach supplies to keep them organized.
Given that it is designed to cater professional camping trips, it has a combination of inner zippered screen plus outer zippered nylon layer.
This allows you to switch between high breathability and complete privacy.
So for breastfeeding mothers, this is undoubtedly the best baby beach tent for you.
You don't have to worry about ventilation with this one as it has two mesh windows on the front and back to add further to the air circulation while the solid nylon flaps over the windows allow for privacy still.
For true high breathability, you can just open everything and enjoy the surroundings too.
It is very rare that we came across a professional beach tent like the Abco Tech Pop Up Cabana Beach Tent that does not require complex set up yet is sturdy and durable and is ready to use in an instant.
With a 100% risk free satisfaction guarantee, this could easily be the best beach shade for you and your family.
Why A Baby Beach Tent Is Necessary
Sun protection, sun protection and sun protection.
Let's face it, the sun can be pretty brutal these days.
A baby beach tent will significantly reduce the chances of any sunburnt, heatstroke and sand rashes that babies and toddlers are more prone to, which is due to the fact that they have way more delicate and sensitive skin than us adults.
Yes, sunscreen will be able to give a certain layer of protection but often, that is not enough.
Moreover, you should never apply too much sunscreen on your little one because over-applying may irritate their skin (again, due to their delicate skin).
And with professionals advising highly against applying sunscreen on babies 6 months and below, a baby or toddler beach tent (as some would call it) is the perfect solution to adequate sun protection for a day out at the beach.
Not to mention, it can double function as a play area for when you visit a friend's house that is not baby-proofed so that you can have peace of mind that baby is confined in a safe area instead of roaming around dangerously.
How To Choose The Best Beach Canopy for Infants and Toddlers
A. UVA/UVB Protection
While all tents provide shade to a certain degree, you will be surprised at just how many that do not have adequate ultraviolet light protection.
Yes, we are talking about the harmful sun rays, commonly known as UVA and UVB. If you want the best beach shade tent for your little one, then be sure to check the tent is UVA and UVB protected.
B. Good Ventilation
A good baby beach tent will provide adequate ventilation so that baby/toddler can stay cool and not overheated in after playing out and about in the sun.
We recommend getting those with vented screens around the sides because if you get those with a vented top, there will be no shade and sun protection for your little one.
C. Size
If your beach tent is specifically for your baby only, we recommend getting a small beach tent because this way, it is easier for you to carry amongst your many other baby beach supplies.
However, if your older toddler will be sharing the same tent, a big beach tent will be appropriate.
Whatever the size is, you would want to look for one that is strong and sturdy because with beaches, you never know when a strong gust of wind will blow!
D. Ease Of Use
If you're like us who absolutely despise tents that require multiple tools to set up, then you would want to choose a pop up beach tent for baby.
A pop up beach tent is, in our opinion, the easiest to put together, not to mention very lightweight hence it is one of the best, portability wise.
However, keep in mind that an easy pop up beach tent as such usually cannot accommodate multiple children, so again, think of how many users there will be before choosing your baby beach tent.
Before You Go ...
Hang on, that is not all there is to your baby beach supplies.
A good pair of toddler sunglasses, baby beach shoes like one of these best water shoes for ocean, one of these best infant life jacket and last but not least, a comfortable and fitting pair of infant swim diapers are what you should have packed in your baby beach bag.
Now off you go and have some fun in the sun!
