Sydney's Best Beaches For Babies

 
  

Why do babies like eating sand? Does anyone know?

Taking babies to the beach has been a very mixed experience in our family. How about for you?

Sometimes the babes would have a lovely time, much sand would be eaten, little toes would splash in pools and buckets and spades would be chewed and thrown.

Other times the sand down nappy situation would be completely out of control, and the sticky sunscreen would get all over everything and everyone would end up in tears.

Babies On The Beach – What Do You Look Out For?

For us, the main thing is… shade... of course. Now I have always much preferred natural shade and haven’t ever used a shade tent. So the beaches I list here generally have some sort of  shade on the sand from trees, at least in the afternoon.

Have you used a shade tent? Did it work well?

Even better than shade over sand is a nice shady park right beside the beach where the babies can snooze, or even crawl and play, with just occasional expeditions into the sun and onto the sand.

Also important is NOT having a long trek through sand dunes to get to the beach, so for example Mona Vale and Freshwater aren’t on my list of faves.

Amongst it all, some beaches just worked MUCH better than others.

This is a totally subjective list, just my ideas on which beaches work best for really young babies and toddlers.

Over the past 14 years of chasing children around Sydney beaches, these are the ones that have worked best for us.

I’d be over the moon to hear from readers, and will joyfully incorporate your suggestions into this post. 

Balmoral Beach

The shade on the sand at the baths is good, and also by the playground there’s shade from trees. Plus grassy areas are right by the beach.

Northbridge Baths

Lovely grassy areas. Only negative is the long hike down and back from the carpark. Pushing a pram up that hill is good for your muscles though.

Greenwich Baths

Fantastic because of the shade on the sand and the grass, but same big hill issue as above!

Whale Beach

The late afternoons have been gorgeous here, with the beautiful trees casting lots of shade.

Clovelly Beach

Best on the Eastern Suburbs  as there’s no surf at all, a rarity for the Eastern Suburbs beaches.

Shelly Beach, Cronulla

Top spot for tots because of the safe sea pool and lovely shady park right by the sea.

Can you share your top tips for babies at the beach in Sydney?

Which are the beaches that work for you?

Check out all my posts on Sydney’s beautiful beaches here.

Read more on my ebook Sydney’s Best Beaches For Kids here.