his post may contain affiliate links to products I love. Please see our full disclosure policy.
There is nothing like getting your family ready for a day at the beach! The excitement, the smell of sunscreen, sunscreen in the eyes and subsequent 20-minute meltdown.. but I digress, finding the best beach chair for kids may not be as easy as you think, but kids are people too and they really benefit from a comfortable seat – this is especially true if you are planning a longer beach day or a visit to the beach on a colder or super hot day where kids need to rest and take breaks.
The Best Beach Chairs for Kids
The best beach chair for kids three and up are typically larger and sturdier, but still smaller and more stable than an adult-sized chair. Many come with specific safety features like locking frames and more wider feet.
Coleman is well known for creating well-crafted outdoor and camping supplies. The Coleman Kids Quad Chair is a great beach chair for toddlers because it’s craftmanship makes it more stable. The locking alloy steel frame and lower seat are excellent safety features, but this kids’ camping chair also comes with a great mesh cup holder and fun glow in the dark designs.
Manufacturer Specs
- Dimensions:
- Weight Capacity: Up to 160lbs
- Fold: Folds up to fit in carrying bag (included)
What We Like
- High quality products and construction make it safer and more stable for small kids
- Cup holder
What We Don’t Like
- More expensive than other chairs on the market
- Seat may be too high for very young toddlers
Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Flex Octopus Folding Beach Chair for Kids
These beach chairs by Melissa and Doug have cute patterns, come with a built in cup holder and are the perfect size for toddlers. We have the Butterfly version and my daughters fight over it because it’s just so darn cute. These kid beach chairs are constructed with a sturdy metal frames and come with a carrying case for easy transport.
Manufacturer Specs
- Dimensions: 19.7 x 16.5 x 2.7 inches
- Weight Capacity: No weight recommendation provided, but manufacturer recommends use up to age 6.
- Fold: Folds up to fit in carrying bag (included)
What We Love
- Built in cup holder
- Easily folds to fit in storage bag
- Great price point
- Cute design options
What We Don’t Like
- This is a chair meant for a smaller child. It works great up until around 5-years of age.
- Can be difficult to pack back into the bag.
Rio Beach Kid’s 5-Position Beach Chair
This kid’s beach chair by Rio Beach is a more traditional beach chair – just smaller! This chair is the top-rated kid’s beach chair on Amazon for good reason. It has two amazing qualities. First, this chair has five different positions and recline completely flat making it a good place for littles to rest and recharge during a long beach day. Secondly, it snaps shut and turns into a backpack that kids or parents can wear keeping them hands-free to carry all the beach toys, snacks, coolers, beach blankets, sunblock, babies…
Manufacturer Specs
Dimensions: 20.26 x 3.72 x 20.46 inches
Weight Capacity: 250lbs
Carry: Folds shut and converts to backpack for easy carrying
What We Like
- Folds completely flat for rest and recharge
- Built in cup holder
- Looks and feels like a more traditional beach chair
- Zipper storage compartment keeps valuables safe
What We Don’t Like
- Weighing at 6.2pounds it’s a bit heavier than its peers which tend to weigh under 3lbs.
Toy-To-Enjoy Outdoor Dinosaur Chair for Kids
For the dinosaur-fanatic, this awesome TRex beach chair comes with all the bells and whistles. It comes in two sizes, the small size, which fits kids from 2-5 years old and the medium size for 5-10-year old’s.
This chair is well-constructed with metal and study feet offering solid stability. It comes with a mesh cup holder and its own storage bag for easy transport. It also has a safety lock feature that makes a clicking noise when fully open.
The two sizes make it an ideal option for both younger and older kids or for siblings.
The Beach Beach Chairs for Toddlers
The best beach chair for your kids depends a lot on their ages. These chairs are specifically designed for older/mobile babies and toddlers up to around three years old.
Manufacturer Specs
- Dimensions: 19.69 x 19.69 x 31.5 inches
- Weight Capacity: Small (ages 2-5) Large (ages 5-10)
- Carry: Easily folds to fit in storage bag
What We Like
- The safety lock feature keeps kids safe
- Two size options to choose from
Summer Pop and Sit Portable Booster
While technically a booster seat, this Summer Infant Pop and Sit chair is great for the beach as well. It comes equipped with a removable tray for easy eating as well as a 3-point safety harness to keep little ones safe at the beach. It folds up flat just like a beach chair and comes with its own bag for easy transport.
Manufacturer Specs
- Dimensions: 15 x 14 x 15 inches
- Weight Capacity: 37 pounds
- Fold: Compact fold/comes with carrying bag
What We Like
- Great for keeping toddlers sitting still at the beach
- Doubles as a booster seat to use at restaurants, camping, etc.
What We Don’t Like
- In order for the seat to be safe, the manufacturer recommends using the 3-point safety harness, which might not be ideal for the beach in some instances.
hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat with Tray
Similar to the Summer Pop and Sit, this toddler beach chair doubles as a booster seat. It has a dishwasher safe removable tray, a machine washable cover and a comfort fit 3-point safety harness. It stores small in a carry bag that comes with it and is a great beach chair option for babies and toddlers from six months and toddlers up to about three years old.
Manufacturer Specs
- Dimensions: 15.59 x 7.01 x 7.01 inches
- Weight Capacity: 45 pounds
- Fold: Compact fold/comes with carrying bag
What We Like
- 3-point safety harness and duck style feet keep toddlers safe
- For older toddlers, safety harness can be removed to create a comfortable and flexible beach chair.
- Almost every part of this toddler beach chair is dishwasher safe or machine washable
What We Don’t Like
- Some users complain that this chair has a shorter lifespan than others on the market
Baby Delight Go with Me Venture Deluxe Portable Chair
The Baby Delight Go with Me Portable Chair is a great option because it grows as your child grows. It can be used for babies starting around three months old to toddlers up to 75 pounds. It has two removable leg holes that allows baby to stand with support. It also comes with a. removable snack tray and sun canopy for the beach.
Manufacturer Specs
- Dimensions:
- Weight Capacity: 75lbs
- Carry: Compact fold/comes with carrying bag
What We Like
- Extended use to fit babies up to large toddlers
- Sun canopy is great for the beach
What We Don’t Like
- More expensive than other options
The Best Kids Beach Chairs with Umbrellas
If shade is an important factor, it would be worth investing in a kid’s beach chair with umbrella. These chairs have built in umbrellas to provide immediate shade. This is a great option when trying to travel light or minimize beach gear because you may not also need to bring a shade tent larger umbrella.
Quik Shade Folding Canopy Shade Camp Chair for Kids
If you are looking for a beach chair that also comes with a built-in sun shade, the Quik Shade Folding Canopy Chair is our top choice. This chair comes with a built-in cup holder. It folds up and fits in a storage bag for easy transport.
Unlike other beach chairs with umbrellas, this kid’s beach chair comes with a large shade that protects kids and toddlers from the sun. It also comes with an extra safety feature – a safety lock that holds the chair open while in use.
This chair gets extremely high reviews as does the larger option for adults. The kid’s model is best for older toddlers up to children around eight years old.
While not the cheapest option on the market, the Kelsyus Kids Canopy Chair is a very high quality quad style chair. It comes with an extended sun canopy that doubles as a waterproof carry bag. It’s steel frame makes it extra durable and it can hold kids weighing up to 75 pounds.
Due to the extended canopy, this is a wonderful option for children who are prone to sunburn or need additional sun exposure. Kelsyus also makes a full-size adult version of this chair which also comes with outstanding reviews.
MiaoKa Outdoor Kids Beach Chairs and Umbrellas
This cute beach chair comes with a built in umbrella, a cup holder and a storage bag for easy transport.
Dreamwave Girls’ Swim Essentials – Girls Beach Chair with Umbrella
This basic beach chair comes with a matching umbrella that easily attaches to the chair providing sun protection. When not in use the umbrella folds flat behind the chair but remains attached preventing it from blowing away. This beach chair folds flat, but does not come with a storage bag and may be more difficult to transport.
What to Look for In a Beach Chair for a Kid?
A few questions to ask yourself when shopping for a beach chair for your toddler or child:
- How is the chair made (materials and structure)– quality materials are important for safety and longevity
- Does it have a built-in cup holder?
- Does it come with a built-in sunshade?
- Does it come with safety straps/3-point harness? (for toddler)
- Does the beach chair come with a removable tray (for toddler)
- How easy is the chair to fold up and transport/can my child carry it without help?
- How easy is it to clean? Is the fabric machine washable?
- What is the weight capacity, and can the chair grow with my child?
- Can the chair be used for other purposes? Many chairs double as a booster seat, camping chair, etc.
How Much Should I Spend on a Beach Chair for my Kid(s)
Beach chairs for kids run anywhere from $10 up to $200. If you are buying a chair for a toddler or young child, it’s important to look at the safety features and chair structure.
In our experience, the $10 chairs tend to be flimsier and tend not to last as long, but for around $25-$30 you should be able to find a beach chair that lasts.
How Long Do Kid’s Beach Chairs Last?
This depends on many factors including:
- Use – Do you use the chair a few times a year or is it getting daily use? If daily use, you should expect most chairs to last less than a year. If you are using your kid’s beach chairs only a few times a year, they can last for many years.
- Cleaning – At the very minimum, it’s important to shake excess sand off beach chairs before storing them. Sand is corrosive and can wear on fabric over long periods over time weakening the integrity of the material and creating a safety hazard.
- Sun exposure – Sun exposure can also weaken fabrics over time. Just as holes rip in adult beach chairs that are well-loved, the same is true for beach chairs for kids. It’s important to store chairs in a shaded area when not in use to get the most use possible.
- Water – Many beach chairs come with their own storage bags which is great, but mold and mildew can develop if chairs are being stored wet. Simply leave the chair in the sun to dry when you get home or before packing it away to prevent mold.
Can’t My Kid Just Use an Adult Beach Chair?
If you plan to only have one child or you want to get a lot of life out of a beach chair, it may be worth considering a full, adult size chair for a younger child. If you opt to do this, we recommend a lower to the ground option, like the Nice C Low Beach Camping Chair.
Having the center of gravity closer to the ground keeps the chair more stable and can help prevent accidents. Most adult beach chairs tend to be more expensive than kids options, and most kids tend to be happier sitting in their own “special” beach chairs.
For young children, toddlers and babies, we would opt for a child-specific seat to provide the safest and best beach experience.