Best beach near Málaga city with some shade, travelling with a toddler?

Malagueta is the convenient one – walkable from the centre, lifeguards, chiringuitos – but it is fully exposed, so either hire a sombrilla and two loungers for the day or go early and leave by noon. For calmer, shallower water with a toddler, Pedregalejo just east has small bays broken up by breakwaters, with restaurants right behind the sand for a lunch-and-nap retreat. Further out, Rincón de la Victoria is very family-oriented and a short drive or train-then-bus. Our Málaga beaches guide has the honest take on each.