I have been going to the beach with my 10 months old for a few weeks now. Man did I learn in that short time!
There are just so many things to consider in the everyday life with our little ones. When you undertake such a big project it can be quite overwhelming. Because yes, going to the beach with a baby is a project. One that even can be ruined by lack of organisation.
Therefore, I have come up with list of Do’s and Don’ts that I will be a huge help to you!
General tips: Luckily we did not plan on staying for too long as it was more of a trial visit. I highly recommend doing on your first time going
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Before leaving the house
Sunscreen
Duh! Or course, you’ll tell me. But it is not quite as simple. On our first ever visit, we did not have any. No biggy, I stopped at a drug store on our way and that should be the end of it. WRONG. When you get to the beach, you don’t have a single second before you have to deal with sand everywhere. Try to cream a none-cooperative baby covered with sand… Impossible! Also, sunscreen is so thick that it is hard to apply.
I ended up buying a spray on bottle (Neutrogena) . I apply it on the deck so it doesn’t make a mess in the house. This is a real game changer! Cream the entire baby (except under the diaper), even if his/her bathing suite is UV protective. Once, I did it without thinking about it and was so happy! When we got out of the ocean, the sun was shining, and I did not have to put him in a bathing suite.
My recommendation: Spay your whole baby at home wearing only a diaper (don’t cream under the diaper)
Swimming diapers
Even if you don’t plan on going swimming, use them since they don’t ‘’inflate’’ with ground humidity. I also found out they dry up very fast. You can’t even tell they got all wet in the first place. They are more expensive then regular ones. I would only put one on it if we have less then 15 minutes before hitting the beach
My recommendation: Use swimming diapers
I would also recommend you use the same brand as your baby usually wears toa voir unwanted reactions
Huggies / Pampers
Don’t forget about yourself
Don’t forget extra cloths for yourself. I totally forgot, I planed on taking off my shorts before going in the ocean but completely forgot. I ended up with wet shorts and only an extra underwear, not ideal if nothing to wear over. For the car ride home I sat on one of the extra towels (tat was still dry). My point is, you need extra clothing for you that you keep in the car just in case.
Kiddie Pool
you should fill a kiddy pool and leave it under the sun so it’s ready when you get back. Rinsing off baby at the beach is struggling, especially if you will have to hold baby. And let’s face it, there will be sand everywhere whether you shower or not. Let that baby soak when you get home. Keep a clean towel near the pool area so you don’t have to think about it when you get home.
Jug of fresh water
This one applies more if you go on a salty water beach. Get a narrow jug of water to rince baby’s hands, face and feet before putting him back in the stroller. The first time I went, I did not think about it. The first thing C did when I put him in the stroller was rub his eyes with his sandy hand… Also, if you plan on having baby nap on the beach it’s great to rince as much sand before.
I find that it is easier (and more relaxed) to have everything on hand for easy clean up. Let baby get as messy as he wants instead of stressing out about him being dirty.
If you are on a fresh water beach, you could have an empty jug and fill it on the spot.
Get baby ready
Home, dress baby up in a one-piece and pack a two-piece for changing on the beach. I feel like one-pieces are harder to put on, usually tighter. Remember they will be full of sand and salt on baby’s skin that won’t be comfortable with tight cloths.
Pack extra towels
Pack a hand size towel to put in the stroller to go from the beach to the car.
Choice of beach
If it is possible, choose a beach where there are shower amenities for rinsing off all that salt and sand. It does not have to be much, any access to fresh water to remove most of the sand. Being tided in a car seat rubbing sand over that little delicate skin in to be avoided at all cost.
Safety
Make sure you check the tides schedule (google ”city tide chart”) and you should get it. Learn on how much the beach gets engulf at high tides (some places lose all the beach for a certain period). Understand the currents and layout of the ground. All of those are highly important for your safety, as well as you little one’s. Usually, you will find some sort of information stand where you can get educated on the reality of the area you are visited.
Before hitting the beach
Get that car ready
As I mentioned, there will be sand everywhere. Your stroller is most likely going to be filled with it. To avoid putting freshly rinsed baby in a sandy stroller, i would have had my car setup for our arrival. This works better with a SUV or at least a car with a trunk that is leveled (with no edge).
Get your diaper changing station already organized. I would have the changing mat open, diaper out and clean cloths right there waiting for us. I would also keep an extra clean towel right there, easy to grab. If sand got on every one we had on the beach you would still have a clean one waiting. I never ended having to use it, but I was the only one going through my bag on the beach. This could have been different if i have had a toddler or young child with me as well)
On the beach
Snacks
It is sooooo tempting for a less then 3 year-old to put everything in his/her mouth including sand. C is always hungry so I found that feeding him easy to serve dry food helped. The idea is to have food they won’t want to keep in their hands : thing you can shove in their mouth and does not have to be bitten. I like the Puffs by Gerber, Lil’ Crunchies (I put the link, but they are way cheaper at Walmart). He was 10 months old when we visited the beach for the first time. With time he tried and eat it less and less, unless he was hungry.
Change of cloths for baby
Pack one to bring on the beach. I pack a second bathing suite kit and a sweatshirt or t-shirt (depending on temperature/wind/etc.) Baby cloths are so tiny, you might as well have a little too much then not enough. I love those 50 UPS bathing suites as they protect from the sun. Check out my Most Pack for a Fun Day at the Beach with a Baby Post for more straight forward list.
C would ”run” to the ocean to play in it and end up all wet 15 minutes after we arrived. When he wanned to get back to the sand from the water, I would take off the bathing suite. I’d keep the swimming diaper (they dry up so fast). I kept him in a towel, on my lap for a few minutes, to dry and heat him up. (try not to rub the baby’s skin as sand is really irritant when rubbed). I would then put him in the two-piece kit I had brought. C would often go to the ocean more then once. I ended up running out of kits to put him in. Here is why you want to have applied sunblock on the belly and back of baby. It was fine to let him wonder around in only the swimming diaper.
Restrain baby’s movement
I am all about getting down on the sand and playing with my baby. We created so many amazing memories (mostly mine as he won’t remember a thing). When I was building sandcastles, I would dig a hole. I found out that C had some trouble getting out of the hole (but had so much fun playing in it). This restrained him from going and playing with all sorts of branches, shells, and other un identified items found on a beach.
I found that the best way to enjoy the beach is to go when the tide is coming back up. If you have a huge set up it might not be the most efficient way to enjoy. But having the ocean catch up with your sandy construction is really nice when playing. Also the little hole that baby plays in becomes a muddy pool and C just loved playing with moist sand.
I saw someone use an elastic bed sheet with heavy equipment on each corner to keep it in place. The sheet held so it made walls all around the baby. Now, that is great for a none crawling baby. It prevents the sand to get everywhere (and being eaten). It wouldn’t have worked with C, but can be an amazing hack if your baby is not yet mobile.
Mind set, adapt your expectations
I’m sure you went to the beach in your younger days. Jump in the car with little to no preparation. Relaxing on a towel, get that drink on and tanning were you’re only focus. Well this might not be your knew reality if you are heading to the beach with a baby.
In my experience…
Going to the beach with a baby is a sport for mommy. You will most likely be sweating before you even get in the car. Packing the car, get baby ready, get yourself ready is quite the assignment.
Then when you are at the beach you need to be constantly watching your little one. I am all about helping them creating core memories. So if he wants to get in the ocean and play in the waves, I am there to watch. Meaning sitting in the water ready to catch them if they fall. Gaging the next wave to see if I need to secure baby so he doesn’t dive. Get him in my arms and hit the bigger waves a little deeper in the water. Amazing memories, yet exhausting journey.
Then when it’s time to go home, get your party off the beach. Get baby ready to get in the car as comfortable as possible
When you get home, there are many things to put away. A dinner to get going and a still dirty baby to bath.
You might have a partner that help take off part of these tasks, but still. In my family, I take on the mental charge of organizing adventures. Furthermore, D did not join us in our trip so couldn’t help. My grandma was helpful but still I had to do most of the work. I am not complaining, we had so much fun. I made a bucket full of memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. This is advisement that you need to be ready for the workload. They say babies change your life. This is all the most accurate when going on the beach.
