Surviving a Day at the Beach
Summer is hands down my favorite season. I love the warm weather, the flowers, and the lazy weekend days with a cold drink in my hand watching my children play. I feel like summer is forever associated in people’s minds with the beach. Although I love summer, I’m actually not the biggest beach lover. That said though, I’ve survived the beach with kids in tow and know that it IS possible to enjoy yourself and not lose your mind. Here are few tips to save your sanity on beach day…
Remember beach days before kids? Relaxing on the beach, enjoying the warm sun on your skin, and sipping a drink while reading a trashy novel? Well, I’m sorry to break it to you but… with kids… that is NOT the kind of day at the beach that you are looking at – sorry mama! That’s not to say that you can’t still have days like that – but only if the kiddos aren’t in tow.
The first challenge when it comes to the beach with kids is the amount of STUFF that you have to bring. Pre-kids, you could get away with a towel, a book, a tube of sunscreen, and a cooler of drinks. You could fit everything into one stylish little tote – and you probably felt hot in the sexy two-piece bathing suit you were rocking too… I know I did! Flash forward and here I am desperately shopping for a suit that fits my postpartum body and doesn’t make me feel like a beached whale. At least a fashionable beach hat and sunglasses make me feel mysterious – haha.
If it’s possible to take another adult with you on beach day I highly recommend it – especially if you have more than one child in tow. Having another set of eyes and hands is invaluable and as an added bonus it gives you someone to have an adult conversation with while the kids make mud pies in the sand and chase seagulls down the beach. Having another set of hands to carry everything is also a plus although a beach wagon or stroller with beach-friendly wheels will also do the trick. Trying to carry everything you need plus keep track of excited littles who don’t have much patience is a daunting task that can cause anxiety even in the most seasoned moms.
One of the most important things to remember when you go ANYWHERE with a baby in tow is plenty of diapers. Don’t forget that if you plan on taking baby into the water you will need to remember swim diapers. Regular diapers swell and absorb water (since they are designed to absorb pee) and can explode making a mess of both your poor baby’s butt and whatever else they are sitting on. If you have ever accidentally washed a diaper or waited too long to change one, you know that exploded diapers are a MESS! If you are a new mom, you might be wondering exactly how a swim diaper is different. Swim diapers do NOT absorb liquids. On one hand, they will not swell and explode during water play BUT you have to keep in mind that this also means that they will not hold pee – meaning that swim diapers only catch poop. Whenever I take my kids to the beach or the pool I always bring both regular and swim diapers and I switch between the two throughout the day because being peed all over is a drag! I think it’s also worth noting that after 2 kiddos, I have decided that disposable swim diapers aren’t really worth the convenience. I’d end up buying one package for the summer but only going through a few diapers since we didn’t end up going to the beach very often. In hindsight, I could have purchased 2 reusable swim diapers for the cost of what one package of swim diapers cost me and that would have been plenty! I also want to note that if you go the reusable route… buy the ones that snap at the sides! The pull-on ones are a disaster to try to get off wet and if by chance your little one poops in it… it’s way more trouble than it’s worth!
Sunscreen or sunblock is also a must. Most pediatricians recommend using sunscreen on babies 6 months and up. I personally prefer physical sunblock versus chemical sunscreen on both myself and my children now that I’ve done my own research. Physical sunblock is a bit more difficult to apply than chemical spray-on ones but my personal thought is that the fewer chemicals on a young baby’s skin – the better. There are many great options when it comes to physical sunblock. Two brands that I have had great luck with are Blue Lizard and ThinkBaby but there are several others on the market too. My personal favorite is ThinkBaby brand sunblock and I use it not only on my kids but also on myself. The company also makes a “ThinkKids” version but it’s actually the exact same formula as the baby sunblock in a tube that might be more appealing to older children who no longer want to be associated with anything “baby.”
If your little one is younger than 6 months old, check with your pediatrician before using any kind of sunscreen or sunblock. Alternative options include beach umbrellas to create some shade, beach tents, and dressing baby in UV swimwear and floppy hats. I wanted to love the beach tent that I purchased for this purpose but for me, it felt like sitting in a sauna on the beach even with the ventilation flaps open. My best suggestion is to “trial run” whatever equipment that you plan on using before beach day. We use our backyard but you could also probably use a park.
If you plan on taking your baby in the water you might want to consider investing in a water ring sling baby carrier. Babies are slippery when wet and I felt a lot more comfortable knowing that my baby was safely connected to me and that I wouldn’t accidentally drop him or let him slip out of my arms. Also, don’t be surprised if your baby doesn’t enjoy the ocean – at least when they are very young. Both of my children hated the ice-cold water but now that my oldest is 5… he can’t get enough of the water. Don’t lose hope if in the beginning it’s not the first experience that you dreamed of!
Perhaps this one is obvious but, don’t forget to pack LOTS of snacks. Little is worse than hangry toddlers! As part of your snack packing however, I recommend packing a few extra bottles of water. These bottles however, are not for drinking. I use them to rinse sand off little feet before getting into the car! It helps to minimize at least some of the sand that inevitably comes home. I also bring extra towels to line car seats and/or clean dry changes of clothes for the way home.
Overall, try not to sweat the small stuff (pun intended). Keep a close eye on those little ones but don’t be afraid to let them get sandy. Try to enjoy yourself too as much as you can. Going to the beach doesn’t have to be a daunting experience if you properly plan in advance. Do you have additional tips for fellow moms? Post them below! I’d love to read them!
Image Courtesy of Google.com