10 tips for a fun and safe day at the beach with your baby
Spending a day or a week at the beach is wonderful. But now your life has been turned upside down by the presence of your little one, so you'll have to watch them like a hawk, making sure they don't get sunburned, eat 5 kilos of sand, or go into the sea to play with the dolphins. Even so, the beach can still be a good idea—maybe not quite the "I'll spend the day reading the latest bestseller and dozing in the sun" kind of thing, but still a lot of fun. Maybe even more fun than ever. Here are 10 tips to help you safely enjoy everything at the beach with your baby.
First, you need to adjust your expectations. “ Beach day ” can become “beach time,” “five minutes at the beach,” or “the beach I’ll never leave.” Whatever it is, you should know that you’ll spend more time chasing your baby, cradling him, or feeding him than immersed in the wonderful novel you naively brought with you. And deep down, you already knew it would be like this, so accept it as soon as possible and you’ll enjoy it more.
Yes, it may seem like I've had too much sun on my head, but I assure you this is the right way to go to the beach: dig a small circular hole about 20 cm deep and about a meter in diameter, lay down a large sarong, and you've got yourself a little playpen for your baby. You won't just leave him there and dive into the waves, but it will give you a few moments of respite where he won't be eating sand like there's no tomorrow or going straight to say hello to Neptune.
Pro Tip: Bring a shovel to dig the hole. The better the shovel, the faster it will take, and you'll be able to make spectacular sand constructions later.
If your baby is over 6 months old, apply plenty of sunscreen. Make sure the sunscreen is a special pediatric sunscreen with a high protection factor (UVA/UVB SPF 50+) and is safe for your baby's skin. Apply liberally 15 minutes before going outside, reapply after going into the water, and every few minutes in between.
If your baby is under 6 months old, don't use sunscreen (not recommended for babies under 6 months) and simply keep them out of the sun. Beach tents with UV protection, hats, and full-body UV protection clothing are very practical here.
You'll love having enough space for the whole family to stretch out together, and an XXL towel sarong is a great idea that does the trick. I particularly like sarongs because they weigh less and are easy to store, carry, and wash. Nobody likes carrying 20 kilos of wet XXL towels everywhere.
Here are some of the essentials you'll want to have on your beach adventure:
A wide-brimmed hat for your baby
A beach tent. If you keep it well-ventilated and cool, the baby can take a nap.
Baby water shoes. Whether they're just starting to walk alone or with your help, these shoes will protect their delicate little feet and those toes you'd bite.
Swim diapers or water diapers.
A swimsuit with full-body UV protection. The more the swimsuit covers, the less protection you need.
A baby carrier or sling. Taking a walk on the beach with your baby is one of the most rewarding pleasures in existence. And no one in their right mind wants to drag a stroller through the sand (believe me, I'd rather have my nails ripped off).
Sand toys . A few sand buckets or molds will provide the necessary play.
If you go to the beach before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m., you'll avoid the hottest hours of the day. You'll also find far fewer people on the beach.
You'll want to have photographic documentation of these moments, especially if this is your baby's first time at the beach. Be careful with your camera or phone; they don't usually get along well with sea water and sand.
If you're still breastfeeding, you can wear a small sarong if you don't want to be seen. If your baby is already bottle-feeding, bring a cooler. If you've already started solids, don't forget the puree or a Tupperware container with food. Also, if your baby is older than 6 months, don't forget to keep him super hydrated by drinking water often. And remember, a well-fed and hydrated mom is a happy mom, so don't forget to bring something for yourself, too.
If your baby is mobile enough to escape your line of vision, even if it's just for a second, fluorescent colors are your best friend. Dress him in bright, eye-catching colors, and no matter how busy the beach is, he'll be able to quickly locate you.
Yes, I know these are two contradictory things. But on the one hand, you'll want to make sure your baby doesn't eat too much sand (it turns out that if they do a sandy poop, they get diaper rash. But as long as they only eat a few grains and don't eat handfuls of sand, as long as the sand isn't contaminated, which it usually isn't, they'll be fine). Also, don't lose sight of your baby for a second when you're near water.
And with that, it's the beach! Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, breathe in the salty scent of the sea breeze, sink your toes into the warm sand, relax, gaze out at the endless blue sea, and enjoy. Enjoy watching your baby discover a whole new world of sensations, sounds, and textures.
Did we miss any interesting tips? Let us know in the comments:
1. Be flexible
First, you need to adjust your expectations. “ Beach day ” can become “beach time,” “five minutes at the beach,” or “the beach I’ll never leave.” Whatever it is, you should know that you’ll spend more time chasing your baby, cradling him, or feeding him than immersed in the wonderful novel you naively brought with you. And deep down, you already knew it would be like this, so accept it as soon as possible and you’ll enjoy it more.
2. Dig a small hole
3. Bring tons of sunscreen
If your baby is over 6 months old, apply plenty of sunscreen. Make sure the sunscreen is a special pediatric sunscreen with a high protection factor (UVA/UVB SPF 50+) and is safe for your baby's skin. Apply liberally 15 minutes before going outside, reapply after going into the water, and every few minutes in between.
If your baby is under 6 months old, don't use sunscreen (not recommended for babies under 6 months) and simply keep them out of the sun. Beach tents with UV protection, hats, and full-body UV protection clothing are very practical here.
4. Make sure your towel or sarong is big, very big
You'll love having enough space for the whole family to stretch out together, and an XXL towel sarong is a great idea that does the trick. I particularly like sarongs because they weigh less and are easy to store, carry, and wash. Nobody likes carrying 20 kilos of wet XXL towels everywhere.
5. Always well equipped
Here are some of the essentials you'll want to have on your beach adventure:
A wide-brimmed hat for your baby
A beach tent. If you keep it well-ventilated and cool, the baby can take a nap.
Baby water shoes. Whether they're just starting to walk alone or with your help, these shoes will protect their delicate little feet and those toes you'd bite.
Swim diapers or water diapers.
A swimsuit with full-body UV protection. The more the swimsuit covers, the less protection you need.
A baby carrier or sling. Taking a walk on the beach with your baby is one of the most rewarding pleasures in existence. And no one in their right mind wants to drag a stroller through the sand (believe me, I'd rather have my nails ripped off).
Sand toys . A few sand buckets or molds will provide the necessary play.
6. You go out of schedule
If you go to the beach before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m., you'll avoid the hottest hours of the day. You'll also find far fewer people on the beach.
7. Take photos
You'll want to have photographic documentation of these moments, especially if this is your baby's first time at the beach. Be careful with your camera or phone; they don't usually get along well with sea water and sand.
8. Bring groceries
If you're still breastfeeding, you can wear a small sarong if you don't want to be seen. If your baby is already bottle-feeding, bring a cooler. If you've already started solids, don't forget the puree or a Tupperware container with food. Also, if your baby is older than 6 months, don't forget to keep him super hydrated by drinking water often. And remember, a well-fed and hydrated mom is a happy mom, so don't forget to bring something for yourself, too.
9. Add bright colors
If your baby is mobile enough to escape your line of vision, even if it's just for a second, fluorescent colors are your best friend. Dress him in bright, eye-catching colors, and no matter how busy the beach is, he'll be able to quickly locate you.
10. Be alert and relax
Yes, I know these are two contradictory things. But on the one hand, you'll want to make sure your baby doesn't eat too much sand (it turns out that if they do a sandy poop, they get diaper rash. But as long as they only eat a few grains and don't eat handfuls of sand, as long as the sand isn't contaminated, which it usually isn't, they'll be fine). Also, don't lose sight of your baby for a second when you're near water.
And with that, it's the beach! Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, breathe in the salty scent of the sea breeze, sink your toes into the warm sand, relax, gaze out at the endless blue sea, and enjoy. Enjoy watching your baby discover a whole new world of sensations, sounds, and textures.
Did we miss any interesting tips? Let us know in the comments:
