How to Prepare Yourself For A Beach Trip With Your Baby

The beach is a fun place for the whole family and offers plenty of relaxation and recreation amidst glorious sunshine. However, as with any trip, planning is key especially if you are heading to the beach with a baby or babies! Here is a guide to help you plan such an outing with some key things to keep in mind to ensure a truly wonderful trip for all involved.

Find the Right Beach

When deciding on the beach to go to, keep in mind factors like distance and the current weather. Long drives to a destination and back can be tiring for a baby and you do want them to be in a good mood getting there and on your return! While the weather can be fickle, it is always good to check even on the day of your trip to decide whether to go ahead or if it is wiser to postpone. Of course, if you are staying at a beachside resort or hotel this won't be an issue since you can easily head indoors if it rains.

Prepare to Battle the Sun

The sun, heat and glare can be hard for babies to deal with so it is important you bring adequate protection. Taking a large beach umbrella or a pop-up tent as well as a sheet for the baby will be useful. Additionally, you can consider bringing a small inflatable pool if you have one which will not only keep the baby cool but act as a playpen of sorts. Make sure you bring proper sun protection be it when relaxing in the shade or enjoying beach activities; apart from a hat, have adequate and effective sunscreen for the baby which you should apply at regular intervals to ensure no sunburn.

Decide What to Pack

Packing the right things for your trip is important and should be given proper thought. You can consider bringing along the stroller to the beach which will make life a bit easier since you won't have to carry the baby; remember, you will likely be carrying a lot of other stuff from beach bags to a cooler. Take a large beach bag so you can pack the needed towels, toys and even food or you could even opt to take a spacious laundry basket.

Baskets or bags that are made out of mesh material are particularly handy for packing toys since the sand will fall right off. Have a cooler with you which you can store foodstuff and water or drinks which will be useful; when packing the cooler add some damp cloths in a plastic bag which will stay cool and can be used to help the baby cool down at the beach too. Check out online resources such as Sandy Beach Trips which offers insights into the best family beach destinations as well as give you an idea of what you will need to pack.

Plan the Playtime

Apart from the outing itself, you should look to give your baby a fun experience at the beach where he / she can enjoy playing as well as learning. There is plenty to touch, hear and see so you can do away with expensive toys and instead, just have a simple plastic spade and bucket for them to play with.

Remember, this can be a sensory experience for babies as well; apart from the feel and texture of the sand, you can also show and let them touch shells (make sure they don't put them into the mouth!). If they are old enough, go over words like beach, sand, sea, waves or boat which they will be able to see first-hand.