If you are thinking about bringing your baby or small child to the beach for the first time, no doubt you have some worries, some thoughts, and some questions.
The beach is amazing.
It is fun, relaxing and a great way to take a break from the busyness of everyday life.
But is it good for babies?
Absolutely!
There are just a couple of things to consider and plan ahead to make sure that everything is as good as possible for you and your baby.
Pick An Off-Peak Time
Beaches can be very busy, especially if the weather is good.
The busier a beach is, the louder and more overwhelming it is for a small child. There can be music, BBQ smoke and big crowds.
This isn’t the ideal environment to bring your baby into, especially if it is their first experience with the beach.
Try and pick an off-peak time to visit the beach. This could be early morning or whenever everyone else goes home for dinner.
Avoid night times as it might be too cold for your little one.
Pack The Night Before
Getting a baby or child ready to go to the beach can be a bit of an ordeal. If we’re being honest, it can be a bit of an ordeal getting a child ready to go anywhere.
Reduce your stress on the day and have a nicer experience by packing the night before.
Make a list of everything you need and check it off as you go.
In the morning you will be all ready to go and you will be able to enjoy yourself much easier.
Suncream Suncream Suncream
Even if you don’t think it’s super duper sunny, you need to pack and use suncream for your child.
The best way to do it is to apply the suncream all over your child’s body before they get dressed and let it sink in. This means you won’t have missed any spots which could later get burnt or damaged. Then, remember to re-apply frequently.
If you are likely to forget, you can set yourself an alarm for every hour to re-apply.
Baby skin is super sensitive and so it is super super important that you do this.
Bring Shade
Whether this is from the sun or from the wind, bringing shade with you to the beach is always a good idea. Babies are sensitive to both heatstroke and catching a cold, and so they need to be protected from the elements.
You can buy beach dividers and protectors in a range of places, or you can simply bring a big umbrella.
Either way, keep your child protected when needs be.
Bring a Cooler
Bring a cooler or cooling bag with you to the beach.
This means you can keep food, snacks, milk and water safe and cold until you want them.
If it is a hot day, this is essential for your baby as their milk will curdle in the heat and sun.
Remember Towels
Remember to bring towels… more than one.
You’ll need them for towelling dry but also for removing sand. They can get pretty messy pretty quickly so remember to bring some spares. You might also want some for the car so that your seats don’t get damp.
You can never have too many towels at the beach.