Let's go to the beach... ?

[WittyLittle]

At the end of the month we're going to Greece to see the in laws for 2 weeks. They live in the city and have a beach house about an hour away. The temperature will be around 85-90 degrees in the city so everyone keeps suggesting to go to the beach house instead where it's cooler. The thing is, other than the beach there is nooooothing to do there.

I've been googling and there's conflicting advice about taking LO to the beach at 3 1/2- 4 months. I'll be asking at his pedi appointment on Tuesday, but I was wondering what you guys think? Have you taken your LO to a beach holiday at this age? What did you do to keep them cool and in the shade? Were they miserable in the heat? Are there other things we should be thinking about to keep him safe, healthy and happy?

[miniwheat]

I live at a beach. DD was born and June and we took her all the time. We went early in the morning before the crowds and the hottest part of the day and sometimes went back in the evening for a walk when the sun was letting up. We also have a beach tent to make our own shade and if it was crazy hot, we skipped it. The beach tends to have a nice breeze off the water so the heat wasn't awful most of the time.

[lotsofdotts]

We are going on a mini-vacation this week to one of the NC beaches. I plan to go to the beach in the morning, but I don't think it is supposed to be too hot. We will take a tent to shade him, but if he gets too fussy or hot, we will go back to the condo. I don't think it is a problem to take an infant. I think the warnings are for those who lack common sense. You don't fall into that category, so I say go enjoy the beach!

[mommadozer]

We took LO camping on the beach last month and he was fine. We had DS wear a hat and kept him in the shade. We bought a superbrella.

All of the swimsuits for babies have UV protection in the material. Maybe get LO a rash guard and diaper cover if you are overly worried about sun exposure.

[anchovies]

We are taking DS to Charleston in June. I plan to buy a hat, large umbrella and swim outfit for him. I won't take him out when it's peak heat. He likes to nap during the afternoon anyway, so hopefully he keeps that up.

[lilyelayne]

We're going to the beach at the end of May. Our pedi told us to avoid sunlight when we can but if not slather on sunscreen - on a sand beach, there's still a lot of reflected sunlight under the shade, so sunscreen is a must. I got him swim shorts, a long sleeve rash guard, and a hat. Outside time in moderation.

I'm nursing so I plan to offer to nurse more often if he gets hot & sweaty. Maybe ask your pedi for recommendations about preventing dehydration?

[WittyLittle]

Great! Thanks I've gotten a super cool 'hell yeh I'm a tourist baby' suit for him today with a hat, lots of sunscreen (spray and lotion) and we'll spend the first two days in Greece buying some adequate shade for him as well. I'm really glad to see its doable and your LOs weren't automatically miserable, I was really worried about that :/

[lilyelayne]

Oh forgot to add we brought my nephew to the beach at 4 weeks old. He was fine, just didn't spend a lot of continuous time out in the heat.

[pitdigger]

We live at the beach and have already taken G a couple of times. He's rather chill about it, but the water is a little bit cold for him at the moment, so he's only gotten his feet wet.

We're doing mostly rashguards and swim diapers as bathing suits except for one bodysuit, just to make changes easier. Also, I've found that those kimono tops are great for after swimming or just putting on at the beach.

[mamabisme]

We live just a few minutes from the beach. We've been a couple times already. DS just lays on a blanket under the umbrella and we don't stay for more than a couple hours at a time. Ask your pedi about the sunscreen though. I do believe they are not supposed to use it until at least 6 months.

[2mrsks (mrs&mrsk)]

we live near the beach too. we go once in a while but in the late afternoon and keep DS in the stroller- it's still cold by the water!

[lilyelayne]

May 13, 2015 3:44:04 GMT -5 mamabisme said:

We live just a few minutes from the beach. We've been a couple times already. DS just lays on a blanket under the umbrella and we don't stay for more than a couple hours at a time. Ask your pedi about the sunscreen though. I do believe they are not supposed to use it until at least 6 months.

+1 to asking your pedi about sunscreen

Mine brought it up at G's 2 month appointment & said avoid sunlight if possible but if you know you can't avoid it, apply sunscreen generously. She said all the bottles will say do not use until 6 months but that's because babies aren't supposed to be out in the sun for the first 6 months. But ask your pedi to be sure.

[WittyLittle]

good idea, Ill call the pedis office tomorrow and ask them to confirm if and which sunscreen! We have a full length swim suit, sunglasses and hat for him for at the beach but I think even in the garden under the shade the sun is still quite strong. thanks everyone for the great advice!

[seamonster]

You may want to get a physical barrier sunscreen (like zinc oxide) instead of chemical sunscreen. I think the full body sunsuits seem to be pretty common.

We'll be at the beach at 4.5/5 months, coincidentally in Greece as well. Plan is lots of shade, sunsuit., hat, sunglasses, and zinc oxide.

[lilyelayne]

If you're using sunscreen, I'd test on a small patch of skin before you go. I'd hate to coat my kid in sunscreen head to toe only to find out he's allergic or something.