Beach Advice

[judyblume14]

Good morning, internet friends!  Help me, please.

Me, hubs, and the cutest little girl are going to the beach for a long weekend in a few weeks.  We will be driving late Thursday evening while she sleeps. Get there around 9:30 and unpack/relax.

The condo is on the 4th floor of a building without stairs (ugh); but that's probably the only down fall.  We will be bringing a PNP for her to sleep in.

We will be heading home mid-morning on Monday around nap time (whatever that ends up being).  The drive is 3 hours, very familiar, and we are prepared to stop as much as necessary.

We have 3 full days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Our tentative plan is to use one of those days to go to the boardwalk (Old Time photos are a must! I don't care how expensive they are). I'm sure she can't do most of the kiddie rides, but I'd like to at least take her on a big carousel, and maybe the big ferris wheel!  And hubs will hold her while I get on the Zipper. 

A second day we relax at the condo / pool.

A third day, we will try to tackle the beach.  THIS is where I need advice.  WTF do I need to take to the beach?  Do we lug the PNP there?  Is renting a big beach umbrella enough, or do we really need to get a tent?  Do we buy a wagon to get everything there? 

The whole weekend is very fluid and flexible.  We won't be disappointed if things don't go exactly to our very loose plan. meals will be a mix of cooking at the condo and eatiing out depending on LO's mood.

Has anyone done a vacay yet? Second time moms- tell me how to go to the beach with a babyyyyy.

[jt2378]

Great post judyblume14! I'm curious what others recommend also. We spend a great deal of time at the beach every year in RI but haven't gone yet with DD.

What is the parking situation or is the beach right at the condo? I wouldn't think you would need a wagon if you didn't have to walk a distance. My SIL always had those pop up tents for my twin nieces and she loved it. I'm not sure if we would bring it or not. An umbrella and sun hat, sunscreen (obviously) would be a must! Some beach toys and snacks for Lu...Maybe you would be blessed and be one of those families whose LO LOVES sleeping on the beach since the waves are free white noise. I have heard babies going both ways, sleep great or not at all. I don't think I am much help, sorry!

[doglover31]

I have been wondering the same thing about the beach. We live 10 mins away from the beach, and have yet to take DS.

I'm worried about how he will do and that I won't bring along the right equipment. I have heard of others that bring the PNP, but to me that sounds like a lot of work. I think a wagon would be a good idea to carry everything and one of those pop up tents with a huge sheet underneath? And lots of snacks, sunscreen, a hat, and some light clothes to cover her up if you guys will be outside for a long time.

I must confess that one of my biggest fears of the beach is DS eating the sand....I can just picture him grabbing a handful and eating it.

I hope you get some good recommendations!

[judyblume14]

We are going to be about 3 blocks from the beach (have to cross the main highway).

Now that I think of it, since's its jsut the 3 of us, and not a big group... the PNP might be unnecessary - she can jsut lay and play on a beach blanket?

[jt2378]

oh yeah the wagon is probably a necessity to carry the stuff in. Beach blanket sounds doable!!

[lbonga1]

You should be able to just lay LO on a blanket/towel under the umbrella. We have a little pop tent, but I don't really see how it would function any different from an umbrella and towel. I agree that some babies will sleep at the beach, and some won't sleep at all. I would just bring some small toys and snacks, and a sun hat and sunscreen of course.

[thelittlesrunmylife]

The first time we took our 3year old to the beach, she ate a ton of sand. It happens. She had a day or two that were uncomfortable if I didn't catch her dirty diaper fast enough but she was ok other than that.

We are in the midst of some unusually hot and sunny weather right now and I had to have both of my littles in the hot sun for a parade for two days in a row, SUNSCREEN is a must. It worked on my little guys super white skin and he doesn't even have a tan line anywhere. Lotion, not spray works better for me.

For the beach, I usually take a blanket and some toys. I've seen people taking their strollers and pnp and big things to the beach but I know the sand and salt ruined my bike when I was younger and I hate cleaning sand out of stuff so I would say leave it home. Your little will love to feel the sand (hopefully. I had one that wouldn't touch the sand.) as for carrying it, if you find a wagon she can sit in, I would do that or just a big beach bag for towels, snacks and toys.

The most important thing is HAVE FUN!!! We are going camping for 5 days over 4th of July at the coast and we are super excited. It'll be my baby's first time to the coast also!

[designaddiction]

We are going to the beach in July and I was wondering some if the same things. Good tips ladies!