Beach and a newborn

[lactavia]

I will be having a newborn baby in June. I do not plan on letting this int interrupt my plans on going to the beach weekly all summer with my 4.5 year old and friends with other babies. I am wondering what people have done to keep the little ones from burning and getting too over exposed at the beach. I'm thinking the stroller and later the pack n play with some sort of covering over it to keep the sun out. Any suggestions? I know it's early to be thinking of the beach, but I love the beach and so does my son.

Thanks!

[Caneel]

We did a beach vacation when DS was 3.5 and then again at 4.5 months.

3.5 months was to FL and while it was warm, it wasn't HOT so overheating wasn't a cocern. We had a big umbrella that provided plenty of shade. I had a hat and long pants and long sleeve light weight shirt for sun protection. DS was under the umbrella the entire time.

4.5 was to the USVIs. Again, we had shade but this time in the form of a pop up sun shettler. While it was hot, there was enough of a breeze that overheating wasn't a concern.

[gardenmommy]

When I've taken a little one to the beach in the past, I've made sure to have a comfortable carrier, because I hate trying to push a stroller through the sand. I take a big blanket, and something for shade. Plenty of water for myself, and lightweight clothing (long sleeves and legs, preferably) for the baby. I find that it is usually breezy enough that overheating isn't a problem, as long as there is enough shade for the baby. The biggest thing for me is to just have very low expectations of what we do at the beach, so that I don't over do it and become too tired.

[leighi123]

I personally think it looks really silly when people bring their stoller and pack and play and carseat all down the the beach!

They make little tents for the beach for infants, even have ones with a bottom for newborns, they allow air to circulate, have UV protection from the sun, are easy to pop up/pack up to use.

[jennylou]

We took our six month (at the time) to various beaches. We did take the stroller, and yes, they were a pain, but she napped in them and we were on a cruise, so it wasn't like we could bring various gear with us. The stroller worked well because it also held all our crap while I wore the baby. But, when she would sleep, I'd often put her down there to sleep, both on and off the ship.

[~Boudicca~]

My dd1's first trip to the beach was when she was 9 weeks old, and dd2 was 6 weeks old. For the most part they stayed under an umbrella wrapped in a lightweight blanket, and when they weren't under there they were attached to me in a sling. Honestly, they were both pretty oblivious to the experience. When we nursed we did it side-lying under the umbrella.

[marisa724]

My mother lives near the beach and my ILs rent a house there every summer. I've navigated the beach with young babies a few times now.

Bringing a stroller is just a disaster, most of the time, esp. with all the rest of the gear you'll probably want to bring. The wheels are just not designed to roll on sand. It's kind of a nightmare to push, you wind up dragging it, you have to make extra trips for the other stuff.... etc.

I highly recommend some kind of small tent as the previous posters have said. Our current routine includes bringing the tent, which is small and low but big enough for mama to lie inside to nurse the baby if necessary. I pack everything we need into a "beach buggy" - like one of those carts older ladies take to the laundromat but with big sturdy wheels for rolling on the sand. We take towels, an umbrella, toys, maybe a small cooler. If I want a chair it can be hooked onto the buggy as well, and when the tent is folded and packed in its case the strap loops over the handle of the buggy.

Then the baby goes in a light cotton sling or wrap, and I have my hands free to pull the buggy and even hold on to older DS, if necessary.

I would just recommend, if you get a tent, practice popping it/packing it up a few times at home first. Ours is very tricky and it's a pain to try to figure it out on the windy beach with the sand blowing around, etc.

This is similar to what we have: http://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Wheeler.../dp/B000M4CVIS
but there are many varieties. Being in a beach town, we were able to find ours locally.

[abeliamama]

When the baby is older, maybe about 1 year, it's great to have a little baby pool and a bucket to fill it. Keeps them cool and keeps the sand off. Mine hated the sand on their hands and would rub it on their face and get upset.

[crittersmom]

I live in HI so the beach is unavoidable. We went to the beach when my youngest was 7 days old( he was almost born at the beach!).Like others said strollers are a big hassle in the sand, too much of a work out.I wore him and had a little folding bassinet/tent to put him in and an umbrella for shade while nursing.The only thing I remember is that sand gets everywhere so be prepared for sandy diapers and nipples.

[sleepingbeauty]

Originally Posted by ~Boudicca~

When we nursed we did it side-lying under the umbrella.

Sounds like heaven!

[aggieP]

When I went to the beach when my son was little I would just bring a blanket to lie on, sunblock and a recieving blanket, so I could make a sun shade out of it. The stroller was handy too and I can see it being handy if you needed somewhere safe to put baby if you had to run after your bigger kid enjoy the sun!

[annettemarie]

Moving to Life with a Babe

[Abraisme]

We have a pop-up sun shade which works great! It's like a little tent with an open front. You can pick them up at any big-box store for around $20.

[jess5377]

Voice of Dissent: I *really* didn't like the sun tents because while my child would sleep peacefully in there, she'd inevitably wake up and want to nurse or be held right when the sun was at its brightest - in other words, I'd have to take her out of the tent and into the sun.

Just rent or buy a giant umbrella and a blanket. That way you can all sit under it, you can nurse under it, you can sleep under it, you can do diaper changes under it....

[MsVyky]

Originally Posted by sleepingbeauty

Sounds like heaven!

Totally.

*swoon*

[marisa724]

Originally Posted by jess5377

Voice of Dissent: I *really* didn't like the sun tents because while my child would sleep peacefully in there, she'd inevitably wake up and want to nurse or be held right when the sun was at its brightest - in other words, I'd have to take her out of the tent and into the sun.

Just rent or buy a giant umbrella and a blanket. That way you can all sit under it, you can nurse under it, you can sleep under it, you can do diaper changes under it....

Just to address this, the tent we have is very similar to this:

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/...mSource=Search

Large enough for an average-sized adult to comfortably lay down inside. I also like the fact that there are 'windows' to let the breeze in, even if you have the sides closed (in the photo they are open).

It folds down into that small circular carrying bag, and it's next to impossible until you master folding it (which is why I recommend practicing at home first!) That's the major drawback - apart from being so comfy that mom doesn't want to leave the cool, shady tent to rejoin the rest of the party...

[lactavia]

Oooh!!! I think I'm going to get this one.

Thanks so much!

Originally Posted by marisa724

Just to address this, the tent we have is very similar to this:

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/...mSource=Search

Large enough for an average-sized adult to comfortably lay down inside. I also like the fact that there are 'windows' to let the breeze in, even if you have the sides closed (in the photo they are open).

It folds down into that small circular carrying bag, and it's next to impossible until you master folding it (which is why I recommend practicing at home first!) That's the major drawback - apart from being so comfy that mom doesn't want to leave the cool, shady tent to rejoin the rest of the party...