Beach vacation with a 6mo and a 3.5 year old

[LindsayK]

So DH has to go on a business trip... in JAMAICA :) So we are traveling with him, and staying at the all inclusive, 3 different beaches and a waterpark resort that his company has corporate rates at. Yea!!! I can't wait. But, also, I've never really done much in the beach vacation department, so now that I have little ones, I haven't really seen what other people do with babies/kids at the beach. We will be able to go back and forth (5 min walk) from our room to the beach, so this won't be like taking a day trip to the beach, but I want to be prepared. I want to make sure that I bring things that will make life easier and keep kids happy/safe, but also don't want to haul or buy stuff that isn't necessary.

I took a look at prior posts and suggestions, and here is what I am thinking about getting/bringing.

Clothes for baby: either just long sleeved light cotton clothes, or something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Coolibar-UPF-Infant-Swim-Romper/dp/B001QVAJ1M/ref=pd_sbs_a_2

Some sort of physical sun protection. Either an umbrella (need to check if the resort has these), or possibly a baby sun tent like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Play-Tents-Cabana-Zippered/dp/B00027175S/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1Q8V7Y7DJMQ10&colid=28Z3QY73HP1VC 

Should I get sunglasses for the baby?

http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Banz-Sunglasses-Color-Pink/dp/B0007Y8H04/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=IP3QG7T9ZUS07&colid=28Z3QY73HP1VC

Misc items:

water bottles

sunscreen (ideas for brands? I've heard California babies is good)

sandtoys

swim diapers

sunhats

Feedback is appreciated- either things I should/shouldn't bring, items you have and like, etc. TIA!!!

[sere234]

We went on a family vacation to a beach last year and here's what I saw with everyone's kids:

My sister bought her kiddos those longer sleeved/capri pant swimsuits and they loved them. They were so cute, even for her 9 and 10 yo sons, plus they provided good sun protection. Definitely hats but I doubt you could get your kids to leave on sunglasses! An umbrella is good for resting and nursing but you can't keep a crawling baby under it well!

I researched sunscreen on EWG's website last summer and the best one I found was the zinc oxide store brand at CVS. And it works really well!

Don't forget to take some easy snacks to the beach too! And maybe a small first aid kit tucked in your bag? Hope that helps!

[staceychev]

We were in the USVI over Thanksgiving, with DD1 (age 5), DD2 (age 8 months), Nephew 1 (age 4), and nephew 2 (age 18 months). The kiddos all loved the beach. Personally, I'm in the "sun is good for you" camp so I did allow my kids to get some sun judiciously. DD2 was kept out of the sun at midday, and we used hats. DD1 got sunblock, as did my very fair-skinned DH. We did use one of those beach tents--it's especially good for when baby needs to nap. You can build a nest in there and it's quite nice, especially when there's a breeze.

Remember that the Caribbean sun is strong! It's definitely different than the sun we're used to on our Northeast beaches in the summertime. 

Anyway, I would pack swim diapers, sunblock and sunhats because they'll be expensive down there to purchase. We're a water bottle family, so we always bring ours wherever we go (although, the beach bar kept me pretty darn happy with rum drinks!) I probably wouldn't bring sand toys. The resort should have them for you to use or purchase. Doesn't seem worth it to me to shlep those!

Have a great time! I'm envious, as I sit here enjoying my snow day.

[mom2happy]

Our baby was 3 months old for a 10 day beach trip. I found the ONLY things I needed were an attatchable stroller sunshade and a full body uv suit/ sunhat set.

Of course you will need some toys for that age, but they get full of sand anyway.

The UV stroller shade was AMAZING. It extends to cover even the baby's feet. We used it all day every day and had no worries about the sun.

I dont know if this was the exact one I got. I paid 20, but the price could have gone down.

It made our whole trip doable, because I was NOT going to put sunblock on her.

http://www.amazon.com/RayShade%C2%AE-Protective-Stroller-Protection-Strollers/dp/B0007XTN6C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294857528&sr=8-1

[LindsayK]

Thanks all for the suggestions! I forgot about bringing snacks! 

We just got 1.5 feet of snow dumped on us yesterday, so I am *really* enjoying planing for this vacation!

[ellairiesmom]

A little late here but wanted to share some ideas...we did our honeymoon in aruba when dd1 was a year old & then did a week in LBI last summer when she was almost 3 & dd2 was 7 mos.  

In Aruba, we brought a spring/pop up pool to with us to "contain" her on the beach & then just left it there when the trip was over so we didn't have to try & get it to it's original flat size to bring home.  Something like this-it might have been this one actually-

http://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Leisure-SA-4827_6p-Popup-Pool/dp/B00284AZXI/ref=sr_1_3?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1295287535&sr=1-3

We just kind of dragged it to the room at the end of the day & sat it out on the balcony.  It fit great in my suitcase on the way there & really helped give her a somewhat sand free play area.  We also bought a little baby pool float with a sun cover on it for the resort pool & in the ocean & would just push her around-she loved it & we even sat at the bar in the pool with her in it.  

It was something like this but I got it at Buy Buy Baby for $20.  We also left it behind in Aruba instead of lugging it home but both were well worth the price for a week of all day use.

http://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Leisure-SunSmart-Buggy-float/dp/B003LIEIBU/ref=sr_1_40?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1295287805&sr=1-40

Both items really, REALLY made our vacation!!!!    

I got a solarveil ringsling last summer for dd2 on etsy & it turned out to be the carrier I used most of the summer.  SO HAPPY with it.  Looks like seller is on vacation but here is her shop.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/KIMZKREATIONS?ref=pr_shop

An empty spray bottle to use with fresh water to spray & cool everyone off was our favorite beach item of all!!!!

We used baby powder on the beach to help with sand removal.  Not normally a fan of using it but since we were outside in open air-I didn't mind as much.

And yes-I adore the bathing suits that are t shirts & shorts so I am only using sunscreen on half of their arms, legs & then their face.  In Jamaica, I wouldn't try to get away with no sunscreen.  I like the Badger & the stick made getting it on their faces easier.  It does leave a white layer but I don't mind that.

A resort probably has huts/cabanas set up on the beach for their guests.  We found that if we wanted to be closer to the water, we had to get down there early but if we were ok with being back a few rows, we were fine getting out to the beach at 10 or 11am.  

HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!!!  

PS-did you get your passports for the kids yet?  we had a hard time back with dd1-she wouldn't hold still for the picture & they are really, really strict about the head shot for passports.  We ended up going home & doing it ourselves with a white blanket held up behind her & got the shot.