7 Things You Need for the Beach with a Baby in Tow

baby coverWe are incredibly lucky to live in a beach community. Our house is about 2 miles from our favorite beach, and, except for days when the cursed marine layer brings cool temps and cloudy skies, we absolutely love where we live.

It gives us the opportunity to head over for an afternoon at the beach whenever the mood strikes - and the mood strikes on a fairly regular basis, even in the winter months. Because we spend so much time at the beach, I've been able to learn a few lessons over the years that have made our beach adventures a fun and painless process.

With summer around the corner, I think it's safe to assume that many of you are in the process of planning beach vacations. So after Grandma has been notified, or your hotel or campground reservations are made, you can start planning the fun stuff. Hopefully, the tips I've put together will help make your beach vacation as relaxing, fun and stress free as possible! Because whether it's the ocean, a lake, or the side of a river, there's nothing quite like spending a day by the water.

Check out my tips below and then tell me, where are you planning to vacation this year? What's your must-have for the beach?



Related: 10 must-have items for a mom and her baby




bag for beachChoose The Right Beach Bag For Your Needs
I feel about beach bags the way some women feel about shoes. I love them. I think that choosing the right beach bag is ultimately up to you, so I'm only going to offer a few pieces of advice. Pick one that's roomy - you're going to have a LOT of stuff to put in it. Try it on and make sure the straps are going to be somewhat comfortable. Chances are good that you're going to end up lugging that thing all over the place, and you don't want to curse your decision by the middle of the first day.
Photo Credit: ComùnicaTI via Flickr




sunscreen and spray-onApply Sunscreen Beforehand and Pack the Spray-On
It seems obvious enough, right? It's so easy to overlook this step when you're in the middle of a beach adventure. Lotion up 30 minutes before you hit the sun so it has a chance to absorb into your skin, but then don't forget to reapply every few hours. I keep a spray bottle that works on wet skin in my beach bag so I can douse my kids as they run by.
And take it from me - don't forget the easy-to-forget areas: your ears, the back of your neck, the tops of your feet, that tiny triangle area behind your armpit that's hard to reach, and behind your knees. You can thank me later.
Photo Credit: loop_oh via Flickr



Related: The most age-inappropriate baby gears of all time




umbrellaInvest In An Umbrella of Some Sort
I realize that the purpose of a beach vacation is to spend time in the sun, but it's important to have some shade that you can retreat to, especially if you have a child who will need a nap. A beach umbrella or a portable beach shade cabana are great options. Many "touristy" spots have these items available for you to rent, so you won't have to store it or lug it to and from the beach every day.
Photo Credit: Snappy Bex via Flickr



bag of toysBring A Bag of Toys
Don't expect that the water will entertain your children all day long. They're kids, and their attention span is probably pretty short. I've started keeping a few shovels and buckets in my car at all times, but if you don't want to spend money on sand toys, plastic cups and food storage containers will also work as shovels and buckets. And as temporary homes for hermit and sand crabs if your kids are anything like mine.
Frisbees are always popular, and, of course, balls are another great beach activity. Beach balls, footballs or even exercise balls are fun to toss around and chase on the sand. If your kids are older, try burying an exercise ball 3/4 of the way in the sand and let them bounce around on it.
Photo Credit: Tom Chandler via Flickr



Related: 12 ways parenting is like hosting a frat party



pack snacksPack Snacks in Individual Containers
The beach that we frequent has a snack shack, but we only utilize their services for ice cream treats. If it's not something that has to stay frozen, I pack it myself in an effort to save money.
I like to pack a variety of snacks like crackers, chips, fruit, small sandwiches and cheese sticks. If possible, I put items into smaller groupings in reusable containers. If each kid has their own container of chips, there's no screaming from the group when one of them sticks their sandy little hand in and ruins the entire bag. Also, the reusable containers can do double duty as sand toys later. Don't forget beverages!
Photo Credit: Rich Brooks via Flickr




forget the freezer packsForget the Freezer Packs
When packing your cooler, you're going to need something to keep your food and drinks cold. Instead of taking up space with ice packs, plan ahead and freeze some of your snack items. Water bottles, juice packs and grapes are a few of my favorites. By the time you're ready to enjoy them they'll have thawed a bit, but will still be icy cold and refreshing.
Photo Credit: Hainhachkar via Flickr



- By Meghan Gesswein
Follow Meghan at Babble

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