We are headed to Florida next week and I cannot wait to get out of this drab weather for some nice Florida sunshine. We have a lot on our calendar including a trip to Disney World, spending a lot of time with my parents, and of course a trip to the beach. After the winter we had, I am taking advantage of every single second by that water because I know we won’t be able to do that here in Connecticut for another couple of months.
Taking little ones to the beach can sometimes be intimidating. The days when all we used to do was lay out and soak up the sun are long gone, but it can still be just as fun and relaxing with the kids! I’ve learned a few tricks after taking the kids to the beach for the past five years that have helped all of us along the way!
1. Protect yourself and your little one. I always make sure that the kids are protected when I know we are going to be outside a lot during the warmer months, but even more so when we are at the beach. I’ll pack the bag with hats, sunglasses, rashguard, and of course, sunscreen. I’ve always loved using Aveeno® Baby Continuous Protection® Lotion Sunscreen With Broad Spectrum SPF 55. I don’t limit it to just the baby and use it on all of us. It’s not greasy, lasts up to 80 minutes, and is water resistant. It also doesn’t sting the girls skin and is especially great on MacKay, Macks, and Avery, all who have sensitive skin. Make sure you put the sunscreen on before you arrive at the beach so that it’s had time to settle into the skin.
2. Bring the gear. You don’t need a ton of stuff when headed to the beach with baby, but you do need some essentials. I always bring our Genji pop-up tent. It’s a great place for the kids to take a nap and play while keeping away from the sun. It folds completely flat and compact so it’s great to just keep in the car. I also love to bring Melissa and Doug beach toys to keep them entertained. They are durable and fun and last us year after year. When the kids couldn’t sit up on their own, I’d bring our Bumbo (it was perfect for the beach.) I don’t recommend taking a stroller on the beach because it’s nearly impossible to push, but if you need the extra hands without holding the baby, I would recommend carrying them in a carrier. The Ergobaby Performance Carrier is great for beach days.
3. Allow them to get used to their surroundings. No matter how many times we went to the beach, all three kids took a long time to get used to it. They were so intimidated by the sand and the open water. Most of the time they would just sit on their towel and play the entire time, which made for a relaxing trip for me. But over time I wanted them to experience all that the beach had to offer. To get them used to it, I’d bring some water and sand in a bucket up to them to splash around and play with. Eventually they got used to it. It took a couple of trips to the beach for them to really enjoy it, but it was well worth the wait!
4. Bring powder or corn starch to help remove sand. This is one best hacks that I’ve ever learned. There is nothing worse than getting in the car or at home and having sand all over you and your little ones. Sometimes it seems nearly impossible to get off. I always bring baby powder (corn startch works too) with me to the beach. After taking a shower and drying off, I put some into my hand and rub it on the areas that we have sand all over us. The baby powder helps take away the moisture and the sand falls right off. Best beach trick ever!
5. Apply moisturizer once you return home. Once you get home and give baby a bath, make sure you put moisturizer on right away. Being in the sun all day and in the salt water and using the baby powder trick, it can suck moisture out of your skin. As you know by now, I am a huge Aveeno fan. I love using Aveeno Sheer Hydration Daily Moisturizing Lotion, especially after beach days because it gives me that much needed moisture for 24 hours. I’ll let all of us put it on and it leaves our skin feeling soft without feeling greasy. My favorite thing is that you can apply the lotion and almost instantly it doesn’t leave any residue. Macks makes is nearly impossible to apply lotion because he is always so squirmy. With the Sheer Hydration Daily Moisturizing Lotion, I can put it on him and let him run away without having to wait for it to dry and soak into the skin. Aveeno is so confident about their lotion that they had us perform the tissue test. Once you rub the lotion for 15 seconds, grab a tissue and pat it on your skin. Once you lift up the tissue, you’ll find that there is zero residue. This is the best thing about this lotion and why I love it for everyone in our family.
