Friend's taken baby to the beach today!

[ItsTheHumidity21]

I just seen my friend post a photo on social media of her and her baby at the beach. AIBU to think she is irresponsible for doing that? She's in a hotter part of the country in the south east. The beach actually looked empty in the background which you would think might have said something to her.

I guess I'm on the other extreme. I'm a worrier about my children (I have a toddler and baby) and we're inside with windows closed, curtains drawn, fans on, ice lollies out and Disney films on. Just makes me anxious and kind of angry that someone could do that to their baby.

@ItsTheHumidity21

urgh you sound so smug and judgemental. here’s your martyr medal

the beach will likely be way cooler than anywhere else, coastal breeze. Baby will be under cover dressed appropriately. It’s fine,

sitting in the dark inside all day with Disney films just sounds grim

what do you do when you go abroad??

This ^^

Do
You not take your. Hold ten on holiday OP? I think it's really weird you are sat inside with the curtains closed tbh

This is exactly what I thought. If I'd said it was my friend's dog, I'm sure the reaction would have been different. But yes, babies can't regulate their body temperature!

Your friend didn't have the baby in a fur suit and a baby walker did they OP? In the one picture?

Me too. Zero need to have the curtains closed. Just weird.

OP you don't need to make a special rule about this hot weather. You do what common-sense leads you to and deal with the conditions as is appropriate. If your child is too hot- wherever they are -you cool them down. You choose a place that is the most comfortable and manage the heat in a sensible way.

You don't just decide that all beaches are dangerous/too hot and make it a rule to avoid them.

Actually, it sounds as if your home at 38 degrees is actually hotter than most beach places.

You and yours might be be cooler and more comfortable out elsewhere and in a sea breeze.

However, I'm sure that you have used common sense to provide suitably cool things to do/wear/drink. Your home won't be more dangerous than a beach.

As always, it is better to keep children's skin out of direct sunlight and to coat them with suntan cream/ light clothing/hats - of course. I think people tend to pay more attention to these things when at the beach than they do at home.

I was at the beach with my 3 yo for a couple of hours. Made sandcastles, swam in the sea, Applied loads of suncream, gave him cool water throughout, changed his outfit dry every time he got wet, used a hat throughout and when it hit 1pm, I opened up his pushchair with its massive umbrella, reclined the seat, gave him my phone and he just chilled. We have a pop up tent as well but he prefers his pushchair. He has also experienced 43 c on holidays before. The older generation on my social media were commenting that ds won't get ill this winter. It's only a few days in this country, soak in the sun and the seawater but be responsible. We are back home now. We have done this for 3 days in a row now spending a couple of hours on the beach and coming back home.

It's not weird, it acts like shutters which keeps the heat out.

OP has the curtains closed to keep the heat out. Pretty standard.

Report her to local services, now!!!! (no, me neither).

@lllllllllll

Very capable but when he asked if he should pack some snacks I told him it was already taken care of, didn't realise he was talking about himself and not the kids! Needless to say he made lunch because clearly I'm not to be trusted 😂

We're out in the garden, 2.5yo and 6mo - paddling pool, drinks and snacks, shade and suncream. Cooler outside than inside atm even with windows and blinds shut. Both DC loving it and coping - shock horror - really well. I wouldn't worry 😊

I’d definitely have to get some fresh air in Op otherwise it could smell really musty. Open a window OP!

Yabu. And judgemental. Just because you bubble wrap your kids doesn't mean she has too.

We all take our babies to the beach here in Australia. Because it has a breeze. You should try it.

YANBU, not wholly about being on the beach, more about the journey there.

Those thinking we should just rely on common sense assumes that everyone has it. This is England remember.

Maybe she'd been to the beach early morning and was back by lunchtime, avoiding the hottest part of the day. Just because she posted at that time doesn't mean she was still there.

You know folk in hot countries spend the day at the beach too sometimes. Even on the hottest days. Ever been to the beach on a Sunday in Greece?

Yes, it full of British people, often of varying shades of red. 😂

Yes, it full of British people, often of varying shades of red. 😂

True. 😁But also depends where you go. Lots of locals enjoying the day on the beach too. Lots of little children.

We live by the sea - I took dd ( nearly 3) for a walk along the beachfront around 10am, there was a slight breeze & we got an ice cream whilst sat in the nearby cafe ( with air con!)
Dd was covered up, hat on, suncream on, water bottle, stroller with hood over for shade, when she was in the pram.
We both had a great time and were back before lunch. No big deal.

I’m sure your friend knows what she is doing.

We’ve just got home from the park, our flat is measuring 40.6 celsius, teeny bit warm. The park was measuring 36 and had a breeze. So as I said earlier, if us being outside with the baby is dangerous us being inside is even more dangerous.

38 degrees is cooler than our home

<ahem>. U.K.

Almost everyone I know with young children has been to the beach this weekend and last. It wouldn't be for me and my toddler doesn't like the heat earlier but some people have clearly managed ok.

Sorry OP but I'm with your friend on this one. And you really jumped to conclusions after seeing one photo (one second of her day basically). In fact in your OP you don't even say at what time the photo was supposedly taken. Might I add that regardless of what time the photo was posted you don't actually know when it was taken.

Frankly I think your own reaction to the heat is worse than your friend's. Keeping your kids indoors during the hottest part of the day (11h-15h) is one thing but you said "I plan to take dc out about 7ish when it's hopefully a bit cooler and the sun's not as strong."

So basically they'll be ALL day indoor with maybe a 30min stroll.

I don't think it's dramatic to do that (people would do the same on a very rainy day) but kind of overkill. If I was close to the beach I'd definitely do what your friend does - go to beach in the morning, go home for lunch and nap, then back to the beach probably after 15h-16h.

And I might add that if a "friend" posted such a thread about me, the friendship would be damaged and potentially over.

If you live in a stuffy flat near the beach I can't see the issue. My old flat was horrible in the sun, most outdoor places would be cooler than that flat. I think driving miles to a beach is risky because recovery and emergency services are stretched.

I'm more worried about a newborn I saw out today with just a nappy on, they were being carried too. So now parasol, no sun hat, very fair blonde baby 😞 would be better if they'd been at the beach under an umbrella tbh.

Well, the last time I checked, babies don't have fur coats, nor are they dragged along hot sandy beaches in bare feet