Going to the beach with young kids- absolute nightmare

[beahe]

Or is it just me ? On one hand, they do get busy playing with sand. That's probably the only time they've just been sitting and chilling playing all holiday.

But omg. The sand gets everywhere. My one year old has eaten a fair bit and my three year old has thrown it in his face constantly. She also decided to take a nap in the sand with a wet face and hair.

Then by the time we've dragged everything back to the car and got them in the shower to clean up, they're in absolute hysterics,

Is it worth it ? Any tips to make it more bearable ??

Just buy some baby powder. The sand just falls off like magic. Smells nice too. I keep a bottle in the car at all times.

Absolutely hate it

We just showered the children on the beach and went back to the apartment 🤷‍♀️

I can't do that. They scream so much. They just don't let us do it and people start looking as it's like we are torturing them.

I've always hated the beach - dry sand and wet children is my worst nightmare 🤣 I watched some grandparents at the beach once wash their grandchild off in the sea, carry her up and put her on a raffia mat, dry her and talc her and off they went - no mess at all!!! I have tried and failed to copy this 🤣

I was born and brought up in Nottingham so have no clue about beaches, always found them terribly stressful and can’t stand dry or wet sand anywhere about my person. Plus the sea is very boring to look at imho. Don’t mind a walk on a beach in the evening with full walk boots on or something, but other than that, especially with small toddlers, no thank you.

I grew up a short way from a beautiful sandy beach and my earliest memories were on the beach. It was deserted apart from fishing boats in those days.

I did the same with my children from birth.

Beach Summer secrets?

Always put generous waterproof sunscreen on before you leave the house. Once that application is up you leave. Don't reapply in the sand.

Go after or before the hottest time. Getting there for 10am and leaving before lunch works well. So does 3pm until 5pm when people have left and it's quieter.

Before you set off, put old towels down in the car ready for the tired return journey.

Settle not too far from the car so you aren't dragging a buggy far. You do need to drag it, you can't push it in sand.

I take a mini blow up paddling pool. It's probably about 24 inches across. Fill this with sea water using a bucket. This keeps little ones happy and close.

Take a huge picnic rug that can be weighed down and a small bright parasol so you can be seen by your children.

I dress the ones that might run off in bright (day glow) colours.

Biscuits for the car journey home and water. They are suddenly ravenous after all the activity.

And talc, a big bottle for getting sand off comfortably afterwards.

We spent all our summers on beautiful beaches. But sadly I think it's rare. Most of my friends didn't.

I have 2 year old twins and a 6 year old - plenty of snacks, big blanket, agree with going early or later so it's quieter or when you know the tide is in so the kids don't have so far to go to get to the sea. I have a large beach tent too for ones that might not like the sand as much, park near the car

Kids love a bit of mess, be it, mud, paint or sand, all part of the fun of childhood and easy to clean up

Really surprised by this thread! Always enjoy the beach with toddlers, the only annoying thing is when they drop the food in the sand, but that's solved by remembering to bring the picnic blanket. A bit of sand isn't an issue surely - toddlers are always getting filthy whatever they are doing anyway