So how do you cope on a beach with a baby?

[fluffyanimal]

Ok so we're only going to Somerset at the end of May and therefore may not get the weather for days at the beach, but just in case:
DS2 will be 9 months. Have any of you taken a baby to the beach, and what do you do? Can you dip them in the sea? Am I just asking for trouble - he'll eat sand, be bored, the pushchair will be a nightmare, I'll have to cart loads of kit...? Also, if you let them go in the sea, do you have to keep changing between swim nappies and regular nappies?
I bought a sunsafe suit but DH said "Can't he just wear what he normally wears?"

OK I'm obsessing. But I just want the holiday to be as stress free as possible. Any advice?

Ok, my tips...
don't plan on being at the beach for long (at least in any one go). In my experience babies will play a bit (yes, eating sand will happen), will get a bit soggy and sandy and then need changing. It is then up to you and your baby how long this cycle will go on for!

Take spares of swim wear and normal wear. if weather is good, let the baby be naked a bit (sun safe of couse though!) as it saves the constant changing.

Eating on the beach is always more hassle than it's worth in my opinion- too much sand, baby crawling over picnic etc.

I sound a bit negative, I'm not at all! We have great fun on beaches, but long gone are the days of sitting in the same spot for hours!

Enjoy, it'll be lovely!

p.s. my DC2 hated sand for the first few days of our holiday and would scream at the sight of the beach, she loved it by the end though!

re dipping in the sea- not sure I'd go in in Somerset in May tbh! But if it is lovely and warm then of course, my babies both love the sea.

I remember taking our dd to the sea side when she was about 3 months old. She hated the feel of the sand. Luckily she outgrew this, we did live in a desert environment.
I am of the same opinion as jennifer, I doubt your ds will want to be dipped into the sea in May. We never changed her nappies from swim to normal unless she'd done solids. Just make sure you hose him down thouroughly afterwards.

Thanks folks. I wasn't planning on ever spending more than a couple of hours at a beach in one go, and yes, I agree about the chilly sea - but DS2 does love all water and big brother will be splashing around regardless, so I just want him to enjoy it as well.

Ive got one of these
www.mothercare.com/Early-Learning-Centre-sun-tent/dp/B001S3HIYO?_encoding=UTF8&