First beach day with baby - what to take?

[ChorserSaucer]

I’m excited to be getting a week break with my 10 month old near the seaside and want to make the most of being by the beach.

As it’ll just be the two of us i want to pack minimally but also am worried I might forget something when im down the beach (a bus ride away from where we are staying).

what do you recommend is a must to bring? Any tips on bringing a young one to the beach?

Sunshade - a beach tent is good in UK as umbrellas likely to just blow away
Beach mat/picnic mat
Bucket and spade and sand toys
Spare clothes
Water
Towels
Blanket and hat in case its breezy

Big bottle of water to wash sand off their hands every time you want to give them a snack.

Talc brushes off sand very gently and easily.

For the love of puppies do not go to a beach with a ten month old baby.

If you really feel you must, bring a pack and play.

Your baby is going to spend her time eating sand, getting sand in her eyes, getting sand in her ears, and getting sand in her nappy, and you are both going to end up miserable.

And she will also get sand up her nose.

I agree with previous poster... beaches with a ten month old don't tend to be that fun. You'll want to keep them in the shade (tricky if crawling / coasting) and sand gets everywhere - eyes / mouth and is generally quite stressful.

It's nice to take them once for an hour but I doubt you'll want to return much!

Talc gets sand off very easily
Sunsuit so you're not grappling too much with sun cream
Shade - either tent or umbrella
Also note dragging a buggy on sand usually a two person job (one holding baby the other dragging buggy at silly angle)
Big pegs / clips can help pin towels to buggy / sun loungers to create more shade.

I'd be tempted to go very early morning or late in the evening so you're not battling the sun too much - and take baby in sling with a small backpack of towel to sit on / talc to remove sand and also avoid the need on the beach for snacks. Dip goes in the sea and let them experience the sand... then leave!

Thank you for the tips! I’ve got a half tent thingy as I want to make sure there’s shade. Also thinking of getting one of the fold up trolleys you can pull along with a shade on top. Thanks!

Is she crawling? Or walking? Good luck with keeping her in the tent if so!
Don't feel too let down if the day isn't as great as you think it'll be, and you're back on the bus after 30mins!

Swim nappy, long sleeve top, hat, sunscreen, drinks if not breast fed, food, something to sit on and an expectation to only stay 30 mins

Fitted sheet.prop it up on all 4 corners with bags and stuff and it's a handy spot with a shade.

Thanks again! Expectations are set low but I want to brave it and give it a go. At least if I pack minimally I won’t have to worry about “staying long enough to make it worth it” if you know what I mean. If I went to lots of trouble I would be more disappointed if we only stayed 30mins. Even just a bus ride to the beach will be exciting and novel for the babe.

Make sure your tent has UV protection for the sun. My friend's baby got badly burnt recently through a regular play tent with no UV filters.

Swim nappy / regular nappies
Swim wear/rash suit
Sun hat
Baby powder
Tent
Waterproof blanket
Towels
Wet bag for wet things
Beach bag
Snacks and drinks
Change of clothes
Suncream
Wipes

Maybe a splash park might be a better alternative. Do you have one nearby?

Washing up bowl and fill it with water when there for baby to sit in

Battery Baby Fan that you can attach to pram/tent

Tent

Suncream / sun hat

Fruit

Freeze drinks the night before

Umbrella

Baby shoes as the sand might be boiling and burn baby

Baby toys

Sunglasses if baby will keep them on

Float for baby to sit in the water

Lip salve / balm

Nappies / towels! change of clothes/ all in one swimsuits to cover most of the body to stop burning

Pillow for you both or chair for baby to sit in

Cool box

Nursery rhymes/ music on your phone

And so t forgot treats and things for you

Ignore the negativity OP, you sound like you have realistic expectations, and as long as you have all the right stuff (which has been helpfully listed many times here), beaches can be fun. My DD has always loved sand and since around 10 months has spent hours (and I mean hours) scooping up sand in a bucket and emptying it back out again. Yes sand can get everywhere, but where's the harm in that? Your biggest issue will be the lack of shade, but as long as you have a UV filter tent/umbrella, then go have fun! The worst that'll happen is you will leave after 10 minutes. But you'll have given it a go. I think you sound like a wonderful parent who is trying to give your LO fun adventures. I hope you enjoy your day! Let us know how you get on

Some really odd comments here!! I live by the beach and all mine have been there regularly in all weathers from birth and they love it. Yes, they eat sand and crawl away and get sand in every orifice and its a bit chaotic but they absolutely LOVE the beach

Sunshade. We always found umbrella types best, the tents can get quite hot.

Hope you have a fantastic week!

I second PP, you sound like such a lovely mum making the most of your holiday with your gorgeous wee baby and thinking of all the adventures you can have together! We took our 10month old DD to the beach last week along with 2 year old DC. She enjoyed dipping her toes in the water, exploring the sand and watching other children play around her. We didn’t stay too long, and yes she did get sand everywhere, but it was a fun little outing for all of us, I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

If you can find them small enough, UV sunsuits but in two pieces (ie long sleeve top and shorts/leggings) will be MUCH easier for a swim nappy change.

Several towels - one to wrap DD in as soon as you come out of the water if she is getting chilly, and then a dry one to actually dry her off before changing.

I’ve always taken babies/toddlers to beach, it’s a lovely experience for them.

But honestly don’t aim for a whole day, don’t overpack! I bet you’ll just sit down, have a little play, splash in the water and then leave. either take a fold up trolley or a pushchair. Then make sure you can fit all your stuff in a rucksack. So you have 2 spare hands and don’t have to worry about your phone/valuables etc… it’ll be fun!!

but pls don’t take too much stuff at first, I bet you won’t be there long!!

A bus ticket in the other direction?! 😂 I used to live abroad near the beach with a baby and it’s bloody horrific. Crawling everywhere, trying to eat sand, they shouldn’t be in the sun for too long… If you’re determined then if it’s an option a private beach club with full sun lounger service and to time it over nap time is pretty damn good!

Yes some odd comments here! I have a 6 month old and go to the beach regularly as have two older children who enjoy it. Agree, set expectations low though. But I always bring - uv tent, picnic rug, uv sun suit thing and obviously suncream, towels. She’s not crawling so a bit easier currently, but it’ll be fine. I much prefer to go at low tide as where I am we can then walk out ages and the water is barely knee deep and very calm, perfect for playing in. Might be worth checking tide times!

Everyone has a different opinion! I live 15 mins from sea and have always gone regularly with mine as little ones. Yes they eat sand, and it gets in all the crevices. But it’s a new thing for them! They may just sit and fiddle with the sand/pebbles looking around them etc.. I just don’t over do it with taking stuff or planning long days.

Of course sand gets everywhere but that's the point! Doesn't mean it can't be fun!

Just the same as you still go out to play in the rain, or let them play in mud. Childhood isn't meant to be clean.

Have a great time OP.