Taking a baby to the beach... tips please!!

[Neney1]

Going to Perranporth in May with 8 month DS. Would like to have litle beach trips if the weather is nice, but don't know where to start...
So far I'm thinking that we'll be packed up to our eyeballs with stuff we don't need, DS will then either freeze from the cornish wind or get 3rd degree burns from the sun. To top it off, he's crawling and I imagine that he will eat the sand, or it will end up in his eyes or something.

What do you take with you? And what tips do you have to survive the experience without strapping him in his buggy the whole time.

Or am I being ridiculous thinking I can take a baby to the beach? Tut tut, how irresponsible

Unless you haven't guessed we're in the land locked midlands and get to see the sea about 2 times a year!!

f a kid puts soething in his mouth and its nasty - he wont keep doing it.

coer the kid in sun block and sit back and watch him crawl

no tips-just take baby to the beach!.put on sunblock but take coat.
perranporth is really pretty beach-he'll love it!

Just get on with it.

how old? we used a bumbo seat and let him play in the sand to his hearts' content.

have fun.

Get a half tent thing to put him in for naps (I got one in woolies for about a fiver). I covered my 6m DS in sunblock before we left the house (the once a day stuff) and he wore a UV suit. He didn't like the sun much tbh and spent most of his time in the tent.

Buggies + sand isn't a very good combo. Have you got a back carrier or a sling you can take him in instead?

sun shelters are a bit useless ime, but I've always hankered after a wind shelter.

Ooh Perranporth is GORGOEOUS!

If you can possibly manage it a little pop up tent or shelter is so handy especially with a baby. He can have some shelter in there and even a little nap.

spice, I use a ring sling, but we've also got an all terrain buggy which we'll use as parking by perran beach is extortionate!!

Sounds like it will be no problem this holiday, I'm just a born worrier! Sun tent and sunblock it is then! (so far!)

Any recommendations on sunblock btw? Someone suggested the reimans(sp?)p20 stuff... aparently you only need apply it once??

shade-a-babe over buggy great for buggy naps

I dunno about that once a day suncream. w took ds to crete whn 6mths and used mothercare factor 50 - poor thing looked like a ghost covered in white, not attractiv in photos! someone gave us eucerin factor 50 and it was a lot nicer,beach pics are so cute. also, he ate a fair bit of sand,no illness.

Get a suntent, the baby can nap in it and you can keep all your stuff in out out of the sand. Also change nappies in it - sand and nappies, not a good idea!

Buy one of those all-in-one sun suits, to cover the baby up as much as possible. I would still use factor-50 on an 8-month old (you can buy children's sun cream) but you don't have to worry so much.

Get to the beach EARLY to get a good spot - and you may find half a day is enough. Also it's easier for the baby to be out in the morning before the sun is too strong. (this is assuming it will be sunny )

Don't be too disappointed if your baby doesn't immediately take to the sand/beach etc. Remember they don't know it's meant to be anything special.

someone suggested to us that we took a mini inflatable paddling pool, DS2 sat in it with toys and things out of the sand, it was great.

now call me stupid

but going to all this effort to keep babies out of the sand (in tents, buggies, paddling pools etc), is there any point being on the beach at all?
would everyone not be better off on the grass in a park?

(obv if older kids are having sandy fun tis a different matter)

MrsBadger - I agree, dd1 hated the sand, she hated the beach, she hated the sea (when she was about 18 months) and we did wonder why we bothered!

Take talc - if you have a dip in the sea and sand gets stuck instead of rubbing and making baby (or anyone ) sore just pore on talc and sand falls off.

I've spent all summer on the beach (in N Cornwall) with my DDs since they were tiny - they are now 4 and 2.

At 8 months old you won't need to bring much at all.

UV suit - far better than sun lotion
Small bottle of suncream for exposed bits
Lightwieght shoes in case of sharp objects on the beach
Suntent/beach shelter are quite good IMO if you get a decent one. They fold up very small, hardly weigh anything and act as a shade and windbreak in one. Get one which has pockets at the sides which you fill with sand to keep it in place.
Kites are good entertainment and weigh very little too
An identity wristband with your mobile number on for your DC (if your DC is incredibly active)
Spare sunhat
Fresh water for rinsing hands
You can get hooded towel beach poncho things which are good as a cover-up against the wind (they sell them at all the beach shops around here so don't worry if you can't find one at home).

Don't even think about taking a pushchair with you - you'll regret it believe me

Oh yes, watch out where you set up camp - not too close to the sea or you'll end up moving backwards when the tide comes in every 30 mins which is a PITA. Look out for a beach with good rock or sand pools when the tide is out - they make fantastic warm paddling pools with fishies in which keep little ones entertained for hours. If you are near Bude at any time Summerleaze beach has loads of huge shallow pools away from the sea when the tide is out. Get there early if poss - you can pick up tide timetables from petrol stations, newsagents etc locally.

(Ikea has towelling poncho things at the moment, including a fabulous rabbit-eared one thus)

MrsBadger - I want one! (for DCs of course)