How to do a Beach Vacation with a Baby || Motherhood in May

Traveling with your children is so much fun, but it is certainly a different kid of vacation. I’m sharing my experience and what I found most helpful on how to manage a beach vacation with a baby!

Beach vacation with a baby = complete chaos.

I was so nervous to fly with Oliver solo, but that was the easy part! I wrote about twenty different lists so I wouldn’t forget anything and it turns out I took everything except our kitchen sink.

The trip turned out amazing, Oliver loved every single part of it. We did another vacation in February and this time my husband traveled with us, which was even better!

Through all the chaos, I found it easier to tell myself “you’re going to be off your routine. Just. Have. Fun.” Which led me to start thinking, what could I tell other moms so they can stay settled and enjoy their vacation with their baby?

I am certainly no professional but here is my list of things that worked out for us.

Protecting your skin

The number one concern is keeping those babies protected from the rays. We all love to have a great time, but nobody wants to suffer from miserable sun burns!

Suncreen

Oliver is just like his daddy and tans very easily, but we always layer on the sunscreen! Baby skin is so sensitive and we are always cautious.

One of our favorites is the Coppertone Water Babies Spray in SPF 50. It’s so easy to spray on and rub everything in really quick before meltdown city occurs. Another favorite of ours is the Neutrogena Beach Defense Spray in SPF 70. I use this on myself as well!

Hats & Clothing

I’ve experienced using a reusable diaper, like this one, or the tried and true disposable diapers. I will say, the most stress-free is the disposable. They’re easy to put on a squirmy baby, and much easier to rip off when accidents occur.

Baby bathing suits are so adorable, but to keep their skin safe, I always recommend a beach rash guard. This one is adorable and with a full zipper in the front, makes it hassle free dressing! I also grabbed these hats & sunglasses for the boys to match on the beach!

Beach Gear

I’m always a fan of “Less is More”. So these are a few of the bulkier items that I find absolutely necessary!

Beach Tent

I learned the first time around that a tent or umbrella is a must. I love the sun, but baby does not. You need something to protect not only their skin but their eyes, while having fun in the sand. We bought this awesome tent and it has stood the test of time! It folded up nicely to pack away in our suitcase for traveling.

Stroller

I am a huge fan of Baby Jogger. Although their City Mini is not considered a ‘jogging stroller’ we still found the three-wheel structure, amazing. The bottom bucket of the stroller was great for our diaper bag and beach towels, and the seat reclined back far enough for Oliver to take his naps on the beach.

I’ll be taking our City Mini Select Double Stroller this year so we can have the option for both boys to take a nap. It’s not likely that Oliver will nap on the beach, but I think having a second seat will be helpful when we do our walks in town.

Sand Toys

We found that the easiest and cheapest entertainment was cups and a shovel. When Oliver got older, we bought him a dump truck to have fun with, but he really had the most fun with the basics.

There are companies that let you rent beach equipment for the week and it’s amazing when you don’t have to try and maneuver a sand castle mold in your suitcase.

We’ve had great customer service with ABC Rentals in Sarasota, Florida! We place our order for equipment that is needed, they drop off on location and when you’re finished, place the equipment on the front door for pick up!

Food & Drinks

Everyone needs to stay hydrated right?

Water Bottles

Bring water bottles to keep everyone hydrated. Oliver loves these and I’m a huge fan of this new trick for a S’well Bottle!

If you want to have a little fun – on our last trip, we ordered custom water bottles for all of the ladies. It was great to match and everyone had their own personalized bottle to keep with them!

Food

Baby pouches are great because if they don’t finish, just screw the cap back on and throw in the cooler. Other items that we found helpful; Goldfish, Cheerios, a Banana, Veggie Chips & Happy Baby Puffs.

If baby is on formula, make sure you’re packing plenty of bottles for the day. Babies stay hydrated through breast milk and/or formula versus water. Grab a case of water bottles for the house and make sure you’re keeping a few in the diaper bag or cooler!

Positivity

Vacations are so different now that you have a little family. You’re going to be out of your routine and your baby will be out of his element.

If you’re a tad OCD like myself, just take a deep breath. Have fun.

Put your phone down after the 300th beach picture and just play. Vacations like these can go by so quickly. I encourage you to enjoy the time with your family!

** Now that we’re traveling pro’s (kinda 😉 ) I added a few items that I think would be beneficial for families with more than one baby!

Tell me what you found helpful while taking vacations!