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My Slightly Chaotic Life

Balancing Life, Children and Chaos

Parenting

Taking Baby to the Beach? Tips for your Trip

July 8, 2018 Comments : 46

Tips on how to survive a beach day with a baby and older kids while maintaining your sanity.

So it’s been ridiculously hot here in Maine the last week or so. So hot that I made the executive decision to venture out with my entire family, my parents and my 2 nephews and head to the beach. As soon as I suggested this idea, I instantly regretted it. How was I going to manage pulling this off with a baby in tow as well. Thankfully, my mom and dad were managing my two nephews and all the stuff they would need so I was left to worry about my family but most importantly the baby. Besides the obvious beach items such as towels, bathing suits, cooler full of snacks and water as well as the all important sunscreen what would I need to bring to survive this beach day with the older children and a 3 month old?

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Tips for Taking Baby to the Beach

Shade

Avery is too little to wear sunscreen so we needed to rely on a form of shade to keep her out of the sun for the entire day. It is

The Coolibar umbrella we used at the beach to keep us out of the sun. Find it HERE

also important to have a place for the older kids to sit and get out of the direct sun for a little while as well. My mom has this amazing umbrella from Coolibar. My mom also has a tent from LL Bean which in theory is a great idea but can also get a little too hot if sitting in it for a while. The older kids loved it but I preferred sitting under the umbrella with Avery to enjoy the nice ocean breeze.

Chair

Chair for the baby. Honestly it was a massive hassle to cart our vibrating seat with us but so worth it. Avery sat it in the majority of the day at the beach. I have seen other devices that people have used such as the Fisher Price dome and even wanted one until I read that the ideal age for use is 0-5 months. Since Avery is over 3 months old, I decided not to invest in this piece of equipment. If you are just starting out with a newborn I would suggest it since it comes highly recommended with great reviews. It would also make a great baby shower gift for the mom that you know spends a lot of time outdoors. Click HERE to check it out on Amazon.

Avery hanging out in her chair at the beach

Change of clothes

The kids basically played in the water and sand the entire time we were there and only stopped to snack. By the time we were ready to leave, the boys were a sandy, wet mess. Aaron was not thrilled about the idea of having wet, sandy children in his brand new truck so I had Hayden rinse off and change into dry underwear and clothing to make the trip home. He ended up going back with nana, papa and the other boys but I’m sure my mom appreciated a clean kid in her back seat.

Diaper Backpack

I had never even heard that there was such a thing until I came across this gorgeous diaper backpack from Anchored East. It’s roomy enough to stow all of your baby needs inside, even a cold bottle of milk in the thermal insulated inside pocket, and easy to just throw on your back and go. It also has straps that can hook to a stroller to make life a little bit easier when you are out and about. Seriously if you haven’t considered a diaper backpack do so now because it really does make carrying all of babies needs so much easier. The one I have and love is from Anchored East and is sold on Amazon. Check it out HERE

Baby Carrier

Good luck trying to push a stroller through the sand to find the perfect spot on the beach, it just doesn’t work. I have seen pictures of people strapping old skateboards without the wheels to the stroller wheels to drag it across sand but since my stroller has 2 wheels in the back and 1 in the front and I don’t have old skateboards lying around, I needed to carry Avery onto the beach. Since carrying a baby and all her stuff is awkward I made sure to bring my Lille Baby carrier with me to put her in. It also makes it easier if you want to walk around on the beach to have the baby in something.

Beach toys

You may be thinking, yeah Danielle obviously you want to bring beach toys with you, but I will say that there have been numerous occasions where I have forgotten these items. So now it is at the top of my list of things to bring with us. These inexpensive items keep the older kids entertained for hours. When they weren’t playing in the water they were digging in the sand with the shovels or building sand forts with the pails. They love running down to the water and filling their buckets and coming back to dump the water in their forts. The kids get to use their creative minds and exercise so it’s a win-win.

The boys playing with their beach toys. You honestly don’t have to spend a lot of money on these toys since they will get gross after a few uses. These boys have probably had these toys for several years now and still love them!

Adult beverages

I love these spiked seltzers. They are light but refreshing at the same time.

Yes these are essential to surviving a beach day with kids. There is nothing better then kicking back in your beach chair with your cold adult beverage while the kids have the best time playing in the sand and water. Moms need time to unwind too especially after spending the entire morning planning this day while the hubby and kids slept in, am I right? (I only had one and don’t condone getting hammered while watching your children so all you mom shamers out there can just move along.

 

What items do you depend on when taking a baby to the beach? I would love to know in the comments below!

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Comments

  1. Amanda says

    July 9, 2018 at 12:19 pm

    I wish I had this list a week ago!! I had a hard time at the beach with my bub!

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 3:29 pm

      Oh no! Hopefully next time will be better and you can enjoy your time.

      Reply
  2. Amanda @ The Frugal Mom Guide says

    July 9, 2018 at 12:28 pm

    Great tips! I especially agree with the adult beverages! 😅

    -Amanda | http://www.frugalmomguide.com

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      Oh yes, need those to get through the day with a bunch of kids!

      Reply
  3. eliza says

    July 9, 2018 at 1:19 pm

    Nice tips! All realistic and practical. We really need to anticipate and prepare stuff especially going for a vacation with kids or babies. Their need comes first. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      Yes, exactly!

      Reply
  4. Laura says

    July 9, 2018 at 4:27 pm

    I think you rocked this day trip with the kids! Looks like such a wonderful day! I wouldn’t have thought to bring the vibrating chair for the baby but it sounds like it was the best idea ever!

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 3:27 pm

      Seriously the best idea ever!

      Reply
  5. Heather says

    July 9, 2018 at 7:04 pm

    I love those spiked seltzers! They’re my guilt-free go-to!

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 1:51 pm

      Same here! Light and refreshing.

      Reply
  6. Ann Snook says

    July 9, 2018 at 7:58 pm

    Shade is so important! Not just for babies, but for anyone in the group who wants to escape the sun for a bit. It’s a lot of exposure, even with sunscreen and I know I always feel too hot by the end of a beach day.

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 1:50 pm

      Yes exactly! That is why we love having the umbrella and it is always the first thing that we pack.

      Reply
  7. Rianna Galvez says

    July 9, 2018 at 8:15 pm

    This is very helpful!! We are planning to drive to the beach this month and this is such a great read for me! 🙂

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 1:50 pm

      Awesome! Enjoy your time at the beach!

      Reply
  8. Kansas Bonanno says

    July 9, 2018 at 11:58 pm

    we made the mistake recently of not attempting to put together a tent before we went to the beach, so our trip was cut short when the had to leave because all the kids were getting to hot. Better planning next time for sure.

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 1:49 pm

      Yes shade it so important and makes for a day that isn’t filled with the kiddos getting too hot.

      Reply
  9. Nancie says

    July 10, 2018 at 12:33 am

    This could be a beach in Nova Scotia, and we have been having the same temps as Maine. It looks like your day at the beach was a success.

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 1:48 pm

      It was successful and we all had so much fun!

      Reply
  10. Geraline Batarra says

    July 10, 2018 at 12:46 am

    These are great tips for the things that must have if your are going to a beach with a baby, thanks for sharing this with us!

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 1:48 pm

      Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  11. Jessica Moore says

    July 10, 2018 at 1:59 am

    So glad you included adult beverages – what’s life without a little grown up fun?!

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 1:48 pm

      Exactly!

      Reply
  12. Chris says

    July 10, 2018 at 3:16 am

    Very useful tips. We took our 11 month old to the beach a couple months ago and she refused to touch the sand and would cry whenever we went close to the water. The adult umbrella would have been nice to keep her protected from the sun. As well as the adult beverages 😉

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 1:47 pm

      That’s too funny. She will get used to it someday! Avery is still little and the older boys can entertain themselves so it was nice to not have to chase after small children all day.

      Reply
  13. Emma Riley says

    July 10, 2018 at 10:37 am

    These are great and very useful tips. Everything are the essentials that you must have if your are going the beach with your kids and with your baby.

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 1:46 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  14. Kevin says

    July 10, 2018 at 12:19 pm

    I love traveling. To be honest, I haven’t thought about how will I go with it if I would have a baby in the future. I mean, of course I will still travel but I didn’t realize that it is something I need to be ready for.

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 1:46 pm

      Yeas, as long as you are prepared you can still travel and enjoy yourself!

      Reply
  15. Chelsae says

    July 10, 2018 at 12:37 pm

    Yes to all of these! We brought Olivia to the beach at an early age and we go almost twice a month still. It is our favorite thing to do with Liv. Shade is key! As well as good sunscreen and the adult beverages!

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 1:45 pm

      Shade is the biggest thing! I try and protect those little kiddos from the harsh sun as much as I can. We love going to the beach as well.

      Reply
  16. Czjai Reyes-Ocampo says

    July 10, 2018 at 3:04 pm

    My son was four months old when we first took him to the beach. We stayed indoors most of the time, though. Haha. 🙂

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 3:29 pm

      Nothing wrong with that!

      Reply
  17. Shannon Sawicki says

    July 10, 2018 at 3:19 pm

    Looks like a great day, and i couldn’t agree more adult beverages help make these days a little less painful.

    Reply
    • myslightlychaoticlife says

      July 10, 2018 at 3:29 pm

      Exactly!

      Reply
  18. Elizabeth O says

    July 10, 2018 at 5:35 pm

    This is a really helpful post indeed. I am sure so many parents will appreciate the tips you provided here. It can often be such a daunting experience to visit places like this with little ones!

    Reply
  19. Kayla says

    July 10, 2018 at 9:54 pm

    She’s so cute! We just had baby number four 2 months ago, and these are great tips. It’s always overwhelming taking a new baby anywhere.

    Reply
  20. Holly says

    July 10, 2018 at 11:22 pm

    We just did a beach day yesterday with our baby. It’s definitely a different experience than with older children!

    Reply
  21. Sara Welch says

    July 10, 2018 at 11:43 pm

    I never took my babies to the beach. No reason really; but these tips would totally work!

    Reply
  22. Nina says

    July 11, 2018 at 6:17 am

    adorable tiny human !! thank you for sharing these helpful tips. it is important to plan before doing any tasks. looks like yous had a good day

    Reply
  23. momi berlin says

    July 11, 2018 at 7:59 pm

    I haven’t been to a beach for so long already. I gave birth three years ago then after two years gave birth again so I missed so many beach opportunities. Great you were able to enjoy with your little one.

    Reply
  24. Becca Wilson says

    July 12, 2018 at 6:30 pm

    These are some great tips to make sure that beach day is a success with a little one. I absolutely love bringing my children out to get some sun and sand.

    Reply
  25. Linnea says

    July 12, 2018 at 10:23 pm

    Such great tips! Your little one is so cute!

    Reply
  26. Tania Artemova says

    July 13, 2018 at 7:51 am

    Oh, I think it is such an extreme for me to spend a day with a baby on the beach :)) Very helpful tips, thank you!

    Reply
  27. Free Auto Approve List 7-15-2018 says

    July 16, 2018 at 11:06 am

    I hope you all are having a great weekend. I added a new list. This one is smaller, but still useful. I think the next one will be bigger.

    Reply
  28. Free auto approve list 7-20-2018 says

    July 21, 2018 at 2:51 am

    I just updated my site with a new list. I hope you all are having a great week.

    Reply
  29. Sue says

    July 22, 2018 at 4:02 pm

    Great article. What beach are you at? The pics look a lot like Popham Beach where I grew up.

    Reply

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I had to make the difficult decision to say goodby I had to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to Bella today. I’ve had Bella for 16 years. She has seen me through  relationships, marriages, a divorce, the birth of my children, countless moves and so much more. She was my little lazy dog that loved to snuggle under the covers and lay out in grass on a sunny day. 
She hated winter and tolerated the children. She’s going to be missed so much ❤️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#familydog #italiangreyhound #olddog #sayinggoodbye #motherhoodunplugged
My nights after the kids go to bed is so productiv My nights after the kids go to bed is so productive. 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#momtruth #motherhoodunplugged #honestmom #funnymom #momhumor #funnyreel #relateable
I’m not sure if they are going to invite me back I’m not sure if they are going to invite me back….
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#mommyandme #mommemes #honestmom #momsbelike #darkhumor #workingmomlife
Any other Winter Warriors out there? #ad You know, Any other Winter Warriors out there? #ad You know, the ones who drink iced coffee even in the coldest of weather? @dunkin is here to support all those Winter Warriors out there with their selection of iced coffee! If you’re out in the snow and drinking an iced coffee this winter, make sure to tag #dunkinwinterwarrior on your post!
#dunkinmaine #dunkinpartner
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#maineliving #mainetheway #icedcoffee #icedcoffeeaddict #momstyle #momlifestyle
Supporting my postpartum body with @beli.baby Pren Supporting my postpartum body with @beli.baby Prenatal vitamins. 
Not only are the essential prior to conception and during pregnancy; they are essential to keep the body healthy after pregnancy as well. 
I have openly shared my previous miscarriages before finally getting pregnant with Chloe. This is why I decided to check out the Beli Women Prenatal vitamins to help with my own personal fertility and boost my chances of a having a successful pregnancy. The Beli Women Prenatal vitamins are formulated with powerful ingredients that can boost fertility and conception as well as  improve egg quality. As an older mom, this was especially important to me. During pregnancy, the Beli Women Prenatal can protect baby’s brain and spine, help reduce nausea, and then support postpartum recovery and breastfeeding.
And as a busy mom having the ability to order and have them delivered to your door monthly makes it that much easier for me to remember to take them. 
What are you doing to support your postpartum wellness? #belibaby #postpartumbody 
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#postpartumwellness #postpartumjourney #pregnancylife #mombod #momof3 #pregnancyjourney
A little day off morning routine that for once was A little day off morning routine that for once was not pure craziness. 
Things that help me get out the door in the morning on time is getting up before the kids, having clothes picked out the night before and making sure their bags are packed for daycare and school. 
Mornings before work are a completely different ballgame. 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#morningroutine #morningvlog #dayinthelife #dailyvlog #momof3 #motherhoodunfiltered #dailylife
Not exactly sure how I am going to survive the tee Not exactly sure how I am going to survive the teen years with this one. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#raisingdaughters #momreels #motherhood #momhumor #mommyandme
I wonder what it must be like to go through life w I wonder what it must be like to go through life without a care in the world 😂 I guess this is where we balance each other out; me being the ball of anxiety and him being calm. Anyone else’s marriage or relationship like this? 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#marriagehumor #marriedlife #funnyreel #anxietyproblems #marriagegoals #husbandandwife
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