https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 03:18:23 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/beach-or-cruise-with-a-little-one#post-469337 Fri, 28 Dec 2012 20:05:20 +0000 littlecasita1122 469337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a week long beach vacation when my LO was 2.5 months old. At that point he would fall asleep anywhere so he napped in his stroller for a little bit (my dad and husband carried it onto the beach since it was a pain dragging it through the sand). We had a beach hut that we stuck him under and he was fine - didn't get any sun at all. He sat reclined in my beach chair with a couple towels propping him up and I sat down on the ground next to him. He didn't need any toys for entertainment, he was content listening to the waves and watching people walk around. My LO is 6 months old now and I think he would love it even more if we took him at this age - he is sitting pretty well on his own and loves just checking out his surroundings.</p> <p>I also researched cruises as we were thinking of taking one when he's 9 months old but I found most cruise lines charge full price for a baby even when they're not eating much food and they don't let babies in pools even if they're wearing swim diapers. I think Disney was the only line that charged less and would allow babies in pools. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/beach-or-cruise-with-a-little-one#post-469286 Fri, 28 Dec 2012 18:53:52 +0000 mediagirl 469286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend took her son to the beach at 6 months, maybe it was 5...either way, they had a great time. They got a beach tent that they put up and he napped in there. When he was up, he sat and played in the sand. I would think by 6 months baby s will be sitting up some and he could enjoy the sand! </p> <p>I love cruises but I think at this age, the beach may be the better choice. On a cruise, there aren't that many baby friendly places you can just plop down and play with him. In a condo and on the beach, those places are plentiful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/beach-or-cruise-with-a-little-one#post-469276 Fri, 28 Dec 2012 18:31:56 +0000 Weagle 469276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: She did nap on the beach. We held her, but she would have napped just as we'll on a beach towel. She was so relaxed on the beach that we didn't have to do much entertaining. She just watched the waves and people and chilled out. It was much easier than trying to keep her entertained inside. I really don't think packing a bunch of "stuff" will make things easier. We wanted to pack light, so she didn't have anything to sit up in. She either sat in our lap or laid on the beach towel/blanket. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/beach-or-cruise-with-a-little-one#post-469269 Fri, 28 Dec 2012 18:10:56 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 469269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weagle: Did your LO nap on the beach? Did you find it difficult to keep him entertained while you were on the beach since he couldn't sit up? Maybe it would be good to get a bumbo? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/beach-or-cruise-with-a-little-one#post-469243 Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:42:25 +0000 Weagle 469243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Beach! Granted, I'm not a huge fan of cruises, but we took our 4 month old to the beach. It was great! Plenty of space indoors and out, easy for everyone to have their own space, and plenty of things to do! I think being on a cruise with a baby would be almost miserable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/beach-or-cruise-with-a-little-one#post-469237 Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:36:46 +0000 heffalump 469237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would prefer cruise for the relaxing aspect, but I hear you have to pay full price for a 6 month old. Even when they dont eat pretty much anything. I cant see myself ever doing that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/beach-or-cruise-with-a-little-one#post-469227 Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:15:03 +0000 mrs. bird 469227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>while we haven't gone on a cruise with a LO, we enjoy cruises and have friends who have gone with LOs. couple things to keep in mind, LO for most cruise lines must be at least 6 months old by the day of embarkation, disney is 3 months maybe and some itineraries are 12 months+ for some cruise lines. LOs in diapers, even swim diapers, are not allowed in pools. but it would be awesome to be so pampered while on vacation with a LO and we plan to go once we have a family. we get balcony cabins, if LO is napping you can sit out on the balcony &amp; still feel like you're on vacation &amp; have a view. having someone do all the cooking &amp; cleaning would be more relaxing. but cruise ships are germy &amp; it's awful to be sick on the ship (we both got sick for half of our trip a few weeks ago, it sucked). i think it really depends on the two particular vacations you're looking at, some all inclusive resorts can also be just as relaxing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/beach-or-cruise-with-a-little-one#post-469210 Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:00:13 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 469210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I desperately need a vacation. He wants to go to the beach; I am thinking a cruise. We'll probably go no earlier than March when baby is 6 months old. I think a cruise would be easier, but hubs thinks the beach would be. Your thoughts?</p> <p>Cons of a Cruise:</p> <p>- Can't do excursions or party with a little one (we wouldn't use the babysitting services).<br /> - Would be stuck in the room after 8:30 (his current bedtime) without much of a view<br /> - DH and LO haven't cruised so maybe they would get seasick?</p> <p>Pros of a Cruise:<br /> - weather will be warmer in the Caribbean in March than it would be in the USA so we would enjoy it more.<br /> - Activities available that are family-friendly.<br /> - Would be easier to get out around the ship than to schlep baby down to the beach. Could easily enjoy two hours walking the ship and then go back for a nap, wouldn't necessarily even need a diaper bag.<br /> - Don't have to cook, could get room service for free if we wanted to stay in instead of eating out.<br /> - Very different from regular life. I am a little worried that going to the beach would be all the same stuff (cleaning, cooking, packing up everything to leave the house), just in a different location. Not really a vacation then...!</p> <p>Pros of Beach:<br /> - more affordable<br /> - could stay in for most meals (DH says he'll do the cooking!)<br /> - would have a nice view to enjoy while baby is napping.<br /> - more room to stretch out with all the baby gear<br /> - no embarkation to deal with<br /> - less travel time</p> <p>Cons of Beach:<br /> - weather may be too chilly to enjoy getting out on beach with baby.<br /> - baby needs darkness to nap; this means we'd be going back up to the condo/room as soon as we got him downstairs<br /> - would be cooking and cleaning condo just as we do at home<br /> - Sand and heat. Cruises offer more shade, more indoor activities, are breezier, and are less messy overall. </p> <p>Also: I'm not planning to start soilds until 6 months so that isn't really an issue. I'm also planning to make his foods. Maybe there'd be something on the bar (banana) that he could eat if we needed to do that, or just packets of baby food if necessary but hopefully it wouldn't be. I've been purposefully getting water in his eyes at every bath so that if we needed to we could start showering with him instead of tub bathing him. </p>