DH is going on a guys trip this weekend so its just me a DD! I was thinking about taking her to the beach on Sat, but am wondering how easy this would be....would i be able to handle a baby + carrying all the stuff we would need for the beach? have you ever taken your LO to the beach without your DH there to help?
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How far away from the beach do you live? Do you drive there or walk?
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@hilsy85: we live pretty close- its about a 30 min drive.
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I used to take both kids to the beach by myself! I went the first time when DD had just turned 3 and DS was almost 3 months. Basically, I would pack the diaper bag, pack us a lunch in the cooler, and grab the beach tent, DD's beach toy set, and the Moby. DD and wore our swimsuits and coverups; DS wore a breezy outfit, like a romper.
Once we got to the beach, it was probably about a 10 minute walk from the car. We usually left early (around 8/8:30) so we could be all set up in our spot by about 9. All of the stuff and DD went into our wagon, and then I wore DS in the Moby on our walk from the car. Once we got down to the beach, I'd set up our tent, and DD would play in the sand. When DS needed a nap, I'd either wear him, or swaddle him and lay him on top of the folded Moby in the tent. We usually ate lunch a little early ( at 11) so that I had time to pack everything back up, get the kids back in the car, and drive home by 12.
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I think it might be challenging, but probably doable. Can you park fairly close to where you'll be on the beach? Then it might not be too much of a pain if you had to go back and forth to your car a few times. I'd probably wear the baby in my Ergo so that I have both hands free for carrying everything you need. Maybe before you go, gather all your stuff together and see if you can carry it it all in one trip. Then you'll have an idea of how much of a pain it will be or not.
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@Honeybee: wow! 2 kids at the beach by yourself? impressive! thanks for sharing some tips- the only hard part might be getting DD to nap. shes 7.5 months and wont just sleep anywhere anymore! wearing her for a nap might work though-
@Adira: i have a beach parking pass so i can literally park a minutes walk away from the beach. yea, the tricky part will be carrying everything + LO. i want to bring our bob stroller, plus umbrella thingy to put in sand for shade, plus blankets, towels, cooler etc! lots of stuff to pack when taking a kid! wearing her will free up my hands
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@NovBaby1112: If you're able to park that close, you could always just do multiple trips to the car (if you're not afraid of leaving some items on the beach while you and your LO run back to the car). That's probably what I would do!
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@Adira: that's true! hopefully people would be nice enough to not steal anything!
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@NovBaby1112: The beach is so much fun! We went a lot, probably weekly, last summer. We moved in December, and I so miss the beach now.
My best tip is to minimize the amount of stuff you bring. Really just bring the necessities. Also a friend of mine wears his DD in the Ergo in the front carry position and then wears the diaper backpack on his back. I thought that was much better than carrying a diaper bag on your shoulder, since it keeps both hands free.
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@NovBaby1112: yaaay beach! sounds fun! if you're going to Crane by the way - go later in the afternoon when the tides are out - WAY more beach and the little pools are perfect for the babies to test out the water (and it's warmer)... I would pack super efficiently and maybe wear M onto the beach? Or pack up your stroller like you said, not sure which beach - if Crane, there are a million steps. We put J in the backpack to go there, stroller for Singing Beach. We also timed naps for him to sleep in the car on the way there and back.
Fun! Wish we were going to be around to go with you guys!
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@hellobeeboston: i think we are going to go to long beach in rockport- that's where we have our beach parking pass so easy access to the beaches
ooo i totally forgot about all the steps! there goes the stroller idea, thanks for making me think of that! sounds like wearing her will be the way to go. that's a good idea of timing naps so they sleep in the car too. we will have to plan beach day when you guys get back!
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We bring way too much to do it myself. We have a canopy, and I'm just not willing to give it up. LO and I are both really pale and can't take the sun.
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I second the baby wearing idea, and can you rent an umbrella, just so you have one less thing to carry? That's what I would have done last week if DH hadn't come to the beach with me last week.
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Hmmm can you run the stroller down the boardwalk and carry all your stuff via stroller? Seems like a lot of stuff to take!! You should enlist a friend!
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Or park near enough so you can leave her (in eyesight and close proximity) in the car seat and transport stuff while you leave her in the car seat for a minute?
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@artbee: she is very pale too, so i def dont want her out in the sun for long...
@dagret: hmm i wonder if they rent umbrella's at the beach i am going to? i should find out...good idea!
@IcebergMom: i think i am too nervous to leave her alone for even a minute in the car! i am a way over-paranoid mom and would be scared someone would break in and steal her! lol... but good idea seeing if a friend might want to come!! i'll ask around
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@NovBaby1112: That's a good idea to rent an umbrella. I normally wouldn't want to pay for that but it's worth it when lugging all of your stuff and a baby. I like to have the canopy now because LO is a toddler and she wouldn't sit still under the umbrella, but when she did sit still that would have been nice. Do you have a sturdy stroller or wagon that you could push through sand? That way you'd have help holding things and your baby.
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