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This trip to South Africa has been one of the most satisfying we've taken in a long time. Between all the friends and family we got to see after years and years, it's been so nice to spend time in some of my favorite places. It's been more exciting to see Liyana engage with these new settings. In Durban, a coastal city in South Africa, baby girl had her first beach day experience and it was perfect.
In this post, I'll be sharing all the things we did to make sure she had a wonderful time. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
1. Go After a Poop
There is nothing like a poopy diaper to kill the mood. And unless you're using waterproof diapers, I find it easier to just let baby be diaper-free. This means if she were to poop it would be a complete disaster. There would be poop everywhere and a very cute swimsuit would be ruined. You should have an idea of your baby's poop schedule, so try to plan around it. And once she has one, you can go to the beach with peace of mind of knowing you don't have to worry about it for the rest of the day- assuming your baby is fairly regular.
2. Dress for the Occasion
This is one of those occasions where all the cuteness is yours for the taking. Have you ever seen a toddler at the beach? With their cute little legs in the water and their tiny toes in the sand! Today, that cute little toddler is yours- so have complete fun with it.
Baby swimsuit
A baby swimsuit is one of the cutest things on the planet. Now that my baby is wearing tiny adult clothes (as a pose to just baby rompers), buying and dressing her in them is one of my favorite things. I also know that this window for choosing her outfits is incredibly small, so I'm making the most of it. I have been known to put tother some matching outfits (see opening picture) from time to time. Oh and don't forget to bring an extra change of clothes, because babies.
3. Sun Protection
Sunscreen
If you're planning to go to the beach, chances are you're in a hot, sunny place. Protecting yourself and your baby against the harmful rays is a must. There are a ton of great baby sunscreen lotions that are designed for their delicate skin, so be sure to grab one. It's great for providing sun protection and it's never too early to start a good habit. Wear sunscreen even if it's overcast. Think of it this way- if it's bright enough to see outside, you need sunscreen.
Umbrellas + Hats
On the note of sun protection, don't forget to bring things to shield you from direct sunlight as well. Bring a sun hat for yourself and one for the baby too.
If you can, get an umbrella, do that too. This will help with creating a place to retreat to when you're all done playing in the sun.
4. The water may not be an instant hit. Keep trying
When I thought of taking Liyana to the beach, I imagined the cutest scenes of her running into the water and playing with the waves like an old friend. I pictured her sinking her tiny hands into the ocean and spraying water everywhere. In my mind, it was both an instant success and insanely cute.
In reality, Liyana was quite scared of the seemingly endless stretch of water I was trying to dip her feet into. She clung to me, she clung to my mother, and she was generally just not having it. It made me realize that I hadn't looked at this from her point of view. For her, the ocean was a new and frightening thing. She had no idea what to expect. She didn't know that this is what bigger people do for fun. She didn't understand why I would do this to her. So we recalibrated and focused on just getting her comfortable enough to dip her toes in without completely freaking out.
It took a while and a lot of coaxing and demonstrating, but in the end, she let herself relax enough to frolic a little bit. She still clung to whoever was holding her, but she let her feet get wet and then pulled them away...before letting them get wet again. She was playing with the ocean. It was ridiculously cute. I dare say that, in the end, she had a great time.
5. Bring Games
If the water isn't an instant hit, you will need something else to do. Preferably something that can be done from the safety of the shore. Bring age-appropriate games that your little one can enjoy. A beach ball, a rubber bucket and tools set, a favorite non-furry toy from home. Remember that the beach is a very sandy place, so try to avoid toys that can get ruined by the beach sand like toys with electronic components or even fury toys. If your child is big enough, you can bring a sandcastle mold kit, so that they make the most of the beach experience. This wouldn't work for us (yet) as baby girl is still too young to play with such toys and she would probably end up eating the sand, which we don't want.
Bring music to set the mood right. A portable speaker is a great option, just sync it to your phone via Bluetooth and enjoy up to 10 hours of playback. For young ones, you can play some of their favorite tunes, or lullaby's when it comes time to put them to sleep.
6. Prepare for naps
Being out in the sun makes everyone tired. That's why a beach nap is one of the world's best things. Your child is no exception- besides, babies sleep a lot anyway. So plan for when they get tired and need to be put down. Have a large beach blanket where they can sleep, and bring a small blanket to cover them. Also, if you do bring a portable speaker for music, a blanket provides a safe place to keep it.
Bring snacks for yourself and them, and pack their food. You want to make the trip something enjoyable for everyone- and everyone likes a good meal. Also, bring water, it's likely to be a hot day so having enough water will keep you or anyone else from getting dehydrated.
Bring whatever other drinks you like, just don't forget the water (this may just be a me thing, but I hate being thirsty for water and not having access to it. Because when I want water, I only want water). Grab your cooler bag and pack as needed.
7. Avoid Crowds
I think one of the biggest fears that any parent can have is losing sight of their child. Even thinking about it gives me anxiety. As such, being in a crowded space makes me hyper-aware of keeping my eyes on the baby. In an ideal world, I'd just strap her to me and call it a day. But she's moving now, and she wants to explore and run and play. And I want her to. So, to keep us both happy, when I know she's likely to be running around on her own legs, I stay away from overly crowded places where I think there is any potential of losing sight of her. Then, as she explores, I stay close and we both have a lovely time.
Depending on where you are, the beach can be a crowded place. Look to see if you can move to a more secluded area with fewer people, even if you have to go to a different beach altogether. I think this is worth the effort for peace of mind. Use your best judgment, and just make sure that you and your baby are always safe.
8. Take Pictures!
I would love to think this is obvious- but I know it isn't. I love pictures and even I've had numerous occasions where I've found myself at home after an amazing experience wishing I had remembered to capture at least one moment in a picture. This is easier to do if you go with another person, which I recommend. For outings such as this, not only does it help to have another set of hands, but generally, the more the merrier. Having another person also means that you can get great photos of you and your little one that aren't selfies. If you're alone, ask a kind stranger to capture a snap. People are so willing to do this that I'm often amazed at the effort they put into getting the 'perfect' shot of a complete stranger. So, just ask.
Conclusion
Taking your toddler to the beach for the first time is such an exciting milestone. But, as with all things new, it can be difficult to know all the things that you need to bring or to be aware of. This post is to help you prepare so that your beach day is as beautiful and as fun as it can be. I hope this is helpful.
I love a good checklist, and I made this printable one for the perfect baby beach day. I hope it makes one day in your life a little easier.
What tips do you have? I'd love to hear them.
Enjoy the beach,
Nonjabulo
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