3 week old at the beach?

beth thacker · June 2009

Ok I need your opinions. I posted last night about sunscreen and i've called the Pedi to ask him and i'm just waiting on a call back.

On Saturday me, my sister and some friends are riding down to the beach with our LOs. Savannah will be a little over 3 weeks old. I plan on laying a thin cool blanket out on the sand and putting an umbrella over it to keep her in the shade. They're calling for it to be about 90 degrees that day. I feel like she'll be fine outside but I also worry just a little bit. We won't be out there but a few hours considering it takes 4 hours to get there and 4 hours back and we're coming home that evening. We'll probably be out there 4-5 hours max. Anyways.. my point of this post is to get your thoughts on what you would do...

The way me and my BF look at it is people live at the beach and have newborns all the time. We feel like it will be ok, but also being 1st time parents we like to hear other's thoughts and experiences so we don't screw up. haha!

TIA.

yonni2002 · June 2009

I personally would not have a 3 week old in the sun or high heat for that amount of time. Their skin is so delicate and excessive sweating may even cause irritation.

Crissy&Josh · June 2009

I'm not sure that I would bring my 11 week old to the beach for 4-5 hours, but that's me. It's your LO and your decision, you know what's best for her.

I'mAcrossThePond · June 2009

I wouldn't feel like going to the beach myself and I wouldn't have brought Alex when he was that young. Since he was a little early, he had a really hard time regulating his body temperature...I'd think he'd get too hot...he was forever sweating when he was younger.

disbride061103 · June 2009

A newborn can not regulate their own temperature. IMO, 90 degrees is WAY too hot for a newborn for 4 or 5 hours. It's way to hot for 20 minutes. I think you are using twisted logic to convince yourself that it is OK to be outside that long, in that heat with a newborn. Yes, people who live at the beach have babies, but the don't sit outside with them in 90 degree heat for 4 or 5 hours. Skip the trip.

ficklefiona · June 2009

i agree with pp's. i would skip the trip. 3 weeks is very young to be outside at the beach for that long imo.?

Echowysp · June 2009

Way too much sun and heat for a newborn. They can't regulate their temps, so how you feel in 90 degrees has no bearing on how your newborn feels. You're not supposed to put sunscreen on them that young anyway.

jamie.renee · June 2009

I agree with the others. Much too young to be out in that kind of heat for that long. I went to the lake with my LO already but we were only out there for an hour and it wasn't 90 degrees.

Deltadawn8 · June 2009

3weeks is too young IMO to be outside that long. They can not regulate their own body heat yet - 4-5hours outside in 90 degree heat is to much for a 3week old to handle. Also placing them under an umbrella does not keep the sun off their skin - unless it is a UV blocking umbrella. 3yrs ago my mom sat under an umbrella to keep the sun off her- and she still got sunburned.

betsnup · June 2009

I think that is an awful idea - it will be way too hot for a newborn. You will all be miserable. Save the trip for when she is a little older.

Buckets of Moonbeams · June 2009

Newborn can't really control their body temperature very well. So you'll start sweating to cool yourself off, but your baby might not. It can be very dangerous. ANd sunscreen can also be dangerous on a baby under 6 months (also related to the inability to control body temp, I believe.)

It is very, very hot where we live (forcast= 103 today) and we just don't go outside during the day. Nobody does. Morning and evening the park is crazy, but if I were to roll through there at noon today it would be deserted.

stewiegriffin · June 2009

Way too hot and way too long of a drive. She will be cooking in the car too. Can't you wait til the end of the summer when she is older? Or maybe go somewhere closer?

Also, no sunscreen until at least 6 months.

sept04brideinMD · June 2009

As much as you're probably ready to be at the beach, and out of the house - I agree with everyone else that the baby is awfully young to be at the beach that long, after that loooong car ride & it being that hot. We're planning on going to the beach this weekend - but we won't keep him out very long...it's going to be hot and humid - no place for a baby!

It's your call, but I'd skip it with the baby...go next year

rylen11 · June 2009

we took our daughter on a beach vacation when she was 4 months old, and she was so hot and miserable one of us was indoors in the a/c with her the whole trip.

don't go -- it isn't worth it. it's a bad idea for her, and you'll be miserable with a miserable kid.

k8elee03 · June 2009

Well...I don't live on the sand or anything, but I do live in Florida so I'll share my experience. Are you going to Florida? Because 90 plus Florida humidity is unlike 90 in other areas of the country. Trust me.

The first time Lily went to the beach she was 8 weeks old. We had no intention of taking her swimming, being there for a long period of time, or being in the sun. We just love the beach, were cooped up and bored. We planned to go for about a half an hour and it was perfect. We went at 8 in the morning because (a) she can't wear sunscreen and (b) after about 10 it's just miserable to be outside if you can't go swimming. We sat on a swing in the shade for a little while and just enjoyed the quiet and beauty of the beach. We dipped Lily's feet in the water just for fun. And then back to the bench, then home.

More recently (she's 11 months) we just went to Sanibel Island for a little vacation because of DH's work. Basically, it's just too freaking hot to enjoy anyway. So we went swimming at the hotel pool and it worked out well because at least the water in the pool isn't 88 degrees like the Gulf. It's definitely too hot to play in the sand.

I think we may try again for the beach next weekend, but if we go, we'd go early in the morning before the sun is too intense and before it's too terribly hot. And we wouldn't go for long.

To each their own, but I wouldn't do it.

Elena&Dylan2008 · June 2009

I live 1 block from the beach and have a pool in my backyard and have yet to even take LO. The sun is way to severe, especially reflecting off the sand and water. I see on the weather everyday that it only takes 15 minutes to burn in 90 degree weather.

cchrisler · June 2009

disbride061103:
A newborn can not regulate their own temperature. IMO, 90 degrees is WAY too hot for a newborn for 4 or 5 hours. It's way to hot for 20 minutes. I think you are using twisted logic to convince yourself that it is OK to be outside that long, in that heat with a newborn. Yes, people who live at the beach have babies, but the don't sit outside with them in 90 degree heat for 4 or 5 hours. Skip the trip.

I agree with this. I would also argue that people who live in those conditions are used to it. I'm resting assured your pedi wouldnt approve either.

JARbaby · June 2009

I got a 50SPF tent at BRU. And an umbrella.

Took C to Outter Banks at 10w and we did fine.

Have fun! Put a hat and SPF wear on baby and DC will be fine as well.

While the beach in NC may be 90, there is a nice breeze always and it is not actually 90.

hj_1235 · June 2009

Please don't subject your 3 week old to that heat. Babies cannot regulate their tempature like we can.

Mike&Care · June 2009

I would not go. Just the 8 hour drive roundtrip sounds crazy to me. That will be terrible! You have to stop and feed her at least 4 times.

I took Addie to the beach for 1 hour last week. We live near the beach and it was only about 80 degrees. I stayed under an umbrella under a palm tree and she was in her infant carseat (with shade). One hour was long enough. It was enough time for my sister (who was visiting from out of town) to enjoy the beach, but not too long for the baby. Infants cant sit out in the sun. It is way to hot. You will all be sooo miserable.

Please do not go unless you have a house to stay at with A/C. I wouldnt even make that long drive for a 4 hour stay at the beach. Why dont you get a hotel room or something? Take baby out for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. Make a little vacation out of it.

Sweet Mary · June 2009

I would not go.

littlelondy · June 2009

Ummm... no. Don't do that. First of all, your baby cannot regulate his/her body temp that well at 3 weeks old.

Keep your kid at home.

jillybean222 · June 2009

I think 8 hours in the car for a three-week-old is pretty awful. Never mind the beach.

It sounds like the trip is all about you. Why not leave the baby home and go party at the beach with your friends.

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3 week old at the beach?

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