toddler at the beach?

Spangled · May 2013

have any of you taken your toddler to the beach? my son will be two in july and were thinking about taking him to the beach for his birthday. taking him to the pool is exhausting already and i'm a little worried about the beach. we're not sure what we want to do though because last year we had a big party and this year we want it to be quiet and just the three of us. but we think he's too young for disneyland. any advice about taking a two year old to the beach?

nekorayne · May 2013

Last spring we camped on a very remote beach with no modern amenities. DS was just about to turn two. I was wrried but I really wnated to go....and it was AWESOME!!! Every morning we opened up the back of the van to the sea. Slathered on sunscreen, threw on those UV protectant shirt and swimsuit bottoms and had a blast. He ran down the beach and played in the sand all day.

He was not a big fan of the water but it was still so much fun. Get a big beach umbrella and maybe a big outdoor mat in case he wants a break from the sand. A bucket, shovel, etc...

My SIL gave me great advice (they go to the beach all the time...I wish we lived closer to the ocean): Just let go of worrying about him getting dirty, eating sand, etc... just let him crawl in the sand, explore, and be a kid. Don't get your hopes up that he will want to do something like splash in the waves or build a sandcastle because its funner to just watch them find their own fun and do it with them on their terms. We went with no expectations and it was great. If I would have expected him to frolic in the waves I would have been disappointed.

I think the shade and protecting from the sun is important....everything else is just relaxing and exploring with him. If he does like the water I would just keep him in the very shallow water where it washes onto the beach and just watch of for jellys.

lollitots · May 2013

We live pretty close to the beach and so we go all the time. I've taken all three since they were babies. He would have a blast. My rule has always been that they have to stay in front of my beach chair (which after a few time outs they did) so it was easier to watch all three and they could only go into the water up to their knees until they learned to swim. I also picked low wave beaches when they were small (mother's beaches).They always have a blast. I also don't think he is too young for Disneyland. There is alot for that age.

Arnegard · May 2013

Took Dylan to the beach at 1 and she ate a lot of sand. We drove home 2 days later and she was miserable passing it.

We took the girls last year when she was 2 and it was fine. They played and enjoyed it.

suv75 · May 2013

My 2 year old LOVES the beach. He asks to go all the time. Bring some food, sand toys, buckets, shovels and have some fun!

holz · May 2013

We live at the beach. DS1 turned 2 last August and loved the beach all summer. He was really good about chilling by our blanket with a shovel and pail and various trucks, sandcastle molds, etc.

id012 · May 2013

Ds just turned 2 so he has been to the beach as a 2 year old yet. But we goto the beach just about every weekrnd all summer long.

Nollie0207 · May 2013

Oh gosh yes. Mine love it. We go as soon as its warm enough, even in coats and pants and they can play for hours. Bring snacks, lots of digging toys and an umbrella. Endless fun!

Spangled · May 2013

thanks everyone. he isn't a huge fan of swimming or being in the water because its usually cold, but he loves to explore and i didn't even think about him playing in the sand! i'll have to go to ikea or target and try to find some good buckets and toys for him.

Dochas · May 2013

I would get a vest or at least one of those puddle jumpers. They are very slippery with sunscreen on and hard to hold onto in the water! So that way you'll have something to grip. A kite can be another good idea for later in the day.

NandaB:
. We filled the pool with sea water and he had a blast playing in the water and we didn't have to be right on top of him like down at the waters edge. I'm definitely bringing it again this year.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I would be very surprised if the pool keeps him occupied this year. Mine charges at the ocean without fear!

SwimSurfSmile · May 2013

We go to the beach a few times a week. Everyone had awesome tips so I second those. We bring two gallon jugs of water. One to drink and one to wash sand off. And just being okay with sand everywhere. My husband hates sand, not sure why he married a surfer ;-) but once he accepts it will be everywhere he has fun. extra towels to keep in the car. Have lots of fun!!!

12bailey18 · May 2013

We live minutes from the beach so we're pretty familiar with it. Honestly, it's not that fun. LOL. It's a lot of work with DD. She will also be 2 in July and only wants to be in the water so someone always has to be out there with her, obviously. She doesn't want to play in the sand, doesn't want to have snacks, etc. Only wants to be in the water. It's a lot easier with her than it was last year but it's still not that great. DS, who is 3.5, is great though. I imagine by next year it will be more enjoyable but right now we prefer to stick with the neighborhood toddler pool. No real advice but for us the beach is way more exhausting than the pool. I'm sure it also depends on the toddler.

ToBeMrsT · May 2013

Both of mine have been to the beach several times. Sometimes DS doesn't even care about the water and he will just play in the sand the whole time we are there. I've also taken both of mine to Disneyland several times.

12bailey18 · May 2013

Dochas:
I would get a vest or at least one of those puddle jumpers. They are very slippery with sunscreen on and hard to hold onto in the water! So that way you'll have something to grip. A kite can be another good idea for later in the day.
NandaB:
. We filled the pool with sea water and he had a blast playing in the water and we didn't have to be right on top of him like down at the waters edge. I'm definitely bringing it again this year.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I would be very surprised if the pool keeps him occupied this year. Mine charges at the ocean without fear!

Yep, DD also charges at the ocean with no fear whatsoever. It makes for an exhausting beach trip. LOL.

eaglesfan700 · May 2013

I have been taking the kids to the beach since they were babies and they love it! The year DS was 2 was the year he really LOVED it, the first year I was worried he wasn't as into it. He had so much fun digging and splashing at the water's edge.

Now he is definitely a no fear type with the water, so I do have to be on top of him, where DD is content to hang back and stay at ankle deep water

Definitely bring some buckets, shovels, dump trucks etc. Also, baby powder is great for getting sand off of hands

Mrs.Hizzo · May 2013

My kids have gone on a beach trip every year since they were born. I much prefer the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico because the water is wonderfully calm. The Pacific is sort of nerve-wracking because of the big waves. It's been really fun, though, and my boys have always loved it.

MountaineerMomma · May 2013

Dd1 is two and can play in the sand for hours if given the opportunity. Plus, two is just such a great age because they're beginning to get curious about everything around them - sea shells, sea gulls, crabs, etc. Ditto what pp said about taking a blanket or sheet of some kind to sit on. Otherwise, I'd say your set with lots of sand toys, sunscreen and supervision!

laurakaz13 · May 2013

We live on the NC coast and go to the beach a lot. DD (age 2) LOVES it and is really good about just sitting in front of us and playing in the sand. I have to go get her buckets of water for her digging and sand play, but that's it. She charges the water occasionally, but stops the minute she gets close to the edge and sees the waves.

Recommend bringing a beach blanket, chairs, umbrella, lots of water and fresh fruit. Also, reapply the sunscreen constantly.

kcisthebombdotcom · May 2013

We live under 10 minutes from the beach and practically live there. It's never been a big deal. I've never had a kid charge for the ocean and go in yet. They may put their feet in but it stops there. We generally avoid the beaches with large waves just to be on the safe side. They mostly sit and play in the sand.

mandymack · May 2013

suv75:
My 2 year old LOVES the beach. He asks to go all the time. Bring some food, sand toys, buckets, shovels and have some fun!

Mine, too! We live just blocks from the water and though the Pacific Ocean is FREEZING and we go in hoodies, we have so much fun. Bubbles are super fun for Nolan

karen_loy · May 2013

DS has gone to the beach every summer since he was born; as a toddler (1.5ish) he wasn't a fan of the sand the first time but after a while he just loved it

It can be exhausting because DS has always been very active so he just wants to be in the water all the time, run up and down the shore or play ball and since there's usually a lot of people at the beach you have to be pretty much right there running up and down the whole time, but in the end he loves it so we get to enjoy it too, also DH and I would take turns so one of us could rest

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