Beach trip with toddler and newborn - am I crazy?

PeachGal23 · May 2016

I'm already having serious beach withdrawal, and it's only May! I live in the Southeast, and while we normally make it to the beach every summer, we won't this year due to Zika concerns. But I'm starting to think about planning a beach trip for mid-October while it's still warm down here. Am I crazy to attempt a trip to the beach that soon with a 2-yr-old and a 2-month-old? I will most likely have my parents with us for extra help. Anyone else considering a trip while on maternity leave or otherwise this soon after birth?

JournoGrl23 · May 2016

I was wondering the same thing because we're going to the beach in September so I'll have a newborn as well. My in laws are spending a week in Florida in September and they want us to join them. We have a tent and are taking other precautions to make sure she's not in the sun and we don't want her in the heat too long.

ballofmeat · May 2016

I don't have any experience traveling with toddlers and newborns, but I imagine it might be nice to get out and about for a little trip after weeks of being cooped up.

BritMC18 · May 2016

It's not specifically what you were asking, but... we also live in the SE (Atlanta, specifically) and just went to the beach last weekend (Tybee Island, GA). We had absolutely no issues with mosquitos at all, even though the area around Tybee is all marshy and prone to mosquitos. We were outside all day, every day at the beach and in the evenings at a house that sat on the marshes and no one got any mosquito bites or even saw one. I suppose it depends on where you go, but if you did want to go the beach now, I don't think you'd really have much of a problem. I do understand not wanting to take the risk though

As far as going to the beach with a newborn and toddler - I think as long as you have people around to help out, you should be fine

I'd personally be overwhelmed if it was just me and my hubby with two kids (heck, even one kid!), but if you're planning on having your parents there I think it's definitely manageable!

MamaKSquared · May 2016

DH and I are planning on taking a trip toward the end of my maternity leave, so mid-October. It would be just us and the baby (and possibly our dog, depending on what we do). So, no, I don't think you're crazy. I feel like it would be nice for us to get out of the house together for a bit. Unfortunately, I can't offer any tips or experience, but I'll be following to see if anyone else does!

becca7903 · May 2016

Not crazy! We're currently contemplating the same thing. Putting the worry of Zika aside, I decided that the gulf coast in June at 7 months pregnant sounded like torture, even with a pool and ocean at my disposal. So we're also thinking mid-October - the temps will have cooled some, which sounds refreshing. We'll be taking our 7, 5, 2 and newborn. Perhaps that is a bit crazy? Ha!

Curls919 · May 2016

I think as long as you're not alone (so someone else can run after the toddler and help schlep all the beach stuff and the kids) and you take precautions to keep the baby out of the sun as much as possible then you're not crazy.

Ceventa · May 2016

I would think if it's going to be October, you should be way better heat wise then if you were out with a 2 month old in the middle of summer. I live in South Florida and we basically scurry in doors when it's summer and the middle of the day.

I would bring one of those little tents or a really big umbrella to make sure baby stays in the shade, lots of sunscreen (I would double check with the doc about what sunscreen is safe for one so young), limit it to early morning or later afternoon too.

Nikkoli98 · May 2016

Also a FTM, but in terms of stress versus relaxation, I would also consider the type of trip your family has in mind. I've personally found that trips where you rent a house and plan to cook a lot, etc. requires a lot of packing / planning / prep work which you may not feel up to.

Edited: app didn't post the entire last sentence.

slycat · May 2016

I say go for it! We are planning a trip to universal studios horror nights event and Disneys Halloween party in October. We take this trip to Orlando every year and we don't plan on stopping! I know we will not be able to do everything with a newborn and he will certainly set our pace. We are just planning on lots of breaks and packing everything we could possibly need.

jamiesc58 · May 2016

The only suggestion I would make is to check out this article:

https://www.parents.com/baby/care/newborn/making-baby-comfortable-in-summer-heat/

Babies don't sweat like adults. Even if they are under a sun shade they can become overheated a lot quicker. This article gives you some tips and tricks on how to watch for that. The worst time to be outside with baby is between the times of 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. I am sure there are tons of different reading materials on this, I just thought this one was quick and to the point,

PeachGal23 · May 2016

Thank you all for your encouragement and advice! I think we'll go for it (and have an awesome Coleman beach tent that we'll definitely pack). We also live in Atlanta, @BritMC18, and we've experienced lots of mosquitoes here already, even with our yard sprayed regularly. Personally, I'd rather just avoid the beach than go while pregnant, covered head to toe, worrying about more bites. Having a toddler, we've learned that renting a house is much easier than a cramped hotel room, but I will definitely not plan to cook much at all

kwilliams3402 · May 2016

We're planning a trip 2 hours away for a wedding weekend in late October, so you're not too crazy. If it weren't my sister's wedding, we'd probably not be planning to go, but, we're going!

BritMC18 · May 2016

@PeachGal23 Yay for Atlanta mommas!!!

Man, we live right on the edge of a nature preserve with a huge stagnant pond and are having no issues at all, sorry you're already having mosquito issues.

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