12 lessons learned from a beach vacation with a tot, Happy Hatchling #12
In this edition of Happy Hatchling, Heather – mom and CheapTweet blogger – shares some of the lessons she learned from a recent family beach vacation with her toddler. Be sure to follow Heather on Twitter!
1. Diaper wipes do not effectively remove sand. The only thing that removes sand from your baby’s bum is a shower. Period.
2. One-piece suits are a pain if you need to change a diaper and you a
ren’t near a hotel room. I found that the two-piece UV bathing suits are great for a diaper change on the go.
3. Go get a shaved ice and save the cup. It makes for a great pool/beach play item.
4. If you bring your own toys to the kiddy pool, expect them to be communal items and don’t get upset if you lose them.
5. A bucket and shovel set is cheap and will provide many hours of entertainment.
6. Use the kiddie pool to find out the kid friendly restaurants and hang outs from other mom’s.
7. Look for a restaurant with a patio deck on the beach… preferably with your table on the sand, so your little one can play in the sand before and after mealtime, which means you can relax!
8. Also look for spots with live entertainment. This is great for happy hour or restaurants because it again gives your kiddo another source of entertainment, so you can eat and drink in peace.
9. If your tot uses utensils, bring your own kid friendly silverware. Restaurant forks are often larger than normal and too heavy for easy tot use.
10. Umbrellas that come with fruity cocktails or smoothie drinks look like fun to your kid, but are dangerous toys. Ask the waiter to leave them out of your drink to avoid a tantrum or poked-out eye.
11. Ask for a side item other than french fries. Suggest fruit, beans or rice even if it is not routinely offered on the kids’ menu. (Otherwise, fries may be all your tot consumes for the whole vacation.)
12. Enjoy spending time with your baby/tot. Use this time to introduce them to new things and experiences.
Ever taken your kids to the beach? What lessons did you learn? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
My dad used to take me to the beach and a simple bucket and shovel was all I needed… you’re totally right! I think being an only child helped too… because, we’re all a little bit weird.
Zephyr
9 Jun 10 at 4:27 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by CheapTweet and Hatchling Heather, Queen Bee . Queen Bee said: 2 True lessons!RT @CheapTweet: A new @happyhatchling post is up! Lessons learned from a beach vacation with a toddler – http://bit.ly/aa6Z4J [...]
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9 Jun 10 at 5:00 pm
Thanks for sharing, Heather!
Hope
9 Jun 10 at 7:00 pm