We're traveling this month to Florida (West Palm Beach) and we're taking Connor. It will be the first time he'll see the ocean and his great grandpa! I'm so excited...
He's crawling now, so any ideas on what to bring? Of course, sunscreen, his swimmies, his hat (if he'll keep it on?)...what else?

By Colette on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 06:20 am:

Corn starch or powder to get the sand off of his body when you are ready to leave the beach.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 06:57 am:

beach shoes or sandals - the sand gets hot and there are always pebbles to hurt little feet.

By Jann on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 08:14 am:

Buckets, spoons/shovel, cups, things for sand play.

By Colette on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 11:46 am:

I'd get the beach shoes so that he can wear them in the water without hurting his feet on the rocks.

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 02:10 pm:

He can't walk yet, so I'm not so sure that shoes will help/hurt...I also wonder what the hotel will have. Anyone heard of the hotel having buckets, shovels, etc?

By Jann on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 02:20 pm:

I doubt they will. Just get some plastic solo cups and spoons...he will be fine.

By Cat on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 02:54 pm:

Some hydrocortisone cream for bug bites or rashes.

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 05:15 pm:

Some hotels have buckets, etc as gifts for young guests. We get them when we stay at the Royal Pacific in Universal Studios (Orlando).
Sunscreen and more sunscreen
A hat
Sunglasses with rubber cord to keep them on
Beach blanket (babies tend to eat sand so its better to try to keep them on a blanket)
A beach umbrella for shade
Lots of water/drinks so you do not get dehydrated
the new stickers that you put on your arm and it tells when to reapply sunscreen

By Amecmom on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 05:18 pm:

I have a wonderful tent that collapses into a flat ring the size of a large sun hat. It provides 40 spf. I'll look andsee if I can find the name. It was a lifesaver when we were outdoors and my son was Connor's age. Have fun.
Ame

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 09:39 am:

Ame, did you happen to remember?

By Kaye on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 09:56 am:

If you have a port a crib I would consider taking it. We don't live far from the beach we go often. When the kids were little I would take the crib and a blanket to drape over the top, it would extend our ability to stay later.

The catch is not to take too much stuff, or it just ruins your fun! If you dh is anything like mine, he will not enjoy the trip if he has to take 3 trips to and from the car.

Now when we beach, we all dress appropriately, I take a towel for everyone, a gallon of fresh water (to rinse feet off before getting in the car) and some buckets and shovels. Pretty much it, we suncreen at home. I have packed lunches before. Sometimes the kids will grab toys or boogie boards.

By Amecmom on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 02:05 pm:

I'll check today. The tent is great because it has a bottom and Connor can nap in there - like the porta crib, but much lighter!
Ame

By Amecmom on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 03:03 pm:

It's called Kids' Sun Dome. It's made by Kel Gar inc. The tent is great because it has a bottom and Connor can nap in there - like the porta crib, but much lighter!
Ame

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 03:36 pm:

I checked out the Kid's Sun Dome because I thought it might be something we would be interested in (not for the beach, just outside). It's pretty cool, but it seems like my dd would crawl out of that in a heartbeat. Maybe Connor would, too?? When I think of Natalie at the beach I think CAGE!
Do you have a pack n play? Someone suggested using that with a blanket over the top which I think is a great idea. You can also buy a canopy for most pack n plays now, too. I think that's what we're going to do just for around here. Just another idea for you. I think the ones I looked at(Graco) were around $30, but maybe get a used one if you don't think you will use it that much??

By Amecmom on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 06:33 pm:

Kids Sun dome has a zippered fromt closure. Unless they're unziping at this age it's as good as a cage.
I have a pack n play. You do not want to lug it on a plane btdt or to the beach.
Ame

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 08:41 pm:

Oh, sorry Ame - I didn't realize that! Okay now I WILL have to check into getting one!!!

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 - 08:58 pm:

We actually bought a sun dome that covers all of us. I'm hoping that will help. We'll have to bring some toys, snacks, milk, etc. But, who knows, it would be nice if he could nap on it too. We are bringing our own pack and play, just because the hotel ones are usually icky...btdt...but the sun dome we bought today has a bottom on it too.

By Bellajoe on Thursday, June 2, 2005 - 08:05 am:

You sound like you doubt he will keep a hat on. When my nephew was small he always took his hats off. But then i found one at Old Navy that had a strap for under his chin. He loved it and kept it on at the beach! Try to find one of those.

By Eve on Thursday, June 2, 2005 - 09:07 am:

Can you bring me?? LOL!

Colette is right! Baby powder is wonderful for sand! I wish I had known this trick years ago!

By Imamommyx4 on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 01:03 pm:

We're headed for Myrtle Beach in 3 weeks. We are staying in a condo on the beach. You ladies have helped my list so much.

I've never been to Myrtle Beach. Anybody know what there is to do there? Frankly, I think I could just sit on the beach all week. I am just so tired lately. But I have a 4 yo dd, 20 yo ds, and 24 ds and his girlfriend. I know they will all want stuff to do. I think I heard there is an amusement park and/or waterparl. I LOVE waterparks.

By Kim on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 09:23 pm:

Adolph's meat tenderizer.....the first year we were in FL the ER resommended it to us for jellyfish stings (changes the PH balance and neutralizes?)while we were in the ER for something else. Kayla had gotten stung and she was only one. Sunglasses for sure. Lots of water to drink. SOunds like you have the rest covered.

By Kym on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 09:10 am:

We are going to Mexico in 2 weeks, I am getting an inflatalbe pool to put under our shady hut (provided w/ house) so my 13 month old can play in that instead of wanting to be right in the ocean? hopefully it will work. I also bought a speedo hat and t shirt at Target that offer 45 SPF, the hat fits tight so he seems to keep it on pretty well in the pool.

By Imamommyx4 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 09:56 am:

Several years ago when the boys were less than teens, we were in Panama City and the 2 youngest were stung by a jellyfish--stripes across the front of both of their little legs. A lifeguard heard them screaming and came and got us and took us to the lifeguard station and covered the marks up in Adolph's meat tenderizer. They quieted immediately. I was amazed.

It is on my list. Thanks for the reminder.

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 05:23 pm:

Imamommyx4!

We just returned from our first trip to Myrtle Beach on Sunday. Oh, how I wish we were still there!

TONS to do there for all ages. The Pavillion is the amusement park that is on the beach. There are a couple other smaller amusement parks. The Pavillion looks really small, but once you get in there, there are quite a few rides.

Also a few different water parks. We went to Myrtle Waves and enjoyed it. Also a place called Broadway on the Beach that is a boardwalk around a lake with shops, restaurants, shows, and attractions such as Ripley's Aquarium, all around it. Tons of fun. There is also a place called Dixie Stampede that we went to. We knew we'd enjoy it because we had been to the one in Tennessee already. It is dinner and a show. Now, we are not dinner and a show type people, but this is excellent. Check out their website at Dixie Stampede . com. You have a full meal while watching a show with horses, buffalo, ostriches, you name it. The riders are so talented. My kids are 5 and 8 and LOVE this place.

There is so much to do at Myrtle, including things such as Miniature Golf. Something for everyone. A good website is myrtlebeachinfo.com.

Have tons of fun!!!!

By Imamommyx4 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 05:37 pm:

We have been to Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge. It was a good show but dd was 14 months old, sick and just learned to walk alone. Didn't sse much of it then.
Thanks for the website. Of all the web searching I do for stuff, I haven't thought to search that out. Duh!

By Elizabeth704 on Friday, July 8, 2005 - 09:14 am:

Another idea...
Instead of beach blankets, we love the "neat sheets" that are sold at every Target/Walmart. They are bigger than most beach towels and the best part - sand and water resistent (It just rolls right off). They also have weights on each corner (but I find those do not work so well).