From: EMN002@email.mot.com (Mary Beth Northrup)
Subject: Re: Baby at the beach - advice requested
Organization: Motorola, Inc. Plantation, FL
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 15:59:53 GMT

In article <1992Nov17.231504.9226@osf.org>, mcg@asdf.osf.org (Michael Gross) writes:
> 
> 
> -Any advice for making the most out of taking a 9 month
> old baby (who can crawl fast and can walk with assistance)
> to the beach.
[deleted]
> P.S.
> We're going to Florida to visit with family over Christmas.
> Beach time is _not_ optional :-).

I didn't take Sean to the beach until he was walking (just chicken I guess)
but have friends that did (and saw babies at the beach, too!)

When you go, it would be better to go earlier in the day (say 9 or 10 am)
and leave early. This avoids crowds as well as avoiding the worst burning
rays. (You can get a much better parking space, too!) Or - go later in the
afternoon (same reasons). Unloading suggestion - find a good loading/unloading
spot, unload, then park! You'll be packing LOTS of gear (so what else is
new)!  :-)

Will you have a playpen or portable crib? You'll want a comfortable place
to corral the baby while you're there. At first, the texture of the sand
may frighten him until he gets used to it, so having a familiar place to put
him may be invaluable. A blanket works too, but won't keep him in one place!
A big umbrella to shade his play spot would also be a great item.

You may want to get the kind of hat that has a floppy brim all around and
has an elastic band that goes around the chin. He probably won't like it,
but you'll have better luck at keeping it on. A hat is preferable to putting
suntan lotion on his face - it has a tendency to get in the eyes (a fun
experience - NOT!). Also, I'd keep a t-shirt on him to protect his back
and tummy from the sun.

Ask your local contacts or lifeguard about beach hazards in the area you're
going to - some beaches have man-of-war seasons when lots of the little
critters wash on shore (depends on the weather conditions, too) and you
need to avoid these like the plague!! 

You probably will have the most fun if you take the beach in relatively small
doses (a few hours at a time), rather than in marathon days. Yes, you'll
have sand everywhere, but you can also have loads of fun too! Once Sean got
used to the feel of the sand on his feet, he was off and running all over
the place! (He is a little scared of the water though, the surf is loud).
We picked up little shells, looked at the birds, played with sand, looked
at other people, climbed up and down steps about a hundred times .....
And, after a couple of hours at the beach, he's tired out and ready for
a long nap! (If you have that playpen with shade, he'll nap right there
while you sun, swim and relax).

Have a nice trip and good luck! And don't forget the video camera!

|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Mary Beth Northrup                    "In the house and on the street .. |
| (mommy to Sean, 17 mo.)																	how many, many feet you meet!"   |
| EMN002@email.mot.com                                   ---  Dr. Seuss    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Newsgroups: misc.kids